Promising Platinum hails from our favourite family

Those who braved the winter chills at Flemington on Saturday were rewarded with the chance to see a very nice win by the exciting filly Platinum Passion.

Settling well back after missing the jump in the Hilton Nicholas Handicap, the attractive grey gave her rivals a decent start after rearing every so slightly as the barriers opened.

She was, however, always travelling well for Michelle Payne who at no stage panicked – giving the three-year-old a lovely patient ride.

Briefly on the rails heading around the home turn, Platinum Passion was hooked out wider straightening – taking a gap between horses and charging to the line.

Getting to the front a fair way out, she showed a high degree of professionalism for such a lightly raced horse – drawing clear to win by an impressive 1.3 lengths from the talented Winged Charm.

“She switched off during the race,” Payne reported, “and really quickened when I asked her. She surprised me at the 400m how quickly she got to the lead and I was a bit worried about having her there too soon – but she was just too good for them.”

Well regarded by the stable, overcoming a few niggling problems, Platinum Passion was having only her second start – having led throughout at her Geelong debut late last month.

An improver as she has matured, Platinum Passion did not at first show a great deal but she has, said Anthony Feroce “just got better and better all the time.”

“She will make a lovely staying mare,” he continued – “it looks like she ha got a bright future.”

A $300,000 Easter sale graduate selected by Paul Moroney and raced by the Consolidated Bloodstock Ltd Syndicate, Platinum Passion is a royally bred daughter of Redoute’s Choice and a daughter of the champion Horlicks.

Of course that six times Gr.1 winner has already been very good to the stable – providing us with our Melbourne Cup winner Brew. And this is also the family of our rising star Monaco Consul – as well as such topliners as General Nediym, Interstellar, Fiumicino, Military Plume, Laelia, Sealegs, Niconero, Nicconi, Zip Zip Aray, Brave Jeannie, Peterman, Yashmak and Skint Dip – all Gr.1 winners.