Pat Carey didn’t have to travel far to land the Listed MRC Swettenham Stud Lord Stakes with Ulundi on Tuesday.

The Melbourne Racing Club transferred the $100,000 Lord Stakes from Caulfield to Mornington this year and Carey’s Albany Way stables are right across the road from the local racecourse.

Ulundi (4g Helenus – Willow by Woodman) charged through a split in the straight to win by over a length from La Rocket and Our Spirits Bay.  “He’s a good, sound horse and has really improved since we had him gelded,” Carey said.  “There are plenty of opportunities for him ahead.”

Ulundi was bred by Trevor Delroy and he is also raced by the Perth based owner even though he was listed as changing hands for $70,000 at the 2009 Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale.

His sire Helenus retired to Heytesbury Stud in 2004 and he also stood at Alwyn Park in Western Australia before Delroy repatriated him to Victoria in 2010.

Helenus was slated to serve his first Super VOBIS book at Independent Stallions but was re-routed to Woodside Park on the eve of the breeding season.  He moved to Wattle Grove Thoroughbreds at Berrima in NSW this year.

Carey and Delroy combined to win this year’s G1 BMW Stakes with ill-fated stayer Cedarberg.  He was the first elite level winner for Helenus and was being set for the Melbourne Cup before suffering a fatal heart-attack at Moonee Valley in August.

Ulundi is from unraced mare Willow who is a half-sister to G3 AJC Frank Packer Plate winner Afraah (Danehill).  She has a yearling colt by Royal Academy and foaled another colt by Authorized in August.