Another Belmont double has propelled Sessions into the Australian Top 10 for second-season wins this season.
Hot favourites Boomtastic and Massimo both saluted on Saturday to take his total to 32 wins this season. The Oakland Park resident replaced Victorian-based Puissance de Lune (31) in the top bracket even though the latter’s unbeaten filly Chantrea made it six-from-six in the LR Belmont Classic.
Sessions had sired a Belmont double on July 1 with Western Rhythm and Paris Report before Captain Kink weighed in at the winter venue on July 11.
Boomtastic won a head-bobber for trainer Simon Miller and owner-breeders Ben & Jo Duncan. “I thought we got rolled,” Miller confessed. “They cranked up before corner and she had to chase hard to win.
“We were after the Westspeed bonus. It’s worth a lot of money and we might go for another one next weekend. Then we can freshen her up for the carnival.”
Boomtastic has banked $270,000 and almost half of those earnings are made of bonuses from 4 wins in 11 starts. Her dam Xaar Boom (Xaar) has foaled fillies by Sessions and Safeguard (2) over the last three seasons.
Massimo maintained a busy schedule to improve his record to 5 wins and 6 seconds in 14 starts this season. He’s another Westspeed money-spinner for Oakland Park owners Neville & Susan Duncan and Renee Durrant banking $523,180 including bonuses of $224,640.
Renee’s older brother Adam trains him at Karnup and the best of those 5 wins this term was the LR Placid Ark Stakes (1200m) at Ascot in November.
“He turned his head in the gates and was slowly away,” reported jockey Clint Johnston-Porter. “I let him stride up and he settled nicely outside the leader. He was beaten by a good one (Windstorm) last week but was strong through the line today.”
Massimo is from Sydney winner Highest (Marscay) who was a $27,000 buy for the Duncans at the 2013 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. Her final foal is a yearling filly named Minno (Safeguard) and she will also be prepared by Durrant.
Sessions (Lonhro) stands for $3,850 alongside King’s Troop (Redoute’s Choice) at $3,300 this season. Both fees (inc GST).