Metal Bender’s victory in the Doomben Cup was a marvellous result for Chris Waller and the Group 1 was also a boost for incoming Westspeed sire Danasinga.

Metal Bender (4g Danasinga – Jacqwin by Bluebird) was a G1 winner of the 2009 Randwick Guineas and Rosehill Guineas when trained by the late Jack Denham.  He was transferred to Waller this year and won the G2 Hollindale Stakes on the Gold Coast before claiming his third victory at the elite level last Saturday.

His sire Danasinga will join the Touchstone Farm roster at North Dandalup in WA this year.  He retired to Waikato Stud in 1996 after winning that year’s edition of the G1 Stradbroke Hcp at Eagle Farm and, to date, he has sired 367 winners at a 58% strike rate.  There have been 30 stakes winners among that total and, apart from Metal Bender, they include the likes Sylvaner, Portland Singa, Ugachaka and Piachay.

Danasinga’s half-sister Tracy’s Element is the dam of Group 1 winner Typhoon Tracy and Glenlogan Park sire Red Element.  Another important connection for WA breeders is through his dam Princess Tracey.  She is a half sister to the dam of Champion WA stallion Bletchley Park.

Danasinga (Danehill) will join a Touchstone Farm roster that includes fellow newcomer Shrewd Rhythm (Danehill Dancer) who will be based in WA in conjunction with Lindsay Park.  Completing the roster are Flying Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Vital Equine (Danetime).

Danasinga’s service fee will be $8,800 for the 2010 breeding season.  He will start covering his first Westspeed mares when Metal Bender launches a spring campaign aimed at the Caulfield Cup and/or W S Cox Plate.

Metal Bender’s 2009 spring campaign was derailed by a stifle bone injury but Waller is confident he will make amends this year.