Author Archives: Caroline Gammage

KRISTY REYNOLDS APPOINTED AS STUD MANAGER

Scenic Lodge is delighted to announce Kristy Reynolds appointment as Stud Manager.

It’s an amazing story, Kristy started with Scenic Lodge on school work experience at the age of only 14 and has now progressed to Stud Manager.
From Kristy’s very first day her natural talent with the horses shone through, she is a natural talented horsewoman. Work experience led her to some part-time work which then developed into full-time work.
Kristy has had the opportunity to learn and develop at Scenic Lodge working under some good management
and Vets. Her progression was so rapid that in 2019 Kristy was appointed to the dual role of Stallion Manager and Assistant Manager at the young age of 21.
Kristy is very enthusiastic, and passionate and is extremely excited about taking on the new role and leading the Scenic lodge team into the future.
We are proud and lucky to have Kristy take on the role of Stud Manager at Scenic Lodge.

Lord Gannicus – TBWA Winner of the Week

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Breeding: Universal Ruler – Hello Paris (Rothesay) 2yo colt
Owner / Breeder: Elio Galante
Trainer: Grant Williams
Jockey: Pat Carbery
Prizemoney: $42,780 Westspeed Bonus: $16,300
Photo: Western Racepix

Universal Ruler’s 2yo filly Penny On The Queen has ability to burn and the Scenic Lodge sire followed up with talented 2yo colt Lord Gannicus at Belmont last Wednesday.

Penny On The Queen won an Ascot nursery in February prior to black-type placings behind Amelia’s Jewel in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes and G2 Karrakatta Plate.

Lord Gannicus (2c Universal Ruler – Hello Paris by Rothesay) had been runner-up on debut to Tiffany Street (Street Boss) at Ascot on May 7 which augured nicely for the Crown Perth Maiden (1200m) at the midweek meeting.

Sent out a long odds-on favourite, he was caught without cover but had enough class to prevail by a half-neck over Rockon Molly (Awesome Rock). “He’s still a prep away but did a really good job today,” trainer Grant Williams said. “He will furnish into a real good horse so we will either give him one more run or sent him straight to the paddock.”

Winning jockey Pat Carbery is also keen on his prospects next season. “He jumped better than I expected and I tried to save him for the business end. He had to dig deep and will appreciate a longer trip than 1200m.”

Lord Gannicus is a homebred for Elio Galante who has raced several winners by Universal Ruler starting with Snow Lord who won 7 races for earnings of $334,300.

Galante and his wife Jacqui have yearling and weanling full-sisters to Lord Gannicus in the pipeline. Their dam Hello Paris won city races at Belmont (3) and Ascot and second-dam Paris Heartbeat (Marooned) was a Listed winner in Melbourne (Summoned Stakes) and Brisbane (Glenlogan Park Stakes).

Blackfriars 3yo sons realising potential

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Above the Peg and Yaphet were profiled as horses to follow at the start of their current preps and they’re realising that potential this month.

That said, there’s better things ahead for the 3yo sons of Scenic Lodge legend Blackfriars next season.

Above the Peg completed a city hat-trick in the Crown Perth Hcp (1400m) at Belmont on Saturday while also bringing up the 50th city win of the season for trainer Simon Miller. He launched a determined finish in the straight and, despite drifting in, nailed front-runner Savage One (God Has Spoken) right on the line.

Above the Peg (3g Blackfriars – Sky Rumba by Shrewd Rhythm) has earned a crack at black-type according to Miller and that will come in the LR Raconteur Stakes (1400m) on June 6.

“Since being gelded, he’s been running true to form,” Miller said. “That was a good win. They’ve been racing on top of the speed today but he came from a fair way off them. The Raconteur is next.”

He’s a final crop 3yo by Blackfriars and is a younger half-brother to G1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) winner Portland Sky (Deep Field). Bred by Anita Vale Stud, he was purchased for $170,000 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions by Miller who was acting for a syndicate that includes prominent owners Barry McRostie and Fred Fairthorne jnr.

