Taunton Vale studmaster Kent Johnson couldn’t have asked for a better lead-in to the Perth Magic Millions for his exciting young sire Bearcat.

Bearcat (Danehill – Fitting by Marscay) sired a winning double on Saturday when Time To Climb and Kiddy Cat won the first two races at the Ascot meeting.  The results will surely enhance the prices of his yearlings at the Belmont Park sales complex starting on January 27.

Time to Climb (2f Bearcat-True Roman by Is It True) was the first leg of Bearcat’s double when successful in Race 1 on Saturday.  Sent out the $1.65 favourite, Time to Climb, found plenty under Shaun O’Donnell to score by just under a length.  “It was a good effort,” trainer Trevor Andrews said after the race.  “She didn’t have an easy run by any means, but she fought on good.”

Time to Climb was purchased at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions by leading bloodstock agent John Chalmers for $75,000.  She is a half-sister to G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Roman Time (Danetime).  Their dam has a Bearcat colt catalogued by Taunton Vale this year.

Kiddy Cat (2f Bearcat – Never’s Kid by Tribu) showed plenty of speed and fight to score by a long head in Race 2 at Ascot.  Trainer David Harrison was more than pleased with the result.  “It was a good, tough effort,” Harrison said.  “She’s a flying machine but is probably four or five lengths off her best yet.  She doesn’t do anything wrong at home and is a pleasure to train.”

Kiddy Cat was a $14,000 buy out of the Taunton Vale draft at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions Autumn yearling sale.  Her dam Never’s Kid is a winning half-sister to G3 J C Roberts Stakes winner Rail Breaker (Dynamo).  The mare doesn’t have a yearling this year.  Her 2008 colt by Bearcat died as a foal.

It is no surprise Bearcat’s progeny are a precocious breed given their sire possesses a Golden Slipper pedigree.  He was purchased for $700,000 at the 2001 Inglis Easter Sale by bloodstock agent Anton Koolman.

Bearcat is a full brother to 1999 Golden Slipper winner and ill-fated sire Catbird.  Originally prepared by Oliver Koolman at Warwick Farm, Bearcat developed into a class sprinter in Hong Kong winning four races for leading trainer Tony Cruz.

Bearcat is represented by 27 yearlings at this year’s Perth Magic Millions and Johnson says the highlights will be the full brother to Time to Climb (Lot 309) and a filly out of Tribal Conquest (Lot 296).  The latter is a half-sister to three winners including London Court (Fimiston), I’m Here To Win (Numerous Times) and Radio Pleasure (Stay Tuned).