Fituese flying for Lynward Park
WA-bred filly Fituese will be set for a Group 1 Sydney spring campaign instead of running headlong into the Stradbroke Hcp at Eagle Farm.
Fituese had firmed from $26 into $15 for next month’s Group 1 sprint at the Brisbane winter carnival, however, connections quashed talk of a trip north following her authoritative victory in the LR Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Rosehill last Saturday.
“She’s a filly going places,” trainer John Thompson said. “But we will give her one more run here and then send her out for a spell.”
Prime Thoroughbreds founder Joe O’Neill is on the same page as Thompson and the 3yo filly will sign off in the LR Bob Charley Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on June 6. “She’s in the Stradbroke but we can wait and to go to a Group 1 next season,” O’Neill added. “There’s plenty of time and we will look after her because she’s very good.”
Fituese (Deep Field) was a $55,000 buy for Prime Thoroughbreds at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions and Saturday’s victory improved her record to 5 wins in 7 starts for $238,565 in prizemoney.
WA breeder Troy van Heemst wouldn’t be fussed whether Fituese won a Group 1 in Brisbane or Sydney. He bought into the family when purchasing her dam Cattalo (Tiger Hill) for $30,000 carrying a positive to Deep Field at the 2016 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.
Lynward Park sire Mahuta (Flying Spur) will benefit if Fituese keeps raising the bar. Cattalo has a yearling filly and a weanling filly from his first two books in WA.
“I on-sold Cattalo to Rod & Tania Cosgrove and her second Mahuta filly was a November foal so they gave her a break last year,” van Heemst said. “They are wonderful clients and hopefully the mare will have an early cover here this season.”
The Cosgroves are the heart and soul of the Mingenew Turf Club in the WA Wheatbelt and they have raced the likes of Sweet Ora (Oratorio) who won 7 races in Perth earning over $455,000.
Lynward Park’s Mahuta yearlings include the colt from I’m Feeling Lucky (G3 La Trice Classic) and Gervase Park also has a colt out of Anacarde (LR Hill-Smith Stakes).
“Mahuta was talented, tough and durable and his race record speaks for itself,” van Heemst said. “He made his own luck and made meteoric improvement as a three year-old in Melbourne.”
He was partnered by Brad Rawiller as they built a picket fence winning the LR Gothic Stakes (1400m), G3 Carbine Club Stakes (1600m), G2 Sandown Guineas (1600m), RL Magic Millions Guineas (1400m) and G2 Autumn Stakes (1400m).
Rawiller reckoned he could have even become a Cox Plate horse but a pelvic injury curtailed his career to 6 wins in 16 starts for over $1.75 million in prizemoney.
Lynward Park was established in 1985 by Troy’s father Ted and quickly developed into one of WA’s major breeding operations standing Northerly’s sire Serheed (USA) and fellow Group 1 stallions Cheraw (Ire), Dauberval (USA) and Bletchley Park (Ire).
Snizel’s Group 1 performed 2yo colt Bondi joined the roster last year and he is an exciting addition to the local stallion ranks.
Bondi was trained by Peter & Paul Snowden and was pitched straight into action with placings in the G3 Breeders’ Plate, Wyong Magic Millions Classic and G3 Black Opal Stakes before breaking through in the Westpac Plate (1300m) at Newcastle.
“He probably should have won the Black Opal but had no luck in running after being caught wide,” Peter Snowden recalled. “He was a very good colt and has a magnificent pedigree.”
His dam Bondi Blonde (Red Ransom) is one of 11 winners from Strawberry Girl (Strawberry Road) that includes Tippitaka (Magic Millions 3yo Trophy), Danroad (G2 NZ Wakefield Challenge), Strawberry Boy (LR Wayne Wilson Stakes) and Newtown Jet (LR Elders Classic).
Bondi rounded off his juvenile campaign when runner-up in the G1 Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick. The Snitzel colt ranged up to Encryption at the furlong and was being hailed the winner until Damien Oliver saved ground for a late victory on Seabrook.
But for a half-length margin, Bondi would have been standing in the Hunter Valley and van Heemst is banking on that being a point of difference in WA.