Yaphet has been sent for spell following a fast-finishing second to Jungle Magnate (NZ) in the G1 South Australian Derby (2500m) at Morphettville last Saturday. He ran a big race in defeat coming from 15th on the home-turn in the 16-horse field.

“We will give him a break instead of pressing on to the (G1) Queensland Derby,” trainer Cliff Brown said. “It’s a good time to stop. He’s healthy and well and the spring carnivals come around pretty quickly.”

Yaphet (3g Blackfriars – Snacking by Bletchley Park) had won a mile maiden at Moe in December before capturing a valuable race at Sale on Good Friday. “He’s progressing nicely and that hasn’t surprised us,” Brown admitted. “We’ve always liked him and it was good to see him run so well in the Derby.”

Brown bought him on behalf of Barree Stud owner Glen Whittenbury for $28,000 at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions. Bred and sold by Scenic Lodge, he’s the final foal of 2005 LR Burgess Queen Stakes winner Snacking.

There are no specific spring plans, however, he gives every indication of being able to run 3200m right out. A Group 1 Melbourne Cup campaign could see him line up at Flemington on November 1 against the Dan Morton-trained Alaskan God who is a son of Blackfriars sire Playing God.

Yaphet is this season’s leading earner by Blackfriars who has progeny earnings of $3.76 million. This month’s surge saw him open up a sizeable lead over Playing God ($3.34 million).

A G2 WA Derby winning prep by Alaskan God had seen the Darling View sire close the gap in April but Blackfriars now appears on track for a 12th WA title in a row.

Pretty performer by Dash For Cash

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I’m Pretty ran right over the top of the leaders to claim the first leg of a winning treble for Scenic Lodge at Belmont on Saturday.

The Dash For Cash grey mare settled at the tail of the field in the TABtouch Westspeed Platinum Hcp (1400m) and was still six lengths in arrears at the furlong. She responded to a well-timed Willie Pike ride to win running away by the best part of two lengths from Speedy Miss (Demerit).

I’m Pretty had won first-up at Belmont a fortnight ago and is racing in career-best form this prep. “She’s had issues with her feet and the farriers have done a great job,” trainer Adam Durrant said. “She was stuck behind a few slow ones today but picked them up and won like a better horse.”

Durrant prepares the 5yo for his parents Geoff and Vicki Durrant who have banked $148,615 including Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $30,050 from 7 wins in 23 starts. She has also earned EPONA credits of $6,490 towards her first-season service fee.

I’m Pretty is the first of three Dash For Cash foals from Not So Pretty (Bletchley Park). Their 4yo mare Looksnoteverything won at Bunbury in March and their unraced 2yo filly I’m A Special Girl won a Lark Hill trial last Monday.

Not So Pretty has a yearling colt and a filly foal by Snippetson who completed the Scenic Lodge treble with Sunnysilk (Grant McLearie Hcp) and Tinsnip (Free Entry To Belmont Hcp).

Sunnysilk is trained by David Harrison and has won three of her last five starts this season following surgery for a chipped knee. Saturday’s victory increased her earnings to $268,970 including Westspeed Platinum payments of $115,600. It also sent her EPONA credits through the maximum threshold of $10,000.

Tinsnip is prepared by Durrant for owner-breeder David Elsegood and he has been a consistent money-spinner winning to Group 3 level in the 2019 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes for prizemoney totalling $370,860. “He was playing games behind the gates but it was a good, fighting win after over-racing outside the leader,” Durrant said. “Luckily it was a steady tempo which made it hard for the backmarkers.”

Apart from Snippetson’s Perth winners, his strike-rate has been augmented by recent interstate 3yo maiden winners Playing For Keeps (Gunnedah) and Semenuk (Mildura).

Playing For Keeps was bred by Loloma Farms and is a half-brother to Fancy Feet (G3 Strickland Stakes). Semenuk was bred by Glenn Martin and is a half-brother to Zuccheros (LR Carbine Club Stakes).

Scenic Lodge stands Snippetson and Universal Ruler for $8,250 with Dash For Cash ($2,200). All fees (inc GST).

