Proart broke back into black-type with the help of a rails run in the Listed Bunbury Stakes on Sunday.  Experienced hoop Peter Hall settled him behind front-runner Mekong Miss and then took all the short-cuts to snatch the south-west’s feature sprint.

Proart (6h Rock Of Gibraltar by Beaux Art by Nomrood) won in an exciting finish that relegated Speccio (Kendel Star) and Wolfe Dreams (Sequalo) to the minors.  It was his first win since the G3 Scahill Stakes at Ascot in 2009.

The six year-old stallion had a profile even before he produced two promising wins as a late season juvenile at Belmont in 2007.  He was put away for a classic campaign but ultimately failed in the 2008 G1 WATC Derby won by visiting filly Grand Journey.

Connections could have been forgiven for attempting a trip with the colt.  Although his sire Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill) peaked at a mile, his dam was none other than Beaux Art and wasn’t she a stayer and a half.

Beaux Art was far and away the best filly of her generation in Perth winning the 1994 WA Derby and WA Oaks.  She transferred east and won an AJC St Leger, MVRC Feehan Stakes and was placed in a Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes and Sydney Cup.

Beside the Bunbury Stakes winner, she is also the dam of Listed WA St Leger winner Imaginaire (Fusaichi Pegasus) and Randwick stakes performer Shamardashing.  The latter did look a promising type last year for Patinack Farm who have a penchant for the Shamardals.  Currently, he is engaged in a make or break campaign in Sydney.

Beaux Art was owned by the late John Roberts and she sold for $320,000 to Belmont Bloodstock in August 2006.  Her dance card has gone from the sublime to the suspect in recent years.  Her last two foals have been colts.  The first is by Australian champion Encosta de Lago and the second is by Perth stakes winner Celtus (Celtic Swing).