Spirit lives on at Chatswood

Chatswood Stud resident Niello sired the third winner from his current crop of two year-olds when Sweet Ella bolted in at Cranbourne on Wednesday.

It was the start of a winning day for Chatswood.  A few hours later in England, former Chatswood shuttler Invincible Spirit was represented by his first stakes winner as a broodmare sire at Ascot.

Sweet Ella (2f Niello – Sweet Mariah by Almaarad) is trained by Greg Eurell and she came from a mile back to motor home in the Browns Sawdust & Shavings Maiden (1000m).

The winner is owned by Sandy Letten and she also races another Niello with Eurell named Monkey Bay.  He has been sidelined since winning on debut at Seymour last year.

Sweet Ella joins Sparks Burn and Not Doubtful among Niello’s two year-old winners this season.  Sparks Burn also earned black-type when placed behind Golden Archer in the LR St Albans Stakes at Moonee Valley last month.

Letten also raced Sweet Ella’s older half-brother Phantomofthenight (Fraar) under the Warringa Park banner.  He won 7 races including the LR TTC Newmarket at Launceston.

Niello retired to Chatswood Stud after a career that garnered G1 victories in the 2003 AJC Spring Champion Stakes and the 2004 STC Canterbury – Rosehill Guineas double.  He is a brother to Darley high-flyer Lonhro and stood for an $8,800 fee last year.

Invincible Spirit shuttled to Chatswood for four years until 2006.  He is now permanently based as flagship stallion at the Irish National Stud and his daughters will make a similar impact in both hemispheres.

Perfect Tribute (3f Dubawi – Perfect Spirit by Invincible Spirit) opened his black-type account as a broodmare sire in the Listed Pavilion Stakes at Ascot on Wednesday.  She tracked the leaders and, in a driving finish, defeated Aneedah (Invincible Spirit) and  Margot Did (Exceed And Excel).