Memory Parade (War Chant) chalked up another Ascot win for trainers Sean and Jake Casey on a day when they also claimed the LR Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) with Twain’s Angel (Toronado).
The Bullsbrook-based 4yo mares are both lightly-raced and they completed a running double to close the card on Saturday. Memory Parade can also join Twain’s Angel in black-type company following her eye-catching victory in the Thank You John Zucal Hcp (1400m).
The daughter of former Yarradale Stud sire War Chant (USA) had won a Belmont maiden on debut twelve months ago and finished her first prep with an encouraging fourth to Russian To The Bar (Russian Revolution) in the LR Challenge Stakes (1500m) at Ascot.
She didn’t fire during a winter campaign but has come back a much better prospect this year. “She was placed in her first two runs this month but had no luck in those races,” Sean Casey said. “And I didn’t think it was going to unfold for us today, either.”
Memory Parade found herself in traffic some distance from front-runner Little Silver (Exosphere). Chris Parnham looked to his off-side searching for room but to no avail before he seized the moment to take a split that opened closer to the fence.
Her connections will be hoping she goes through the grades as quickly as she speared through that gap in the straight. “She certainty has her fair share of ability but couldn’t muster after jumping fairly well,” Parnham explained. “You are always going to need luck in running and it was nice to get that result.”
Memory Parade has now earned over $200,000 for her Victorian-based owner-breeder Brian Durran. Her dam Kelvin Rose (Redoute’s Choice) had foaled Over There (War Chant) first-up at stud and she won in Perth and Adelaide.
Second-dam Rollon Rose (Encosta De Lago) is a half-sister to Regal Roller (Regal Classic) who was also a homebred for Durran winning at Group 1 level in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes, Toorak Hcp and Futurity Stakes at Caulfield in 2004-05.
Durran also bred and raced Military Beat who registered the 2,000th win for War Chant when she notched the first-leg of a running double at York in November 2022. Her first foal is a colt on the ground by Lightsaber.
The Caseys and chief client Wally Daly delivered their latest black-type success with Twain’s Angel who improved her winning strike-rate to 7 wins from 12 starts in the LR Scenic Blast Stakes (1200m) on Saturday.
Twain’s Angel also became the 42nd Stakes-winner by Swettenham Stud shuttler Toronado (High Chaparral). She had been the bridesmaid behind Man Crush (Manhattan Rain) last time out in the LR Miss Andretti Stakes (1100m) but reversed that result with a one length victory on Saturday.
“This was the right race for her and it was a heady ride by Madi (Derrick),” Sean Casey said. “There’s black-type right through the family and this is colossal for her value as a broodmare. She’s a good mare and hopefully it keeps rolling.”
The LR Cyril Flower Stakes (1200m) appears a likely target at Ascot on February 8. She has earned $453,000 including Westspeed Bonuses of $115,000.
Twain’s Angel is the sole foal from Shania Style (Denman) who was a three-time Perth winning daughter of Twain (Kenvain). Wally’s brother George had purchased Twain as a yearling for $37,500 from Roselands Stud at the 1998 Melbourne Premier Sale.
Twain won at Belmont and was runner-up in the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) won by Gwalia Girl (Marooned). Besides Shania Style, she also threw LR Perth Stakes (1200m) winner Hantu (Scenic). Sold to Hong Kong, he was renamed Down Town and won a G3 Sha Tin Trophy (1600m) in track-record time.
The family’s Group 1 pedigree goes further back to Champion NZ sire Centaine (Century) and Champion South African sprinter Laisserfaire (Danehill).