First Stakes Success for My Vegas

20th September 2008

Lightly raced galloper My Vegas (5h Royal Academy x Smytzer's Century, by Geiger Counter) provided his trainer Charlie Britt with his first stakes victory when taking out the Listed STC Starlight Stakes over 1200 metres at Rosehill on Saturday.

A good second last start to in-form galloper Kiloton, My Vegas flew home to beat smart mare Belong to Many (Belong to Me (USA) by the best part of a length with German Chocolate (Kenny’s Best Pal) sneaking up for third.

"That’s my first stakes winner - it’s a massive thrill,” Britt said.

“It was a gem of a ride by Corey – look out The Shorts [1100m at Randwick on October 4].”

Originally a $110,000 purchase from the Arrowfield draft at the 2005 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, My Vegas did his early racing in Victoria but after striking some injury issues found his way to the Inglis March Thoroughbred Sale where his current owners picked him up for $30,000.

My Vegas has had three starts for his new connections for two wins and a second, his overall record standing at three wins and three placings from eight starts with prizemoney of $103,600.

Bred by Tony Santic of Makybe Diva fame, My Vegas is the third foal of the Geiger Counter mare Smytzer’s Century, a half-sister to Group One winner Gamine, the dam of champion Aussie bred South African trained mare Sun Classique.

Makybe sold a full sister to My Vegas at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $50,000 and the mare has a yearling colt by Tale of the Cat.

My Vegas is the second new stakes-winner this week for outstanding shuttle sire Royal Academy joining Raheeb, winner of the Group Three Cameron Handicap at Newcastle on Wednesday.

A remarkable son of champion racehorse Nijinsky, Royal Academy is the sire of more than 150 stakes-winners worldwide and is now one of the elder statesmen of the Coolmore team standing at a fee of $27,500.