Taylor made winner for Scenic Lodge
Giant gelding Black Uma is going as well as ever for Scenic Lodge owner-breeder David Smith.
The Blackfriars five year-old broke through for his first win at Ascot in December 2011 and since then he has never finished further back than fifth.
“He’s a fighter and I knew he wouldn’t give up,” trainer Jim Taylor said after Black Uma did best in a head-bobbing finish to the Amelia Park Beef Hcp (1600m) on Saturday. “He was suited by the fast pace and stays out of trouble on the pace.”
Black Uma (5g Blackfriars – Uma Princess by Umatilla) is a younger half-brother to Taylor favourite Idyllic Prince (Scenic) who earned over $1 million during a distinguished career.
“He’s a big horse – well over 17 hands. He was racing third-up from a spell today and will be peaking when we get him out to 1800 metres next time.”
Big Josh filled out a Blackfriars double at Ascot in the WA Country Cup (1500m) on Saturday. He is a homebred for Trucking Nominees manager David Reed and so is last-start Belmont winner Fresco Friar.
Blackfriars has a narrow lead on the Sunspeed premiership with earnings of $673K ahead of Oratorio (Aus) on $663K. Saturday’s results followed his Listed quinella in the Northerly Stakes on October 19.
Scenic Lodge stands Blackfriars for a $22,000 (inc gst) service fee.
Blackfriars Quinella in Northerly Stakes
Scenic Lodge The bulk of the Northerly Stakes prizemoney helped champion Blackfriars returned to the top of the Sunspeed sires’ premiership when Playing God defeated Rohan in the LR Northerly Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.
In a surprise result for punters, the Blackfriars quinella paid over $304 on the WA TAB.
Playing God (6h Blackfriars – Dolly Will Do by Rubiton) had been winless since winning the G1 Kingston Town Stakes in December 2011 but trainer Neville Parnham was confident he would go well when racing returned to Ascot.
“I made no secret of the fact he’s been flying – the only worry was the handicap conditions,” Parnham said. “He’s a stallion so we’ve kept him up to the mark over winter and he’s going better now than at any other time in the last couple of years.”
Playing God was camped behind the leaders approaching the corner in a race chock-full of stakes winners. There were three abreast at the furlong – Rohan, Platinum Rocker & Luke’s Luck – until the top-weight levelled up to win running away by a neck
Blackfriars (pictured) overhauled Oratorio at the top of the Sunspeed table with the bulk of the Northerly Stakes prizemoney. He has now sired the winners of $577,000 this season to lead the Mungrup Stud stallion on $570,000.
Parnham has the summer carnival in sight for Playing God and his older brother God Has Spoken. “They will both be forces – people are quick to forget just how good they are. They’re both millionaires and there’s plenty more to come before they retire to stud next year.”
Playing God will start in the G2 Lee-Steere Stakes and G1 Railway Hcp before attempting a three-peat in the G1 Kingston Town Stakes on December 7. “We might even send him back over to Melbourne in the autumn,” Parnham added “He will have plenty of time to let down before the start of the stud season.”
On his first trip east in 2011, Playing God was third in the G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Australian Cup. He was placed again in last year’s G1 C F Orr Stakes behind world-champion Black Caviar.
Blackfriars (Danehill) has won the last three West Australian sires’ titles. He is currently covering another quality book for a $22,000 (inc gst) service fee at Scenic Lodge.
www.tbwa.net.au
Bright Future for Fresco Friar
Blackfriars gelding Fresco Friar could be the next feature winner to emerge for Ascot trainer Gino Poletti.
Poletti believes Fresco Friar is a WA Derby type and will probably spell him after a last-to-first victory in the Westspeed 3YO Hcp (1400m) at Belmont last Wednesday.
Fresco Friar (3g Blackfriars – Turkmenia by Spinning World) finished midfield on debut in August and then looked a good thing beaten when he just failed to catch Lady By Chance on September 4.
The lightly-raced galloper broke through when stepping up a furlong third time out at Belmont. He produced a barnstorming finish to defeat last-start winner Via Laurentina (Stratum) by a short head. Third home Run For Rum (Citidancer) came out and franked the form with a smart win at Belmont on Saturday.
“He’s missed the kick at all three starts and is still very green,” Poletti said. “I’ve always known he’s going to be handy but he just has to mature mentally.”
Poletti and stable jockey have Shaun O’Donnell have enjoyed a whirlwind 12 months winning the G1 Railway Stakes with Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck) and LR Kalgoorlie Cup with Classique Ivory (Savabeel).
Fresco Friar is a son of Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars and is raced by owner-breeder David Reed. He’s the only foal to race from Turkmenia. Second-dam I Do Hula (Hula Chief) is a sister to G2 WA Guineas winner Vows.
Blackfriars (Danehill) has been Sunspeed champion for the last three seasons. He sired 2012 WA Derby winner Rohan and the last two WA Oaks with Summah’s Touch & Pop Culture.
Scenic Lodge stands Blackfriars for a $22,000 (inc gst) service fee.