Hadabeclorka maintains Durham Lodge momentum

Hadabeclorka continued the marvellous winning run by Durham Lodge sires when he caused a $41 upset in the G2 Winterbottom Stakes at Ascot on Saturday.  

Hadabeclorka is by Durham stallion Hurricane Sky and he reached a career high with a $455,000 collect in the Winterbottom.  He has now won 9 races from 39 starts since opening his account in a Bunbury maiden back in January 2007.

Hurricane Sky was originally based at Arrowfield before his arrival in Western Australia.  He replaced champion sire Scenic who died at the Muchea stud in 2005.

Scenic lifted Durham Lodge’s profile to another level with Australia Horse of the Year Scenic Blast and his Group 1 winning stablemate Scenic Shot.

He passed the baton to Blackfriars and Danehill’s Victoria Derby winner responded with the stakes winning brothers Playing God and God Has Spoken.

Playing God won the G2 WA Guineas on November 13 and he doubled up in the Listed Aquanita Stakes yesterday.  God Has Spoken won last year’s Aquanita Stakes and he returned this season for a G3 victory in the R J Peters Stakes.

Hadabeclorka (9g Hurricane Sky – Mrs. Bold by Snippets) chimed in with a surprise victory in Perth’s premier weight-for-age sprint yesterday.  “I’m speechless,” trainer Brent Larsson said after watching his veteran sprinter take all the short cuts in the straight.  “I thought he would run a good race but he’s a nine-year-old so it’s a bit unexpected.”

Leading Perth bloodstock agent John Chalmers bought Hadabeclorka as a foal for $26,000 from Torryburn Stud at the 2002 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.  He is a younger half-brother to Listed VRC Straight Six winner Songs Of Vienna (Umatilla).  

Torryburn also culled their dam Mrs. Bold for $70,000 at the same sale but she died without getting another foal to the races.

Hadabeclorka will race next in the Listed Scahill Stakes at Ascot on December 11.

In the meantime, Blackfriars can maintain the Durham Lodge momentum at Ascot next Saturday.  Playing God is the $5 favourite for the G1 Kingston Town Classic and the only others horses in single figures are Famous Roman ($6) and God Has Spoken ($7.50).