Blackfriars stampede at Belmont

The Blackfriars bandwagon is turning into an all-out stampede in Perth.  The Scenic Lodge champion sired his 24th stakes winner when Summah’s Touch stormed to a Listed victory in the Belmont Guineas (1600m) on Saturday.

Blackfriars has sired the winners of 10 stakes races this season and he’s dominated the black-type calendar since racing switched to Belmont last month.  There have been 5 stakes races run since then and he’s won 4 of them – Moneghetti (LR York Stakes), Kerrific (G3 Belmont Sprint), Black Tycoon (G3 Hyperion Stakes) and Summah’s Touch.

Marwina mare Power Princess prevented full-house in the G3 Roma Cup on May 18.  Third home that day was WA Horse of the Year Playing God (Blackfriars).

Summah’s Touch (3f Blackfriars – Hollywood Touch by Citidancer) made it two Belmont Guineas in a row for her sire after he won it twelve months ago with Rohan.

The Adam Durrant trained filly has more Listed assignments ahead in the Belmont Oaks (2000m) on July 6 and the Belmont Classic (2200m) on July 20.  “She had been working really well,” trainer Adam Durrant said.  “She was just cruising around the corner and, once balanced, chased very hard.

“I didn’t expect her to be that forward.  The Belmont Oaks will suit her better.”

Scenic Lodge sold Summah’s Touch for $30,000 at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions and she has now earned $243,000.  Her dam Hollywood Touch has a weanling colt by Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler but missed to Blackfriars last year.

Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith reports there’s been a rush of bookings to Blackfriars who is just six weeks away from claiming a hat-trick of Sunspeed titles.  “Breeders considering Blackfriars for their broodmare this season should contact us as a matter of urgency,” Smith said on Sunday.  “His book will be closing shortly.”

Blackfriars (Danehill) is standing at a $20,000 (plus gst) service fee.  Associate sire Universal Ruler (Scenic) is priced at $3,500 (plus gst).

Hyperion Stakes quinella by Blackfriars

Black Tycoon led home a Group 3 quinella for champion sire Blackfriars in the Hyperion Stakes (1600m) at Belmont on Saturday. The Justin Warwick trained gelding sprinted down the centre of the course to defeat last-start G3 Belmont Stakes winner Kerrific by a short neck. The first two home ensured the Scenic Lodge stallion collected the bulk of the $126,000 allocated in prizemoney.

Black Tycoon (7g Blackfriars – Dame Fontaine by Last Tycoon) is a late bloomer. Since joining Warwick’s south-west stables in January, he had won four races at Ascot and the Geraldton Cup before the Group 3 breakthrough at Belmont. The $150,000 Kalgoorlie Cup in September is the obvious target for Black Tycoon, however, Warwick has bigger plans for the gelding. “The owners come from the Goldfields but I think the horse is a bit better than that,” he explained. “He’s a natural runner and can really click when asked.” Warwick ran second with Blackfriars mare Rosie Rocket in last year’s Hyperion Stakes. “Black Tycoon is three lengths better than her. I always believed he could win at weight-for-age.” Black Tycoon is the final foal of Ascot winner Dame Fontaine who was put down in November 2009. Her half-sisters produced G1 T J Smith Classic winner Juanmo (Flying Spur) and the dam of this year’s Perth Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Express Service (Danehill Express).

Scenic Lodge stallion Blackfriars has now sired his 23 stakes winners among 50 black-type performers. He will stand for a $20,000 (plus gst) service fee this year.

Makeover colt wins for Moody

Former Perth colt Brave Prince started his new career in Victoria with a very promising win on Sunday.

Brave Prince (3c Show A Heart – Card Queen by Final Card) shouldered 60kg to a first-up victory in the Virage IT Hcp (1200m) at Cranbourne.  Resuming after a 28 week spell, he camped on the leaders and wasn’t pushed out to score by a half-length on an unfamiliar Heavy 8 surface.

The Scenic Lodge graduate is now trained by Peter Moody after being transferred east by leading owner Bob Peters.  He shaped nicely in a jump-out at Caulfield on May 21 and Moody decided to go straight into a race without a barrier trial.

Brave Prince is a younger half-brother to speed-machine Karuta Queen and Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy bought him on behalf of Peters for $230,000 at the 2011 Perth Magic Millions.  “He’s a flashy type and has a lot going for him,” Gabbedy said immediately after the sale.  “He’s a loose, great walking horse with plenty of length and looks a natural runner.”

Living right up to that rating, he scored an eye-catching win on debut at Northam in June 2012 before losing his way in three subsequent starts at the Ascot summer carnival.  The colt was a handful and cutting him was an option, however, Peters believes he could be a stallion prospect with some black-type on the scoreboard.

That’s where Moody entered the equation.  “Brave Prince is still a work in progress,” racing manager Jeff O’Connor said this week.  “When he first came over, Bob warned Peter he could be very aggressive.  It was a real good performance at Cranbourne and the boss liked the way he sat back and settled before putting them away.

“He’s got the ability alright and we will keep him at 1200 metres for now.  Peter will decide whether we go straight to town or have one more start at the provincials.”

Scenic Lodge’s David and Jeremy Smith are keeping a close eye on Brave Prince’s progress in Melbourne.  They retained his 2yo half-sister Black Queen and she was a good thing beaten on debut at Ascot in March.  The Blackfriars filly just missed black-type when fourth in the LR Gimcrack Stakes and was spelled after a wide trip in the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Scenic Lodge sold Card Queen’s yearling colt by Blackfriars to agent John Chalmers for $110,000 at the 2013 Perth Magic Millions.  The mare delivered a Blackfriars filly last August and is back in foal to the Sunspeed champion.