FIFTYSHADESOFABILITY

Well, it had to happen sooner or later! The all-female owners of a Written Tycoon 2YO were quick off the mark by naming their filly – Fiftyshadesofgrey – and, as it turns out, those who pay the bills are not the only ones sharpish out of the boxes.

The Marc Conners trained, Fiftyshadesofgrey, stepped out in public for the first time at Warwick Farm yesterday, and took out her barrier trial heat in good time, defeating More Joyous’ full sister, Most Joyful, by three quarters of a length.

Fiftyshadesofgrey is out of the Commands mare, Talkin’ About and, based on her trial victory, Conners will target the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January (the MM is worth a cool $2 million with a special $325,000 bonus for any winner wholly owned or leased by females!).

But first it’s off to Randwick for the Listed Gimcrack Stakes on Saturday 6 October, where Fiftyshadesofgrey is likely to carry the weight of punters’ interest: and not just because she’s got a racy name!

“She (Fiftyshadesofgrey) trialled really well,” Conners enthused. “She’s bombproof and does everything right which is half the battle.”