Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will be looking at stakes assignments for promising colt Scentify (2c Justify x Fine Scent, by All Too Hard) after he stayed perfect at two for two with a barnstorming triumph in the open three year-old handicap over 1200m at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Ridden by Ben Allen, Scentify came from last on the turn to overpower Pierro colt Prinzerro to win by half a length.
Appearing for the first time in 16 weeks, the Flying Start Syndications colour bearer made a winning debut on a bottomless track at Warrnambool on May 3 and has obviously made good progress since then.
“A good performance and a lovely ride,” David Eustace said.
“We said to Whizz (Allen) to ride him quietly with a view to the future, and if he is good enough, great.
“He has changed a lot – matured and developed into a really good-looking colt.
“We have toyed with what his trip is. He does not do much at home. He is very laid back, which suggests he will get over further, which I’m sure he will, but he showed a good turn of foot there.
“Whether we go to seven (furlongs) or see him down the straight over sprint distances, we will see. It’s a nice problem to have.
“It’s great to get another nice horse for Cam Bennett and Flying Start Syndications, who buy a nice horse at a very reasonable price and are great to train for.”
A $125,000 Inglis Classic purchase from the Newgate Farm draft for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock / Flying Start Syndications / Pinhook Bloodstock, Scentify was bred by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s UK based Watership Down Stud.
They purchased his dam Fine Scent on the advice of McKeever Bloodstock Ltd for $210,000 from the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale when she was in foal to Justify with the plan of sending her to Too Darn Hot. Scentify was foaled at Yarraman Park and sold as a weanling in their draft at the 2021 Inglis Weanling Sale for $145,000.
Fine Scent is a stakes-placed half-sister by All Too Hard to Golden Slipper winner Polar Success.
Scentify is the third Australian winner of the new season for Justify, who returns to Australia at a fee of $77,000.
– Coolmore Australia
