’Dad would be stoked’: Tears as Hi Barbie salutes for family of the late Alan Acton

There was barely a dry eye in the yard at Doomben on Saturday when rookie two-year-old filly Hi Barbie had some help from above to defy a massive betting drift and score the $200,000 Listed Phelan Ready.

Trainer Tony Gollan, jockey Angela Jones and Jessica Acton, the daughter of the late Alan Acton, after Hi Barbie's win at Doomben. Picture: Grant Peters / Trackside Photography

Sometimes, racing can bring you to tears.

There was barely a dry eye in the yard at Doomben on Saturday when rookie two-year-old filly Hi Barbie had some help from above to defy a massive betting drift and score the $200,000 Listed Phelan Ready Plate.

Bred by the late central Queensland cattle baron Alan Acton, who died in a tragic helicopter crash while mustering cattle last year, Hi Barbie was bought by Acton’s widow Jennifer at the Magic Millions Sales for $1.2m.

Daughter Jessica was on track at Doomben on Saturday, carrying a pink Barbie doll for good luck as Hi Barbie lined up on a heavy (10) track to make her racing debut.

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Hi Barbie was named by Jessica’s daughter Tommy after the family had watched a Barbie movie.

Punters must have doubted the filly’s breeding to win on a very wet track – her sire is I Am Invincible – and she was a savage betting drifter from $1.65 to $2.35.

But there was no doubt Alan Acton – who raced Hi Barbie’s Mum Outback Barbie – was looking down from above as the Tony Gollan-trained filly saluted and booked a slot in the rich Gold Coast Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.

👋 Hi Barbie wins the Listed Phelan Ready Plate at her first start!@tonygollan | @BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/eKM7oPv7O4

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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“This just means so much, we are doing this for Dad,” Jessica Acton told Racenet as she wiped away tears.

“Dad would be stoked and most importantly he would be really thrilled, hopefully, to have this filly qualified for the two-year-old Magic Millions.

“He loved Outback Barbie and this was the first foal and the last foal he saw of hers.

“Dad was a massive supporter of Tony (Gollan) and Mum has carried that through.

“Their aren’t that many people who support racing in their own right like my Dad, there are a lot of (ownership) syndicates these days.

“Dad and Mum were owners in their own right and they paid Tony’s bills on time – all the time.”

"Probably as nervous as I've been coming to the races for a first starter."

Hi Barbie was too good for them in the Phelan Ready Plate, hear from @tonygollan and Angela Jones... the best is yet to come!@BrisRacingClubpic.twitter.com/2M0MUvL02M

— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) November 30, 2024

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While Hi Barbie drifted alarmingly in betting, punters crunched the Mike Crooks-owned runner Secret Sort from $4.20 into $2.80.

Secret Sort had to make do for third as Hi Barbie did the business, holding off the Corey and Kylie Geran-trained Cuddles For Kimmy, who was $7.50 into $5.50.

Champion trainer Gollan was a relieved man post race after his first-starter, who had won a recent trial by seven lengths, did enough to win on a soggy track and book a Magic Millions slot.

“This wasn’t an option I loved, running a rookie filly on this heavy track,” Gollan said.

“It was probably as nervous as I’ve been coming to the races for a first starter.

“Not because of how good she as, it’s just that she means a lot to the Acton family and to our family.

“I didn’t love that sort of heavy ground for her, I just hoped her class would shine through.

“She was just better than them today.”

Originally published as ’Dad would be stoked’: Tears as Hi Barbie salutes for family of the late Alan Acton