Sad loss for the WA breeding industry – Champion sire Blackfriars has died

In a sad loss for the WA breeding industry, champion sire Blackfriars has died at Scenic Lodge.

The 21 year-old son of Danehill shattered a shoulder after colic surgery on Friday night.  “He was a true gentleman and loved by all,” Scenic Lodge’s Jeremy Smith said.  “We are all in shock.”

Blackfriars has been a dominant force in Western Australia winning the last 7 sires’ premierships.  His 400th individual winner arrived at Bunbury last Sunday and they have won over 1300 races.  Among them are a WA-record 36 stakes winners headed by current-day star Black Heart Bart.

A Swettenham Stud homebred, Blackfriars won a top-class renewal of the G1 Victoria Derby in 1999 defeating Shogun Lodge and Diatribe.  And in a deal that proved to be a massive coup for the local industry, Scenic Lodge bought him from Robert Sangster to join former Swettenham sire Scenic (Ire) in Muchea.

“He’s been part of the place for 17 years,” Smith said.  “He was in such good health and was never an ounce of trouble.

“He did it the hard way.  We had to get right behind him and, apart from being a champion, he was also just a lovely horse.”

Blackfriars will be buried alongside Scenic.  He covered over 90 mares at Scenic Lodge this season and there are 62 foals on the ground from his penultimate book.  He has 24 yearlings catalogued for the 2018 Perth Magic Millions and his young sire-sons Playing God (Mungrup Stud) and God Has Spoken (Rivercrest Park) are also represented at the February Sale.

Blackfriars Sires Winner Number 400

Blackfriars passed another career milestone when Willas Way won the Switchboards WA Maiden (1420m) at Bunbury on Sunday.

The Bruce Watkins-trained mare is the 400th individual winner for Scenic Lodge’s champion son of Danehill.  Having her second start this season, she settled one-out and one-back behind front-runner Pokemon Pete and then did best in a duel with Imortalite to score by a head.

Willas Way had to survive a protest before notching the ground-breaking win for Blackfriars and her managing part-owners John and Stephanie McGinty from Manjimup.  “I’m pretty sure she’s their first winner,” Watkins said.  “She fought it out all the way to the line and I will probably step her up to a mile next time.

“She should have broken through first-up at Mt Barker but kept ducking in behind the leaders.”

Willas Way is from Bindidane (Love A Dane), a three-time Bunbury winner for Watkins.   She was bred by Lillydale Park owner Greg Beauglehole whose uncle Keith owned the dam of Group 1 winning mare Miss Andretti

Blackfriars has sired more individual winners that any other sire based solely in WA.  Former Dawson Stud / Lynward Park stallion Bletchley Park (Ire) held the previous record at 395 – his youngest are six year-olds and his latest maiden winner was Dash Dot Dash at Pinjarra in January

There are 24 yearlings by Blackfriars catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions in February.  Among the highlights from Scenic Lodge are the brother to LR Placid Ark Stakes winner Black Felix (Lot 40), the three-quarter brother to G3 Belmont Sprint winner Shining Knight (Lot 55) and the half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Lucy Mae (Lot 125).

 

Wilde winners by Dash For Cash

Victorian trainer Symon Wilde has more silverware lined up for Dodging Bullets in the $100,000 Werribee Cup (2000m) this Sunday.

The consistent son of Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash won the $100,000 Kyneton Cup last month and Wilde warmed up for his next assignment with another Dash For Cash winner at Terang on Monday.

His grey mare Dash Of Pash scored by two lengths first-up giving jockey Andrew Mallyon a trouble-free winning fee in the Terang Co-Op Maiden Plate (1200m).  She was resuming after a fast-finishing fourth on debut at Hamilton in June.

“She gave me a good feel when I came down to ride her work last week,” Mallyon said.  “She showed a bit of toe and I was confident when she jumped and sat outside the leader today.

“She put her head on her chest and went to sleep.  I gave her a kick in the straight and she put them away.  She’s not filly furnished so will definitely keep progressing.”

A homebred for Wayne Johnstone, she is by Dash For Cash from La Reef (North Reef) who won three restricted sprints in the western districts.  Her half-sister La Mookta claimed a Terang maiden before graduating to city wins at Flemington (3) and Caulfield.  She was also stakes placed at Flemington and at Warrnambool in a Wangoom Hcp.

