Kalahaar completed a winning week for Perth Racing vice-chairman Lex Piper and his wife Shirley at Belmont on Saturday.

Kalahaar (4g Choisir – Kalatiara by Metal Storm) has only been beaten once in six starts since breaking his maiden on Easter Sunday.  He looks a summer carnival candidate after producing a brilliant finish to beat Bombora in the last stride of the Playeronline Hcp (1200m).

“He’s the real deal, this bloke,” trainer Steve Wolfe said.  “I thought he may have run out of time to catch the leader but it was a beautifully-timed ride by Shaun (McGruddy).

“He’s a serious horse on the way up.  We will savour the moment and not look too far ahead.  He will have another run in a fortnight before making any plans.”

The winner is from international stakes winner Kalatiara who scored a G2 victory in the WA Guineas for the Pipers in 2000.  She later transferred to North America to win the G3 Royal Heroine Stakes at Hollywood Park.

Kalatiara’s younger sister Kentiara was a Listed winner of the Detonator Stakes and La Trice Classic.  Another sister Lacienne foaled G2 Perth Cup winner Guest Wing (Right Wing).

Lacienne’s second foal Lacie (Oratorio) was an Ascot winner for the Pipers and Mungrup Stud owners Gray and Jan Williamson.  She presented them a big, bonny filly by Hala Bek late last week.

Hala Bek (Halling) is an Irish-bred stallion currently serving his third book at Mungrup.  He raced just three times for wins at Newbury (by three lengths) and Nottingham (by seven lengths).  At his only other outing, he was beaten a nose, a short-head and a nose into fourth place behind Sir Percy in the 2006 English Derby.

Due Sasso is another stallion in the good books at Mungrup.  He sired a winning double at Northam last Thursday to improve his record to 21 individual winners in his first two crops.

The Pipers are major shareholders in Due Sasso.  The son of Scenic was a G3 winner of the 2006 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield before injury curtailed his career after just 8 starts.

Due Sasso and Hala Bek are both standing for $5,500 (inc gst) service fees this year.

– Karl Patterson

GUEST WING
Trainer Shane Edwards, jockey Brad Parnham plus owners Ritchie Green, Shirley and Lex Piper celebrate after the 2011 Perth Cup