Adelaide mare Southern Speed gave former Widden shuttler Southern Image his first Group 1 in the Caulfield Cup on Saturday.

Southern Image (Halo’s Image) served four years in NSW until 2009 when a change of ownership in the USA stopped his touring days.  He had transferred to Rancho San Miguel in California after being based at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky since 2006.

Southern Speed was probably on thin ice at that stage anyway having sired just two country winners in his first crop of southern bred two year-olds.

That first crop also included Southern Speed who broke her maiden on debut as a January 3YO at Morphettville.  After another win in Adelaide, trainers Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas sent her straight to Melbourne and she completed a hat-trick in the G3 Matron Stakes at Flemington.

Returning home after a demanding first prep, she finished third in the G1 Schweppes Oaks (2008m) behind Lights Of Heaven and Absolutely.

Southern Speed (4m Southern Image – Golden Eagle by Zabeel) is raced by Harry Perks, Trevor Robertson and Rod Fairclough who have been long-time stable clients of Macdonald.

Her dam Golden Eagle has also foaled winning Giant’s Causeway filly Dara Seans.  Second dam Rising Eagle (Danehill) is a sister to G1 winning filly Ha Ha.

Southern Image represents the Halo sireline and he swept the Malibu Stakes (G1), Californian Sunshine Millions Classic, Santa Anita Hcp (G1) and Pimlico Special (G1) in 2003 and 2004.

Southern Speed is playing a lone hand for Southern Image among the 19 winners from his first crop in Australia.

His second crop are spring three year-olds and the only domestic winner to date has been Tasmanian based filly Feeling Flash.