Merlene De Lago Goes Three for Three

4th May 2008

Exciting Australian bred filly Merlene de Lago (2f Encosta de lago x Merlene, by Danehill) made it three wins from as many starts when capturing the Group Two Unitrans SA Fillies Nursery Stakes at Turffontein in South Africa on Saturday.

Despite racing greenly, the daughter of Encosta de Lago kicked clear in the straight to win the 1160 metre event by two lengths under hands and heels.

"It’s nice to win the group races. She's an exciting filly and she is going to be even more exciting when she goes the right trip as I think she is going to be a miler,” said winning trainer Charles Laird.

Bred and offered for sale by John Singleton’s Strawberry Hill Stud, Merlene de Lago fetched $775,000 at the 2007 Magic Millions Yearling Sale when secured by Laird for his major client Markus Jooste.

The second most expensive filly sold at the Gold Coast last year, she is the fifth foal to race for Golden Slipper winner Merlene, who has now produced five winners with Merlene de Lago her first stakes-winner.

Her win continues the brilliant run of success being enjoyed by Strawberry Hill, which has bred and/or sold recent stakes-winners this season such as dual Group One winner Tuesday Joy, Blue Diamond runner up All American, Group Three winner Publishing, Listed STC Parramatta Cup winner Red Lord and smart stakes-winning filly Sugar Babe.

Another Aussie bred featuring on the same program for Charles Laird was three year-old colt Seventh Rock (3c Rock of Gibraltar x Ruby Clipper, by Rubiton) who finished a close third in the Group One Computaform Sprint over 1000 metres against the older sprinters.

A $1,025,000 Magic Millions purchase from the draft of Strawberry Hill Stud, the Rock of Gibraltar colt was a Group One winner last season at two and his overall record stands at six wins and three placings from nine starts.