Scenic Lodge announces fees for 2021

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High-end results at the Perth Magic Millions complemented by remarkable strike-rates at Ascot have been the spur for modest service fee increases for Snippetson and Universal Ruler at Scenic Lodge.

They will both stand for $8,250 (inc GST) in 2021.

The Scenic Lodge pair led all Australian stallions for yearling sale returns this year set against their 2018 service fees.

Perth’s record-breaking Magic Millions Yearling Sale propelled Universal Ruler to the top of the nation-wide list when his 2018 fee ($4,950) was multiplied by 11.3 to his yearling average ($55,909)

Snippetson (11.2) was second with a 2018 fee ($6,600) soaring to a Magic Millions average of $74,067.

“We are delighted with the results for Snippetson and Universal Ruler in the sales ring and on the track in the last 12 months,” Scenic Lodge general manager Jeremy Smith said. “We are always mindful of our service fees and feel even with this moderate increase they are still both standout options for breeders in WA.”

Snippetson scored a PB during Book 1 of the Magic Millions with the filly from Pearlesque (Statoblest) making $200,000 to the bid of trainer Stephen Miller. His Book 2 yearlings also received the tick of approval, averaging $70,667 off a 100% clearance rate.

Snippetson was Champion WA Active Sire in 2019-20 and will be hard to dislodge from the top of the table again this season. Gemma’s Son was the catalyst for an amazing winning run in the second-half of this season when he became the first galloper to complete the Magic Millions 2YO Classic – 3YO Trophy double.

Snippetson’s current crop of juveniles burst out of the blocks with brilliant filly Sniparoochy. She was unbeaten leading into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic only to suffer a leg injury in running as the odds-on favourite.

Spin The Knife won on debut at Ascot as did Storm Whisper at Bunbury before a head-bobbing second in the LR Perth Stakes (1100m). Featherweight also saluted at Ascot prior to finishing fourth in the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes.

Universal Ruler has been the most popular sire with WA breeders in recent years, averaging over 100 mares in his last three books.

In light of those figures, the best is yet to come from the Stakes winning son of Scenic (Ire) who has already made an indelible impact in WA. He was Champion First-season sire in 2013-14, Champion 2YO sire in 2017-18 and Champion Active sire in 2018-19.

His strike-rate in black-type races has gone to another level in the last two years with ANGELIC RULER (LR Sheila Gwynne Classic), BAM’S ON FIRE (Gr.3 Victoria Hcp, 3rd G1 Robert Sangster Stakes), LADY COSMOLOGY (G3 Proud Miss Stakes), MARKET RULER (LR Beaufine Stakes), REBEL KING (LR Cyril Flower Quality), THE VELVET KING (G3 Northerly Stakes) and UNI TIME (Carbine Club WA Stakes).

Universal Ruler is the go-to sire for the Westspeed Platinum Scheme. The owners of Military Reign banked $565,200 boosted by $180,000 in bonuses. All Scenic Lodge stallions are nominated for the lucrative Westspeed Platnium Scheme.

Dash For Cash rounds out the Scenic Lodge roster at $2,200 (inc GST). He’s a proven sire at a bargain fee off 400 individual winners to date at a 66% winners-to-runners strike-rate.

For further information, contact Jeremy Smith at (08) 9571 0155 or 0419 943 356 [email protected]

River Beau Runs for Snippetson

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River Beau will be given the chance to crack a hat-trick in Group 3 company after a sizzling victory in the Crown Towers Hcp (1000m) at Ascot.

The Snippetson sprinter had defeated star filly Clairvoyance a fortnight ago and backed that up with another impressive win on Saturday. He ran down front-runner Ziebell to win by a half-length in a quick 57.96s.

Snippetson stakes winner Gemma’s Son worked home to finish third another length in arrears.

Trainer Bruce Watkins believes River Beau has earned the right to make his black-type debut in the $150,000 Northam Stakes (1100m) on Sunday, May 2. “I knew he would be hard to beat when they went out hard today. He’s up in the ratings enough to warrant going to Northam. It will be another hi-tempo race and he can really finish off under those conditions.

