Eight For Astern

Mark Smith - Sunday June 20

Finally, everything played out for Asherla in a 1200m maiden at Kempsey on Sunday to ring up winner number eight for her sire Astern.

Following two seconds against her elders, Asherla was the subject of a steward’s report when displaying an abnormal respiratory noise when unplaced at her most recent start at Muswellbrook.

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Ridden by apprentice Dylan Gibbons, the Kris Lees-trained filly led them a merry dance around the home turn and kept up a strong gallop to win by one and three-quarter lengths. The 3yo Denman gelding Just Ziggy was second with a further three and a quarter lengths back to the 5yo Albrecht mare All A Lady in third.

It is pretty much all profit from here on for the Australian Bloodstock colour-bearer who Adam Parker purchased for just $6,000 out of the Yarraman Park draft at the 2020 National Weanling Sale.

Asherla is the second live foal and first winner for the well-related Charge Forward mare Heritage Lane.

Placed in one of her four starts, Heritage Lane is a half-sister to stakes-placed Musigny (Reset) and the unraced Sunday Valentine.

A daughter of Sunday Silence (JPN), Sunday Valentine is the dam of Group II Edward Manifold Stakes winner El Daana (Redoute’s Choice), herself the dam of Group II Kewney Stakes winner Wawail (Lonhro).

Kennedy Racing Group paid $120,000 for Heritage Lane’s  Hellbent filly offered by Yarraman Park at the Premier Yearling Sale.

Astern’s eight winners in Australia places him behind Capitalist, Star Turn. Flying Artie and Sooboog on the first-season sire table for the number of individual winners.

Currently doing dual hemisphere stud duty in North America, Astern stands at Darley Stud NSW in 2021 at a fee of $16,500.

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Race Result - Tecnix Hvac&R Pty Ltd Air Mdn 1000m

Kempsey Track: Soft(5) Time: 0:57.62
1
Asherla
- 2f Astern (AUS) x Heritage Lane (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: Dylan Gibbons 54
2
1.8
Just Ziggy
- 3g Denman (AUS) x Donovan Street (AUS) (Danzero (AUS))
Tnr: Colt Prosser Rdr: Kirk Matheson 59
3
5.1
All A Lady
- 5m Albrecht (AUS) x Lady Astor (AUS) (Viscount (AUS))
Tnr: M J Dwyer Rdr: M Bennett 57
4
6.1
Shades Of Frisco
- 3f Dane Shadow (AUS) x Lady Frisco (AUS) (Frisco View (USA))
Tnr: D & R Simonetta Rdr: Jayden Barrie 54
5
6.7
Gem Flight
- 5m May'haab (AUS) x Birthday Flight (AUS) (Vettori (IRE))
Tnr: Paul J Kelly Rdr: Ashley Morgan 57
6
6.9
Double Magnum
- 4g Puissance De Lune (IRE) x Red Magnum (AUS) (Domesday (AUS))
Tnr: Ben Blay Rdr: A Bullock 59
7
7.2
Atomic Surprise
- 3g Atomic (AUS) x Hidden Moment (AUS) (Ladoni (GB))
Tnr: Jonathan Smith Rdr: L P Rolls 59
8
8.2
Orbital Speed
- 2g Divine Prophet (AUS) x Thebe (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Roy Franklin Rdr: Ms M Weir 56.5
9
8.9
Ausbred Trump
- 6g All American (AUS) x Egerszegi (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Ms J Lynch Rdr: Matthew Palmer 59
10
14.1
Wanadream
- 3f Wandjina (AUS) x Quibble (AUS) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: B J Ratcliff Rdr: J Kehoe 57
11
14.8
Casino Silk
- 2f Casino Prince (AUS) x Titian Silk (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: M R Stitt Rdr: B Looker 55
12
14.9
Midnight Kisses
- 2f Kiss And Make Up (AUS) x Silent Harmony (AUS) (Zenno Rob Roy (JPN))
Tnr: Roy Franklin Rdr: J Grisedale 55
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