GOD WAS ON A MISSION

Oh so close! The aptly named Onamissionfromgod went within a whisker of becoming God’s Own first winner when second to Lady Davinci over 1000m at Ballarat yesterday (2 December).
The Alicia Macpherson trained 2YO raced greenly throughout and appeared as if he’d finish midfield, but put his head down over the concluding stages to just miss out on the line.
This was the colt’s second start and he is clearly on the improve.
Onamissionfromgod is from the Kenny’s Best Pal mare, Carbonated, a half sister to Group winning sprinters Intelligent Star and Blaze The Turf.
Fans of the Blues Brothers will remember the line “We’re on a mission from God” and, not surprisingly, Eliza Park’s marquee stallion has inspired a host of ‘heavenly’ names.
Of the 35 God’s Own progeny ‘monikered’ thus far, 10 have ‘God’ in the name and, while Onamissionfromgod remains our favourite, Halo’d Be Thy Name (from Blazing Aura) deserves a mention.


Elwood: “It’s 106 miles to Chicago, we got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it’s dark, and we’re wearing sunglasses.”
Jake: “Hit it.”

QUOTE OF THE DAY

When interviewed on Sky Sport, Irish soccer legend George Best had to fend off the following:

“So, this movie you star in, The Life Story of George Best, tell us what it’s about?”

BROMS GIRL GETS NO. 6

Delago Brom mare, Broms Girl, continues on her merry way, recording a sixth career win when scoring over 1600m at Grafton on 29 November.
Bred by Slickpix’s Ross Holburt, Broms Girl (below) has now won three of her last four outings and also has 10 placings to go with the half dozen victories.
Broms Girl now joins black typer Butzie and Seal Lago as Delago Brom’s most successful progeny in terms of wins.
Out of the Snaadee mare, Simulation – who won three in town and eight overall – Broms Girl’s residual value increases with each performance given that it’s a strong North American and European black type family.
Fortunately, Ross has a full brother heading to the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in March and will naturally be hoping Broms Girl increases the tally over the next three months.

STORM IN A TEACUP

South Australian trainer/owner/breeder, Craig Curtis, has had some decent horseflesh go through his stable in recent years with the 4-time stakes winner On Focus springing to mind.
Storm Brewing might have a way to go to catch up, but took a fair leap forward with a command performance at Morphettville on 28 November, winning over the 1600m after a pair of placings at the track at his previous two outings.
Well named – Storm Brewing is by Desert Sun from the Mystery Storm mare In a Teacup – the 3YO was bred at Eliza Park and sold to Craig at last year’s Adelaide Magic Millions for $43,000.
Also the dam of Melbourne winner Tassology, In a Teacup is a half sister to multiple Group One winner Heroicity and hails from the immediate family of top Kiwi filly Highflying.
Craig has sent several mares to Eliza Park over the past couple of seasons and, word has it, there’s a cracking Magnus foal at foot out of his winning Al Awir mare Not Always, dam of Hong Kong Group winner Always Flying.


Storm Brewing scores at Morphettville, while below Craig Curtis (far right) poses with a bunch of happy owners.

ALESPRIT – QUICKEST OF THE QUICKS

If you took the $1.40 about Alesprit in the CSR Monier Roofing 3YO Class 3 Plate over 900m at the Gold Coast on 28 November, your heart was probably well and truly in your mouth after she was slowly away.
You probably weren’t feeling much better when she was dropped back to last and couldn’t buy a run turning for home.
Finally there was daylight on the rail and the Bel Esprit filly went like the clappers to the line, scoring by a neck.
Out of the Rory’s Jester mare, Rory’s Babe and bred by Neville Stewart in Queensland, Alesprit has now won three of her six outings (including a second) and has yet to finish out of the money.
As Bel Esprit guru, Brian Donohoe points out, Bel Esprit has had a winner over 900m out of each of the first three crops: Gabbidon (1st crop) (on debut and Bel Esprit’s first winner); Bel Said (2nd crop) (also winning on debut) and Alesprit (3rd crop) has won two of her last three starts over this distance and her time of 49.8 at her last win is two seconds faster than Gabbidon ran.
At the Gold Coast Alesprit (below) ran the journey in 51.19 seconds: not bad given the tardy start.



By the way, the term ‘goes like the clappers’ gained prominence during World War II in reference to fighter pilots’ maneuvering skills. The clapper, as you can see from the accompanying diagram (no. 9), is the thingamajig (not the technical term) that rotates from side to side, with the phrase originating from the vigorous shaking of the school bell.

ANOTHER WIN FOR TIRELESS NERANGATANG

Clangalang, winner of the AJC Derby-Epsom double, was renowned for his ‘tractability’ and it’s a trait he’s passing on to progeny.
A case in point is Queensland war horse, Nerangatang.
A winner over 1000m at Emerald on 28 November, the Clangalang mare has now started on 13 occasions this time in, racing every month since May.
Indeed, the 4YO has only once been out of the money in her past seven outings which include two wins and three seconds.
Hailing from the Our Maizcay mare, Misdirection, Nerangatang was bred by Eliza Park and sold at the 2006 Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Misdirection is a half sister to NSW stakeswinners Zephyrz and Cloudlet, both bred by leading agent and bloodstock authority, Les Young.

MAGNUS THREE QUARTER SCORES AT ‘BOOL

“Whip rule! What whip rule?” remarked an ecstatic Rob Crabtree following the victory of his Distant Music filly, Scarletta, at Warrnambool on 23 November.
The Jason Warren trained 3YO had just scored over 1100m at the ‘bool, winning by four lengths … “untouched”.
Rob, who has raced many a fine neddy over the years, is not about to get carried away with a maiden victory (albeit at the filly’s third start after running third at Sandown on debut) but marvels at the sheer pre potency of Scarletta’s family.
Rob bred Scarletta’s grand dam, Scandinavia, racing the mare in partnership with Eliza Park’s owner, Lee Fleming, and cheering on as the ‘blue hen’ won four of 17 starts (including the QTC Cup-G2) and placing in four Group Ones.
Since retiring to stud in 1999, Scandinavia has produced seven named foals:

• Danavia (placed at Flemington; 2 winners from 2 to race including Scarletta)
• Helsinge (unraced; dam of unbeaten filly Black Caviar)
• Magnus (won or placed in 12 Group One events; standing at Eliza Park)
• Baltics (one start; dam of 2 foals yet to race)
• Ibsen (winner of 3 city races)
• Wilander (4 wins including MRC Schillaci S-G2)
• Vasa (unraced)

Unquestionably one of the ‘hottest’ families in the Australian Stud Book.


Magnus (ex. Scandinavia), G1 winner & Eliza Park based stallion