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Diamond fancy chases fairytale early result for Best Bloodstock

Jarred Magnabosco knew it was a bold play going as hard as he did for Steel City, but he did so confident that a reward like the one that beckons this Saturday was realistic.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained filly is in line to present Magnabosco with his biggest win since launching Best Bloodstock around two years ago in the $2 million Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Sandown.

Magnabosco, in partnership with Maher, paid $700,000 for the Merchant Navy half-sister to September Run at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which remains the most Best Bloodstock has paid for a yearling.

"From going to the yearling sales for the best part of a decade, she's up there with one of the best yearlings that I'd ever seen," Magnabosco said.

"I had her pencilled in as a $500,00 yearling at the sale, but we just got stuck in a bit of a bidding war. I know we paid quite a bit for her, but we had to leave the sale with her."

The Queensland-based agent knew she was his best shot at buying into a family he was confident was going to increase in value.

Steel City is out of the Group 3-winning Street Cry mare Pittsburgh Flyer, whose first foal September Run (Exceed And Excel) had won the 2020 Coolmore Stud Stakes and finished runner-up to Nature Strip in the 2021 Black Caviar Lightning before Steel City was sold.

September Run has since won a William Reid Stakes and placed in a Newmarket Handicap and Sangster Stakes at Group 1 level.

Pittsburgh Flyer's second foal My Yankee Girl (American Pharoah) had won twice at provincial level before last year's Gold Coast Yearling Sale and is now a two-time Saturday city winner.

Pittsburgh Flyer missed to Merchant Navy in his first season at stud, 2018, but returned to the Coolmore stallion the following season, the result of which was Steel City.

"At the time a lot of people probably raised their eyebrows that we spent $700,000 on a Merchant Navy – she's by far the most expensive of his progeny – and we're hoping she can be the first Stakes winner for him," Magnabosco said.

"But, she was just physically as impressive a yearling as I've ever seen and obviously had that blue-chip pedigree on the dam side.

"September Run was already a Group 1 winner when we bought her, she's now a two-time Group 1 winner and might even retire a three-time Group 1 winner, so the page is only going to get stronger with time."

Pittsburgh Flyer had a brother to September Run in the spring of 2021 and is now in-foal to I Am Invincible after slipping to Exceed And Excel in 2021.

Steel City had a belated start to her racing career after missing a run in the rich maiden at the Magic Millions Carnival in January, but franked the big opinion the stable had of her with second placings to Red Resistance and Learning To Fly at her only two starts.

Learning To Fly and Red Resistance are single-figure odds in all markets on the $5 million Group 1 Golden Slipper.

"She's still a maiden, but she's done everything right outside of win those two races, albeit behind two very, very good horses, if not the best two two-year-olds in the country at the moment," Magnabosco said.

The Steel City ride is being enjoyed by a combination of Magnabosco's clients, which include former AFL footballers Billy Brownless and Tory Dickson, and those of Sir Owen Glenn's GO Bloodstock, which owns Pittsburgh Flyer.

Best Bloodstock as enjoyed a fruitful first two years, with last year's Group 2 Stutt Stakes winner Tijuana the star of the team to this point, but Steel City is a chance to take things to the next level.

"This is a relatively new business and I'm hoping that the brand and colours can be recognised throughout the industry after Saturday," Magnabosco said.

"But it's never about the money. It's about having fun and tasting success with people who have a passion for the same thing you do.

"If I can bring a trophy home to some of those owners and see a few smiles, that's what makes me tick."