Adrift (NZ) Finds Her Way to Victory

Lightly-raced filly Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel) caused an upset with her first stakes victory in the A$176,700 Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes (1200m) at Randwick on Saturday.

Adrift (NZ) takes victory in the Group 2 Light Fingers Stakes.

Starting at long-odds despite winning two of her three starts before Saturday, Adrift was stepping up to black-type company for the first time. Trained by Gai Waterhouse, the three-year-old made her racing debut in November last year where she finished sixth before winning her next two starts at Newcastle and Warwick Farm.

“She is a flowing filly and Tye Angland was metered in his judgement,” commented Waterhouse.

Jockey Tye Angland jumped Adrift from a wide barrier to settle in fourth position but racing wide. The Zabeel filly came around the corner four-wide as she pursued front-runner Press Report (Written Tycoon).

Adrift hit the front at the 200m mark with Group 1 winner First Seal (Fastnet Rock) dashing from back in the field to challenge. It was Adrift who proved strongest as she powered to victory by three-quarters-of-a-length over First Seal, giving Karaka graduates the quinella.

“I have her set for both the Oaks,” said Waterhouse. “We could go to Queensland with her as well.”

The three-year-old filly has now earned A$142,350 for John Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbred Syndicate, Coolmore Syndicate and Arkle Syndicate.

Adrift was purchased at the 2013 Karaka Premier Sale by James Harron Bloodstock for $370,000 from Monovale Farm.

Bred by Paul and Cushla Smithies’ Monovale Holdings, Adrift is out of unraced mare Stray (Tale of the Cat), a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Maldivian (Zabeel). The Zabeel filly is a half-sister to stakes performers Pump It (Savabeel), who finished second in the Listed Oaklands Plate, and Flying Orca (Perfectly Ready), who finished third in the Listed Wanganui Cup.

She is the 155th stakes winner for her Champion Sire Zabeel whose last yearlings where sold at Karaka 2015.