“Dash Of Pash has been given plenty of time to mature – she’s in great order,” Wilde explained.  “And it’s a thrill to win here for Wayne.  He’s president of the Terang Racing Club.”

Samovare upgrades foal by Snippetson

Moonee Valley’s Saturday meeting started with the latest WA-bred winner in Melbourne when Samovare was on her best behaviour in the Ladbrokes Odds Boost Hcp (1600m).

Samovare won the G3 WA Champion Fillies Stakes for Amelia Park owner-breeder Peter Walsh and Brian Bradley before transferring to Lindsay Park earlier this year.  “She can be a bit quirky but was on her best behaviour today,” David Hayes said.  “We will either come back here for the JRA Cup or go a week earlier in the Naturalism Stakes at Caulfield.”

Scenic Lodge also has a vested interest in the Savabeel mare who is nominated for the Caulfield Cup – Melbourne Cup double and Cox Plate.  Her dam Sambar foaled a colt by Scenic Lodge sire Snippetson last Monday and she has been booked to Extreme Choice this season.

Sambar (More Than Ready) was a Randwick winner carrying the Amelia Park colours for Gai Waterhouse.  She is a daughter of Am Crazy (Bluebird), a half-sister to stakes winners Nevet (GCRC Baramul Bowl) and the dams of Rio Carnival (SAf Thukela Stakes) and Press The Buttom (Reisling Slipper).

Snippetson is off to characteristically quick start this season with 11 individual winners since the beginning of August.  At that rate, he’s on track to break through the century mark for the first time following 97 winners last season.

Scenic Lodge stands Snippetson for $6,000 with Blackfriars ($12,000), Universal Ruler ($3,850) and Dash For Cash ($2,500).  All fees (plus gst).  Fees are subject to discount structures and for further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356.

Lim’s Sincere winning weekend for the Meagher family in Singapore

Lim’s Sincere found an extra gear to ignite a winning weekend for the Meagher family in Singapore on Friday night.

The Snippetson speedball flew in front, well away from the fence, and then fought back when challenged by Hoshiko (Star Witness) in the straight.  It was his 4th win over 1000m at Kranji and it was also the quickest at 58.48s.    “Not a bad day at the office,” trainer Dan Meagher said.  “It was a well-executed plan and we got the result thanks to a perfect ride by Razali Zawari.”

Meagher now operates the stables that were run by his father for over a decade in Singapore.  John Meagher returned to Australia last year and his latest stakes winner arrived on Saturday when Savanna Amour saluted in the G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.

Lim’s Sincere was purchased by Mick Dittman for $30,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions HIT Sale and Friday’s result send his earnings to the equivalent of AUD 202,805.

Scenic Lodge sire Snippetson got him from Exabaa (Anabaa).  Her close relation Good Baby (Hussonet) won 15 races in Malaysia including the Magic Millions Classic.

Apart from his outstanding strike-rate in Australia – he led all WA stallions with 97 winners of 155 races last season – Snippetson has sired the winners of over 80 races in Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia & Macau.

They’re durable, too.  His first-crop included Electronic Motion, now a 10yo gelding on a hat-trick in New Zealand after recent wins at Oamaru and Riccarton for local trainer Aaron Taylor.

Snippetson stands at Scenic Lodge for $6,000 with Blackfriars ($12,000), Universal Ruler ($3,850) and Dash For Cash ($2,500).  All fees (plus gst).  Fees are subject to discount structures and for further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356.

 

Memsie million beckons Bart

Blackfriars has warmed up for his first crack at a Group 1 this season with a stack of winners in Western Australia.

The Scenic Lodge champion has sired 17 individual winners already this season to take up a Top 6 spot in Australia.  And he will zoom up the prizemoney table if his interstate star Black Heart Bart wins the $1 million Memsie Stakes (1400m) at Caulfield on Saturday.

Jockey Brad Rawiller is confident that Black Heart Bart can return to winning form after a first-up placing in the G2 P B Lawrence Stakes a fortnight ago.  “He trialled terrific at Ballarat on Monday.  He went with Tosen Stardom and it was quite strong work.

“Obviously, he’s going to be better than what he was first-up,” Rawiller added.  “We said that all along that he would be improved with that run under the belt and I think a lot of the work has already been done with barrier five.”

