Group 1 draws Son of Blackfriars

Son Of Something booked a berth in the G1 Kingston Town Classic after winning the LR Northam Cup on Sunday.

The son of Blackfriars dead-heated with Rebelson in the first split-decision since the race was launched in 1863. Class mare Bippo No Bungus was less than a length away third.

Son Of Something will now be given the chance to emulate Blackfriars star Playing God who won two editions of the Kingston Town in 2010 and 2011. His trainer Adam Durrant finished fifth in the 2013 Classic with Mr Moet.

Durrant had described Son Of Something as a work in progress after claiming the Country Challenge Final at Ascot late last year. He returned this term to beat Bippo No Bungus at Belmont and started a $2.35 favourite to maintain that winning strike-rate on Sunday.

It was a second Northam Cup trophy for Blackfriars following Moneghetti in 2011.

Son Of Something (5g Blackfriars – Miss Something by Fimiston) is the first foal of a mare who bowed out of racing with a winning hat-trick at Ascot in March 2008. Her second foal Fractal (Viscount) was placed in a Bunbury trial last week.

Blackfriars has now been represented by 26 stakes winners and is within one of squaring up with Northerly’s sire Serheed. Heytesbury champion Haulpak leads the WA list with 32 stakes winners.

He is also close to taking over the Western Australian earnings record with $23.58 million. That mark is currently held by Bletchley Park with $23.71 million in prizemoney.

Blackfriars (Danehill) is standing for a $17,600 (inc gst) fee at Scenic Lodge.

Morton labels Low Tide

Trainer Dan Morton has labelled Low Tide as a horse who could develop into a talented stayer this season.  The Blackfriars four year-old resumed racing over 1200m last month and he stretched out to win at 1730m at Ascot on Saturday.

“He’s been frustrating but his work showed us we were heading in the right direction,” Morton said.  “It’s good to chalk one up and we’ve earmarked him for much further.”

Low Tide (4g Blackfriars – True Believer by Is It True) chimed in to win the Merrywell Hcp (1730m) in a close finish from Andi’s Boy (Saxon) and Savanarola (Blackfriars).  Bred and reared by Scenic Lodge, he was knocked down for $65,000 at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions.

He counts Brisbane Easter Cup winner Majorca as an older half-brother and his dam is a half-sister to Group 1 star Old Comrade.

Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars has his feature juvenile winner Prentice entered for the G2 Moonee Valley Vase (2040m) on Friday evening.   His spring goal is the G1 Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday, November 1.

Trainer Simon Foster is confident Prentice will make the grade in Melbourne.  “We have him where we want him,” Foster said.  “His whole preparation has been aimed towards the Victoria Derby.”

Prentice won the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) in April for owners Dan and Julie Love and Foster also trains their Blackfriars filly Big Caroline.  She is being set for a November 1 fixture in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot.

Blackfriars ($790K) has established an early lead over Danehill Express ($531K) in the 2014-15 Sunspeed premiership.  He has sired 25 individual winners this season, well ahead of Mungrup Stud pair Danehill Express (15) and Oratorio (14).

Scenic Lodge is standing Blackfriars (Danehill) for a $17,600 (inc gst) service fee.

Kirani perfect for Pat Hyland

Dash For Cash gelding Kirani has turned the corner with a perfect strike-rate for trainer Pat Hyland this season.

The Cranbourne based galloper was a front-running winner first-up at Sale on October 1 before chasing down the leader for an impressive victory in the Peter Horobin Saddlery Hcp (1400m) at his home track on Friday evening.

Kirani (4g Dash For Cash – Clay Finale by Clay Hero) was bred by the late Bill Lanyan with a Dash For Cash service fee that was a present from Pat’s son Sam Hyland.  He had won it as a prize for a jockeys premiership at the Warrnambool carnival.

“He was a handful early on – he didn’t want a bar of the barriers,” Pat Hyland recalled.  “But he’s going well now and really had a crack tonight.”

Kirani is a younger half-brother to Sinar Bintang (General Nediym) who was a Listed winner of the Sultan Gold Vase at Perak.  “He’s got ability,” winning jockey Ryan Maloney said after weighing out at Cranbourne.  “And he can lead or chase.”

Bill Lanyan’s son Ross races Kirani under the Clay Hero Pty Ltd banner – Lanyan snr had won Group 1 races with Seltrice (1980 WA Derby) and Clay Hero (1989 Oakleigh Plate).  “Dad retained shares in Clay Hero when he retired to stud,” Ross recalled.  “And he bought a number of mares to go to him while he stood in New Zealand and Victoria.”

Dash For Cash (pictured) is based at Scenic Lodge and is serving his first book of Sunspeed mares at a $7,700 (inc gst) fee.