Triple Missile broke his duck in black-type ranks with a rewarding victory for Rapid Equine owner-breeder Neil Irvine in the LR Bunbury Stakes (1400m) on Saturday.

It was also first Stakes win for trainer Donna Riordan after the widely-travelled sprinter had been placed twice in Group 3 company at Flemington for her former boss Lindsey Smith.  Previously, Riordan had prepared Terror Force (Al Maher) to win the LR Perth Stakes (1100m) at Ascot back in 2013.

Triple Missile (7g Smart Missile – Triple Latte by Medaglia d’Oro) joined Riordan’s yard earlier this season and the writing was in the wall following fourths in the G3 Asian Beau Stakes (1400m) and G3 Gold Rush (1400m) at Ascot.

The Bunbury Stakes improved his record to 8 wins in 29 starts since a Belmont victory on debut in September 2020.  He’s banked $861,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $33,000.

“I’ve always believed in him and he’s been racing well against some quality opposition without a whole lot of luck,” Riordan said following the last-to-first victory at Bunbury.  “Joey (Azzopardi) got him going early and found the right lane down the centre of the track.”

Riordan also thanked Irvine and his wife Annie as well as Brian Collison who manages their farm Balmoral Park.  The Bedfordale property was originally developed by Laurie Connell in the 1980s and has been home to the Rapid Equine operation since 2015.

Agent John Chalmers had purchased USA-bred mare Triple Latte (Medaglia d’Oro) on behalf of Irvine for $24,000 at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern Sale when she was carrying Triple Missile.  Second-dam Miss Mary (Southern Halo) was a Group 2 winner bred in Argentina and her full-sister Miss Linda won a G1 Spinster Stakes at Keeneland.

Triple Latte has foaled five winners to date and her 3yo filly Triple The Chant (War Chant) was placed in a Pinjarra maiden second time out in January.  Her most recent foal is a yearling colt by Bivouac.