First Flies!

Relishing the step up to 2000m, the promising mare First Appearance recorded a barnstorming impressive victory at Pakenham on Thursday evening.

Having her third run for the campaign, the full sister to Ballymore's multiple Gr.1 winner Tofane settled a fair way from the leaders from her wide gate but she gave jockey Declan Bates a good feel throughout.

"She jumped ok but just didn't muster much early speed," Bates reported.

"I knew the other two favoured runners were going to be on speed but my mare travelled well and I thought it was going to be just a matter of getting a cart into the race."

That, however, did not happen with Bates forced to make a long run on the chestnut who spotted her rivals several lengths coming into the straight.

"Once she straightened she really let down," Bates said.

"She probably still didn't quite know how to really put them away but she was still strong through the line - and after it. I think I was on the best horse today."

Bred by the late Kevin Hickman, First Appearance is raced by Yulong who also own her high achieving dam Baggy Green as well as Tofane whom they purchased for $3.1 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

Foaling a Written Tycoon foal as her first foal - served last spring by Extreme Choice - Tofane is one of the most exciting young broodmares in the country.

Her dam Baggy Green - who was served by another Ballymore star in Alabama Express last spring (having foaled a Written Tycoon filly) - is already a star broodmare with another three of her foals being stakes winners; the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap winner No Compromise and the Listed winners Benaud and Bradman.

A granddaughter of the Epsom & Irish Oaks winner User Friendly, Baggy Green is a half-sister to the dam of the Gr.1 Flight Stakes winner Funstar and the Gr.1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar whose Japanese based son Eri King is a lightly raced Gr.3 winner displaying plenty of talent.