23rd February 2009 - Vol 38

Feature treble at Moonee Valley Premier meeting

Stallion Station's sires had a red-letter day at the Moonee Valley Premier meeting on February 7.

We had three winners on the 10-race card headed up by the effortless Victoria Derby triumph of Mach Three's outstanding three-year-old Captain Joy, who provided his sire with his third Derby champion.

Working to the front in the first lap, driver Gavin Lang was then able to dictate the terms to suit himself with the first half of the last mile being run in a pedestrian 62.2 seconds.

Allowed more rein in the back straight, Captain Joy quickly put a gap between himself and his rivals and rounding the home turn had the race safely in his keeping. He won as he liked.

Captain Joy tramped his last half in a blistering 55.3 seconds, a time which he could have sharply improved.

Out of a Talk About Class mare, the 2008 2YO of the Year has won 10 of his 14 starts to date - including three at Group 1 level - and $439,988 in stakes.

Thirty minutes earlier the Mach Three four-year-old Sammy Maguire stamped himself a potential topliner with a sparkling win in the $20,000 Country Clubs Championship Final.

Starting from an outside gate, the gelding did not participate in the early speed duel and settled down in the second half of the field. Gavin Lang sent him forward three-wide in the middle stages to raced upsides with the pacemaking Charisteas at the bell.

After assuming control on the home turn, Sammy Maguire demonstrated his superiority over his rivals, careering away to win by almost 15 metres in a new lifetime mark of 1:57.3 for the 2100 metres mobile.

It was the former Kiwi gelding's fifth win on end and his 11th from 17 starts.

To complete a great night, Courage Under Fire's brilliant unbeaten son Bells And Whistles clocked the fastest time ever by a two-year-old at the Melbourne headquarters track, winning the $20,000 Premiere Stakes in an unbelievable 1:56.1.

After finding the front in the early stages, the colt survived midrace pressure from runner-up Renaissance Man to fight back and claim the $13,500 winner's cheque. He carved out amazing sectionals of 28, 31.4, 28.4 and 28.2.

Captain Joy

Sponsorship

Stallion Station has thrown its weight behind a number of important three-year-old classics during the next month.

We will be the sponsor of the Sires Produce, one of Tasmania's leading races for sophomores to be run at New Norfolk, near Hobart on March 9.

Other major sponsorships include the Gawler Oaks, to be held at Globe Derby Park on March 14, and the Geelong Oaks Trial on April 3. Both events will carry a $2000 breeding certificate to the winning owner donated by Stallion Station.

Courage youngsters create an impression

Bells And Whistles is not the only Courage Under Fire progeny to create an impression in the early season two-year-old racing.

In New Zealand, Lancome, a member of the Mark Purdon barn, earned the tag of the best two-year-old filly on the South Island with wins at her only two appearances at Addington.

Leading most of the way in the $20,000 NZ Sires' Stakes heat on February 13, Lancome showed her versatility by coming from back in the field to post a gritty win in the $30,000 NZ Yearling Sales Graduette six days later. The Mach Three filly Touch Of Rose, who led, completed a Stallion Station quinella.

Steamboat Willie and Dark Cameo, a pair of Courage Under Fire stablemates, won on debut at Shepparton and Maryborough respectively last week. The latter was particularly impressive, sprinting sharply after gaining a sweet trip to win - easing down - by 25 metres.

Courage Under Fire has so far sired seven individual winners this term and is second on the 2YO Sires' premiership.

Reactor Inter bound

Mach Three's champion son Auckland Reactor is being set for a tilt at the $1.6 million Inter Dominion Championship at the Gold Coast.

The four-year-old, who is part-owned by Stallion Station, gained entry into Harness Racing's Holy Grail with a $22,000 late entry fee and has been installed as the $3.20 favourite.

Auckland Reactor tuned up for the biggest month in his racing life with a soft end-to-end win in a Free-for-all at Addington last Thursday. Without Mark Purdon even turning the whip, the reigning NZ Horse of the Year won by four lengths and produced a 27 seconds last quarter.

Riverboat winners

The Cam's Card Shark horse Riverboat King, who has just completed his biggest season in the breeding shed, continued to produce class winners - on both sides of the Tasman.

Holdmehat, a three-year-old filly, turned in a rugged display to win on debut at Kilmore for the Wayne Potter stable.

Finn and See You Later Boys, a pair of Riverboat four-year-olds, won at Canberra and Albion Park respectively and look headed for far greater heights.

Meanwhile, Rolias, who won a double at Wairarapa, the Auckland winner Lesdale Me and a "new" winner Wire Netting Canoe are carrying the flag for their sire in New Zealand.

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