Branxholme owner-trainer Laughlan McLean’s decision back at the end of 2021 to purchase a three-month-old pup by Sennachie out of four-race winner Won’t Stop Her from Kilmany breeder Justin Bowman didn’t work out too badly.

Costing $1500, the black bitch subsequently raced as Malevolent Girl. And in a racing career cut short by injury, she won eight races from only 24 starts at Mount Gambier, Warrnambool and Horsham for more than $22,000 in prize money.

It was at Mount Gambier’s Tara Raceway that she went particularly well, defeating Top Cadillac in last year’s age-restricted Winter Classic (512 metres). A couple of months later, she then beat Federal Flash in the long-running Newman McDonnell Memorial (512 m).

In November 2022, Won’t Stop Her – a daughter of Fabregas x Never Ask – whelped a second litter, this time to Zack Monelli. And McLean was quick to jump in and purchase a couple more pups.

Recently, the two black bitches – Identify As and Condah Express – kicked off their racing careers at Tara Raceway with the former opening her winning account in the Carlin & Gazzard Maiden Stake (400 m) on Sunday, June 2.

Having her third start, Identify As found the front in what was a roughly-run race and held on to beat Bungaloo Bruiser by a half-length in a time of 24.11 seconds. But McLean’s not getting too carried away just yet.

“Look, she’s got a fair way to go yet. But she’s still very young and has kicked off her racing career with very little field experience so hopefully there’s still plenty of improvement in her.

“And as far as Malevolent Girl is concerned, I’m now looking to mate her with Bernardo, whose bloodlines of KC And All and Surfonic I believe will match up really well.”