The initial running of the $1 million Golden Gift (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens in Sydney witnessed another major success by a Sledmere Stud graduate when Dame Giselle landed the lion’s share of the seven-figure prizemoney allocated to the newly created 2-year-old attraction of the Sydney spring racing period.
A daughter of I Am Invincible born, raised and consigned by Sledmere for the 2019 Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Dame Giselle carried the familiar colours of Sir Owen Glenn to victory when delivering a powerful finish late in the straight before going on to score by a commanding three and three-quarter lengths winning margin.
Raced in partnership by China Horse Club and Sir Owen Glenn’s Go Bloodstock Australia, Dame Giselle is the sixth living foal of Ballet Society, an outstanding daughter of Stravinsky that won no fewer than four Group races, including the VRC AV Kewney Stakes and MRC Angus Armanasco Stakes at Group 2 level.
Ballet Society is in turn a half-sister to Cent Home, the Champion Older Male Stayer of New Zealand in 2001-02.
Dame Giselle had finished second at her only other outing, only just failing to hold off See You Soon on debut. The same two fillies finished first and second in the Golden Gift, reversing the finishing order on this latest occasion.
Speaking after the win, co-trainer Peter Snowden said: “She did a great job. You can’t beat race experience and that’s what she lacked the other day. I thought she would improve off that.
“We’ve always liked her from Day One. From the very first time she showed something and always had that good demeanour, which I love about a two-year-old. She was athletic and a great mover.
“The staff picked her out and the riders picked her out. She gave us a good feel early and I thought she was stiff not to win first-up, so it’s good to get this result.”
Dame Giselle won enough prizemoney in claiming the Golden Gift to guarantee herself a berth in next year’s Golden Slipper and Snowden was fully conscious of the significance of the victory.
“She can have a well-earned rest now, poke her way back and only run in the races we need to. She might only need one run leading into the Slipper. We’ll let the dust settle and that decision will be made later on.”
Dame Giselle was offered by Sledmere as Lot 371 of this year’s Easter Yearling Sale and knocked-down to Go Bloodstock Australia P/L for $500,000. After just two starts, she is already the winner of $604,000 in prizemoney.