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37.
Guineas
Clean Sweep For Widden
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16/10/2002 |
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The
team at the historic Widden Stud in the beautiful Widden Valley of N.S.W. has
had plenty to celebrate of late. Four days after top-class three-year old colt
Helenus, a first crop son of Helissio, charged home to win the Group One MRC
Carlton-Caulfield Guineas, the outstanding filly Macedon Lady, a first crop
daughter of local champion Filante charged home to win the fillies equivalent,
the $500,000 Group 1 Vinery Stud-One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield today.
FILANTE
Given a patient ride by Steven King Macedon Lady flew home to nail the
ultra-consistent La Bella Dame (Royal Academy) on the line to win by a half/head
with the fast finishing Fuji Dancer (Fuji Kiseki) out-dueling Lashed (Encosta De
Lago) for third three-quarters of a length back. It was a trifecta for three of
Australia’s major stud farms, Widden, Coolmore and Arrowfield respectively.
Macedon Lady becomes the second Group 1 winner picked out of the 2001 Inglis
Classic Yearling Sale by Macedon Lodge trainer John Symons. The first was Blue
Diamond Stakes winner Bel Esprit, a $9,000 purchase, who finished a luckless
second in the Caulfield Guineas.
Bred by Bill and Jenny Stearn’s Timor Creek Stud at Murrurrundi, Macedon Lady
was consigned to the 2001 Classic Sale by Goodwood Bloodstock as agent, with
Symons signing the ticket for $22,000. Macedon Lady is the first foal of the
5-times winning Cossack Warrior mare Boo Ticket a half-sister to outstanding
West Australian performer Cranky Tikit (Groucho). The winner of 16 races
including 6 in succession Cranky Tikit earned over $378,000 with wins in the
WATC Winerbottom Stakes (G2), Belmont Guineas (LR), Farnley Sprint (LR), Ruabon
Sprint (LR) (twice) and Bunbury Stakes (LR).
Despite never reaching the heights of commerciality Boo Ticket’s sire, the
Bletchingly stallion Cossack Warrior, has been appearing frequently in the
pedigrees of stakes winners of late due mainly to his ill-fated son Brave
Warrior. The dam of Boo Ticket, Tikitiboo is a daughter of the New Zealand-bred
international champion Balmerino out of a half sister to multiple group winner
Golden Key (Shifnal), winner of the Avondale Guineas, Canterbury Gold Cup,
Wanganui Guineas, Alison Stakes and Avondale Championship Stakes. Guineas and
Derby winners abound in this family. Imperial Angel and Porsha won the NZ 1000
Guineas, Ring The Bell and Silver Lad won the NZ Derby and Summer Prince was
successful in the AJC Derby.
Filante retired to Widden Stud in 1998 following a racetrack career that yielded
7 wins, 9 seconds and 3 thirds for earnings of $1,814, 837. His victories
included a course record-breaking win in the AJC Epsom H. (G1), the VATC Yalumba
Stakes (G1), Tatts Chelmsford Stakes (G2), and AJC Warwick Stakes (G2) (twice).
Filante finished runner-up in six Group One races including consecutive runnings
of Australia’s WFA championship W.S. Cox Plate (G1), once at the hands of
champion Saintly who is a son of Sky Chase, like Filante, a son of Windsor Park
Stud’s outstanding stallion Star Way. Filante started 12 times in Group One
events and never finishing further back than fourth in any of them.
Filante stands for a fee of $11,000 at Widden Stud.
By: Mark Smith
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