Filly Brigidine Gal is already proving to be a bargain buy and if her trainer’s aspirations are borne out, she could even find herself featuring during the Sydney autumn carnival.
The three-year-old is by Al Maher, the same sire as Group 1-winning stablemate Private Eye, and was a $5000 online purchase for managing owner Joe Francis.
While trainer Joe Pride can’t claim credit for the find, he has helped her to amass almost $70,000 in stakes from just three starts after she followed up two minor placings with an impressive victory in the Ranvet Handicap (1400m) at Rosehill on Wednesday.
Brigidine Gal came from well back to take out Race 2 at Rosehill under the urgings of @ReganBayliss for @PrideRacing 💥 pic.twitter.com/bLxArTJjVs
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 13, 2024
“Joe Francis, one of the owners, he purchased her. I’d like to put my hand up and take credit for buying one that cheap,” Pride quipped.
“She’s a lovely filly and she has always shown us plenty at home, hence the reason I have kept on running her in town and we got our reward today.
“We will put her straight in the paddock.
“I came here with good expectations today that she could win, and I think we’ll eye off some races for her in the autumn. I think she is going to be up to that mark when we get her back.”
Regan Bayliss has partnered Brigidine Gal in all three starts and has had a healthy opinion of the three-year-old since riding her in a barrier trial at the start of her campaign.
“I sat on her in a trial a few months ago now and she gave me the feel of a very good filly coming through the ranks,” Bayliss said.
“She is still learning her craft and I think when she comes back, you’ll see a nice horse.”
Bayliss had planned to be positive on Brigidine Gal ($3) but she was tardy to jump and ended up being shuffled back worse than midfield.
Once he angled her to the outside of runners in the straight, she finished resolutely to defeat Jolly Good Fellow ($6.50) by 1-1/4 lengths with Leconfield ($2.35 fav) another half-head away third.
“I wanted to be one-two so I had to go to Plan B, and she actually really enjoyed getting ridden that way today and she powered through the line,” Bayliss said.
Bayliss will be looking to parlay his form into Saturday’s stand-alone meeting at Newcastle where he has rides in eight of the 10 races including Coastwatch in the $1 million The Hunter (1300m).
