The Missile Stakes has thrown up some shocks since its inception in 1978, and here is another one, the nine-year-old Queenslander Hard Empire who went off an unloved $101chance in Saturday’s $250,000 Group II feature at Randwick.
Ridden by Rachel King for Toby and Trent Edmonds, the son of Hard Spun (USA) dented a few reputations when overpowering Wandabaa (Wandjina) by a half-length with Gem Song (Your Song) a short-head back in third.
It was his first win in 87 weeks, and was coming off an 11th of 15 in the Ramornie Hcp at Grafton.
Hard Empire has had five changes of stables in his 44 starts that have yielded twelve wins, a second and six thirds with earnings of $732,130.
He won the 2019 Group III SAJC RN Irwin Stakes at Morphettville for Richard and Chantelle Jolly and defeated Jonker in the 2020 Group III BRC George Moore Stakes, his most recent win.
Toby Edmonds said he was not surprised by a forward showing.
“His Ramornie run was good as he had no luck at all,” Edmonds said.
“We took a line through (fellow Queenslander) Phobetor, who won this race last year after being beaten in the Ramornie.
“Some of these horses are not wound up. They are very good horses, but this old horse has good form, beating Jonker up there and has been a good money-spinner for us.”
Purchased by part-owner Charles White for $11,000 out of the Maluka Thoroughbreds draft at the 2015 Adelaide Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Hard Empire is the best of three winners from four to race out of the Last Tycoon (IRE) mare Last Quill, a half-sister to the dam of Group III VRC Maribyrnong Plate winner Power Trip who is also by Hard Spun (USA).
Last Quill’s most recent foal is the 5yo Fiorente (IRE) mare Dahwilly.
Hard Empire is one of 96 stakes-winners for six-season Darley shuttler Hard Spun (USA).
