Subtle influence for Darley

Night Shift mare Subtle wasn’t part of the mega deal between Bob Ingham and Sheikh Mohammed last year but her influence could generate another Group 1 triumph for Darley this spring.

Subtle is the dam of Darley’s G3 AJC Up and Coming Stakes winner Rarefied (Commands) and she doubled up when Beaded (Lonhro) won at Canterbury yesterday.

There was nothing subtle about Subtle.  She could go like scalded cat but was flat out getting 1200m.  Sporting the all-cerise Woodlands silks, she won five sprints in Sydney and two editions of the Doomben Dash.

Subtle retired in 2000 and her value increased when younger half-brother Undue (Commands) won the Group 1 2006 Doomben 10,000 and 2007 Oakleigh Plate.

Sadly, she died two days after foaling a Viscount filly in August 2007.  Now a new-season two year-old, that filly hasn’t been named yet but she has a lot to live up to.

Rarefied won at Seymour and Caulfield last summer and then ran second to Reward For Effort in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview on Australia Day.

Trainer Peter Snowden sent Rarefied to Sydney to open his spring campaign and the Commands gelding responded by railing up to win the Up And Coming at Randwick.  He returned to Melbourne and was beaten a length when placed behind Black Caviar and Wanted in the G2 Danehill Stakes at Flemington last weekend.

Rarefied would have finished closer if not blocked for a run down the straight and, like his three-quarter brother Undue, might make a Group 1 galloper this season.

Beaded is a couple of levels below Rarefied but she looked a nice enough type when winning the Rosehill Gardens Event Centre (1100m) first-up at Canterbury on Wednesday.

The Darley mare had won a Wyong maiden in March and doubled up at Canterbury prior to the Easter break before going for spell.  She returned to Canterbury to take Lonhro’s tally to 17 individual winners in Australia and NZ this season.

Top of the totem pole is Lonhro’s first Group 1 winner Denman (STC Golden Rose) and the Sydney stakes winners O’Lonhro and Deer Valley.