Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
G2 Perth Cup, $400,000, 2400m
A 10th G2 Perth Cup success for Bob and Sandra Peters with the success of Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}), a consistent performer who was able to record the fifth success of his 19-start career.
The winner in mid-November of the Listed Ascot Gold Cup, Midnight Blue is one of his dual G1 W.S Cox Plate-winning Coolmore-based sire's 37 stakes winners and he is the third stakes winner for the winner Midnight Special (Zabeel {NZ}) who has also produced the triple Group 2-winning New Zealander Demonetization (All Too Hard) and the Listed winner Neverland (Big Brown {USA}).
Last spring taking a trip to Victoria to visit Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Midnight Special was not served the previous year with her most recent foal being a yearling full brother to Midnight Blue - already named So Brave.
Midnight Special is out of the city winner Done That (NZ) (Centaine) who also produced the Group 3 winners Rainbow Styling (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Zingaling (Redoute's Choice).
Midnight Blue boasts crosses of the terrific mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Perfume II (GB) (Badruddin {Fr}).
G3 La Trice Classic, $150,000, 1800m
Strong to the line recording her fourth consecutive victory, Beret (Helmet) added this Group 3 success to her resume on the back of her Listed Starstruck S. success a couple of weeks ago.
Seven times successful from 26 starts, the Oakland Park Stud homebred is one of the 14 stakes winners sired by her triple Group 1-winning sire (ATC Sires' Produce S., Champagne S., Caulfield Guineas) who has been based in the Northern Hemisphere since last leaving Australian shores in late 2017.
Beret is the second black-type performer for her unplaced dam Irish Hut (Quest For Fame {GB}) who was served last spring by Maschino (Encosta De Lago) with her most recent Stud Book recorded foal being a Sessions (Lonhro) colt foaled in 2019.
Also dam of the Hong Kong-based stakes-placed galloper Joy Master (Rogano), Irish Hut is a daughter of the stakes-placed Clochan (Haulpak) whose other foals include the G2 Emancipation S. winner Heather (Grand Lodge {USA}) and the G3 Kindergarten S. winner Peat Bog (Canny Lad).
One highlight of Beret's pedigree is the combination of Mill Reef (USA) (Never Bend {USA}) to whom Helmet's (Exceed And Excel) dam is line-bred and Blushing Groom (Fr) (Red God {USA}) with both stallions being descendants of the influential Black Ray (GB) (Black Jester {GB}).
Listed Summer Scorcher, $125,000, 1000m
Charging home from well back, Miss Conteki (Eurozone) won her first stakes race in impressive fashion. A mare who really knows how to find the line, she is now an eight-time winner from just 12 starts.
Bred by Lynch Bages Limited and purchased by Amelia Park for $55,000 at the 2017 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, she is the fourth stakes winner for her Hillview Stud-based G2 Stan Fox S.-winning sire.
Her unraced dam Tipsy Moment (Redoute's Choice) is doing a good job at stud, this mare is her second stakes winner - her first being the G3 Gunsynd Classic and Listed Gold Coast Cup winner Dreams Aplenty (Dream Ahead {USA}).
Served last spring by Snippetson (Snippets), Tipsy Moment foaled a Magna Grecia (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) colt in October with her previous foal being the yet to race 2-year-old Under Influence (Caravaggio {USA}). Another of her runners shows good promise, the Victorian, Always In Moment (No Nay Never {USA}) winning at Sandown last winter.
Tipsy Moment is a daughter of the Listed Sky High winner For The Moment (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) whose grandam is the G2 WA Champions Fillies' S. winner Frivolous Miss (NZ) (In The Purple {Fr}) whose other descendants include the Group 1 gallopers Niconero (Danzero), Nicconi (Bianconi {USA}) and Zip Zip Aray (Bellotto {USA}).
This is the prolific Froth (NZ) (Faux Tirage {GB}) family that has also produced such outstanding gallopers as Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and General Nediym (Nediym {Ire}).
Miss Conteki boasts a 6 X 6 cross of the aptly named mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Fairy King (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and son Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
