Antonius Filly Can Fly

17th September 2008

It’s early days for the three-quarter sister to Group One QTC Stradbroke Handicap winner La Montagna, but connections of aptly named filly The Goddess (2f Antonius Pius x Millennial, by Hatta's Mill) are in a positive frame of mind following a recent jump-out at Eagle Farm.

“[The Goddess} won it pretty well, she goes very nice and she looks quite promising,” said trainer Barry Baldwin, who also prepared La Montagna to win more than $1million in prizemoney.

“She’s in the Magic Millions and I think they would like to start her in that.

“I believe she might get there if she doesn’t go shin-sore. She hasn’t gone shin-sore yet, if she does we will put her out and bring her back in late December or early January, but right now the next aim is trials on September 23.

The fourth foal of the Hatta’s Mill mare Millennial, The Goddess is a three-quarter sister to La Montagna as her sire Antonius Pius (USA) is a son of legendary sire Danzig as is La Montagna’s sire Monashee Mountain (USA).

“He might be a really tidy sire from what I’ve seen,” Baldwin added.

“If there were any more I would grab them and I will be looking for them at the yearling sales if this one turns out good. [The Goddess] is the first one out of the mare to show this much so soon.”

An intriguing prospect, Antonius Pius has a world class pedigree and obvious good looks, but lacked the Group One victories of his more expensive peers at Coolmore, so has been at an affordable $8,800 for the past three seasons and been largely utilized by owner/breeders.

“I think Antonius Pius is a real chance. I bought a weanling of his at the last weanling sale in Sydney this year and there was another nice one there as well,” said astute bloodstock agent Paul Willetts.

“There aren’t that many around, but there aren’t many bad ones. I really do think he’s a chance.”