The first leg of the Darley Princess Series, the Group II ATC Silver Shadow Stakes at Randwick on Saturday went the way of classy I Am Invincible filly Fiesta carrying the familiar purple and white Star Thoroughbreds colours .
The Chris Waller trained Fiesta was right up with the best fillies last season finishing second in the Listed ATC Gimcrack Stakes on debut in the spring before going on to win the Group III ATC Widden Stakes and finish seventh in the Golden Slipper.
Last seen in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes on April 14 when second to another I Am Invincible filly in Pure Elation, Fiesta was tuned up for her return with two recent trials and was fit and ready to fire.
She enjoyed a beautiful run in transit from gate one under Kerrin McEvoy and after dashing clear down the running was strong enough to hold out a determined bid from Outback Barbie to win the 1200 metre sprint by a neck.
“She trialled really well, so I’m not at all surprised at what she has done today,” said Kerrin McEvoy.
“It was a soft win in the end. She’s in for a really good campaign.”
A $150,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Star Thoroughbreds / Chris Waller Racing from the Fairhill Farm draft, Fiesta was bred and offered for sale by Mike and Debbie O’Donnell and has the overall record of two wins and four placings from seven starts with prizemoney of $434,550.
The Darley Princess Series offers some great options for Fiesta culminating in the Group I ATC Flight Stakes over 1600 metres on September 29.
“We took the blinkers off her as I want to stretch her out a bit with a view to getting 1600 metres,” Chris Waller said.
Fiesta is the second winner from Now Now, a five time winner by Danehill Dancer (IRE) from the family of stakes-winners Charm Scene Land, Stick Around and Kingsgate.
Fiesta is the second stakes-winner this season for Yarraman Park’s flagship sire I Am Invincible, who is fully booked at a fee of $192,500.
