Helmet Filly Opens Winning Account

Mark Smith - Monday January 1

Twelve months on from Helmet filly Limestone winning the first race of the year in Melbourne, the New Year Plate (1000m) at Flemington, it was the turn of another daughter of Helmet to open her winning account in the same race and she achieved it by holding the challenge of a filly by Helmet's half-brother Epaulette.

A close-up fourth when leading them up in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes at Flemington on her career debut back in October, Crossing the Abbey was always travelling sweetly for Craig Williams but was all out at the finish to hold off the Lindsay Park debutant Khulaasa.

A daughter of Darley Stud's emerging young stallion Epaulette, Khulaasa was rapidly overhauling Crossing the Abbey but fell a short-half-head short.

Advertisement

Khulaasa's stablemate Graceful Star was three and a quarter lengths back in third. (photo Darryl Sherer ). 


"I was a little bit nervous today, my old stomach was churning a bit," Hughes said.

"The other day I did her blood and her while white blood cell count was a little elevated.

"She's put on about 35kgs from her first run, which is a lot for a little two-year-old.

"We'll try and get her over 1200m and then see what happens after that.

"She's always shown us plenty of speed so we'll see how she recovers from this before we make any plans."

Williams said the daughter of Helmet was a little professional.

"I rode her early in the Spring and when I saw her here today I could see she was stronger," Williams said.

"She was very professional today, landed straight on the speed and then found for me when the other filly came at me.

"She's got the makings of a smart little lady."

A half-sister to the smart Liberty Song and the lightly raced Elusive Melody, Crossing the Abbey is the third and final foal of the Melbourne winning Bel Esprit mare Music In The Park.

A sister to the listed MRC Blue Sapphire Stakes winner City Of Song, Music Park died 12 months ago after being covered by Your Song.

Helmet has two lots on offer at the Magic Millions, three at the Inglis Classic and 13 at the Inglis Premier.


Advertisment
More Reading...
Idyllic Prince Stakes - Phanta Leads a Sweet Trifecta for Gingerbread Man
Yarradale Stud's senior stallion Gingerbread Man achieved a rare career high for any sire when the son of Shamardal provided the trifecta in Saturday's Listed Idyllic Prince Stakes over 1300m at Belmont Park.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.
Wootton Bassett Juvenile G2 Double
Wootton Bassett (GB) featured in Ireland overnight at The Curragh with two stakes-winning juveniles, Constitution River taking out the the Group II Futurity (7f), while the Group II Debutante (7f) went to the filly Composing, who comes from the family of Amelia’s Jewel.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
Hard To Cross swoops to Valley win
Six-year-old gelding Hard To Cross was aided by the three-kilo claim of Rose Hammond as the Kiwi bred landed his first victory of the preparation when landing the Ascend Sales Trophies Handicap (1523m).
Bates gets creative at The Valley
Six-year-old gelding The Creator led throughout to claim the Ladbrokes Top 2/3/4 Betting Handicap (1600m) at The Valley on Saturday under a perfect Logan Bates ride.
Via Sistina Joins Two Group One Legends
Via Sistina is certainly in rare air and if you want another stat to put her in perspective – yesterday’s Winx Stakes win saw her become one of only three horses in the last 40 years to win eight Group One races in a 12-month period.
Navy King sails to Valley victory
A well-judged front-running ride by Daniel Stackhouse has aided five-year-old gelding Navy King to claim the lion’s share of the prize in the MSC Signs Handicap (2040m) at The Valley on Saturday.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.