Promising colt Bridgestone will head the locals against a strong line-up of interstate entries for the G1 WATC Derby at Ascot on April 24.
Victorian stables have captured the Perth classic for the last two years with Grand Journey and Marcus Maximus. Caulfield trainer Peter Moody prepared Marcus Maximus and he has nominated G2 AAMI Vase winner Hanks for this year’s Derby.
Bridgestone (3c Pentire – Golden Dawn by Gold Brose) is a younger brother to Marcus Maximus and he is shaping up nicely in an effort to make it a Derby double for Rich Hill sire Pentire.
Bridgestone came with a well timed run take out the $95,000 South West Breeders’ Plate (1400m) at Bunbury last time out.
The Breeders’ Plate is growing in stature each year. The 2007 winner El Presidente (Dante’s Fury) went on to claim the G1 Railway Stakes and last year’s winner Revolition (Key Business) graduated to a G2 victory in the G3 Colonel Reeves Stakes at the 2009 Ascot cummer carnival.
Premier trainer Neville Parnham believes his Pentire colt will be a force in the Perth classic next month. “He has always displayed above average ability,” Parnham explained. “I really like him as a racehorse and knew he would make a top three year old.”
Bridgestone earned his first black-type when G3 placed behind God Has Spoken and Wolfe Dreams in a quality finish to 2009 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes last April. A fortnight later, he stormed home to win the Jacks Or Better Plate (1600m) at Ascot on Anzac Day.
Returning as a spring three year-old, Bridgestone defeated subsequent G3 Champion Fillies winner Le Plunge at Belmont before embarking on a spring campaign in the Eastern States.
He was slowly away first-up at Caulfield in the G3 Norman Robinson Stakes but finished in good company when fourth home behind Shamoline Warrior, Onemorenomore and Gathering.
A stone bruise derailed his Victoria Derby preparation, however, the $500,000 WATC Derby will be ample compensation for Parnham who part-owns the colt with Bob Pearson, Mike Fagan and Wayne Walker.
The next step in the lead-up to the WA Derby will be in the Listed Roberts Quality at Ascot this Saturday, March 27. Bridgestone and God Has Spoken (Blackfriars) head markets for the traditional dress-rehearsal to the Derby.
Bridgestone was a $200,000 purchase at the 2008 New Zealand Karaka Sale. His dam Golden Dawn won up to a mile in New Zealand and she is a half-sister to Te Akau Class (Masterclass), a G3 winner of the Eclipse Stakes at Ellerslie. Second dam Rapunzel (Star Way) is an unraced half-sister to NZ G1 performer (Our) Travellin’ Man.
Golden Dawn’s other foals include Kiwi G3 performer Snipza Gold (Pins) and the promising Mick Price trained stayer Our Gold Bullion (Pentire). The latter paid his dues winning three from four up to 2400m around the Victorian provincials last spring.
Rich Hill Stud stallion Pentire is an all-purpose sire. His G1 winning mare Zarita claimed the G2 MVRC Sunline Stakes last month boosting her earnings to $1.65 million.
Pentire’s NZ Horse of the Year (King) Mufhasa returned to his magnificent best when he blitzed a quality field in the G1 Fairdale WFA Classic at Otaki and Larry’s Never Late grabbed a G3 in the Launceston Cup.
Pentire gelding Rangirangdoo won the G2 Expressway Stakes first-up this year but has since been foiled by stablemate Danleigh (G2 Apollo St) and Theseo (G1 Chipping Norton & G1 Ranvet). He can silence the knockers in the $1.5 million AJC Doncaster Mile at Randwick on April 17.
Meanwhile, Pentiffic will start in the Pegasus Jump Stakes (3350m) at Nakayama this Saturday, March 27 in the lead-up to the Nakayama Grand Jump (4250m) on April 17.
Pentiffic (6g Pentire – Sailing High by Yachtie) is owned by RVL deputy chairman Peter Sinn and is trained by Frances Houlahan who was last in Japan assisting her father Jim with Marlborough in 2001.
Houlahan has been pleased with Pentiffic since their arrival on March 17. “He’s in very good condition at the moment – just as if he were back home,” Houlahan said earlier this week. “Distance wise, we like to think he’s suited more to the Nakayama Grand Jump and we’re hoping he can perform the way Karasi used to.”
Legendary jumper Karasi won the Nakayama Grand Jump for three consecutive years from 2005 to 2007 before injury forced him to withdraw just days before the 2008 race.
Pentiffic won the 2009 Grand National Steeplechase, Crisp Steeplechase and Hiskens Steeplechase and has earned $491,826. That bank balance will look like loose change if he wins the Pegasus Jump (Prizemoney – AUD 424,800) and the Nakayama Grand Jump (Prizemoney – AUD 1.89 million).
Another high-flyer by Pentire was the Robbie Laing trained jumper Sir Pentire who won the 2009 Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.
Laing has his hands on another promising Pentire named Bambina. She broke through in the Waratah Hcp (1000m) at Sandown on March 10 and the Cranbourne trainer reckons she has a very bright future.
“We only paid $23,000 for her at Karaka but she can certainly gallop,” Laing said. “She is a youngster sister to Lakonian and he was still unraced when she came up for sale. He was flying at home so I bid for her on the phone.”
Lakonian came out and won at Mornington and Warrnambool and was then beaten a neck by Shocking in a 3YO Handicap at Flemington in May 2009. “Bambina’s got a good turn of foot,” Laing said. “And being by Pentire, she should get over ground and make a smart horse.”