In the words of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons – “Oh What A Night!” And what a night it was for Empire with four of their stallions siring the winners of 8 Group races on Saturday, May 29th at Melton and Manangle. Four of these Group wins were won by horses conceived by frozen semen and the other four Group wins were produced by shuttle stallions.
The prolific SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE kicked off the night with a trifecta in the $30,000 Vicbred Platinum Metropolitan Pace GR3 Final at Tabcorp Park Melton. After sitting in the death the entire race, SANTA CAS BEACH was able to put a head in front and nip LA PUDDIE (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE) at the wire for the win in MR1:53.1 with the late charging PATSBEACHSTORM (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE) finishing a strong third. SANTA CASA DREAM, a four-year-old out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Lombo Sleek Streak, was bred by Todd & Wendy Rivett and remains perfect this season with his second win in as many starts.
The $50,000 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Fillies GR2 Consolation Final gave Empire another trifecta at Melton with the favourite JO ROCKS by PET ROCK winning comfortably over SAHARA STORM (CAPTAINTREACHEROUS) and COLERNE (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE). JO ROCKS is out of the Bettor’s Delight mare Ruby Banner NZ and was bred by DC Withington & KD Lockwood.
Super sire CAPTAINTREACHEROUS was represented by three winners on this outstanding Saturday night program at Tabcorp Park Melton. ALBY TWO CHAINS led the charge with his impressive win in the $50,000 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Colts & Geldings GR2 Consolation Final. It was a line of three across the track at the head of the stretch with the favourite ALBY TWO CHAINS winning in MR1:53.2 by a five metre margin. Both the second and third place finishers – BONDI LOCKDOWN and DRAIN THE SWAMP are by SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE. ALBY TWO CHAINS was bred by Dean & Blanche Poole and is out of their Perfect Art mare Slip Slop Slap who is also the dam of Jilliby King Fu p,1:48.8 ($529,710).
Also in the spotlight at Melton was TOUGHT TILLY’s younger brother LIGHTNING DAN. In the $125,000 APG VIC Gold Bullion 2YO Colts & Geldings GR1 Final, LIGHTNING DAN thundered home along the pylons to earn the chocolates and the trophy in MR1:56.5. This champion son of CAPTAINTREACHEROUS was bred by Benstud Standardbreds and is out their great-producing Art Major mare Beninjurd. In one of the most competitive races of the night, KHAFAJI finishined in second place with BEACH VILLA taking third – both of these talented juveniles are by SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE.
Without a doubt, the highlight of the evening at Melton was TOUGH TILLY’s truly dominant performance in the $350,000 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Fillies GR1 Final. The brilliant daughter of CAPTAINTREACHEROUS blasted out of the gate to take the lead and never looked back winning by 12 metres in MR1:52.5 to equal Shartin’s age/track record. It was the second GR1 victory of the night for TOUGH TILLY’s dam Beninjurd and breeder Benstud Standardbreds. Finishing a solid second was the SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE filly JOANNA.
For the Empire alumni stallion WESTERN TERROR, it was a clean sweep at Tabcorp Park Menangle with his progeny capturing all three Group races on offer there Saturday night.
First up was the four-year-old SEND IT (WESTERN TERROR-My Sunday Girl NZ-Mach Three), bred by Daniel Carmody, in the NSW $100,0000 TAB GR1 Regional Championships State Final. SEND IT left from barrier three and after a three-horse challenge for the front, settled in to take the lead. In a great battle over the last 400m, SEND IT was able to hold off the fast-closing KEAYANG KREUZER (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE) to win in a MR1:55.7 over the 2,300m distance pacing his last quarter in a blistering :26.9.
It was a commanding performance by TAMAMINSHA TERROR in the $50,000 GR2 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Colts & Geldings Consolation as he cruised away in the stretch to win by seven metres in 1:53.7. TAMANISHA TERROR by WESTERN TERROR is out of the Courage Under Fire mare Tamanisha NZ and was bred by Mathew Day of Goulburn, NSW.
The $50,000 GR2 Australian Pacing Gold 3YO Fillies Consolation saw the Empire sires finishing 1-2-3-4. In an exciting stretch duel, MARMITTA was able to put a half-length in front of the race leader ELEKTRA (FOUR STARZZZ SHARK) and cross the line first in 1:53.2. MARMITTA, by WESTERN TERROR and out of To The Machx by Mach Three, was bred by Phil & Denise Thurston. BRIEVKA (SOMEBEACHSOMEWHERE) raced terrific to finish third and in fourth spot was GIRL FROM OZ (HESTON BLUE CHIP).
“These are the nights that make all of the hard work worthwhile” said David James, principal of Empire Stallions. “This must be a record with eight Group wins in a single night – wow! We couldn’t be prouder of our exceptional stallions and are very pleased for all of our successful and loyal clients and their connections.”
