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Lanercost lands feature winTop Queensland colt Lanercost secured his first feature race win and took his earnings over the $150,000 plateau when he trounced his rivals in the $25,000 (Listed) Caduceus Club Cup at Tabcorp Park on February 19. After mixing his gait briefly soon after the start, the son of Courage Under Fire, once balanced up, was sent forward three-wide by Darrel Graham in search of the lead. He was able to dictate the terms from thereon. Following a 61.8 seconds first half of the last mile, Lanercost put the handlebars down in the last lap, running quarters in 27.8 and 27.7 to leave his eight rivals struggling in his wake. On the line he had 10 metres to spare over the highly rated Major Bronski. The mile rate for the 2240m. mobile was a slick 1:57.2. Lanercost has won four out of five this season and boasts a lifetime record of 15 starts for 12 wins, three placings and $164,837 in stakes. He is now being fitted for the $125,000 Group 1 Australian Derby at Launceston on March 21 and the $30,000 Group 1 Tasmania Derby at Hobart a week later. Bred by Michael Stratford, Lanercost is the seventh foal and seventh winner of Lanoch 2:01.1, a New York Motoring mare from the Vance Hanover mare Heathland, and tracing to a noted foundation mare in Bright Alice (by Rothschild). This is the family of the Victoria Derby winner Tanabi Bromac, Kohara (NZ Derby), Classiebawn, My Glengower and others. On the same program the Courage Under Fire gelding Coastal captured Australia’s shortest feature race The Stampede, run over 1200 metres from behind the mobile barrier. Working to the front early, the four-year-old was headed in the home straight by Diamonds N Furs but rallied strongly under Lisa Justice’s urgings to claim victory in the final bound. Coastal, the winner of 15 races and $121,240, was bred and is owned by Queensland businessman Greg Brodie, who raced Courage Under Fire throughout his illustrious career. Lanercost and Coastal were not the only classic winners sired by ‘Courage’ in February, however. Talk To Me Courage, a New Zealand-bred West Australian owned and trained gelding, got into the act by winning the $35,000 Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at Gloucester Park. Relishing the breakneck early tempo, the six-year-old was still second last at the 800 metre peg but weaved his way through the pack in the latter stages to prevail in a photo finish. It was his 17th win and boosted his stake earnings to a healthy $197,668.
Race sponsorshipsStallion Station sponsored important events in two States in the first week of March. Firstly, we supported the Stallion Station 2YO Classic, a $19,250 feature run over 1670 metres at Pinjarra big Super 9’s meeting on Monday (March 1). Next Saturday (March 6) Stallion Station will sponsor the Stallion Station Bendigo Trotters Cup, a $15,000 discretionary handicap event which is a leg of the Maori’s Idol Trophy Series. The winner will receive a service trophy to our champion trotting sire Armbro Invasion. |
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Kotare Mach brilliantMach Three’s outstanding son Kotare Mach effortlessly won a heat of the Southern Supremacy Stakes at Wyndham on February 27. Rolling straight to the front from the outside gate, the colt was never seriously threatened and, after an opening half in 59.9 seconds, pinged home in a scorching 55.4 (29.1 and 26.3) to win by just over a length without Mark Purdon turning the whip. Kotare Mach led in a Stallion Station trifecta with the Courage Under Fire duo Motu Crusader and Atom Of Courage filling the minor placings. The New Zealand three-year-old record holder stopped the clock in 1:55.3 in notching his seventh win from 15 starts. He now will be set for the Group 2 Flying Stakes at Addington on March 26 and the NZ Derby in April. Meanwhile, the Mach Three two-year-old filly Collectable made it two wins from two attempts when she captured the $30,000 Young Guns heat (1700m.) at Alexandra Park on February 26. Beginning brilliantly from her awkward second row draw, Collectable surged to the front 300 metres from the start and thereafter never gave her rivals a look in. With Nicole Molander sitting quietly in the bike, the filly won by three quarters of a length in a 1:58.8 rate (last half in 57.8).
Riverboat Rosie – four on endThe Riverboat King mare Riverboat Rosie has been in sparkling form in Adelaide over the past month. The former Queensland Oaks winner won on four consecutive Saturdays at Globe Derby Park and has won six out of nine in her adopted State. Riverboat Rosie has a bankroll of $87,414 and it seems a mere formality that she will go over the $100,000 mark.
Smashbox sweeps Canadian seriesSmashbox, a daughter of Mach Three, completed a sweep of the Ontario Girls Pacing Series for four-year-old mares when she won the $60,000 final at at Woodbine last Friday night (February 26). Settling down in fourth position, Rick Zeron revved the mare up and took command at the half-mile in 55.4 seconds. In a thrilling three-horse drive to the wire Smashbox survived by a head, stopping the teletimer in a career-best 1:52.8. It was her third win from four tries this year and boosted her lifetime bankroll to just over $130,000.
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