Champagne double for Blackfriars
Blackfriars can sire his second G3 WA Oaks winner in three years with untapped filly French Champagne.
The Oakland Park homebred had won a Northam maiden on December 4 and claimed the Kryptonite Hcp (1600m) despite a wide trip at Ascot on Saturday. “She’s doing it on raw ability at the moment,” trainer Shane Quilty said. “We will have to sit down and map out the best way of attacking the WA Oaks.”
The $250,000 WA Oaks (2400m) is scheduled for March 28. Blackfriars filly Pop Culture won the classic in 2012.
French Champagne (3f Blackfriars – Champagne Amore by Xaar) is from a half-sister to the Scenic stakes winners Marasco and Siesta Bay. Oakland Park owner Neville Duncan races her with Thunderstruck Racing and Loloma Farms couple Kevin Fowler and Kelly Everett.
Another Blackfriars with black-type goals is Black Heart Bart. He won the LR Carbine Club Stakes (1400m) last month and returned to outclass his rivals in the Black Widow Hcp (1200m) on Saturday.
The winning double kept Blackfriars bubbling $330,000 ahead of the pack for the Sunspeed sires’ premierships. He has won the last four titles.
Black Heart Bart (4g Blackfriars – Sister Theresa by At Talaq) circled the field to score by three lengths eased up at Ascot. “He’s an out-and-out sprinter and will go to the paddock now,” trainer Vaughn Sigley said. “He likes to sit off the pace and then explode.”
Long-range plans call for a Group 1 campaign targeting the Railway Stakes in 12 month’s time. His next prep will revolve around Listed races like the Cyril Flower Stakes (February 7), Pinjarra Classic (February 22) and Bunbury Stakes (March 8).
Blackfriars produced another two trial winners at Belmont last week.
Two year-old filly Miss Black won her hit-out by a half-length for owner-breeder Stan Quinlivan and trainer Simon Miller. She is the final foal of Eroded (Dauberval) who claimed the last of her 7 wins at Belmont in June 2005.
Unraced three year-old filly Cushryn won her trial for owner-trainer Jayne Busslinger. Her dam Tudor Mist (Scenic) is from a half-sister to WA Oaks winners Hasty Departure (1989) and India’s Dream (1991).