Star three-year-old filly Fontein Ruby has been flying the
flag for her sire Tuffontein of late however she is going to have to share the
limelight with the exciting filly Fontiton who crushed her 12 over-matched
opponents in Saturday's $250,000 Inglis Banner (1000m) at Moonee Valley.
The Robert Smerdon-trained filly was making her career debut
but she looked an experienced campaigner, flying out of the barrier and
lengthening impressively under a very kind ride by Mark Zahra.
"The sleek, black filly romped home 6 lengths to the good of
Hot Snippety (Snippetson) with Braccenby (More Than Ready) another half-neck back in third.
"We only brought her in to give her some education,"
Smerdon said.
"We had no real
intention of getting her to races but every time we asked her to do something
she rose to the level and here we are after one trial and she's winning a rich
race like this.
"That was pretty awesome today. We really think she
will stretch out to 1600 metres.
"I'd like to think that in 12 months she could be a Thousand
Guineas (1600m) horse."
Smerdon said the Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington could be
the immediate goal for Fontiton.
"We could go there to get some black-type which will
guarantee her value and then we can turn her out for some of the better races
in the autumn."
Bred on the same cross as Fontein Ruby, Fontiton (pictured as a yearling) was a
$110,000 purchase by Matchem Racing from the Blue Gum Farm consignment at the
2014 Inglis Premier Yearling sale.
She is the fifth foal of the stakes-winning Rubiton mare
Personal Ensign who placed in the Group II VRC Age Classic.
Personal Ensign has a yearling filly by Canford Cliffs (IRE)
who looks a handy weanling purchase by Bucklee Farm, making $20,000 at the
Easter Weanling sale.
Personal Ensign was bred back to the 5-time Group 1 winning
son of Tagula again last year.
