Deceased Danehill stallion Comet sired his first winner in South Australia on Thursday.  Local filly Mega Queen was untroubled to win the Port Lincoln Hotel Hcp (1000m) on debut for trainer Stacey Kotz.

Mega Queen (3f Comet – San Queen by Blevic) is a homebred for Roger Beinke and his wife Kay.  “I raced her dam San Queen and she won five races at Port Lincoln,” Beinke recalled.  “Her only other foal Hightom won on debut and he’s also won five for us so far.

“Hightom is by Devaraja and San Queen is about to foal to him again.  I wasn’t going to send the mare out this year but Mega Queen was pretty impressive so I guess I’ll have her covered after all.”

Comet (Danehill – Star Of Light by Star Watch) was trained by Bart Cummings for Bill and Rhonda Wyllie.  He cost $400,000 at the 2000 Inglis Easter yearling sale but was retired after two unplaced runs in Sydney.

The Wyllies missed out with the colt but they hit the jackpot with a Danehill filly from the same sale.  The Perth couple paid $520,000 for Magical Miss and she went on to win the G1 Thousand Guineas and G1 Victorian Oaks.

Comet did have residual value being a Danehill three-quarter brother to Nothin’ Leica Dane.  After serving a handful of mares in Queensland, he was transferred to Ceduna studmaster Herb Oats.

Comet was based there for four seasons until his death in August 2009.