A filly trained and owned in the same interests as Rachel King’s first Group One winner has given the jockey cause to think she can follow a similar path.
Lightly-raced three-year-old Miravalle put the writing on the wall with a determined victory in the 2020 Yulong Stallions Handicap (1400m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday.
A Redoute’s Choice half-sister to dual Group One winner Yankee Rose, Miravalle had a long head to spare over Yangtze Rapids, who did a tremendous job to make ground in a slowly-run race.
Also finishing behind her was Winx’s half sister Covent Garden, who led but tired late for fourth.
Miravalle is prepared by Mark Newnham and raced by Arrowfield Stud, the same trainer-owner combination as Maid Of Heaven, who King rode to win her first major in the 2018 Spring Champion Stakes.
King can see similarities between Maid Of Heaven and Miravalle.
“She has got exactly the same attitude,” King said.
“She gives you a really nice feel and for her to be winning races like that and only really getting the hang of it the last 100 metres is impressive. She’s got a lot more to come.”
Newnham is also in the fan club and has plans to progress Miravalle to better company this spring.
He will put her on a similar path to the one Maid Of Heaven followed two years ago and head towards the Group One Flight Stakes (1600m) and Spring Champion Stakes (2000m), both at Randwick in October.
“I’d like to head her towards the Flight Stakes and Champion Stakes,” Newnham said.
“I think she is a filly that, once she gets to a mile and 2000 she’s going to be really effective.”
Chris Waller also looks to have a handy filly on his books in Star Thoroughbreds three-year-old Joviality.
She made it two wins in succession when she downed Miravalle’s stablemate Sixgun at Warwick Farm, prompting Waller to consider raising the bar.
“We will see what’s around for her in the next few weeks,” Waller said.
“Hopefully we will see her again in the spring but she will certainly be there in the autumn.
“What she’s doing is pretty special so that’s the first and most important thing.”
