George Altomonte watched on at Warwick Farm on Saturday as a filly he owns and bred defeated another juvenile he bred in the $100,000 Schweppes Plate.
Ichihara made the jump from a provincial maiden win to lead all the way in the 1100m contest and earn her chance at qualifying for next month’s $3.5 million Golden Slipper.
Ichihara was bred at Altomonte’s Corumbene Stud and she defeated Narcissus who Altomonte also bred before the colt was sold to Darley at the Easter Yearling sales last year.
Altomonte believes the unbeaten Ichihara is going to the right way and has the talent to earn a place in the Golden Slipper on April 7.
Ichihara ($9.50), ridden by Brenton Avdulla, controlled the pace before skipping clear in the straight to defeat Narcissus ($5) by 1-3/4 lengths with another half-length to Knockabout ($51) in third place.
Favourite Pure Hustle ($3.60) wasn’t the best away and settled in the second half of the field. He was doing his best work late but could only finish sixth.
“I think Ichihara is a pretty smart filly,” Altomonte said.
“I keep about three or four fillies every year and as a breeder you’ve got to do that to keep going. I just hope I keep the right ones.
“She is going to have to qualify for the Slipper. She’ll probably go into one of the qualifying races and we’ll see how she goes. But on today I think she’s got a bit of ability.”
Runner-up Narcissus is out of Hasna who was the champion two-year-old in the 2003/04 season.
“We also bred Raceway who is with Gai (Waterhouse) and looks a good horse for the Slipper,” Altomonte said.
Ichihara is prepared at Rosehill by Allan Denham and Altomonte said the trainer had expected a bold showing in Saturday’s event.
“He was pretty confident. I think we all were,” he said.
Jockey Tommy Berry believes Pure Hustle will be a better horse when he steps up slightly in distance to 1200 metres.
“He never really mustered speed but he hit the line really well,” Berry said.
“He’ll be better over 1200 metres. He’s still a big, raw horse with plenty of upside.”
AAP TURF
