The Cruiserweight opened the winning account of regally bred stallion Stanford at Mildura on Monday.

Trained by Darrell Dodson, the Telopea Downs based gelding was resuming after a 24 week spell and was always travelling like a winner in the Euston Club Resort Maiden Plate (1000m).

The Cruiserweight (3g Stanford – Kilinski by Western Symphony) had been second on debut at Naracoorte in January.  He is raced by Tony and Jan Morahan who stood Stanford at Parwanvale Stud in Victoria.

Stanford is a Danehill half-brother to G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Schubert and the dam of Darley’s emerging sire Gonski.

He was a $1.10 million buy at the 2001 Inglis Easter yearling for a syndicate that included Gai Waterhouse, Adam Sangster and Vinery Stud’s Peter Orton.

Stanford won at Randwick, Warwick Farm and Kembla Grange but was never going to recoup his purchase price.

Enter Tony Morahan who runs a security business from Bacchus Marsh.  He was looking to stand a stallion and Stanford fitted the bill.

The Cruiserweight’s dam Kilinski has foaled Stanford fillies for the last three years.  The mare is a half-sister to So Anyway (General Nediym), a Listed winner of the Dark Jewel Classic at Scone.

The Cruiserweight’s victory coincided with Stanford’s sale to a Hunter Valley breeder who will use him privately.

Morahan has replaced him with Pellizotti at Parwanvale Stud.  He was a Listed winner of the Dalrello Plate at Doomben last year and will be the first son of Stratum to stand at stud.