Melbourne, June 18 – Yarraman Park based sires Magic Albert and Catbird featured at the Sandown meeting on Saturday with Something Anything winning the first race and Anhinga the last.
An athletic bay Magic Albert gelding prepared by Gary Portelli, Something Anything found the line strongly in the open three year-old event over 1400 metres to score by a short neck.
Sent out favourite after a good last start fourth to Blitz Em’ Riley in the Listed VRC A.R. Creswick Stakes, Something Anything was also placed in Group Three company during the autumn when chasing home Danleigh and Reigning to Win in the AJC South Pacific Classic.
“Last start he hit the line strong and hasn’t missed a bit of barley since", said Troy Portelli, who runs the Melbourne stable for his brother Gary.
A $40,000 purchase from the draft of Yarraman Park at the 2005 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Something Anything has now won $136,655 for his syndicate of eight owners with two wins and six placings from 14 starts.
Something Anything is the sixth foal of the Kala Dancer (GB) mare Maline, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to We’re Dancing and half-sister to Group Three winner Allez Glen.
He is one of 37 winners this season for Magic Albert making him the leading Australian second season sire by winners.
Catbird filly Anhinga resumed from a spell with a tenacious half head win in the open event for three year-olds over 1000 metres.
Trained by Lee Freedman for a Slade Bloodstock syndicate, Anhinga has now won two races and placed four times from eight starts and has valuable Black Type gained as a two year-old when finishing third to top class fillies Nediym’s Glow and Satin Robes in the Group Three MRC Blue Diamond Prelude.
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Anhinga was purchased by Slade Bloodstock for $90,000 at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale and they also bought her full sister Vankedisi for $150,000 the following year.
Vankedisi has already placed this season at two when finishing third in a hot maiden at Mornington won by boom filly Miss Lucille from subsequent stakes-winner Rose Ceremony.
The dam of Anhinga and Vankedisi is the former smart racemare Ripping Mill (NZ), a daughter of Crested Wave (USA).
She is one of 150 mares covered by Golden Slipper winner Catbird last spring in his final season at stud, the son of Danehill (USA) having been sadly euthanized last weekend.
