Claiming apprentice Madi Derrick gave Gift Of The Heart a perfect front-running ride at Ascot on Saturday and the Great Southern galloper wasn’t going to make it any easier for the closers in the MacMahon Hcp (1400m).

Gift Of The Heart crossed from a wide barrier to win a speed battle with Never Sober (Sooboog) before switching to cruise-control to save another surge for the business end. First Missile (Smart Missile) was best of the back-markers but he came up a half-head short at the judge (Photo / Western Racepix).

“He’s been knocking on the door and was unlucky two starts back when runner-up to Count The Sessions,” trainer Roy Rogers explained. “I told Madi to be positive from the gate and not surrender. She gave them something to chase and it was a strong ride using the whip in her left-hand.

“He’s a progressive type and can get out to a mile for some of those good races at the summer carnival. He’s owned by a ladies syndicate and will no doubt appreciate the cool change back home in Albany after a sweltering day at the races.”

Gift Of The Heart (4g Bradbury’s Luck – Passion Cantata by Oratorio) was bred and sold by Yarradale Stud for $60,000 at the 2021 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. He won an Albany maiden this time last year and broke through at Belmont in September. “A few were kicking up on our inside and we eventually got the lead,” Derrick said. “He’s still doing a few thing wrong but is tough and will go further than 1400m deeper into this prep.”

Bradbury’s Luck (Redoute’s Choice) commenced his stud career at Glenlogan Park in Queensland after winning the LR Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Randwick and RL Magic Millions 2yo Classic (1200m) on the Gold Coast.

He then covered six books at Gidgegannup with his final-crop of yearlings numbering four colts. Yarradale Stud’s brown or grey youngster from Habenera (War Chant) is the only one entered for the Perth Magic Millions on February 22 and 23. He’s been catalogued as Lot 255 and is a half-brother to Berbere (Gingerbread Man) who was last seen winning for the third time in a half-dozen starts at Belmont in September.

Yarradale has a 24-strong consignment for the Swan Valley Sale with multiple entries from Playing God (6 lots), War Chant (4) and Earthlight (2).