Meidung made history at Rosehill on Saturday when she became the first Australian winner by Darley shuttler Bernardini.

Sheikh Mohammed’s filly burst to the front in the straight to put six lengths between race favourite Dances On Stars (Snitzel) and Kyoto (Gonski) in the Harvey Norman Hcp (1100m).

“She will learn from that and improve a lot,” jockey Christan Reith said.  “She’s just another nice one to come out of the yard.”

The boom on Bernardini ensured he was installed a $4.40 favourite for the 2011-12 first-season sires’ premiership.

Meidung (2f Bernardini – Amish by Canny Lad) is from a Rosehill winning half-sister to G2 ATC Warwick Stakes winner Pinwheel (Lonhro).  The mare has also thrown the Viscount winners Sampler and I Am The Count.

Amish has a yearling filly by Street Cry and a colt foal by Denman.

Bernardini (A.P. Indy) didn’t race as a two year-old but his first northern hemisphere bred juveniles broke records in North America and Europe last year.

He was the first freshman stallion in history to sire Group 1 winners on dirt and turf and his tally of four Group winners was more than any other first-season sire in 2010.

Bernardini has kicked ahead this term with G1 Travers Stakes winner Stay Thirsty and G2 Pennsylvania Derby winner To Honor And Serve.  He was chosen as the first mate for USA legend Zenyatti and she is due to foal in February.

Darley trainer Peter Snowden watched Meidung win from Moonee Valley and he rates the Bernardini stock very highly.

Bernardini stands at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc gst).