Bred, owned and trained by Mick Channon, 2yo filly COTUBANAMA became the first winner for our freshman sire Heeraat yesterday at Salisbury, landing a Plus10 bonus for connections in the process, on top of some decent prize money. Among the past winners of this particular race are Tiggy Wiggy, who went on to land the Cheveley Park Stakes, and Zoffany’s daughter Illuminate, who followed up in the Albany Stakes at Royal Ascot on her next start.
Only four of Heeraat’s progeny have had their racecourse debuts so far, and Cotubanama got the ball rolling with her win in a 5 furlong Class 3 event yesterday, after coming a promising third over the same trip in her debut outing at Newmarket earlier this month. She made smooth progress from halfway, launched her bid entering the final furlong, and didnt need a lot of encouragement to keep up to her work and see off the challenge of her rivals by one and 3/4 lengths.
“We didn’t know how she’d handle the heavy ground, but we knew she’d come on a lot from Newmarket,” explained Mick Channon. “She jumped well, she settled lovely and finished off her race. We think she’s decent, she was very professional there and we couldn’t have asked for any more.”
The homebred bay filly is the only runner so far for her dam Saona Island, an unraced granddaughter of Listed Rose Bowl Stakes winner Ivory Bride, who in turn is the dam of Listed Washington Singer Stakes winner Funfair Wane and Listed Premio Giuseppe de Montel winner Cabcharge Striker, so there is quality in the pedigree.
With 71 foals now of racing age, we are looking forward to the rest of the season with great anticipation. Heeraat also has the exciting colt Molaaheth, who Shadwell have in training with Richard Hannon after acquiring him for £150,000 at last year’s Goffs Premier Yearling Sale.
