Planet Cash wins against bias at Belmont

Planet Cash had been backed from $10 into $6 before the Quayclean Hcp (1400m) on Saturday and bookmakers would have been happy when the lightyl-raced 3yo was spotting the favourite Triple Jay six lengths into the straight at Belmont.

Backmarkers weren’t making ground in the Soft 7 conditions but the bias couldn’t counteract Planet Cash (Photo / Western Racepix) when he powered home to defeat Sunny Honey (Patronize) and Californication (Preferment).

“We were relatively confident after he really hit the line first-up here a fortnight ago,” trainer Hayden Ballantyne said.  “He had missed a trial with a foot abscess and needed that hit-out.  He was a long way back today but that serious turn of foot made all the difference. He will have one more run and then go out for the Ascot season.”

Bred by managing part-owner Karl Kazmer, he’s by Scenic Lodge sire Dash For Cash from Belmont winner Planet Claire (Zedrich) who is two for two at stud having foaled Belmont winner Astro Warrior (Demerit) for the same connections.  Her 2yo filly Zeezea (Patronize) is also with Ballantyne and the mare was bred back to Dash For Cash last September.

Dash For Cash has sired 411 individual winners at a 65% strike-rate.  The popular grey galloper was a Group 1 winner at Flemington and Caulfield and initially stood at Swettenham Stud in Victoria before transferring west in 2014.

Scenic Lodge completed a Belmont double in the TABtouch Hcp (1300m) when Vane Tempest spaced the Dan Morton-trained Featherweight in the TABtouch Hcp (1300m).  They also filled out a quinella for former Scenic Lodge sire Snippetson.

Vane Tempest’s dam Quantum Leap (Regal Classic) was a $70,000 buy for Scenic Lodge at the 2014 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.  She is the mare’s only WA-bred foal and was retained by Scenic Lodge founder David Smith knowing her residual value as a younger half-sister to Outlandish Lad (G3 SAJC McKay Stakes) and He’sfantastic (LR VRC Interlink Stakes).

Scenic Lodge sire Universal Ruler had weighed in with two winners at the Belmont barrier trials last Monday.  His unraced 3yo Ardent Fox scored by three lengths for owner-breeder Wally Daly and trainers Sean and Jake Casey.  He’s a half-brother to LR Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1400m) winner Xaaravid.

Zenique also impressed winning a juvenile hit-out for Mitch Pateman and he has been nominated to debut at Belmont this Wednesday.

Scenic Lodge stands Universal Ruler for $8,250 alongside Dash For Cash at $2,200.  Fees (inc GST).