NEWS (August 2009)

Rock Of Cashel Progeny Strong at the Gold Coast

Friday 28 August, 2009: The progeny of Willowbend Stud’s Rock of Cashel seem to have an affinity with the Gold Coast track.

Last Saturday, Rock Of Cashel’s smart four year-old son Meet George was an impressive first up winner around the Bundall circuit.

Prepared on course by John Wallace, Meet George faced a strong Class 4 lineup over the 900m journey.

Maintaining his normal pattern of racing near the tail of the field, Meet George unleashed a powerful finish in the straight for a strong victory.

The win took Meet George’s record to 4 wins from 15 starts and over $145,000 in prizemoney.

Whilst Meet George has won twice at the Gold Coast, it seems clear his immediate future is in Brisbane Metropolitan class.

A member of Rock Of Cashel’s first crop, Meet George was bred and raced by long time Wallace client Wilma Morton.

Other smart Gold Coast performers for Rock of Cashel have included River Perfume and My Rock.

This Saturday at the Gold Coast, Rock Of Cashel is represented by the Bryan Guy prepared Magic Cashel who contests race three on the program.

Magic Cashel made good ground on debut to be beaten 2.7 lengths at the Gold Coast on August 8 over 1300m.

Tomorrow’s journey of 1400m looks ideal, and Magic Cashel could easily join the list of Gold Coast winners for her sire.

Broodmare of the Year Returns To Clang

Monday 24 August, 2009: Black Piranha’s dam Jazztrack has returned to Willowbend Stud.

In foal to Clang, Brisbane breeder David Israel will be hoping Jazztrack can produce a full relation to last seasons Stradbroke winner after a frustrating run of outs.

David Israel is the son of famed Hunter Valley breeder Lionel Israel.

Jazztrack has failed to put a foal on the ground in four seasons after producing Black Piranha at her debut stud year in 2003.

Earlier this month, Jazztrack was crowned Queensland Broodmare of the Year at the Queensland Racing Awards Night.

Meanwhile Black Piranha looks to of returned in good order after being runner up in his Rosehill barrier trial last Friday. 

Trainer Con Karakatsanis has earmarked the $3m Gr 1 Tatt’s Cox Plate (2040m) at Moonee Valley on October 24 as his main assignment.

US Result Turns the Heat up at Willowbend
 
Tuesday 11 August, 2009: Willowbend Stud’s David Lucas was more than interested to read the weekend results from North America with Elusive Heat, a three-quarter sister to his first season sire Southwestern Heat returning to the races in the Geyser Spring Stakes (L) over six furlongs at the prestigious Saratoga racecourse.

Elusive Heat was tabbed a rising star after dominating a Belmont maiden race by 5 1/2 lengths on debut last October. Freshened after that start, the sophomore was denied by a nose when second in a thrilling renewal of the GIII Old Hat S. at Gulfstream before rebounding in an allowance where she led every step to score by 13 1/4 lengths.

Sent to the sidelines and transferred from Kiaran McLaughlin to Angel Penna, the dark bay was heavily backed in her comeback race starting a warm odds on favourite.

Challenged early by Slam the Cat, Elusive Heat drilled the opening quarter in 0:22 before she began to draw away from that rival midway on the turn to stop the clock in a blistering 1:08.93 for the six furlongs.

The time was just 4/5ths of a second outside the long standing track record of 1:08.00 set by Spanish Riddle in 1972. Interestingly later in the day the Honourable Miss Stakes (gr.II) fell to older mares in a time of 1:10.70 over the same distance while a race later the leading sprinters of America ran the Amsterdam Stakes (gr. II) in 1:08.69.

“Xtra Heat is considered to be one of the fastest mares ever to look through a bridle and her progeny are all speed. Southwestern Heat was a very quick horse and his three-quarter sister is now emerging as one of the best three year old sprinting fillies in North America,” said Willowbend’s David Lucas.

Southwestern Heat stands his debut season at Willowbend at a fee of A$4,400 inc GST.

Clang Closes Season Strongly

 
August 1, 2009: Willowbend Stud’s Clang continued his resurgence with his progeny finishing the racing year strongly.

Clang closed the 2008/2009 racing season with progeny earnings of an impressive $3.514m.

In the 2008 Leading Queensland Sires (by Earnings), Clang finished a close second behind Show A Heart (2009 service fee $33,000), with $3.583m.

Sequalo (2009 service fee $15,400) was the third leading Queensland stallion in 2008 with $3.187m.

In national terms, Clang was ranked a highly creditable 21st, placing him ahead of many younger, higher priced stallions.

Considering Clang’s 2009 service fee is just $5,500, he must surely rank as the value for money sire in Queensland this spring.

Whilst the Cox Plate bound Black Piranha certainly was a fantastic advertisement through his memorable Stradbroke win, Clang was far from a one trick pony in 2008/2009.

Clang produced 74 individual winners at distances ranging from 800m to 2400m, and a wide variety of track conditions.

One of Clang’s star performers late in the season was the Marc Conners prepared stayer Mr Clangtastic.

He closed the year on a high, winning his last three Sydney starts in dominant fashion.

Mr Clangtastic’s most recent win came on the final Saturday of the racing season at Randwick in a 7 plus length romp over 2400m.

Evergreen Clang galloper Friendly Embrace won the opening leg of the Brisbane Triple Crown, the $200,000 Group 3 George Moore Stks (1200m) at Doomben.

Clang also found 3 other first time stakeplacegetters in Australia in 2008 Hey Elvis, La Bella Luisa and Roses for Claire all earning black type for connections.

Across the Tasman in New Zealand, Clang was also represented by the stakes placed Don’t Say Clang.