Fresh from winning his second Victorian 2YO sires’ title, Blue Gum Farm champion Turffontein can claim his first Group 1 when Fontiton resumes in the MVRC Moir Stakes (1000m) on October 2.

Fontiton won the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (1000m) and G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (1100m) earlier this year before losing her unbeaten record in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes.  She pulled up with heat stress plus a joint injury that required surgery and her effort to finish a fighting fifth was first class.

The Robert Smerdon trained filly returned to action with an exhibition gallop between races at Ballarat on Thursday.  “It was a nice bit of work up the straight and she will keep ticking over at our hill track at home,” Smerdon said.  “It gave her an adrenaline rush and a day out at the races.

“The feet issues we’ve had are under control and it’s all about the balance of getting enough work into them and keeping them sound.  So far so good.”

Fontiton (3f Turffontein – Personal Ensign by Rubiton) was bred and sold for $110,000 by Blue Gum Farm at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.  Matchem Racing managers Byron Rogers and Matthew Cain own her in partnership with James Price and Vasko Ognenovski.

Turffontein’s first crop leader Fontein Ruby won to Group 2 level in the Edward Manifold Stakes and his third crop of yearlings fetched up to $170,000 earlier this year.  Blue Gum Farm stands him for an $11,000 (inc gst) service fee.