Charm Stone salutes in Ottawa

Expensive yearling purchase Charm Stone recouped a portion of her price tag by claiming the $200,000 Group 3 Ottawa Stakes (1000m) for two-year-old fillies at Flemington on Thursday.

Charm Stone was the dearest filly, and third-most expensive yearling overall, when purchased by bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills for $1.55 million from January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale before being entrusted to Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr.

Racing prominently throughout under Damian Lane, Charm Stone ($4.60 favourite) showed the benefit of straight-track experience from her debut third placing in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial (1000m) on October 1, accelerating clear inside the final 200 metres to win by 1.75 lengths.

Empress Of Wonder ($5), a daughter of Choisir, ran second on debut ahead of Hell Queen ($13), who was a further half-length away in third.

“She was super, a real quality filly who had trialled up well,” Lane said. “She just got a little bit lost her first start up the straight here, but having that experience was a lot better today.

“Me, Junior and Pricey and the owners were all of the same opinion, we’d try and use that (race experience) to our advantage, try and get her out and be positive, get her up in the firing line and use fitness and experience to our advantage.”

Charm Stone is by I Am Invincible out of Northern Meteor mare Najoom, a dual G3 winner up to 1400m, making her a younger sister of dual Listed winner Najmaty.

“You’ve got to have the backers, so I have to thank the boys, it’s all down to them, you’ve got to find somebody who is prepared to believe in your ability,” Mills said, with Charm Stone carrying his colours.

“It’s been an amazing ride now and thankfully we’re repaying them slowly. I worked for Mick for years as racing manager and I would say he’s just gone to a new level in terms of thinking outside the square and his patience with these horses.”

Mills said that connections will discuss whether Charm Stone will be prepared for the Magic Millions or Blue Diamond Stakes, with Price offering his two cents’ worth post-race.

“Personally, I’m a Group 1 man, but that’s open for discussion,” Price said. “She’s a big, strong filly, she’ll train on and she’ll have a good, robust two-year-old year and that’s open for discussion.”