No matter what thoroughbred filly Danny's Sparkle achieves in her racing career, it is going to be an emotion-charged ride for everyone associated with her.
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The two-year-old is named in memory of St Kilda football great Danny Frawley.
Frawley joined forces with Ballarat racehorse syndicator Wylie Dalziel to select and then purchase Danny's Sparkle at the 2019 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Sadly the AFL media personality's shock death in September last year meant he did not see her get to the track.
Given Frawley's involvement in her acquisition, it was only natural she be named in his honour.
Dalziel said Frawley was keen to name the Scissor Kick filly Sparkles, but unfortunately this was not approved and so it was from there that Danny's Sparkle evolved.
And going by what she showed when second on debut at Echuca on Sunday, the Mitch Freedman-trained Danny's Sparkle looks set to honour her namesake with a successful racing career.
Dalziel said connections, which included Frawley's widow Anita, did not go into Sunday's assignment with any expectations.
He said it was all about giving her some race experience.
Dalziel said Danny's Sparkle went much better than expected and with a big more luck when running home from well back could easily have won.
He said she had already shown enough to suggest she would be provide a fitting tribute to Frawley, although for now she would be going for a freshen up before being prepared for her three-year-old campaign.
Dalziel said what would become a good friendship with Frawley was initiated when the former St Kilda captain approached him with a view to getting into ownership as part of a project to reinvigorate one of Ballarat's best known racing operations - Sylvan Lodge.
Sylvan Lodge had been the training and breeding base of racing icon Barry James - Anita Frawley's father. Originally in Delacombe, the stable was relocated to Miners Rest.
The Frawleys purchased the property as James entered retirement from training and in late 2018 Anita and her sister Kelly Amoore launched "Sylvan Lodge Equine Centre" - specialising in pre-training, rehabilitation and agistment of thoroughbreds.
Dalziel said the original plan was to secure two yearlings at the sale, but with prices at a premium Danny's Sparkle was their only buy.
Dalziel said Frawley's death had been shattering for all and with time on their side the decision had been made to ease back on the preparation of the filly and allow everyone time to come to grips with his loss. He said it now appeared that it had been worth the wait.
Danny's Sparkle was bred by Darren Dance, of Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock at Ballan, and is a half-sister to group 1-placed Behemoth,
