Peters Investments-bred 3yo filly London’s Image has landed a black-type first for trainer Ryan Hill and his partner Victoria Corver in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.
It was hardly a first for Bob and Sandra Peters who bred London’s Image and sold her for a mere $20,000 through Holbrook Thoroughbreds (as agent) at the 2023 Adelaide Magic Millions. The filly’s eye-catching constitution and pedigree prompted Hill to budget $100,000 but she changed hands for a fraction of that price-tag.
“She’s very tough and I was just so confident,” Hill admitted after his filly survived an objection to land the feature race on Melbourne Cup Day as a $41 outsider. “She can be hard work at home but I know what she can do on raceday. It’s a great result and the black-type is massive for her as a broodmare.”
London’s Image (3f Headwater – New Image by More Than Ready) stole a march on a top-class field to score in a close finish from Ron’s Finalflutter (Written Tycoon), Flower Of Gold (Bull Point) and Diamond Dancer (Long Leaf).
“She was fresh and a long way in front,” Hill continued. “And when she pricked her ears at the 700m I said ‘Thank God’. Victoria sat there and waited and waited. She lugged out late but I wasn’t really worried about the protest.”
Hill made mention Corver can hold her own in the stewards room having studied law full-time at university before pausing that career-path to become a jockey.
London’s Image was a juvenile winner at Ascot in January and led all the way at Bunbury in September in a potential pointer to the black-type on Melbourne Cup Day.
The G2 Champion Fillies (1600m) is the next target with prizemoney of $300,000 on Saturday week, November 16. Peters Investments last won a Burgess Queen with Mikimoto (Sebring) in 2017 and their cerise and white colours saluted most recently in the 2018 Champion Fillies with Arcadia Queen (Pierro).
London’s Image is by Vinery Stud stallion Headwater (Exceed And Excel) from New Image (More Than Ready) who was a Listed winner of the Belmont Oaks (2000m) and WA Matchmaker Classic (1400m) in 2010-11.
She’s a half-sister to Perfect Reflection (G1 Kingston Town Classic), Ideal Image (G3 La Trice Classic) and Elusive Image who won the 2014 Burgess Queen Stakes. Their dam Reflected Image (Bluebird) won the G2 WA Oaks (2400m) in 1999.
Hoofnote:
Peters Investments made it a double on Cup Day courtesy of homebred 3yo filly Famous Dream in the Nixon Electrical Maiden (1200m) at Bunbury. She was appearing for just the second time following an encouraging fourth on debut for trainer Michael Grantham at Belmont last month.
Famous Dream is a daughter of South Australian-based, British-bred sire Akeed Mofeed (Dubawi) and her Kiwi-bred dam Dezzies Dream (Coats Choice) was G1 placed in the 2015 NZ 1000 Guineas (1600m) before transferring to Perth where she won three races at Ascot and Belmont.