Photo: Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Brighthill Farm stallion Eminent recorded his first win as a sire at Avondale on Wednesday when his daughter Fon Memories scored on debut in the Westbrook Cellar Door 1200.
The three-year-old filly had finished runner-up in her lead in trial and trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson were pleased with her last to first performance on the Heavy10 footing.
“It was a big win today, especially to do it the way she did by coming from last,” Walker said.
“We’ve thought for quite some time that we’ve got fillies in the stable by Eminent that we particularly like. Fon Memories is one of them and she’s going to keep on improving once she gets up in distance.
“She’s a big powerful girl and a terrific win for owner Ian Farrelly. He’s a champion bloke that supports us with horses to train and always great to see his blue colours salute.”
Stakes targets now loom for Fon Memories, who was bred by Brighthill Stud principal Nick King.
“In the short term, we will aim her towards the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr.3, 1400m) and we expect she’ll have no trouble eating up the distance when we step her up in trip,” Walker said.
Walker was particularly pleased to train the first winner by Eminent.
“It’s also great to train the first winner by Eminent. He was owned and raced by Sir Peter Vela and it’s very timely for him and Brighthill Farm to have winning progeny just as the breeding season is getting underway,” he said.
Eminent stands at Brighthill Farm for a fee of $7,500 + GST.
