Bendigo’s reputation as the “Nursery of Champions” received more kudos with four very promising maiden winners on its Remembrance Day programme.

PECK started proceedings with a last-to-first victory in Race 1.  The Darley colt is the third winner for champion English sire Pivotal in Victoria this season following Darley filly Pintle (Sale) and the Tony Noonan trained Sussuro (Moonee Valley).

Peck (3c Pivotal – Flying Kiss by Sadler’s Wells) appreciated the step up to 1600m third time out and he is bred to get further being a half-brother to long-distance winners by Darshaan, Sunday Silence and Indian Ridge.

Pivotal stands at Cheveley Park Stud in Newmarket for a 65,000 pounds (AUD 104,215) service fee.  His NZ based son Captain Rio sired last week’s G1 Victorian Oaks winner Brazilian Pulse.

HEIDILICIOUS was racing second-up over 1600m in Race 2 and she scored a determined victory that’s typical of the Zabeel breed.  The Lindsay Park filly engaged the leaders at the furlong and, after a brief skirmish, surged clear to win by two lengths.

Heidilicious (3f Zabeel – Kerkira by Danehill) is raced is by AFL caller Anthony Mithen who has developed Rosemont Stud into a successful operation down Geelong way.  He purchased the Bendigo winner for $160,000 at the 2009 Karaka yearling sale.

There are Group winning mares right through the pedigree and it’s not stretching the imagination to see her mixing it in black-type company in twelve month’s time.

MARCELLUS came in under the radar to win Race 3 at $12.  The Lindsay Park crew were caught short when the Galileo gelding hoisted a wet sail to win on debut over 1400m.

Marcellus (3g Galileo – Marokish by Rory’s Jester) is raced by leading WA owner-breeders Ben Bradley and Peter Walsh.  He cost $70,000 as a foal at the 2008 Magic Millions Winter Sale and is from an unraced half-sister to G1 winners Universal Prince and Universal Queen.

MOSHE was Bendigo’s fourth maiden winner on Remembrance Day and he is indeed a colt to remember.  He won Race 4 by six lengths and broke 57 seconds for 1000m on debut.

Moshe (3c Bel Esprit – Helsinge by Desert Sun) is a brother to star sprinter Black Caviar and he won like a horse heading for much better races in the autumn.  “He’s going somewhere that’s for sure,” jockey Dwayne Dunn said.  “He bombed the start but travelled beautifully.  I let him extend and he showed ‘em what he’s got in the straight.”

Roy Higgins bought Moshe for $75,000 at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale for a Chefs on the Run syndicate.
Higgins was associated with numerous champions during his riding career and another one could have emerged at the Nursery of Champions on Thursday.