Phone. +61 8 9571 0155 Fax. +61 8 9571 0122 Email: [email protected]

Rebel King on fire

Rebel KingScenic Lodge freshman Universal Ruler is building support for his next book on the back of a winning hat-trick by Rebel King. Rebel King (2g Universal Ruler – Rebel Sister by Falbrav) was stepping up to 1200 metres for the first time but never looked vulnerable in the Westspeed 2YO Hcp at Belmont on Saturday. He free-wheeled in front to win by over a length and there were a few more in reserve. “He had a setback and missed a bit of work since his last win,” stable spokesman Geoff van de Molen revealed. “But you wouldn’t know it the way he stamped his authority on the race – it was brilliant.” Impressive Racing’s Kevin Berry owned Universal Ruler and he manages the Rebel King syndicate with trainer Darren McAuliffe. “We have quite a few by the sire back home,” van de Molen added. “Keep an eye out – they’re all athletic types with a great attitude.” Present plans call for Rebel King to have one more start and then spell for Ascot’s three year-old features later this year. Berry will breed Rebel King’s dam Rebel Sister back to Universal Ruler this year. She will return from the Hunter Valley carrying an early foal by Stratum. Scenic Lodge continues its strong support and general manager Jeremy Smith believes Universal Ruler will click with their Blackfriars mares. He’s also booked in Durham Express – the Success Express mare is the dam of Fiddler’s Elbow who won four in a row at Ascot earlier this year. Universal Ruler (Scenic) will remain at a $3,850 (inc gst) service fee in 2014.

Classic Mission for Benall

Blackfriars two year-old Benall will make his debut at Flemington on Saturday and trainer Geoff Cousins is already looking ahead to the G1 Victoria Derby on November 1.

Blackfriars won the 1999 Victoria Derby and is poised for a fourth WA sires’ premiership from his base at Scenic Lodge north of Perth.

Benall (2g Blackfriars – Miss Megari by Toy Pindarri) is named after bushranger Ben Hall and will face the starter for the first time in the Eugene Gorman Handicap (1400m) at headquarters.

“Since Day 1, he has just kept improving,” Cousins told Racing Victoria journalist Daniel Miles this week. “I wanted to give him a run as a two-year-old and then give him a break before the spring carnival.”

Benall (2g Blackfriars – Miss Megari by Toy Pindarri) is a younger brother to Blackfriars Bridge, a Moonee Valley winner for Cousins before she succumbed to colic as a lightly-raced four year-old.

Cousins had won four races with their dam Miss Megari but sold the grey mare to a riding school thinking he would breed from Blackfriars Bridge. “I was working full time as a paramedic with a wife and three kids and couldn’t afford to feed too many horses,” Cousins recalled. “But when Blackfriars Bridge died, I went back looking for Miss Megari.

“She had been on-sold and we found her in a paddock unwanted and neglected,” Cousins said. “We brought her straight back home to Cranbourne. She took time to get healthy and then we sent her across to Scenic Lodge to be served by Blackfriars again.

“Benall was the result and we bred her back to Blackfriars for another foal the following year.”

Miss Megari stayed home last year and was covered by Melbourne Cup winner Americain at Swettenham Stud.

“It’s exciting when you get a horse like Benall,” Cousins said. “From shipping his mum off to Perth, then seeing the foal, breaking him in and now he gets to debut at Flemington.

“Even if we don’t make it to the Victoria Derby, he will be an even better stayer in the autumn.”

 

Winning Foundations at Scenic Lodge

Scenic Lodge highlighted a hectic week on the East and West coasts with four winners at Northam on Monday.

Sunspeed champion Blackfriars dominated with a treble and freshman Universal Ruler sired his latest two year-old winner at the Foundation Day meeting. Incoming Scenic Lodge stallion Dash For Cash made it a full-house when his gelding Carrera Dinero chimed in at Wodonga on Monday.

General Manager Jeremy Smith and Stud Manager Damien Kirwan spent last week at the Magic Millions National Sale and returned home on the long weekend with five foals and four broodmares from the Gold Coast.

Beautifully bred filly Black Queen claimed the first-leg of the Blackfriars hat-trick in the Avon Valley and she was followed by Allinone and WA Day Cup winner Ultimate Success. Black Queen (3f Blackfriars – Card Queen by Final Card) is a Scenic Lodge homebred and is a half-sister to Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Karuta Queen.   She was well overdue to break through having been beaten a nose on debut at Ascot before finishing a close-up fourth in the LR Gimcrack Stakes. “I have been fortunate to train a number of quality racehorses by Blackfriars,” winning trainer Jim Taylor said.  “His stock are tough with an amazing will to win.  He’s clearly the best sire we have in WA.” Taylor also prepared Universal Ruler filly Rule To Wyn to win the Radio West Northam Maiden (1100m) on Monday.  She vied for the lead with Fire Born before forging clear to a one length victory. Rule To Wyn (2f Universal Ruler – Wynyard Hall by Blackfriars) is a half-sister to Ascot stakes winner Darlington Abbey and was a $26,000 buy as a foal for owners David and Michelle Bagley. Taylor said the filly had been unlucky when placed at Pinjarra last month.  She had also been hampered by a back injury and the win will be a confidence booster when she steps up to city company.

Universal Ruler (Scenic) is in the Top 10 on the Australian first-season sires’ table with earnings of $174,070.  He is odds-on to claim the WA title in that category and give Scenic Lodge a clean-sweep of the stallion awards for 2013-14. Blackfriars will win the WA title for the fourth year in a row.  He has sired 56 winners of 82 races and over $3.37 million in prizemoney.

Scenic Lodge has announced Blackfriars will stand for $17,600 (inc gst) this year.  The Dash For Cash fee has been set at $7,700 (inc gst) and Universal Ruler will remain at a $3,850(inc gst). For further information, broodmare owners should contact Scenic Lodge on (08) 9571 0155 or Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356. Scenic Lodge Stallions