“He used to over-race but is a more relaxed horse now. We’ve worked him out and he’s coming through his races much better. None of the family have been winter horses so we will probably tip him out after his next start.”

River Beau (4g Snippetson – Peggie’s Louise by Oratorio) is a homebred for Keith and Peggie Beauglehole. His dam is a half-sister to Australian Horse of the Year Miss Andretti (Ihtiram) and multiple stakes-winning sprinter Danny Beau (Zedrich).

Peggie’s Louise delivered River Beau first-up and her latest foal is an unraced 2yo filly by Snippetson named Paradise Diva.

Jockey Jason Whiting has been aboard River Beau in all 18 starts for 6 wins and prizemoney totalling $291,590 including Westspeed Bonuses of $45,150. “I was happy to slot in behind the speed and bide my time. He has a brilliant turn of foot and can cover decent horses quite easily.

“There’s no reason why he can’t come to the party at Northam. You won’t know until you have a go.”

Scenic Lodge stallion Snippetson has already sired 8 individual winners this month. His 2yo gelding Featherweight was successful at Ascot on April 10 and wasn’t disgraced when working outside the lead to finish fourth in the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

Featherweight and Funny Az double for Snippetson

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Trainer Dan Morton is hoping Featherweight (Snippetson) can upend a proven route into the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (1400m) this Saturday.

Every Sires’ winner for the last decade – bar one – has come off a fortnight’s break from the G2 Karrakatta Plate. The only exception has been Prentice (Blackfriars) in 2014 and he has a link with Featherweight as both were bred and sold by Scenic Lodge.

Featherweight is none the worse for his narrow win over Ain’t No Other Man (Gingerbread Man) in the Crown Perth Plate (1100m) at Ascot last Saturday. “He’s a happy horse and has pulled up well so we will press ahead,” Morton said. “He had been unlucky not have won before last weekend. He’s a nice horse in the making and will be all the better next season.”

Saturday’s win was his fourth start since a debut second to Pixie Chix at Ascot on February 21 and there were pre-race concerns he may have trained off. “He was stirred up in the yard and it didn’t help when the start was delayed,” Morton added. “He over-raced and was caught wide but fought it out to the line. I thought he had won but wasn’t so sure after watching the replay.”

Featherweight was a $45,000 buy from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions. His dam Prime Knockout (Mossman) has also thrown LR Ascot 1000 Guineas winner Like A Butterfly (Blackfriars) and her latest foal is a weanling colt by Star Witness.

Second-dam Prime Again (Marooned) won a G2 Champion Fillies in Perth and a G3 Auraria Stakes in Adelaide. Her foals include LR Bunbury Stakes winner Young Lionel (Blackfriars) and LR VRC Matron Stakes winner Lady Knockout (Serheed).

Featherweight was the first-leg of a running-double for Snippetson on Saturday. The Dion Luciani-trained That’s Funny Az led home a trifecta for the Muchea nursery in the Amelia Park Hcp (1600m) when he defeated Blackfriars duo Mackenzie Brooke and Friaresque.

That’s Funny Az (4g Snippetson – Scenic Fair by Scenic) has won his last four in a row since resuming from a spell. “I wouldn’t mind six horses just like him in the stable,” Luciani declared. “He suffered from gastric ulcers previously and I have to thank Lindsey Smith for his advice. That’s been the catalyst for the improvement.”

A $17,000 graduate from Scenic Lodge at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions, he has now earned $366,122 including Westspeed Bonuses of $110,850 for a partnership managed by Loloma Farms. He will attempt to nail a picket-fence in the Diggers Cup (1800m) at Ascot in a fortnight.

Snippetson added some classic black-type later in the day when Kerman Rock was placed in the G2 WA Derby. He had won a Northam maiden at the start of the season and is bred to make the grade as a stayer next season.

Scenic Lodge bought his dam Brimarsco (Encosta de Lago) at the 2015 Inglis Great Southern Sale in Melbourne. She is a daughter of Grand Journey who won the 2008 WA Derby when it was a Group 1.

Divine Shadow shines at Pinjarra

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Divine Shadow will have a short spell in the wake of his LR Pinjarra Cup (2300m) victory on Sunday with connections now looking ahead to the Belmont winter season.

