Master Of Design sired a couple of promising 3yo winners in Victoria this week ahead of Bennelong Dancer’s $500,000 assignment in the NSW Country Championships Final at Randwick this Saturday.
The Greta West Stud resident has been represented by 67 winners of 148 races from his first three crops and they have earned over $4.35 million.
Battle Master claimed the first-leg of the Master Of Design double in the Greg Annett Painting Plate (1100m) at Hamilton on Monday. The Mitchell Freedman-trained first-starter launched a last-to-first burst under jockey Jarrod Fry to score by half-length from Lord Of The Turf and Vassa Blue.
“They fanned wide on the corner so I elected to save ground and take the gaps in the straight,” Fry said. “We’ve had plenty of match practice at home and today’s win will be good experience for the future.”
Battle Master (3g Master Of Design – Bella Vie by Octagonal) was sold by Bucklee Farm for $38,000 at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. His dam is a daughter of G1 Coolmore Classic winner Chlorophyll.
Mistress Molly won like an odds-on favourite should in the Bruce Clough Memorial (1200m) at Pakenham on Thursday. She started in the red after an impressive second on debut at Cranbourne last month.
The Cindy Alderson-trained filly had won two juvenile trials last year but was held up by a sore hamstring. “She’s really smart and put it all together tonight,” jockey Jamie Kah said. “She went to sleep on the speed and, when I asked her to find, she gave me everything straightaway!”
Mistress Molly (3f Master Of Design – Sidereal Messenger by Galileo) was sold by Tatura breeder Stuart Pickworth for $25,000 through the Swettenham Stud consignment to the 2017 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.
She’s is raced by a Ladies Syndicate from Clanbrooke Racing and is the only foal from a half-sister to Poor Judge (G3 VRC Chatham Stakes).
Bennelong Dancer qualified for the NSW Country Championships Final with an eye-catching three-length win against a classy field at Albury on February 23. She is the first horse to qualify for consecutive Finals after finishing fourth to Victorem in 2018.
“She’s really come on since last year,” jockey Blaike McDougall said. “She feels a lot stronger and her work has been really sharp. She’s more seasoned with the extra prep and the experience of the big day in Sydney last year.”
Bennelong Dancer (5m Master Of Design – Prancelot by Jeune) was a $30,000 buy for part-owner and trainer Donna Scott at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. She is the final named foal of a mare that won two stakes races in Adelaide for Tony McEvoy.
Bookmakers have installed Bennelong Dancer on the fourth line of markets at $13 for the Country Championships Final.
BENNELONG DANCER