Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Phillip Stokes-trained Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) burst into Coolmore Stud S. calculations with a superb victory in the G2 Danehill S. at Flemington on Saturday.
The promising filly has consistently shown to be a classy proposition.
On debut at Morphettville in April this year, she was narrowly beaten by the subsequent Listed victress, Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}).
It wouldn’t take Stretan Angel long, though, to get the run on the board - it will come at start two in the Listed Dequetteville S. back at Morphettville, winning by an impressive 2.8l before heading for a spell.
Stretan Angel winning the Listed Dequetteville S. | Image courtesy of Racing SA
Returning in the Listed Cap D’Antibes S. down the Flemington straight, Stretan Angel would only be beaten 0.2l by the classy Shesallshenanigans (Toronado {Ire}).
Come Saturday, Harry Angel's (Ire) daughter lined up for start four in the Danehill S., and arguably under the radar, much of the pre-race attention focused on I Am Unstoppable (I Am Invincible).
However, she proved too much for that rival as she coasted down the Flemington straight and into rare company.
Stretan Angel became just the eighth filly to win the Danehill and the first since the gun filly Catchy (Fastnet Rock) took the plaudits in 2017.
Before Catchy, it was another Group 1 heroine Snitzerland (Snitzel), in 2012, and before her, the incomparable Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) outmatched stablemate, and the future G1 Newmarket H. hero Wanted.
Outstanding filly
The performances all point to Stretan Angel being an outstanding filly with an exciting future ahead for her connections. However, the daughter of Darely’s second-season sire, Harry Angel, was no fluke, bred by Grant Briscoe on the advice of his good mate and highly respected bloodstock and racing identity - Trevor Lobb.
Lobb, a student of pedigrees with the eye and expertise to back him up, would be known to many as the former manager of Woodlands Stud (now Godolphin).
Stretan Angel, winner of the G2 Danehill S. at Flemington on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It is no coincidence then that Stretan Angel’s dam, the Bernardini (USA) mare Sretan, was the product of that vast lineage.
Sretan, bred by Darley, who purchased Woodlands Stud in 2008, was offered by the farm at the 2017 Inglis Sydney Weanling and Broodmare Sale, where Lobb paid $35,000 for the mare.
Sretan was the dam of the Woodlands-raced Pure Joy, a daughter of the G1 Kentucky Derby victor Fusaichi Pegasus (USA).
Trevor Lobb | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pure Joy would win the G3 Vanity S. and would produce the Group 3 and Group 1-placed Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) and the Group 2 placegetter Alegria (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) for Godolphin.
“I was the manager at Woodlands Stud for 20 years, and Grant Briscoe, who’s been a friend of mine, asked me to buy him a couple of mares to help with his breeding interests,” Lobb told TTR AusNZ.
“Woodlands raced Pure Joy, the dam of Sretan, and I knew horses like Fravashi (half-brother to Pure Joy) on the page; I know the family very well.
“Woodlands raced Pure Joy, the dam of Sretan, and I knew horses like Fravashi (half-brother to Pure Joy) on the page; I know the family very well.” - Trevor Lobb
“Sretan came out of work with Godolphin and was offered at the 2017 Inglis Weanling and Broodmare Sale, and I bought her for $35,000.
“As I sort of managed the matings for Graham (Pascoe) the first year we sent Sretan to Vancouver, and that resultant colt (Vantan Express) sold $110,000 at the Magic Millions.
“Then there was a filly (Tickle Our Fancy) by Dissident who didn’t sort of do anything, but Stretan Angel is the third foal we have from the mare.
Stretan Angel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“Sretan has a 2-year-old colt by Brutal and has a very nice Wild Ruler colt at foot and will return to Harry Angel this season.”
Harry right for Sretan
Lobb, a fan of Harry Angel, felt the son of Dark Angel (Ire) had all the right ingredients to make a winner with Sretan.
“We picked the mating for her, and Harry Angel was in his first season at the time.
“To cross with the Bernardini, Sretan needed a mate with a strong speed influence, which has worked exceptionally well.
Harry Angel (Ire) | Standing at Darley
“Not only that, but Harry Angel was an extremely tough racehorse.”
It was an astute move by Lobb and Briscoe, with the first Southern Hemisphere crop of Harry Angel's proving successful.
As Stretan Angel illustrated, the progeny has the scope to train on with one of Harry Angel’s other leading lights, Tom Kitten, recently winning the G3 Up And Coming S.
Tom Kitten (royal blue cap) | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
As a yearling, Stretan Angel was offered by Raheen Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, where Phillip Stokes and Rick Connolly Bloodstock paid $64,000 to secure her in another piece of astute buying.
“At the time, we were quite happy with the sale price for a June sale in Queensland. The main thing was to get her into a good home, and that worked; Stokesy (Phillip Stokes) has done an excellent job with her.
Phillip Stokes | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
“He always has known she could gallop and had the ability from the first time, but she’s done an extraordinary job to get where she is today.
“Being one of the favourites for a Coolmore and winning a Danehill being a filly, that’s not a bad effort, is it?
“I would imagine she’ll go out to the paddock for a week or so, then come back and have a jump-out and then go straight into the Coolmore at this point.”
Finger still on the pulse
Although now retired, Lobb still has his finger on the pulse - it's his passion, and after years of developing the knowledge, why wouldn’t one use it?
“Let’s hope it’s all upwards from here. But I just like helping the owner. I’m retired and enjoy it, but I race and breed a few horses.
“I just like helping the owner (Grant Briscoe). I’m retired and enjoy it, but I race and breed a few horses.” - Trevor Lobb
“And I like helping my clients. That’s what it’s all been about even when I was with Woodlands; it was to breed the best horses you could with the stock that you’ve got.
“We were able to do that and set it up. From that point, if there’s anything I can do to help people, that’s what I’ve always been there for.
“Breeding doesn’t have to be in the millions; it can be any price at the end of the day, but the bloodlines are very important.
“Breeding doesn’t have to be in the millions; it can be any price at the end of the day, but the bloodlines are very important.” - Trevor Lobb
“Knowing what bloodlines have or haven’t done or when they were last active. It gives you an edge in having information on the families.
“Sometimes it costs you a lot of money, sometimes it doesn't, and sometimes it’s not always fashionable, but the fashionable things don’t always work out either.
“It’s more of the old families. The families always shine through at some stage.”