The Brett Pope-trained stayer became the 43rd stakes winner for Blackfriars on Sunday when cruising home by the best part of four lengths from Media Baron (Written Tycoon) and Trap For Fools (Poet’s Voice). He raced away in the straight under Steve Parnham to salute the judge for the first time since Belmont in July 2020.

The victory saw his bank account soar past $300,000 which includes Westspeed bonuses of $42,400. Pope bought him for $30,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2017 Perth Magic Millions.

He’s the third Pinjarra Cup winner sired by Blackfriars following Simply Adorable (2010) and Spiritual Warrior (2020).

Divine Shadow (5g Blackfriars – Idyllic Doll by Scenic) had come close to breaking his black-type duck at the Goldfields carnival earlier this season with placings in the Coolgardie Cup, LR Boulder Cup and LR Kalgoorlie Cup.

“He liked the give in the ground today,” Pope said. “I’ve lived here all my life so it’s really good to win the hometown cup. The owners deserved a change of luck. They’ve been with me since I bought my first yearlings back in 2005.

“The Pinjarra Cup was our main target for him this prep,” Pope added. “I thought we’re going pretty good on the corner. They don’t normally travel up like that in a feature race and it looked like a track gallop when he joined in.

“I’m not sure what to aim for with his rating in mind.” The only black-type event at 2000m plus on the winter calendar is the weight-for-age G3 Strickland Stakes at Belmont on June 26. His three-quarter brother God Has Spoken won the Strickland in 2011.

Divine Shadow’s younger full-sister Lady Duckworth had won a support-race earlier on Cup Day. The 4yo mare also bolted in with five lengths to spare in the Leinster Contracting Hcp (2300m).

Lady Duckworth changed stables twice as a 3yo and has found form for her third trainer – Middle Swan-based Darren Taylor – since resuming from an extended spell in February. She won a Bunbury maiden in March and is now on a hat-trick for new owner Damon Jacoby.

The Blackfriars cross with Scenic (Sadler’s Wells) has produced 5 stakes winners and its strike-rate is right up there on the top-shelf at 69%.

Divine Shadow will have a short spell in the wake of his LR Pinjarra Cup (2300m) victory on Sunday with connections now looking ahead to the Belmont winter season.

The victory saw his bank account soar past $300,000 which includes Westspeed bonuses of $42,400. Pope bought him for $30,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2017 Perth Magic Millions.

He’s the third Pinjarra Cup winner sired by Blackfriars following Simply Adorable (2010) and Spiritual Warrior (2020).

Divine Shadow’s younger full-sister Lady Duckworth had won a support-race earlier on Cup Day. The 4yo mare also bolted in with five lengths to spare in the Leinster Contracting Hcp (2300m).

The Blackfriars cross with Scenic (Sadler’s Wells) has produced 5 stakes winners and its strike-rate is right up there on the top-shelf at 69%.

Sons of a Gun set for Karrakatta

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Scenic Lodge has won the last 19 sires’ premierships in Western Australia but it has some unfinished business in the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on Easter Saturday.

The Muchea Stud’s stallions provided the runner-up in 2018 – Lady Cosmology (Universal Ruler) and 2019 – Tinsnip (Snippetson) while in 2020 – Gemma’s Son (Snippetson) was beaten out of the placings as a long odds-on favourite.

Snippetson fronts up with a pair of frontline candidates from his third WA crop tomorrow and they are both rated highly in pre-post betting. Spin The Knife is the second favourite in TAB markets at $8 and Storm Whisper is on the next line at $10.

Spin The Knife (2g Snippetson – Zany Lady by Zeditave) won his maiden on debut at Ascot in February and then came from a mile back to get within a couple of lengths of the winner in the LR Supremacy Stakes on March 7. The Luke Fernie-trained youngster raced wide that day and cast a near-fore plate in running so there were excuses. He was also sent back to the trials after proving difficult to load and he won that hit-out under a hold from Mitch Pateman.

