Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Race-Day Recap
The G2 Perth Cup was won by outsider Hemlock Stone (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) who was only in the race because it was good marketing for his owner, Belhus Racing.
A tactically run G3 La Trice Classic was won in a front-running display by Antique Miss (Domesday) gave owner-breeder Bob Peters an unexpected new stakes winner.
Oxbridge (City Place {USA})’s Listed Summer Scorcher win delights trainer Stephen Sheehy who has only three horses in work.
Hemlock Stone (NZ) surprises punters in G2 Perth Cup win
Ignored by punters at $81, Grant and Alana Williams trained 5-year-old gelding Hemlock Stone (NZ) (Dalghar {Fr}) came into the G2 Perth Cup at the end of a long spring campaign where 11 starts had yielded three wins, and his last start was a seventh in the Listed ATA S. over 2200 metres. “I actually wanted to put this bloke out (for a spell) but Peter Morley (Belhus Syndications) said having a Perth Cup runner is good for business,” Grant Williams said.
Good for business it was; with Hemlock Stone cruising out of the gates for jockey Patrick Carbery and tracking at the back of the field in a nice relaxed fashion. At the 800-metre mark, he slowly made his way around the field until the turn where everyone spread wide, and he was virtually the widest of them all as he swung for home in mid-field position to sprint clear with Michael Grantham trained 5-year-old gelding Diamond Scene (So You Think {NZ}) clinging with him. The pair battled to the line, with Hemlock Stone winning by 0.63l from Diamond Scene, and it was almost 2l back to Luke Fernie trained 6-year-old mare Be Optimistic (Blackfriars) in third.
“Pre-race, I said to the guys, let's get excited, we have a horse in the Perth Cup and I said good luck more than anything. It has blown me away,” Williams said. Syndicator Peter Morley was thrilled. “I've almost lost my voice. I can't tell you how it feels – this is the best,” Morley said.
Purchased by Belhus Racing for $11,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from Willow Dale Farm, Hemlock Stone now has seven wins from 21 starts with earnings over $760,000. It was his first stakes win and he becomes the fifth stakes winner for Dalghar (Fr).
He is the second foal for unraced mare Spiritual (NZ) (Savabeel) whose other winner is 4-year-old mare Ishkur (Bullpoint). She has a 3-year-old filly Spiritart (Flying Artie) who has had one start, and an unnamed 2-year-old colt by Time To Reign. She doesn’t have a yearling and had a colt by Barbaric this season. Spiritual’s dam, Leti (Flying Spur) is a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Eremein (Timber Country {USA}), Group 3 winner Peace Force (Bernardini {USA}) and a full sister to Listed winner Gliding, dam of G3 Grand Prix S. placed Home Made (High Chaparral {Ire}) and stakes placed winner Think ‘n’ Fly (So You Think {NZ}).
G3 La Trice Classic becomes a tactical affair
When no one wanted the lead in the G3 La Trice Classic, it was jockey Chris Parnham who took the initiative on Michael Grantham-trained 5-year-old mare Antique Miss (Domesday) about 400 metres after the start and led the field at a canter until the turn. The mare sprinted away along the rail and held on to win by 0.4l from Grant and Alana Williams-trained 4-year-old mare Miss Skyhigh (Harry Angel {Ire}) with Michael Lane-trained 5-year-old mare Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) the same margin in third.
“There was no pace at all, was there? I thought Joey (Azzopardi on Noteworthy) would go and take the pace but he didn’t and Miss had to do, and it was a pretty good win considering what happened and the other horse had the drop on her the whole way. A game mare,” said breeder/owner Bob Peters.
“She’s got a bit of racing left in her, we haven’t tried her over much ground yet so we’ll see. … This was a race on the way through.”
This was the first stakes win for Antique Miss, who took her record to six wins and 11 placings from 26 starts with earnings over $380,000 for Peters Investments. She becomes the 20th stakes winner for Domesday and is the third foal of dual Listed winner Antique Belle (Redoute’s Choice) whose 4-year-old mare Antique Star (Pierro) is her only other winner to date.
Antique Belle is a sister to Listed Jungle Dawn Classic winner Broadway Belle, dam of dual Group 1 winner Regal Power (Pierro) and G2 WA Derby winner Action (Pierro). She is also a full sister to winning mare Arcadia, dam of triple Group 1 winner Arcadia Queen (Pierro), G2 WA Derby winner Arcadia Dream (Domesday), Group 3 winner Arcadia Prince (Pierro) and Listed winner Arcadia Rose (Kheleyf {USA}).
Listed Summer Scorcher is lucky 13 for Oxbridge
Stephen Sheehy-trained 8-year-old gelding Oxbridge (City Place {USA}) made it a lucky 13th win in the Listed Summer Scorcher at Ascot. Ridden by Holly Watson, he sat in behind the speed for most of the running, then dug deep to wear down the leader and favourite Luke Fernie-trained 6-year-old gelding Bopping Blue (Magnus) to win by 0.25l. Karen Kersley-trained Norich (Demerit) was 1.2l further back in third. With 13 wins from 56 starts, the tough Oxbridge has earnings over $270,000.
“He’s been a super horse for me, just unbelievable, he’s more than a horse for me, he’s a mate. We get on that great, really good.” said Sheehy. “My father told me that if they can run time and carry weight, take the best on, son, don’t worry about it. Last start he ran one three over 1100 metres with 60 and a half and I thought well 1000 metres is his go, so let’s have a go.” Oxbridge won his start leading into the Summer Scorcher win in 1:03.78 for the 1100 metres.
“A gun ride, can’t thank her enough,” said Sheehy of jockey Watson. Sheehy has only three horses in work. “My first metro winner, first Listed winner. I did ride some winners here though. We’ll go home, put him in the paddock for two weeks then go to The Bluff Knoll.” The Bluff Knoll, named for a mountain in Western Australia, is a slot race worth $600,000 over 1099 metres at Albury on March 16.
Oxbridge has done most of his racing at Albury and this was his first attempt at stakes company. He was bought for $45,000 at the Yarradale Stud Yearling Sale in 2018. He becomes the 14th stakes winner for his sire, and is out of unraced mare Colleges (Elusive Quality {USA}) who has also produced G2 WA Derby-placed Pale Rider (Rommel) who now races in Hong Kong as Tourbillon Prince. She has a yearling filly by Rommel and a colt foal by Rommel, and was served by Playing God this season.
Colleges is a sister to Listed Tasmania Oaks-placed Giggleswick, dam of Listed Mick Dittman Plate winner Plague Stone (Lonhro). G3 Rising Fast S. winner Spacewalk (Exosphere) is out another half-sister to Colleges in winning mare Benenden (Dubawi {Ire}).
