Black Felix won the LR Placid Ark Stakes in 2010 and a decade later his full-brother Last Of The Line has shown black-type potential in a stunning debut at Ascot.

Last Of The Line powered home to win eased down in the Westspeed Platinum Maiden (1400m) on Saturday.  The Stephen Miller-trained 3yo put panels on Outlaw King (War Chant) and his stablemate Miss Margaux (Playing God) who went out a $1.80 favourite.

Miller recalls Black Felix required beach work to alleviate ongoing issues.  “We had to be patient with him and I guess we may have to be patient with Last Of The Line even though he pulled up perfect after the weekend,” Miller said on Monday.  “It’s day-to-day with the coronavirus lockdown but I would like to get another run into him this prep.”

If racing does go ahead into the winter season, obvious targets would be the LR Raconteur Stakes (1500m) and LR Belmont Guineas (1600m) in June.

Managing part-owner Lindsay Rogers bred both gallopers by using Scenic Lodge champion Blackfriars over Catch The Cat (Royal Abjar) who is a direct descendant of G3 Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic winner Edge Of Darkness.

Blackfriars is going further ahead of his rivals at the top of the WA sires’ premiership for 2019-20.  Last Of The Line was his 11th individual winner in March and his current-season stats stand at 69 winners for prizemoney of $4.80 million.

BLACKFRIARS