Memories of a magnificent broodmare always resurface during the Scone Cup carnival when the club hosts the LR Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).

Owner-breeders Peter and Daisy Tait raced all Dark Jewel’s progeny and among them were champion colt Baguette (Rego).  His full sisters Birthright (VRC Maribyrnong Plate) and Heirloom (VATC One Thousand Guineas) were top class fillies but not in Baguette’s class.

Trained by Fil Alotta, he was undefeated as a two year old winning the Maribyrnong Plate in the spring and Golden Slipper, AJC Sires’ Produces Stakes and Champagne Stakes in the autumn.

As a three year old, Baguette was kept to sprint trips after losing his unbeaten record in front of a hushed Canterbury Guineas crowd.  The following autumn he claimed the VRC Newmarket Handicap before adding another G1 in the Doomben 10000 with George Moore aboard.

Dark Jewel also foaled the top class sprinter-miler Cabochon (Edmundo) who streeted a G1 field in the 1967 Epsom Handicap at Randwick.  Jockey Des Lake, usually poker-faced, pulled up laughing on the popular chestnut.

Precocious sprinter Betelgeuse (Wilkes) was another black-type performer for the immediate family winning the City Tatts Lightning Stakes and The Shorts at Randwick.

Last Saturday’s Dark Jewel Classic was won by Upon This Rock (Fastnet Rock) and, less than an hour later, another member of the family struck gold in the $500,000 Scone Guineas.

Emerging star Pampelonne maintained his perfect record this campaign with an impressive three length victory at White Park on Saturday.  The Tim Martin trained gelding had won the Gosford Guineas in April and will now be set for the G1 Stradbroke Hcp on June 9.

Pampelonne is striking son of Rock of Gibraltar and his dam Jestajewel (Rory’s Jester) won at Moonee Valley and was stakes placed at Flemington.  Her half-sister Marveen (Orientate) was a Listed winner at Flemington, Sandown and Gold Coast.

Jesterjewel is inbred to Dark Jewel 4×4 and carries three Golden Slipper winners – Baguette, Rory’s Jester and Vai – in her immediate pedigree.

Pampelonne is vying for favouritism with Sea Siren in pre-post markets for the Doomben 10,000 this Saturday.  It will be his final lead-up to Stradbroke.

Back in 1971, Baguette carried 58kg to win the Doomben 10,000 as a winter three year-old.  Pampelonne will jump from an inside barrier with 57kg.

PAMPELONNE