Champion sires Bianconi and Bel Esprit are locked in a two-horse war for the Victorian 2010-11 winners’ premiership.   Both stallions have been represented by 96 individual winners in Australia so far this season.

Bianconi is based at Swettenham Stud and is going for a hat-trick of winners’ titles over Bel Esprit.  He defeated the Eliza Park resident 91 – 82 two years ago and 105 – 93 last season.

Group 1 winning sprinter Nicconi was his headline act before retiring to Widden Stud last year.  The next Bianconi to take centre stage could be Fillydelphia in the G1 Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm on June 4.

Fillydelphia earned a start in the classic after defeating the colts in the G3 Rough Habit Plate (2020m) at Doomben on Saturday.  “She’s always been a potential Oaks horse,” trainer Robert Heathcote claimed.  “I took the blinkers off and all we needed was a change of luck.”

Fillydelphia (3c Bianconi – Edel Vanessa by Encosta de Lago) went on a winning streak 12 months ago winning four races in five starts at Doomben (3) and Eagle Farm.  She parted company with the jockey at her only other outing.

She failed to meet Wattle Brae Stud’s $18,000 reserve at the 2009 Gold Coast Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has now earned over $167,000.

Fillydelphia is the first foal of Edel Vanessa who won an 1850m Kyneton maiden in 12 starts.  The mare has an unraced 2yo filly Keep The Filly (Keep the Faith), a yearling filly by Easy Rocking, a weanling colt by Outback Prince and she was bred back to Bianconi at Swettenham Stud last year.

Bianconi has two lots catalogued for the Magic Millions National yearling sale next month including a three quarter sister to his multiple Melbourne stakes winner Classiconi.