Phoenix Thoroughbreds dual Group One winner Loving Gaby has given birth to her much anticipated first foal.
The former Ciaron Maher and David Eustace trainee welcomed a filly by Pierata, who the Dubai based group also part-own, at Segenhoe on Friday night. The farm’s General manager Peter O’Brien described the new arrival as “a good a first foal as you would see.” Before going on to add, “she is strong with great bone and quality. You couldn’t wish for a mare to start off with such a filly.”
That is an assessment that will delight Loving Gaby’s owners, who have been excitedly awaiting her first offspring ever since the news she was in foal. A real trailblazer for the firm’s Southern Hemisphere ambitions, the daughter of I Am Invincible already had her place cemented in Phoenix folklore after landing their first Group One success in Australia when winning the Manikato Stakes at Mooney Valley. She would later add the William Reid Stakes bolstering a CV that also included five placed efforts at the top level along with a couple of Group Three wins. Overall, she only finished outside the places three times from 13 starts, all at Group Three level or above.
The remarkable filly also found popularity away from the racecourse after several social media posts showed her cheeky behaviour around the stables, including working out how to open her stablemate’s door to steal food.
No doubt there will be plenty of interest in her first foal from both fans and industry professionals alike.