Desert King mare Real Love shattered the Doomben track record with a stunning victory in the G3 JRA Cup (2000m) on Saturday.

Real Love lowered the previous course record held by Streama to set a new mark of 2.00.96s.  The Darren Weir trained five year-old started favourite and defeat Irish-bred import Sir John Hawkwood by three-quarters of a length.

“Full credit to Darren,” jockey Brad Rawiller said.  “She ran third in the Adelaide Cup in March and it’s hard to keep a horse up that long.  I rode her quietly and she got around the turns without any problems.  She looks a million dollars and is genuine as they come.”

Real Love (5m Desert King – Flaming Heart by Salieri) is a homebred for West Australian owner-breeders Bob and Sandra Peters and had won the G2 Perth Cup before transferring to Victoria.  She will stay in training for the G3 Premier’s Cup at Doomben on May 28 and G2 Brisbane Cup in June.

The JRA Cup was Real Love’s fifth black-type victory and that lifts her into third spot on the Desert King roll-call behind Melbourne Cup legend Makybe Diva (11 SW) and weight-for-age star Desert War (10 SW).

“Desert King is the most underrated sire in Victoria,” Euroa-based Lauriston Park studmaster Chris Bakker said.  “I’m pretty sure he’s sired more Group 1 winners than any other stallion in the State.

“He’s perfect for anyone who wants to breed to race instead of just breeding a product to sell.  He’s getting on now but still thinks he’s a 10 year-old.”

Lauriston Park Stud is also home to Rock Hero and Bakker is looking forward to his first foals in August.  “His fertility was exceptional in his first book – I thought he would have finished with a 100% record but a couple of the older mares slipped after 45 days.”

Rock Hero (Fastnet Rock) was a stunning six-length winner in track record time at Canterbury in September 2013 and he went right on with the job to claim the LR Dulcify Quality, again in track record time at Randwick, before injury cut his career short after just 9 starts.

For further information on Desert King (Ire) and Rock Hero, broodmare owners should call Chris Bakker on 0427 903 353.