Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) enjoyed a productive day as Papillon Club captured the Group III Dynamic Print Group Alexandra Stakes at Moonee Valley after Beltoro romped to a four-length success in the Listed Albury Gold Cup.
Tim Clark picked up the ride on the Greg Eurell-trained Papillon Club after Blaike McDougall fell earlier at Geelong.
Given a positive ride, Papillon Club settled outside of the leader Tass. After heading that daughter of Kingman (IRE) on straightening, the 3yo daughter of Toronado (IRE) defeated the Sebring filly Amati by two and a half lengths, with Tass a length back in third.
Third in the Group III Vanity Stakes and second in the Group II Kewney Stakes, Papillon Club advances her record to three wins, two seconds, and a third from six starts with earnings of $357,225.
“She was very, very fit, and that is one thing we knew we had in our favour, and if it was going to be dished up to her tonight, that was certainly on her side,” Eurell said.
“She’s a tough filly, she’s had a big campaign, and she’ll go straight to the paddock tomorrow.
“She’ll hopefully have about eight weeks off and then head towards the spring.
“This race wasn’t on the radar. I think the last start was nearly the end of her campaign, but she came out of it so well that we thought we’d have another go, and she’s built up.
“Her work was so consistently good leading into this, and we just thought it would be fitting if she could win a decent race, and she’s done that.
“She deserves it. She’s pretty bulletproof, a lovely filly to train. She just eats and works and doesn’t knock herself around. She exudes confidence in everything that she does.
“Horses with ability don’t knock themselves around, and she ticks a lot of boxes. It is a big step from three-year-old fillies to open company, but she can make the jump.”
A $70,000 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling purchase for her trainer from the Rosemont Stud draft, Papillon Club was bred by Tara Farm and is the third winner from Redoute’s Choice mare Butterfly Club, a half-sister to Japanese stakes-winner Admire Hokuto.
A $55,000 purchase for Tara Farm at the 2016 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, Butterfly Club has a 2yo filly by Akeed Mofeed (GB) and a yearling filly by Strasbourg. She visited Larneuk Stud’s Wolf Cry last spring.
Papillon Club is the 33rd stakes-winner for Swettenahm Stud’s Toronado (IRE), who covered 150 mares last spring for a fee of $88,000.
