LA Graduate In Right Hands On Path To VRC Derby
It is no exaggeration to say that when Ballymore Stables announce they are setting a horse for the Group One VRC Derby, bookmakers throughout Australasia pay special attention. So while we may have missed the chance to get any decent odds, there was still plenty of excitement around the farm earlier this week when Mike Moroney revealed Derby aspirations for The Deep South (Darci Brahma-Southern Cry) following the three year-olds comprehensive win in a AUS$22,500 race over 1600m at Ballarat last Sunday.
The Deep South, who was bred by LA in partnership with Don and Jamie Gordon, was purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $80,000 from our 2010 Sydney Easter Yearling Sale draft.
Southern Cry, who is a Kaapstad half sister to Don Gordon's good racemares Full Noise and Dancing Daze, is owned by Don's son John. The mares 2009 Keeper colt was passed for $55,000 from our draft at this year's Karaka Select Sale, and without a foal last season, she is due to foal to Keeper this spring.
The path to the Derby is never an easy one but it will be exciting times leading up to 29 October to see whether The Deep South can follow in the footsteps of Ballymore's Monaco Consul and Second Coming, and go one better than the LA reared and sold Gorky Park, who ran second to Efficient in 2006.
Acquit (Towkay-Out on Bail) made it a winning double with her success at Riccarton last Saturday over 1600m and Cee Gee Jay (Towkay-Marjie Marjie) won over 1800m at Waimate on Wednesday.
There was a distinct LA flavour about the result of The General Staircase Maiden Handicap at Hawkesbury in New South Wales on Thursday with the LA bred Harry the Fox (Pins-Foxtrot) scoring narrowly from Savodara (Savabeel-Vedodara). Both horses were sold from our 2009 Karaka Premier Yearling Sale draft, with Anthony Cummings securing Harry the Fox for $120,000 and Rogerson Bloodstock parting with $270,000 for Savodra.
Real Dragon (Stratum-Maranello Miss), who sold for $25,000 from the farms 2009 Karaka Festival Sale draft, won over 1650m in Hong Kong on Wednesday evening.
This Sunday evening sees the long awaited return to the racetrack of Ace Aliado (Towkay- Waikawa) in Singapore. Off the scene since November 2009, the six-year-old will be looking to add to his imposing career record of seven wins and a second from eight starts, including a group two victory over 1400m in 1.20.8.
Lyric of Light became the 13th group one winner for Street Cry when taking out the Shadwell Fillies Mile at Newmarket in England today. LA stands the first son of Street Cry acquired for stud duties in New Zealand with the group three winning sprinter Per Incanto standing his first season this year at $4,000 plus GST.
