Two years ago, US businessman John Stewart lost a high-profile bidding war to buy a daughter of Winx, but he was successful in purchasing another blueblood from that year’s Inglis Easter Sale.
After finishing as underbidder on the $10 million Winx filly to the champion’s owner, Debbie Kepitis, Stewart secured another six yearlings, including an I Am Invincible filly out of Group 1 winner Booker for $3 million.
Named Ernaux, that filly took seven starts to break her maiden in midweek company, and another 10 to break through in Saturday metropolitan grade, but she managed the latter in spectacular fashion at Randwick.
Settling back in the field for Tyler Schiller, Ernaux ($4.20 fav) had to weave between runners in the straight before powering through a late gap and bursting clear to score by 1-3/4 lengths over the fast-finishing Mareth ($4.60).
“It was hold-your-breath stuff at the top of the straight,” trainer Chris Waller said.
“Tyler, he knew what he was doing. He knew what he had under him, and she really exploded late.
“Her form has been terrible on wet tracks. As soon as she had a better track last start, and again today, she’s a different horse. There is certainly something there. She’s very well bred, so we’ll see what’s around the corner.”
Despite Ernaux’s price tag, Waller said there had been no pressure from her ownership group, which included Stewart’s Resolute Racing and Coolmore.
Her win in Saturday’s Toyota Forklifts Handicap (1200m) gives her a valuable Saturday win and might also keep the four-year-old in training for another season.
“They’re fantastic to train for, and it’s good to see she’s won a good Saturday race for them,” Waller said.
“It was getting borderline whether we breed from her. That will give us a bit of confidence.”
The Winx filly by Pierro was named Quinceanera and was retired to stud unraced.
