Running amongst the '92 crop of classic superstars, Filante was as good as any

The Southern Hemisphere foal crop of 1992 is widely considered to be one of the most successful in history, producing two Australian Horse of the Year winners and numerous other elite Group one performers. The iconic chapter in Australian racing history made its debut during the 1994 autumn season at Sydney's racetracks. Notably, this production lacked a singular, prominent protagonist that commanded the spotlight. Instead, racing enthusiasts were presented with a cast of engaging and evenly matched equine contenders, each vying for their rightful recognition before captivated Saturday metropolitan audiences. Of course, there was Saintly, the celestial equine. The Inghams' prominent son of Zabeel, Octagonal, 'The Big O' who possessed an exceptional quality. Additionally, Gai's resilient Danehill colt, Nothin' Leica Dane, demonstrated remarkable attributes and ran 2nd to Doriemus in a Melbourne Cup.

Filante, a New Zealand-bred chestnut entire, was the offspring of Star Way and Eau D’etoile. The name Filante translates to "shooting star" in French, and he truly shone bright among his peers. Filante was sold to the White family for $220,000 at the Sydney Easter Sale and became one of the first horses to reside on their Scone farm, Invermein, which is an amalgamation of the 600-acre Bhima Stud. The visually appealing and confident yearling made an immediate impact. Notably, the 1996 Epsom demolition, where Filante established a new Randwick mile record that remained unbroken for over two decades, which was easily his greatest moment in a splendid career.

Subsequent to his impressive three-year-old return victory at Randwick, Filante's initial assignment was the esteemed Gr.2 Royal Sovereign Stakes. During this event, he encountered another exceptional racehorse, the dual Group 1 handicap and Hong Kong International Bowl victor, Catalan Opening. The Hobartville witnessed a fourth-place finish, with Nothin’ Leica Dane, Octagonal, and Catalan Opening securing the key positions. This was followed by a narrow second-place finish to 'Occy' in the Gr.1 Canterbury Guineas. Filante's preparation culminated with a fourth-place finish in the Rosehill Guineas (behind Octagonal, Saintly, and Nothin' Leica Dane) and a valiant third-place finish in the Derby (once again just behind Octagonal and Saintly). Although highly competitive, Filante finished his three-year-old season without a stakes win, struggling to surpass his gifted staying contemporaries who excelled when extended in distance.

Filante made a remarkable comeback in the 1996 Warwick Stakes, decisively defeating his competitors under the skilled guidance of jockey Mick Dittman. Saintly trailed in second place, a significant three lengths behind Filante. Dittman once again assumed the role of the pilot two weeks later, when the highly favoured Filante once more surpassed Saintly and Nothin’ Leica Dane in the Gr.2 Chelmsford. A narrow 2nd  to Juggler in the Gr.1 George Main followed before that unforgettable Epsom Handicap performance, carrying the topweight of 57kg and with Brian York in the saddle.

While the G1 Epsom victory is perhaps most widely regarded as Filante's career peak performance, the horse's two Cox Plate defeats at the hands of rivals Saintly (1996) and Dane Ripper (1997) are particularly noteworthy. A key factor in Filante's effectiveness as a racehorse was his ability to assume a prominent position and capitalise on opportunities. Jim Cassidy would be the jockey to secure Filante's final career victory in the prestigious Gr.1 Yalumba Stakes of 1997. In a manner characteristic of Cassidy's riding style, the chestnut horse was strategically positioned near the front of the pack throughout the Caulfield 2000-metre race, ultimately demonstrating his superiority over the formidable Tasmanian contender, Alfa.

Filante’s career at the historic Widden stud largely failed to live up to his racetrack performance, with Thousand Guineas heroine Macedon Lady his only Group 1 winner from six stakes winners. He died in August of 2008.

RACE RECORD - 27: 7-9-3
EARNINGS - $1,814,938

1996 Epsom Handicap
1996 Chelmsford Stakes
1997 Caulfield Stakes
1997 Warwick Stakes