Mungrup Pastoral completed an interstate double this week when Warrior Smile won the MRC Foundation Gala Hcp (1300m) at Sandown on Wednesday.
The Lindsay Park-trained colt followed consistent mare Discreet Lady (Oratorio) who won at Tuncurry on Monday. She is a Mungrup-bred graduate and saluted with a last-to-first victory for owner-trainer Tom Higgins.
Warrior Smile (2c Saxon Warrior – Cascada by Lonhro) had finished fourth on debut in the Listed MVRC St Albans Stakes (1200m) last month and was all the better for that outing around the Lakeside circuit.
“He didn’t really handle the occasion at the Valley but the addition of winkers and a step up in distance on a bigger track made a difference today,” Lindsay Park foreman Rahis Baig said. “He’s been working well at our Pakenham stable and the last 50 metres was the best part of the win.”
Warrior Smile led the field of youngsters for Dan Stackhouse and kept finding to deny Stay Cosmic (Cosmic Force). “I planned to take a sit but there was no speed early so I sent him forward,” Stackhouse explained. “He’s still raw and when the penny drops he will get out to a mile.”
Mungrup Pastoral’s Gray Williamson purchased Cascada carrying Warrior Smile for $25,000 from Gooree Park Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and he sold the Sandown winner for $55,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale to Lindsay Park’s Hong Kong-based client Victor Lee.
Second-dam Before Too Long (Belong to Me) won a G2 MVRC Champagne Stakes (1200m) and her full-brother Bon Hoffa won a G1 MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes (1400m).
The final foal from Cascada is a Playing God colt that was purchased by Gangemi Racing for $170,000 at this year’s Perth Magic Millions.
Discreet Lady was also purchased by Hong Kong interests when Thomas Lau bid $3,000 online at the Mungrup Stud Dispersal in August 2020. She changed hands again before facing the starter and has now won four times for Higgins.
Mungrup’s five-time Champion WA 2YO Sire Oratorio (Stravinsky) got her from Discreet Madam (Foxwedge) who is out of a half-sister to the Mossman Group 2 winners Pure Energy (STC Reisling Stakes) and Segments (MRC Schillaci Stakes).
Oratorio also sired Discreet Madam’s 2yo filly Everlasting Lady in his final crop. She is homebred for Willaview Park’s Claire Williamson and so is her yearling half-sister by Willaview Park sire A Lot (Tapit).