Black Heart Bart won the 2016 Memsie and is second-favourite ($6) behind fellow Perth raider Vega Magic ($2.70) for this year’s renewal.  No horse has won two in a row since the mighty mare Sunline.

“We’re really happy with Black Heart Bart and, as normal, the first-up run has brought him on,” trainer Darren Weir said.  “I wanted to run him second-up in this and then into the Makybe Diva Stakes.  He usually runs a great race second-up and I wanted him ready for these two races.”

Blackfriars has another 10 entrants for Saturday’s Belmont meeting and they can increase his home-state strike-rate.  He sired a rare longshot winner on Wednesday when Aquajinsky scored in a blanket finish at $151.

Aquajinsky is a homebred for Belhus Racing manager Peter Morley and his dam Aquamaze (Bletchley Park) foaled another Blackfriars colt last year.  It’s the family of Group 1 Flight Stakes winners Goleen and Judyann.

Blackfriars (Danehill) stands for a $12,000 fee at Scenic Lodge together with Snippetson ($6,000), Universal Ruler ($3,500) and Dash For Cash ($2,500).  All fees (plus gst) and are subject to discount structures.  For further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356.

Multiverse has returned from a beneficial spell for a breakthrough victory at Belmont

.Trainer Gary Crispin schooled Multiverse in a couple of maidens at Pinjarra and Ascot before putting away in March.  The Universal Ruler gelding won a trial earlier this month and firmed from $15 into $11 for the Get The TAB Touch Maiden (1200m) on Saturday.

“He’s always shown ability and we’ve taken him along quietly while he matured,” Crispin said.  “He’s turned the corner and appreciated the sting out of the ground today.”

Multiverse is from Lightbeam (Clay Hero) who descends from Santa Anita Group 1 winner Amerigo’s Fancy.  Her final foal is a filly by Universal Ruler.

Breeder Paul Whyte has kept a link with the family through Lightbeam’s daughter Galadria (Speed Week).  Her first two foals by Universal Ruler – Raczynski and Pivarnick – are winners and the third – Universal Truth – is ready to debut for Crispin after two hit-outs at Belmont.

Star sprinters Rebel King and Military Ruler are also ready to resume for Universal Ruler after easy trials at Lark Hill last week.  The Darren McAuliffe trained stablemates coasted home for William Pike and Rebel King clocked 56:96s which was easily the best of the morning over 950m.

Universal Ruler (Scenic) sired the winners of 43 races last season for earnings over $1 million in Australia.  His yearlings sold for more than $50,000 at the 2017 Perth Magic Millions and that gives breeders a healthy profit off a $3,850 (inc gst) service fee.Scenic Lodge stands Universal Ruler alongside Blackfriars ($12,000), Snippetson ($6,000) and Dash For Cash ($2,500).  All fees (plus gst).  Fees are subject to discount structures and for further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356.

Consistency the key with Dash For Cash

Dash For Cash is about to begin a new chapter in his stud career with his first Sunspeed colts and fillies ready to debut this season.

The Scenic Lodge sire remains a consistent winner-getter with his residual stock bred in the Eastern States.  Red Gateau won his maiden at Bairnsdale last Thursday and Arr Flair was successful in Singapore on Friday.

Another Dash For Cash with bright prospects is his unraced 3yo Miss Entice.  The David Feek-trained filly was an impressive Pakenham trial winner on Wednesday and she is a sister to Boom ‘N’ Zoom who won a LR Cranbourne Cup for Dash For Cash in 2011.

Red Gateau had been runner-up 4 times in his previous 5 starts for Cranbourne conditioner Greg Hayes before the breakthrough in the Patties Foods Plate (1200m).  He’s a late-blooming younger brother of Riboulding who was still winning races as an 8yo for Hayes.

“He was too good for them today,” jockey Arron Lynch said after the two-length victory.  “He chimed in and then let down like I expected.  I still had plenty of horse on line and he will keep improving up to 1500m.”

In Perth, the Dash For Cash juvenile division includes a colt from Dark Rock (Blackfriars) that made $95,000 to the bid of trainer Roy Rogers at the 2017 Perth Magic Millions.  His dam won at Ascot and Belmont for Scenic Lodge owner David Smith.

