February 13, 2017Newhaven Park Cheer Frolic Inglis Classic Victory
The Kelly family of Newhaven Park have been busy over the past week selling yearlings at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, but they had a taste of success on the other side of the fence at Randwick on Monday when Frolic, a filly they purchased from the same sale last year, charged home from last to win the $250,000 Inglis Classic.
Trained at Randwick by Michael Freedman, Frolic was second at her only two previous runs at Newcastle and then Canterbury behind the Godolphin colt Marsupial.
Her form looked good for this sales restricted 1200 metre sprint, but an outside gate made her task a little harder.
Ridden patiently by Tommy Berry, Frolic settled at the rear and produced a sizzling burst of speed to zoom home from last and win by a length and a quarter over the favourite Sweet Deal.
It was more than five lengths back to the third horse Lets Get Nauti Gal with fillies running the trifecta.
“She has a great turn of foot and they spaced the rest,” said Michael Freedman.
“Hopefully she can press on deeper into the autumn from here, but we’ll just see how she comes through today.
“I think ultimately she will be better at 1400 metres to a mile, but there might be some nice races for her over The Championships.”
A $100,000 Inglis Classic purchase for Blue Sky Bloodstock from the Vinery stud draft, Frolic carries the same colours as ill-fated Group I winner Peeping and runs for the Kelly family’s Suffolk Vale partnership managed by Tom Kelly.
By proven Group I sire Husson (Arg), she is the second winner for Group III winning Redoute’s Choice mare Leveller, a grand-daughter of former brilliant Group II winner Startling Lass, a full sister to Group I VATC Blue Diamond Stakes winner Midnight Fever.
Newhaven Park enjoyed strong results as vendors at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale selling eight yearlings for $535,000, the top seller an I am Invincible colt from Tabulated that made $120,000 to the bid of Shane Nichols Racing.