Melbourne colt Longma is on the threshold of a breakout season for Mt Hallowell Stud owner Craig Thompson.

Longma (2c Sebring – Yes She Can Cancan by Canny Lad) is heading to the G1 Caulfield Guineas on the strength of an 8 length victory at Werribee on Wednesday.  “I barely got out of neutral,” jockey Craig Newitt said.  “He’s shown us plenty at home.  He just towed me through the (Heavy 8) going and was never going to lose.”

Hallowell Belle (Starcraft) has been Thompson’s best galloper since he began developing Mt Hallowell on the south-west tip of Western Australia at Denmark.  She was Group 1 placed in a Blue Diamond, Flight Stakes and T J Smith.

She did grab a Group 2 in the Gilgai Stakes at Flemington and Thompson’s local stars King Saul (WA Guineas) and Luke’s Luck (Karrakatta Plate) have also lobbed at that level.

Longma is by Widden Stud’s instant success Sebring and his dam Yes She Can Cancan has already foaled G1 winners Gimmethegreenlight (SAf Queen’s Plate) and Ofcourseican (Coolmore Classic).

Thompson bought in after the colt failed to reach a $150,000 reserve at the 2011 Inglis Easter Foal Sale.  “He’s very smart, very impressive,” trainer Mick Price said.  “A Group horse coming.”

Longma was sent to Price after winning a Perth trial while under the care of Trevor Andrews.  The Ascot trainer will follow his career closely as will NSW breeder David Bentata and Raheen studmaster Basil Nolan.

Bentata owns Ofcourseican and she is expecting to Dream Ahead.  He has also retained Yes She Can Cancan’s final foal – a yearling filly by Nadeem.

Nolan owns Yes She Can Cancan’s first foal La Goulue (Danehill Dancer).  Black-typed in Adelaide, her Sebring colt made $180,000 as part of the Raheen draft at this year’s Gold Coast Magic Millions.  Peter Moody was the buyer.

Yes She Can Cancan’s half-sisters Stepping (Dodge) is also part of the Raheen team.  She’s the dam of Moody’s open-class sprinter Club Command (Commands) and her Flying Spur colt sold to NZ for $100,000 at the Magic Millions.

Stepping’s daughter Strolling (Stratum) has a filly foal by Raheen sire Captain Sonador.

The $1 million Caulfield Guineas (1600m) will be held on Saturday, October 12.  Longma will be one of Price’s first payments before entries close on August 6.

– Karl Patterson