Taunton Vale stallion Bearcat has struck a purple patch in recent weeks with a half-dozen winners in Perth and the provincials.
Bearcat (Danehill) is a brother to Catbird and stands for a $4,400 (inc gst) fee at Taunton Vale Stud in Western Australia. A class sprinter in Hong Kong, he won four races for leading trainer Tony Cruz before retiring to Kent Johnston’s nursery at Dardanup.
The Lou Luciani trained gelding Little Larrikin began the run with back-to-back wins last month. The front-runner returned from a spell to break his maiden on Toodyay Cup day and then graduated to another all-the-way victory in town at Ascot.
Two days later, it was the turn of Levi’s Boy to claim the first leg of a double for Bearcat and trainer Brendon Fitzgerald at Northam. Stablemate Flashforward also put her best foot forward at the CHOGM public holiday meeting in the Avon Valley.
Kranji Dude was next cab off the rank at Bunbury last Thursday. He will butter up at the same venue this Sunday for owner-trainer Sharon Miller in Race 8 at 5.00pm (WST).
Speedy Bearcat gelding Bambinostar caused a boilover at Pinjarra on Wednesday when he lobbed at $104. The Carol Albuino trained gelding was allowed to go out a cricket-score odds after a wayward debut at Northam in September.
Bearcat mare Flashforward returned to Northam on Thursday to make it two-from-two this season. She is a half-sister to winners by former Woodlands sires Canny Lad (2), Dracula and Viscount.
Their dam Parole was a $34,000 buy for De Grey Stud owner Dick Vincent at the 2006 Magic Millions National Sale. He sold Flashforward to part-owner Joe Crupi for $5,250 at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions Autumn yearling sale.
Bearcat has now sired 22 individual winners in his first two crops. He was joined at Taunton Vale by Lonhro stakes winner Demerit this year.
Demerit was runner-up to world champion Black Caviar on debut in the Listed Blue Sapphire Stakes at Caulfield in May 2009.
The Darley colt thumped a star-studded field in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude (1400m) the following season. The beaten brigade included the G1 performers Trusting, Manhattan Rain and Starspangledbanner.
Demerit stands for a $6,600 (inc gst) fee at Taunton Vale.