Sept. 7 found black-type racing in Australia at Wyong, a provincial course located in New South Wales, about an hour north of Sydney. The listed McNamee Mona Lisa Stakes for fillies and mares went to Miss Stellabelle, a 4-year-old filly trained by Gai Waterhouse. A Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase at A$75,000, Miss Stellabelle is owned by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia.
A daughter of Dehere (Deputy Minister—Sister Dot, by Secretariat) out of the Spinning World mare Sam’s Belle, Miss Stellabelle won her second added-money event by more than two lengths over Irish Dream (by Falbrav). She Goes to Rio (Captain Rio) finished third.
U.S.-bred Dehere is the Johnny Appleseed of Thoroughbred stallions. He has stood in the U.S., Australia, Japan, and now Turkey, dropping stakes winners wherever he goes. For his career he has sired 76 stakes winners, including eight grade/group I winners among his 35 grade/group stakes winners. In 2010 Dehere became one of the premier additions to The Jockey Club of Turkey Stud Farms stallion roster.
Ireland-based Cape Cross may not have quite the number of passport stamps as Dehere, but the 18-year-old Ireland-based son of Green Desert—Park Appeal, by Ahonoora, matched black-type wins on the Wyong card for trainer Waterhouse. In the Carlton Mid Wyong Gold Cup, Julienas, an Ireland-bred 5-year-old eked out a head victory in the 2100 meter listed stakes. The unlucky loser was Gazza Guru (Street Cry), who finished a half-length better than Storm Burst (Danehill Dancer), the only mare in the nine-horse field.
Out of the group II-winning Sri Pekan mare Dora Carrington, a half sister to group I winner Primo Valentino (Primo Dominie), Julienas became the 77th and newest stakes winner for his sire. From three foals of racing age, Cape Cross has sired two black-type winners (66.7%) out of Sri Pekan (Red Ransom) mares.
In France, Mobaco, a 32-1 longshot scored the second black-type victory of his career by winning the listed La Coupe de Marseille at Marseille Borely. A 3-year-old bay son of Slickly—Lunaa, by Anabaa, Mobaco was a length better than runner-up Gris Caro (With Approval), with favored Abtaal (Rock Hard Ten) finishing another length back in third.
France-based Slickly, a 16-year-old son of Linamix—Slipstream Queen, by Conquistador Cielo, combines a Europe-based sire line with a well-established U.S. female family. Country Queen, the second dam of Slickly, was a multiple graded stakes winner of 12 races from 42 starts, which included the grade I Yellow Ribbon Invitational Stakes at Santa Anita. Country Queen is also the dam of stakes winner With Distinction (Distinctive), the dam of grade I winner Procida (Mr. Prospector), who won both the Prix de la Foret (Fr.-I) at Longchamp and the Hollywood Derby (gr. IT) at Hollywood Park in 1984.
Racing in India brought to the front yet another sire son of Danehill. The grade III Mysore 1000 Guineas went to Equine Lover, a 3-year-old daughter of Ace (Danehill—Tea House, by Sassafras) in a seven-length tour de force. She is the third stakes winner from the first crop of the Ireland-bred group III winner who won the Desmond Stakes at Leopardstown, his only added-money victory. However, Ace is multiple grade/group I-placed, having finished in the money in the Tattersalls Gold Cup at the Curragh and the Joe Hirsch Turf Classic
Invitational Stakes and the John Deere Breeders’ Cup Turf at Belmont Park.
Filling the minor placings were Chase the Sun and Jersey Girl, both daughters of Burden of Proof (Fairy King—Belle Passe, by Be My Guest), a great-grandson of Hollywood Gold Cup winner Princessnesian.
In other news from India, U.S. grade I winner Western Aristocrat, who took the Jamaica Handicap at Belmont Park in 2011, will stand stand at Capricorn Stud in India in 2013. The 4-year-old bay colt is a son of Mr. Greeley out of the Kris S. mare Aristocratic Lady.
Racing in England and the U.S., Western Aristocrat won four of nine starts, ranging from seven to nine furlongs. His average winning distance was 7.75 furlongs.
