Gold Coast, January 2 – Talented performer Facile Tigre recaptured his best form to score a stylish all the way win in the $45,000 Class Six event at the Gold Coast on New Year’s Day.
Trained by Jason McLachlan, Facile Tigre improved sharply on his first up third in December with increased fitness levels allowing him to fire forward and lead all the way from barrier 11, holding on at the finish to win the 1200 metre event by a long neck.
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Facile Tigre was bought by McLachlan Racing for $120,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and has won four of eight starts earning $134,300 in prizemoney for his owners who include Tim Hughes, Michael Sullivan and Yarraman Park, who retained an interest.
A stakes-winner at two, the son of ill-fated Catbird is one of two for the very good producer Cotton Bay, the dam of six winners including stakes-winner Stormcat Academy and former smart Sydney galloper Buzzy Henry.
A half-sister by Zabaleta (USA) to Group Two WATC Western Australian Oaks winner Reflected Image, Cotton Bay has no yearling for the sales this year but did produce a colt by Trotamondo (Chi) in 2010 and has been covered by I Am Invincible.
Yarraman Park nearly made it a double at the Gold Coast with the Chris Waller trained filly Ingham Magic turning in an encouraging debut to finish a good second to Pepper Jet in the $50,000 Open juvenile event.
A $110,000 purchase for Ingham Racing from the Yarraman draft at the 2010 Magic Millions, Ingham Magic is by Magic Albert from the stakes-placed Catbird mare Mi Chiamo.
Mi Chiamo has a colt from the first crop of Trotamondo that will be offered at Magic Millions in 2011 as Lot 331.