Spin The Knife surprised Fernie with his forward showing first-up. “It was a brave win after being headed. Winning wasn’t part of the plan. He was just here to learn so we’re very happy with the result.”

He cost $55,000 from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions and general manager Jeremy Smith remembers him as one of the more precocious youngsters in the catalogue. “He’s a striking chestnut from a running family. He was all quality during inspections and looked a ripper!”

Storm Whisper (2g Snippetson – Cyclone Bella by Hurricane Sky) also won on debut at Bunbury in December and was last seen going down in a head-bobbing finish to the LR Perth Stakes (1100m).

Stewards reported he returned to scale showing symptoms of tying up, however, trainer Neville Parnham will have him peaking on Saturday. The WA Hall of Famer won the 2008 Karrakatta with Brava Fortune.

Parnham only had to pay $21,000 for Storm Whisper at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions partly because he was the last of 331 lots to parade in the Swan Valley. He was also bred and sold by Scenic Lodge and is from a winning daughter of Belle Chanson (G1 Australasian Oaks).

The $500,000 Karrakatta result will turn the WA 2yo sires’ table upside down if a local stallion is successful. Rommel, who has Ultimate Command engaged, heads the ladder on $354,122 from Snippetson ($304,692), Safeguard ($216,900), Playing God ($212,492) and I’m All The Talk ($192,292).

Another Standout filly by Blackfriars

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Standout Rose brings back some wonderful memories for trainer Bruce Watkins and he’s looking forward to a successful autumn campaign after her first-up victory at Ascot on March 7.

The Blackfriars 3yo filly has been nominated for Ascot (1400m) and Bunbury (1200m) this weekend but Watkins is leaning towards a start in the south-west on Sunday. “There’s a couple of smart ones in town and she’s probably not ready to run 1400m second-up,” Watkins said from Capel this week. “I didn’t think she was forward enough to win first-up, either. But they really ran along that day and Jason (Whiting) said she was suited with the sting out of the ground.”

Standout Rose is a homebred for Mary Gracie and David Barnao and she will eventually get over a mile. Her dam Rose (Mosayter) won 4 times in 9 starts and she’s a half-sister to El Presidente (Dante’s Fury) who was a Group 1 winner of the 2007 Railway Stakes (1600m) for Gracie and Watkins.

El Presidente completed a feature hat-trick in the Railway after earlier wins in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes and G3 R J Peters Stakes. “I only got him after Kath Fleming recommended me to Mary,” Watkins recalled. “He had bolted and dropped a few of Kath’s riders and did the same when they sent him to someone in Geraldton.”

Watkins is a former rodeo rider who had educated thousands of horses before El Presidente. “I used a heavy stock saddle and we got him going to win 8 of his first 10 starts leading into the Railway. There were no interstate horses over here that year because of Equine Influenza but he was top-class.”

El Presidente was subsequently sidelined with a tendon injury and, despite stem-cell treatment, was unable to make a comeback. He enjoyed life as a companion for the young ones at Bruce’s stable and is now in retirement at Coolup.

Gracie has been involved in racing and breeding horses since the 1970s. She founded Saddlery Wholesalers in Carbine Street, just a stone’s throw from Ascot racecourse, and it has evolved into an award-winning business.

Watkins and his wife Liz are also partners with Gracie in another member of the family named Acting God (Playing God). He’s a half-brother to Rose and El Presidente being the last of seven foals from Cottage Rose (Cheraw).

“He’s not far off his first start. I’ve nominated him for the Lark Hill trials on Monday,” Watkins said. “He’s a big, immature 3yo and is still finding his legs.

“I broke him in with Standout Rose. It feels like there’s five legs until she quickens but he’s a beautiful mover. I’ve liked him ever since the first day in the round yard.”

Blackfriars is odds-on to annex an 11th consecutive WA sires’ premiership in 2020-21 with current earnings of $2.66 million. His nearest rivals are Snippetson ($2.02 million) and Playing God ($1.85 million).

This is the Scenic Lodge legend’s last season with juveniles and his 2yo filly Be Optimistic is rated a $15 chance for the G3 Gimcrack Stakes (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday.