Gone but Not Forgotten - 38th Stakes Winner for Blackfriars

Mark Smith - Sunday April 1

Deceased stallion Blackfriars has a live chance for the WA Oaks with the consistent filly Friar Fox a hugely impressive winner of Saturday's Listed Natasha Stakes (2200m) at Ascot.

It was the first stakes win for the Justine Erkelens-trained filly who was coming off a luckless second to Like A Butterfly in the Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m) a fortnight back.

Given the run of the race by Shaun O'Donnell, Friar Fox came clear in the final stages to defeat Modern News (Savabeel) by two and three-quarter lengths with Like A Butterfly (Blackfriars) a half-length back in third.

"What a great run," Erkelens told the West Australian.

Advertisement

"I think she's just learning as well, so it's just great that she keeps stepping up.

"We'll just see how she pulls up tomorrow and see if we can get there."


Purchased by her trainer and part-owner for $14,000 out of the Scenic Lodge draft the 2016 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Friar Fox (pictured as a yearling) advances her record to 4 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 7 starts with earnings of $189,485.

A sister to the 3-time winner Friaresque, Friar Fox is the second foal of the handy racemare Pearlesque (Statoblest) who won two and placed in 11 of her 23 starts in the west and is a sister to the 3-time Listed stakes-winner Impressive Stats.

This is the family of the top-class Delzao.

Pearlesque has a 2yo filly by Blackfriars named Ocean Candy and a yearling colt by Universal Ruler.

After missing to Snippetson in 2016, Pearlesque was covered by Blackfriars last spring, just three months before the West Australian stalwart passed away in December.

Friar Fox becomes the 38th stakes-winner for the son of Danehill.

Advertisment
More Reading...
NZ Oaks Winner Strikes Form in Australia for Yulong
Last year’s Gr.1 New Zealand Oaks (2400m) winner Pulchritudinous landed her first blow across the Tasman with a gritty victory in the Gr.3 Magic Millions Fillies & Mares Mile (1600m) at Doomben on Saturday for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Sires With Winners - Saturday May 24
Here is the full list of 102 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Antino King of Doomben with Track Record Breaking Victory
Trainer Tony Gollan has earmarked the Gr.1 Cox Plate (2040m) as the long-range target for star galloper Antino after a stunning victory in the Gr.1 Doomben Cup (2000m) on Saturday in track record time.
Brisbane Possible for Resurgent Velocious
Group One winner Velocious bounced back to her brilliant best in the Jarvis Trading (1100m) at Te Rapa on Saturday, raising the possibility of a trans-Tasman mission.
G1 Stradbroke Next for War Machine
Hot favourite War Machine made light work of his rivals in the Gr.3 BRC Sprint (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday and it is now all systems go as the four-year-old son of Harry Angel (IRE) heads towards the Gr.1 Stradbroke Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 14.  
Stakes Potential for Miss Ole
Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk added an 11th winner to his tally when the Clinton McDonald trained filly Miss Ole scored a stylish win in quick time at Sandown on Saturday.
Hellbent Filly Wins Listed Bill Carter
The $160,000 Listed BRC Bill Carter Stakes (1350m) at Doomben on Saturday had a short priced favourite in Hellbent filly Sunrays and she gave punters no cause for concern when powering clear for a dominant victory.
Philia Highlights Oaks Claims With Tenacious The Roses Win
Successful last time out in the Listed Princess Stakes when becoming the 30th stakes winner for her sire All Too Hard, the David Vandyke trained Philia went four from four this time in, leading through to win the Group 2 The Roses (2000m) at Doomben.
Listed Chief De Beers Stakes To Manhood
Surprisingly contesting black type racing for the first time in his career, it was first time lucky for the Annabel and Rob Archibald trained Manhood after the 6yo son of Headwater was strong to the line, leading throughout to win the Listed Chief De Beers Stakes (1110m).
Almanzor Keeps Winners Coming for Moody- Coleman
The Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained Roadcone led his rivals a merry dance when winning the Stow Storage Solutions Handicap (1600m) at Sandown on Saturday, bringing up a treble for the stable and jockey Luke Cartwright.