Graceful Eagle winning at Murray Bridge Congratulations to Bryan and June Terry our Owners of the Month for August with Graceful Eagle I spoke to Bryan about his racing experiences. Bryan also wrote this account for us: We would like to thank Leigh and Brian Hoey for nominating us for SAROA Owner of the Month It ‘s been a very long 5 and a half years since we had our last winner Wilander Princess. I went to the yearling sales with a list of over 30 yearlings to examine. Lot 131 a Free Eagle filly was not on that list. As soon as I saw that filly parade in the sale ring, I liked the wat she looked and moved. I started bidding but she was passed in with my last bid of $15,000. I then said to my new trainer Karen Byrnes that I was going back to the stalls to have a closer look. I was able to buy her for $18,000. I was aware that while she was a good size, she might need some time to mature as she was a late foal and was by Free Eagle. After she was broken in and had some short preps, she began to show us that she might have some ability. Her first two starts however were disastrous as way too many things went wrong. I started to have a few doubts. At her third start and now with blinkers on, she was a very different switched-on race horse. Although she was slow away, she came from well back to pass the favourites to win by half a length at 40+ to 1 odds and still quite green. She will spend a couple of months in the paddock. June and I can not wait for her to return and hopefully she can on with it. Graceful Eagle is by Free Eagle from the Lonhro mare Taransay. Taransay was a handy race mare winning 3 from sixteen starts and earning a little over $100,000. Her other progeny include Housay (by Zebedee) winner so far of three from seven and $130,000 and the promising Prince of Fences (by Magnus). The granddam is Heather (by Grand Lodge) and very well performed winner of 7 races and $380,000. Her wins included the Group 2 Emancipation Stakes and the listed Gold Coast Goldmarket Handicap. She has left Tulla Touch (Exceed and Excel) winner of 5 and almost $100,000 and Frosty Heart (by Frost Giant). The third dam Clochan (by Haulpak) who had two stakes winners, Heather as mentioned and Peat Bog by Canny Lad who won a Group 3 Kindergarten Stakes. SAROA wish Bryan and June the very best with Graceful Eagle.

Bleriot Our Owner of the Month award winner for December is Will Clarken, trainer and part owner of Stan The Caddy and Bleriot. The stable provided us with the following comments: Stan The Caddy He’s no world-beater (yet) but he has amassed a bit of a following due to his name, which for those who don’t know, comes from a character in the show Seinfeld.  We have had to be patient with this horse.  He was always backward; and coming from Rebel Raider stock, was always going to take a little time.  I had his full-brother El Desperado who won the Strathalbyn Cup at 4YO, so I knew Stan would take a while to furnish.  I don’t think he is quite there yet as he can still mix his form.  But on the days he puts things together, it really clicks.  This is where you can see him balance up and stretch out with a big long striding action.  Perhaps the Strathalbyn Cup at 5YO is his go? Bleriot This 2YO filly is the opposite end of the spectrum to Stan The Caddy; she has been ready to go from day one.  I purchased her as a yearling at the 2020 Gold Coast Magic Millions as part of the Aquis Farm draft.  Aquis retained a share in her and being by their first season stallion, Divine Prophet, came with a ‘Bonus of the Purchase Price Back’ if she was able to win a Saturday Metropolitan race before next year’s sale.  Watching her run second on two occasions to classy interstate raiders was tough, but she managed to salute on her third attempt and secure a huge windfall for all the owners.  She is not the most naturally talented 2YO in the stable but these placings behind some very sharp looking horses were possible thanks to her forward professional manner and mental and physical fortitude. I’m looking forward to getting her back into work and seeing if she can take it to the next level.  At the time of writing Stan The Caddy by Rebel Raider out of Roscrea Rose (by Blevic) has won 3 from 11 starts and earnt more than $90,000 including almost $25,000 in Racing Rewards SA (SABOIS) bonuses. His last two wins which came in succession, were over middle distances. The dam Roscrea Rose won once from 10 tries and has produced the full brother El Desperado who is still racing having won four and earned more than $115,000. The mare has also left a colt by Americain. The second dam Sally Rose continues the staying blood lines being by Jeune, she won five races and left several winners. These include Rowdy Rocker (by Ssratoga Springs) winner of 10 with 21 minor placings and stakes of nearly $220,000; High Value (by Face Value); and Rowdy Richard (by Blevic) winner of more than $150,000. These three were all trained by Ken Sweeney. Bleriot is a filly by Divine Prophet from the Jet Spur mare Jetting To London. As mentioned, Bleriot is from the first crop of the Caulfield Guineas winner Divine Prophet who is by Choisir. Her race record stands at 3 starts for a win and 2 seconds and stakes of $45,000 which does not include the “Purchase Price Back” bonus. Her dam Jetting To London won four starts, two in Queensland and two in WA with Bleriot being her only named progeny to date. The second dam Lady London (by Brocco) was unplaced at two starts and has produced nothing of significance at stud. Going back to the third dam, the Bletchingly mare London Lights however we find three stakes winners – Lisson Grove (by Dehere) winner of the listed SAJC Dermody Stakes; the Sir Tristam mare Only A Lady winner of the Group 1 Flight stakes and dam of the listed winner Redwood Falls (by Woodman); and finally, Smoko (by Snitzel) a listed winner of 8 races and $300,000 in WA. Will’s two horses demonstrate the different challenges that racing throws up with Stan The Caddy requiring patience and Bleriot being precocious but running into tough opposition at her initial starts.