Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Belmont: Listed Belmont Classic, $125,000, 2200m
Short-priced favourite Black Fantasy (Blackfriars) ran up to his odds with a gutsy performance - recording the second win of his 12-start career, continuing on the good form in this race for his late sire.
Bred by Scenic Lodge Thoroughbred Stud and purchased from their draft by Pearce Racing for $36,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 2), Black Fantasy is the third Blackfriars winner in this race following on from Come Play With Me in 2018 and Summah's Touch in 2013.
Black Fantasy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
One of the two stakes winners (this year's G3 WA Oaks-placed dual Listed winner Constant Dreaming the other) from Blackfriars' final crop, Black Fantasy is the second foal produced by the Ascot winner Dreamalong (Southern Image {USA}) whose first foal is the Belmont 2000 metre winner Frequent Friar (also by Blackfriars).
Missing last spring, Dreamalong has a yearling filly by Magnus and a colt foal by Snippetson. Her dam is the talented Listed Bolton Sprint winner Cool Business (Key Business) who did such a great job winning 13 of her 29 starts.
All six of her foals to race were winners including the dual Group 3 winner Shining Knight (Blackfriars again) and the stakes-placed Intimidator (Flying Spur).
This is one of Western Australia's most prolific families, its other members including the stakes winners Marasco (Scenic {Ire}), Hot Shot Brother (Key Business), Siesta Bay (Scenice {Ire}) and Electric Light (Vital Equine {Ire}}.
Black Fantasy is bred on the highly successful Danehill (USA)/Halo (USA) cross that provides for duplications of the prolific mother and daughter Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}).
Morphettville Parks: Listed Charles Melton Wines Oaklands Plate, $107,250, 1400m
In a nice way to break his maiden, He's Heaven (Zoustar) recorded a smart victory at just his second outing.
A homebred for Judy Wanless, who also bred and raced his high-achieving dam Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), He's Heaven is stakes winner number 30 for his Widden Stud-based sire.
He is the fourth foal for his dam, who won eight of her 25 starts amassing over $1.5 million in stakes with her career highlight being a G1 Australasian Oaks victory.
Also the winner of four Group 2 races (including the Brisbane Cup and the Hollindale S.) and a Group 3, Lights Of Heaven is doing a good job at stud with all four of her foals being winners including the Group 3-placed Angel Of Heaven (Redoute's Choice).
Lights Of Heaven (NZ), pictured when racing, is the dam of He's Heaven | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Served last spring by So You Think (NZ) having produced a filly by The Autumn Sun in late October, Lights Of Heaven also has a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock whilst previous foal, 4-year-old Lumber Rock (Snitzel), is a recent last start Wagga Wagga winner.
Lights Of Heaven is out of the multiple city winner I'm In Heaven (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) whose eight named foals have all been winners including the dam of the stakes-placed He's The Ultimate (Fastnet Rock).
He's Heaven's third dam is the stakes-placed Cent From Heaven (NZ) (Centaine) whose five winners from six to race (this really is a family of winners!) includes the G1 Diamond S. winner Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and the G3 Highview S. winner Eloa (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Boasting crosses of the great mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Rough Shod II (GB) (Gold Bridge {Fr}) and Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), He's Heaven is a descendant of the wonderful mare Chicquita (Blank {GB}).
