Alabar’s Weekend of Winners

The father and son team of Art Major and Vincent were the Stars of the Alabar Sires barn on the weekend.

The 3 year old Colt Soho Spectre (Art Major) added another feature race win to his resume when he led all the way for trainer / reinsman Rickie Alchin in the $150,000 APG Gold Bullion Final at Melton on Saturday night.

Soho Spectre had earlier in the season won the NSW Derby and now has the impressive credentials of 17 starts, 10 wins and prizemoney of $288,372.

Bred by Rob Watson, he is the second foal and first colt of the Bettors Delight mare Delightful Jade, who won $241,570 in a 66 start career.  The granddam of Soho Spectre is a full sister to the champion female Whitbys Miss Penny $568,289.

The Group Three $50,000 Champagne Classic for two year olds was run at Gloucester Park on Friday night.  There was only one filly in the seven horse field – the Vincent filly Reinette.

It was a girls night out though as Reinette finished powerfully after trailing the leader, to win comfortably from the Captain Crunch colt Captain Stirling with daylight to the third placed horse.

Bred by Dennie Roche, Reinette was a $15,000 purchase at last years WA Yearling Sale and is the second foal of the Somebeachsomewhere mare Aqueensomewhere.

With earnings now of $44,557 in just 6 starts the Vincent filly looks to have a bright future.

She now joins other Vincent fillies in Turn The Page and Brulee as Group winners at Gloucester Park.

With his oldest progeny not even half way through their four year old season, Vincent has now sired 10 stakes winners.

Art Major continues to march on in his senior years, siring winners every weekend in the Southern Hemisphere.

In New Zealand he sired these winners at either Alexandra Park or Addington.

• Classic Elegance (from a Christian Cullen mare) – a tgree year old bringing up her maiden win in 7 starts.
• Bruntwood Brigade (from a Mach Three mare) – bred by Alabar NZ, his maiden two year old win in 3 starts to date.

Then in Australia his weekend winners were headed by:

• Major Perry (from a Bettors Delight mare) – a 1.53.9 winner at Albion Park. This takes his earnings to $232,512.
• Nicholas Cage (from a Jeremes Jet mare) – an all the way winner at Menangle in 1.50.7. His earnings now stand at $138,188 from 30 starts.
• Delightful Major (from a Bettors Delight mare) – bought up win number ten when a comfortable winner at Globe Derby Park.

Always B Miki and Ultimate Machete both chimed in with winners that suggested there will be more wins to follow as the season unfolds.

Harrison John (by Always B Miki from a Bettors Delight mare) – a three year old scoring his second win for the season from six starts, when winning at Addington.

Miss Idaho (by Ultimate Machete from a Courage Under Fire mare) – this three year old filly looks to have a big future. She took her record to nine starts for eight wins and $66,229 when winning at her first start this season at Globe Derby Park.

Rock N Roll Heaven often seems to fly under the radar, but regularly sires winners at metropolitan tracks.  Last weekend the tradition continued with five winners.

Swayzee and Tay Tay both won well at Menangle, Hezrockinroyalty (from a Lincoln Royal mare) at Globe Derby Park and on the evening prior – State Of Heaven (from an Artsplace mare) and Name In Lights (from a Bettors Delight mare) winning at Gloucester Park.

From an Australian perspective the highlight of the weekend was the dual Group One success of Greg Sugars at Alexandra Park on Friday night.

We at Alabar are very pleased to be associated with the training partnership of Greg and his wife Jess Tubbs and congratulations to them on the brilliant victories of both Better Eclipse (Auckland Cup) and Just Believe (Rowe Cup).

Better Eclipse is sired by the former Alabar shuttle stallion Betterthancheddar and is easily the richest horse sired by Betterthancheddar anywhere in the world with current earnings now exceeding $1,236,000.

He has three strains of Cam Fella blood (4 X 4 X 4) in his pedigree, so it is no surprise that durability and toughness are amongst his repertoire of weapons.

Congratulations to his breeder and owner Joe and Antoinette Bajada.