West Australian breeders Trevor Delroy and Bridie O’Bree began Melbourne Cup day on a high with Kasane in the TAB Trophy (1700m).  The Mornington mare started at $26 and it was her first win since another long-priced victory at headquarters in the New Year.

Kasane (6m Helenus – Minden by Todvega) is a homebred for Delroy and he races the mare in partnership with trainer Pat Carey’s wife Cheryl.  The mare hails from a Heytesbury Stud family that first came to prominence in the 1980s with stakes winners Black Ivory (Pago Pago) and Brazzaka (Haulpak).

Delroy sold Minden to O’Bree in 2009 at a Perth Magic Millions Sale for just $300.  O’Bree has since bred a younger half-brother and sister to the Flemington winner by Sunspeed champion Blackfriars.

A Kyneton maiden winner in March 2010, Kasane paid her dues around the provincials with further wins at Bairnsdale, Tatura and Seymour before graduating to city tracks 12 months ago.  “She thoroughly deserves every win,” Carey said.  “She’s a real trier and is a pleasure to have around the stables.”

Carey had won the TAB Trophy in 2005 with Candy Vale (Bubble Gum Fellow) and 2010 with Influential Miss (Carnegie).  The Mornington trainer has also combined with Delroy and his sire Helenus to win Group 1 races with Cedarberg (BMW Stakes) and Ethiopia (Australian Derby).

Helenus began his stud career at Heytesbury Stud and is now based at Wattle Grove Thoroughbreds in the NSW Southern Highlands.  The Berrima based nursery stands him for a $6,600 service fee.

– Karl Patterson

KASANE
Helenus mare wins on Melbourne Cup day