True talent by Hurricane Sky

True Storm has been placed to perfection by Jim Taylor and he is scanning the calendar looking for another suitable race at Ascot.

Taylor claimed the Hurricane Sky mare is a pleasure to train after she won the Keys Bros Solutions Hcp (1200m) on Saturday.  “She always gives her best and is always in the money,” he said.  “I hope they don’t penalise her too many points – she only won by a half-head – there’s sure to be a nice mares race for her coming up.”

True Storm (4m Hurricane Sky – True Bloom by Is It True) is a homebred for Scenic Lodge owner David Smith and she received the run of the race under apprentice Ellie Cockram.  “It was a top ride and her claim helped,” Taylor added.  “She gave the mare every chance one out and one back.”

Cockram angled the winner into the clear at the top of the straight and, after bumping Grey Chevel, she balanced up and went after Ziva Star.  After hauling in the leader, Cockram lifted True Storm over the line to defeat fast closer Darlington Abbey.

The runner-up is a Scenic Lodge graduate who won last year’s Perth Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

True Storm is by retired Scenic Lodge stallion Hurricane Sky and another talent from that same crop is Fiddlers Elbow who has won his last four in a row at Ascot.

Hurricane Sky’s three year-olds includes unbeaten filly Wild Stratus and there are 10 foals from his final book that are now two year-olds.

True Storm is a half-sister to Group performed mare Mendicity (Blackfriars).  They descend from a female line developed by Hunter Valley vet Murray Bain that rose to prominence in the 1960s with the brilliant juvenile fillies Obelia (AJC Keith Mackay Hcp), Tod Maid (STC Silver Slipper Stakes) and Little Gum Nut (AJC Fernhill Hcp).

Coral Park studmaster Glenn Money tapped into the family to breed numerous winners including top-class sprinter Bradson (Beau Sovereign).  He won 7 stakes races to Group 2 level in the WA Guineas, Lee-Steere Stakes and Winterbottom Stakes between 1995 and 1998.

Splash sparkles for Scenic Lodge

Rejuvenated sprinter Splash Of Moet landed a plunge for premiership trainer Peter Moody at the Bendigo metro meeting on Saturday.

The daughter of Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash was racing first-up after a change of stables in the Daiquiri King Hcp (1100m).  After firming sharply into second favouritism, the grey mare settled at the back of the field and then launched a lethal finish down the centre of the track to overhaul the leader Rich Jack.

“I’m impressed – she’s a nice mare going forward,” jockey Luke Nolen said.  “Placed to advantage, we’re going to have a bit of fun with her.”

Splash Of Moet (4m Dash For Cash – Storm Tossed by Rory’s Jester) was originally trained by Mark Minervini in Adelaide and had won twice as a two year-old by a combined 9 lengths.  Her form subsequently tapered off and she was sent to Melbourne late last year.

A $42,0000 graduate of the 2011 Adelaide Magic Millions, Splash Of Moet is from a winning Lindsay Park mare and second-dam Stormy Dawn (Bluebird) was raced by Colin Hayes to a Listed victory in the SAJC Cinderella Stakes.

Dash For Cash (Secret Savings) has been relocated to join champion sire Blackfriars at Scenic Lodge for the 2014 season.  The Muchea stud now stands Western Australia’s two leading stallions on the Australian sires’ premiership.

Talented sprinter Dashiell was an omen tip at Geelong last week.

The son of incoming Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash is named after Cate Blanchett’s son and he won shortly after the Australian star was awarded the Best Actress Oscar for Woody Allen’s film Blue Jasmine. 

The four-legged Dashiell is from the Testa Rossa mare Blanchett.  The dam is a sister to Magic Millions 3YO Trophy winner Tereschenko 

Dashiell was patiently ridden by Matthew Allen in the Channel 31 News Maiden (1200m).  Starting odds-on at $1.50, he was caught wide but was always travelling well.  After swinging around the home turn, he let down and charged to the line for a soft win. 

“He sprinted hard and picked them up easily,” Allen said.  “He probably should have won that way at Bendigo last month.  He’s a get back and run home sort of horse and always needs a bit of luck – but we were blocked all the way down the straight that day.” 

Dashiell is trained by Robbie Griffiths for a large syndicate headed by part-owner and breeder John Mathieson.  Connections have covered all bases this weekend nominating him for Moonee Valley (Friday), Yarra Glen & Donald (Sunday) and Warrnambool (Monday). 

Dash For Cash sired another winner from the same crop as Dashiell at Moonee Valley on Monday when Waldorf saluted in the Essendon Hyundai Elantra Hcp (1600m) 

The David Hayes trained Waldorf has won two on the bounce at Moonee Valley for owner Gary Lechte who owns Delamere Stud on the Mornington Peninsula.  Lechte’s connection with the Hayes family goes back to the days when he was a major shareholder in 1986 Melbourne Cup winner At Talaq. 

Waldorf (5m Dash For Cash – Princess Phoebe by King Of Kings) is from a half-sister to Queensland based sire Bagger Vance.  Her second dam Fluoro was Listed winner of the 1994 Bounding Away Quality at Sandown for David Hayes and Lechte. 

Dash For Cash (Secret Savings) has joined Sunspeed champion Blackfriars (Blackfriars) and rookie sire Universal Ruler (Scenic) on the roster at Scenic Lodge for 2014. 

Blackfriars ($2.66 million) is the only West Australian based stallion above Dash For Cash ($1.76 million) on the Australian sires’ premiership this season.