Perth Cup benefit for Blackfriars

Black Tycoon turned the G2 Perth Cup (2400m) into a benefit for champion sire Blackfriars at Ascot on New Year’s Day.

The Scenic Lodge champion sired three of the first four home in Perth’s premier staying event.  Black Tycoon (8g Blackfriars – Dame Fontaine by Last Tycoon) split a wall of horses inside the final furlong to win by a short head from Blackfriars millionaire God Has Spoken.

Ask Me Nicely (Ustinov) finished third ahead of Blackfriars gelding Rohan who was attempting to complete a WA Derby – Perth Cup double.

Blackfriars was credited with $444,000 of the $524,000 total prizemoney on offer.  He is now bubbling just under $2 million in earnings this season which is more than double his nearest rival on the current Sunspeed sires’ premiership.

“I was panicking on the turn – I didn’t think he could make it through in time,” trainer Justin Warwick admitted.  “But I knew he would get the trip and he hadn’t done any work in the run.

“He was a good thing beaten in the Cox Stakes last time and I wouldn’t have swapped him for anything else at the weights.”

Winning jockey Damien Oliver described the home-town victory right up there with his Melbourne Cup win on Fiorente.  “I had a nice run on the fence but then they stacked up.  I had a lap full of horse and, when the gaps finally came, he gave a big kick.”

Black Tycoon is the last foal from Ascot winner Dame Fontaine.  He was bred by Ron and Toni Harken and the Perth Cup was his third black-type win following the G3 Hyperion Stakes and LR Tattersalls Cup.

He is the fourth horse to complete the Tattersalls Cup – Perth Cup double in the last decade following Cats Fun (2007), Black Tom (2006) and Crown Prosecutor (2004).

Blackfriars has won the last three Sunspeed titles and is odds-on to claim a fourth in 2013-14.  He has 32 yearlings catalogued for the 2014 Perth Magic Millions including 15 from Scenic Lodge.