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.
A 2 year-old filly named Sylvia’s Memory (Bianconi) kicked off her career at Coffs Harbour Sunday with an effortless victory and connections are about to embark on an exciting few months as they dare to dream big with the flying filly from Port Macquarie.
Ridden by Cejay Graham, Sylvia’s Memory jumped straight to the front and was never headed over 800 metres justifying her short price quote to win easily. Trainer Marc Quinn will set the bar a little higher for her next start.
“I wanted to take her to Sydney for her first start but there wasn’t a 2 year-old race in Sydney over the weekend so we decided to go to Coffs Harbour and use it as another barrier trial and the owners picked-up $11,200”.
“Her next start will be at Randwick Saturday week (January 26) over 1000 metres” said Quinn.
Over the weekend another country trained 2 year-old filly Girls Are Ready (Better Than Ready) trained by Joe Cleary at Queanbeyan and raced by an all woman’s syndicate went on the ride of a lifetime when their filly lined-up in the 2 year-old Magic Millions Classic at the Gold Coast and despite not featuring in the finish, they were proud of the performance.
Syliva’s Memory connections are preparing for a similar journey with high aspirations.
"We’d like to get her to the autumn 2 year-old races, she’s paid up for the Slipper so that’s obviously the dream." - Trainer, Marc Quinn
“We’d like to get her to the autumn 2 year-old races, she’s paid up for the Slipper so that’s obviously the dream but we’ll just see how far she gets and take it once race at a time”.
Sylvia's Memory at Coffs Harbour
“Once we get through Saturday week there are races like the Pierro Plate (1100 metres Randwick February 16) or the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Group II 1200 metres Randwick March 2) which is three weeks before the Slipper” said Quinn.
Sylvia’s Memory has already made the trip to Randwick having travelled down for the official 2 year-old trials on the Kensington track in September. With all the top Sydney stables represented many with high priced yearlings amongst the acceptors Sylvia’s Memory, a home bred from Wauchope, easily won her heat and justified the judgment of Quinn and his high opinion of the filly.
“From the moment I first looked at her she just looked like a ready-made racehorse from the get-go that would run early”.
“From the moment I first looked at her she just looked like a ready-made racehorse from the get-go that would run early." - Marc Quinn
“I jumped her out with Explosive Scene (Floral Dynamite) one morning and she jumped 2 lengths in front of him and won the work-out so I knew we had a pretty fast horse”.
“Bringing her down to the official 2 year-old trials gave us a good guide of being able to compare to the better city stables and we left knowing we can compete in town” said Quinn.
After a minor set-back following the official 2 year-old trials, Sylvia’s Memory had a month off before commencing her preparation toward autumn riches. She won a trial at Coffs Harbour before Christmas in the lead-up to Sunday’s race.
“She’s got such great barrier speed which she can maintain and that gives her a tactical advantage in her races, a big asset for 2 year-old racing,” said Quinn.
The owners of Sylvia’s Memory purchased her dam Sakhra (Fastnet Rock) in foal and Quinn trained her half-sister Nashian (Scintillo). Sylvia’s Memory is the second foal to race from the mare and Quinn says it’s going to be an exciting and emotional journey for the family.
“Her half-sister Nashian won a race at Taree at the end of 2017 but it’s been a luckless twelve months for the owners since”.
“She [Sylvia’s Memory] is named after the owner Keith Dunn’s late wife Sylvia so it’s going to be an emotional ride for the whole family” said Quinn.