Owner-breeders David and Michelle Bagley have already named their Dash For Cash – Idyllic Princess colt Sonic Dash.  His dam is a half-sister to millionaire sprinter Idyllic Prince (15 wins, G2 Lee Steere Stakes).

The Bagleys raced Rule To Wyn to 6 wins in Perth.  She is a daughter of Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler and is due to deliver her first foal by Snippetson.

Dash For Cash is tremendous value for a $2,500 fee at Scenic Lodge this year.  He stands alongside Blackfriars ($12,000), Snippetson ($6,000) and Universal Ruler ($3,500).  All fees (plus gst).

 

Scenic Lodge fees are subject to discount structures for early confirmed bookings. For further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356 or [email protected]

 

Blackfriars Wins 7th title in WA

It was fitting that Blackfriars gelding Foxinator landed the last race of the Western Australian season at Kalgoorlie on Sunday.

It climaxed another successful season for the Scenic Lodge stallion who has now claimed 7 WA titles in a row.  The champion son of Danehill sired 93 winners of 153 races and over $5.24 million in prizemoney.

Once again, Blackfriars spaced the rest of the field with Snippetson next best on $3.80 million.  Snippetson made it a clean-sweep for the Muchea stud capturing the winners (97) and wins (155) premierships.

Scenic Lodge has been home to WA champion sires for the last 16 seasons!

Legendary stallion Scenic (Ire) rewrote the record books after his first Sunspeed-bred progeny appeared in 2001-02.  He won 9 premierships in a row until Blackfriars assumed his mantle in 2010-11.

“For Blackfriars to claim his 7th straight Western Australian title is truly an amazing achievement,” Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith said on Tuesday.  “In time, we will look back on Blackfriars as one of the best stallions to ever stand in WA.

In all likelihood with, the strength of the Eastern States market, we may never see a stallion the calibre of Blackfriars standing here for his entire stud career.

“With limited spots still available for this upcoming breeding season and with Blackfriars now in the twilight of his stud career, he is simply a must-use stallion this year for local breeders while he is still an option.”

WA Horse of the Year Black Heart Bart was his chief earner with prizemoney of $1.46 million following Group 1 victories in the Memsie, Underwood, Orr & Futurity Stakes.  “He wintered really well in Queensland and will be on a similar preparation to last year,” Darren Weir’s stable manager Jeremy Rogers said.  “He will run in the P B Lawrence and then into the Memsie.”

His Blackfriars stablemate Chocolate Holic has been nominated for the postponed G3 Bletchingly Stakes (1200m) at Sandown this Sunday.

Blackfriars heads the Scenic Lodge line-up this year for a $12,000 fee alongside Snippetson ($6,000), Universal Ruler ($3,500) & Dash For Cash ($2,500).  All fees (plus gst).

Scenic Lodge fees are subject to discount structures for early confirmed bookings. For further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356 .

Buddy begins winning week for Snippetson

Buddy Honest was the catalyst for another winning week for Scenic Lodge sire Snippetson at Rosehill last Saturday.

The Aleacia Bennett-trained sprinter produced a bold, front-running performance to score a two-length victory in the TAB Highway Hcp (1100m). It was his third win in 10 starts following victories at Wellington and Quirindi earlier this season.

“It’s my first win in town, so I’m pretty excited,” Bennett said. “I wasn’t overly confident, but I knew he would come out and try his heart out because that’s what he does. He’s just learning and has finally figured out he’s a racehorse.”

Buddy Honest (3g Snippetson – Honest by King Of Kings) was a $26,000 buy at the 2015 Inglis Classic yearling sale. His dam is out of a half-sister to Tobougg who earned a start as a Darley shuttler after Group 1 victories in the Dewhurst Stakes and Prix de Salamandre.

Snippetson stepped up his strike-rate late this week with Sniponet (Taree) & Snippety Sip (Dubbo) on Friday and Desirable Miss (Gold Coast), Enzo The Barber (Morphettville) & Virgilio (Kembla Grange) on Saturday.

Time is Snippetson’s greatest enemy in an effort to sire 100 individual winners this season. He has 96 on the board to lead fellow Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars (93) with just a week remaining in season 2016-17.

Scenic Lodge stands Snippetson for $6,000 (inc gst) and the stud’s service fees are subject to discount structures for early confirmed bookings. For further details, contact Jeremy Smith on 0419 943 356 or [email protected]