By Anthony Manton
The Black Book will identify race performances around Australia particularly worth following in the future. These may be high profile runners at trials and smaller tracks, or eye-catching performances, we'll aim to give you a horse to add to your pedigree or performance black book for the future.
Chris Waller trained filly Word For Word (So You Think) may have lost the race in the stewards room at Canterbury on Wednesday but she is definitely worthy of our blackbook.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy Word For Word endured a tough run getting caught three-wide in the early stages, before pressing forward mid race to join the leaders approaching the home turn and fighting out the finish with Godolphin's Cossetot (Epaulette) all the way down the home straight.
Word For Word prevailed on the line and was first past the post but ultimately lost the race on protest to Cossetot when jockey Hugh Bowman protested successfully after interference down the home straight.
In each of her three starts Word For Word has been unlucky not to win on every occasion and has quickly earned the tag as one of the best maidener’s running around in Sydney.
On debut at Warwick Farm on December 5 Word For Word settled close to pace before copping a bump at the top of the straight losing some momentum and having an interrupted run home afterwards to finish third.
Next start on the Kensington track on December 21 Word For Word settled on the leaders-back and was held-up at a vital stage behind the tiring leader down the home straight only to get out late and chase hard for a fast finishing second.
"In each of her three starts Word For Word has been unlucky not to win on every occasion and has quickly earned the tag as one of the best maidener’s running around in Sydney. " - Anthony Manton
A $200,000 yearling purchase at Inglis Easter Yearling Sales 2017 Word For Word is the first foal from the dam Wordplay a half-sister to Victoria derby winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand) suggesting with that pedigree Word For Word is a filly who is only going to get better as she stretches out in distance and is perhaps an Oaks filly in the making.
Word For Word as a yearling
Meanwhile another Chris Waller filly that can be added to the blackbook is Milunka (All Too Hard) which finished second in race two at Canterbury.
Milunka was making her debut on the back of two good trials and after drawing wide had to be restrained early as jockey Jason Collett attempted to find cover but was forced to race three-wide throughout. Milunka knuckled down very bravely in the home straight and although unable to reel in the leader and eventual winner Plenty (Zoustar) ran a great race for her first start.
"Milunka’s effort to finish as close as she did from her settling position was exceptional." - Anthony Manton
When you consider the rail placement at Canterbury was out six metres and that usually tends to favour horses close to rail and the lead Milunka’s effort to finish as close as she did from her settling position was exceptional.
Milunka is from the dam Distinctive Lass who has produced stakes winners Kuro (Denman) and Distinctive Darci (Darci Brahma) in Singapore as well as recent Canterbury winner the promising Southern Lad (Ocean Park).
Milunka as a yearling
Passed in for $240,000 after going through the 2017 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on account of Bhima Thoroughbreds, Milunka is raced by New Zealand based Nearco Stud who coincidently bred and sold Kuro at New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale 2013 for $170,000.
