Blackfriars filly rebounds in Burgess Queen

Blackfriars has sired his 32nd stakes winner with untapped three year-old Blackwood.
The Fred Kersley trained filly bounced back from a first-up defeat to win the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.
It was the fifth black-type result for Blackfriars in as many weeks following Young Lionel (LR Northam Cup), Black Heart Bart (LR Birthday Stakes & G3 Northerly Stakes) and Woodsville (LR Kalgoorlie Cup).
The Scenic Lodge champion also sired Kia Ora Koutou to finish third in the G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington on Saturday.
Blackwood (3f Blackfriars – Karriwood by Tobougg) was unbeaten in four outings during the Belmont Park winter season and resumed with a placing behind Perfect Reflection in the LR Belgravia Stakes (1200m) on October 21.
Settling much closer to the lead second-up, she responded when Lucy Warwick went for home at the top of the straight to defeat front-runner Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) by over a length.
“She’s a quality filly and I’m very pleased with that effort,” Kersley said. “She was exposed first-up and it was an improved performance today. We’re looking forward to the (G3) Champion Fillies in a fortnight.”
Kersley prepares Blackwood for Oakland Park owner-breeder Neville Duncan. She is closely related to their champion galloper Northerly and they have retained her 2yo half-brother Sandalwood (Rogano).
Blackfriars has kicked well clear of his rivals in pursuit of a sixth Sunspeed sires’ title this season. He has sired the winners of over $1.53 million to lead fellow Scenic Lodge stallion Snippetson ($848,700).