The Scenic Lodge legend has been represented by the winners of 36 black-type races reserved for horses in their classic season.  His youngest progeny will turn four on August 1

Black Fantasy went back-to-back on the weekend following his victory in the LR Aquanita Stakes (2000m) earlier this month.  He scored by three-quarters of a length from Flower In The Wind (Sebring) and they gapped the rest of the field with third-placed Tizzle Top (Vert De Grece) five lengths astern

“He went from being placed in the Magic Millions Trophy (1200m) to being placed the WATC Derby (2400m) last prep,” co-trainer Dan Pearce said.  “And he’s made this prep his own by winning the Aquanita and Belmont Classic.

“He’s earned a break now and looks a serious horse for next season.”

Black Fantasy (3g Blackfriars – Dreamalong by Southern Image) was a $36,000 buy for Pearce Racing from Scenic Lodge at the 2020 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.  He’s a three-quarter brother to Shining Knight (Blackfriars) who won a G3 Belmont Sprint for Peters Investments in 2015.  Dreamalong was purchased by Scenic Lodge for $25,000 a year earlier from Peters Investments.  She has a yearling filly by Magnus and weanling colt by Snippetson.

The Belmont meeting was something of a field day for Scenic Lodge.

Universal Ruler doubled up with his unbeaten 2yo Aztec Ruler in Race 1 and 3yo filly The Velvet Queen who sprouted wins for Impressive Racing in Race 9.

Dash For Cash mare I’m Pretty was also a quick closer for Durrant Racing in Race 2.  It added more EPONA credits to the $6,490 that the rising 7yo mare has banked for her first cover to a TBWA accredited stallion.

Scenic Lodge graduate Phanta (Gingerbread Man) is another winner off the Muchea nursery looking good value after changing hands for just $5,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions.  His bank-balance increased to $218,880 after Race 4 on Saturday and that includes Westspeed Platinum bonuses of $46,800.

The Scenic Lodge roster for 2022 comprises Snippetson ($7,700), Universal Ruler ($6,600) and Dash For Cash ($2,200).  Service fees (inc GST).

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.

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 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%.

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.

Justin Warwick has a very profitable record with Blackfriars and their balance sheet received another imbursement when Spiritual Warrior won the LR Pinjarra Cup (2200m) on Sunday.

The latest-black type arrived just 24hrs after his stablemate Volkswagon Frank scored a fighting victory in the Amelia Park Lamb Hcp (2400m) at Ascot. 

Both gallopers are 5yo sons of Blackfriars and emerged from the same crop as Come Play With Me (G1 Metropolitian Hcp), Friar Fox (LR Natasha Stakes), Like A Butterfly (Ascot 1000 Guineas) and Tellem We’re Comin (LR Hannan’s Hcp).

Warwick was born and bred into the harness industry and his transfer to the gallops received a kick-start when Black Tycoon won the G2 Perth Cup in 2014.  Since then he has saddled the winners of $2.65 million in prizemoney by Scenic Lodge’s deceased son of Danehill.

Spiritual Warrior’s contribution has reached $583,845 including $53,000 in Westspeed bonuses.  Justin and his wife Carol part-own the gelding and their daughter Lucy has been aboard in all four Listed wins this season – Kalgoorlie Gold Cup, ATA Stakes at Ascot, Bull & Bush Cup at Bunbury and the $120,000 Pinjarra Cup.  “We had a perfect run behind Superior Smile and that helped with 60kg,” Lucy said on Monday morning.  “He’s a tough horse and is more relaxed this season.  He’s still a bit cheeky but has furnished mentally and physically and Dad is looking to send him to the East Coast.”

The Warwicks have two final-crop Blackfriars yearlings at their Myalup stables that were sourced at the Perth Magic Millions in February.  The Scenic Lodge filly from Gemalileo (Teofilo) cost $70,000 and the Alwyn Park colt out of Never Easy (Elvstroem) made $100,000.

Perth couple Elio and Jacquie Galante supported Blackfriars throughout his stud career at Scenic Lodge and they bred Spiritual Warrior from Show A Heart mare Angelic Heart who is currently carrying a PPT to Universal Ruler.  Tellem We’re Comin is another of their stakes winners this season.

Unbeaten 3yo Last Of The Line is the latest Blackfriars stakes winner-in-waiting after he made it two from two in the Crown Perth Hcp (1400m) at Ascot on Saturday.  He is a homebred for Lindsay Rogers and will return next season in readiness to emulate his stakes winning brother Black Felix at the Ascot summer carnival.