breednet.com.au

$800 Mare Produces Derby Winner

Mark Smith - Saturday June 9

The Kembla Grange-based trainer Kerry Parker scored a career highlight win in Saturday's $600,000 Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m) at Doomben with the All American gelding Dark Dream.

A beaten odds-on favourite a fortnight ago in the Grand Prix Stakes, Dark Dream under hard riding by Tim Clark fought off a stubborn Heavenly Thought (So You Think) by a short-neck with another two and three-quarter lengths back to Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral) who came from last to finish third. (photo Steve Har t)

Advertisement


Parker said Dark Dream trod on a lost shoe at his most recent start causing him some pain.

"He was basically running on three legs last time, it was probably a huge effort for him to get as close as he did that day," Parker revealed.

"They always say you should forgive a horse for one bad run, and it wasn't even a bad run considering the genuine excuses he had.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to win a Group I as I only have a small stable.

"I think I have had six placings in Group One's so it was nice to get one."

Winner of the Group III Rough Habit Plate (2000m) in May, Dark Dream advances his record to 4 wins, 5 seconds and 1third from 10 starts with earnings of $594,643.

A homebred for long-time stable clients Mary Jane Basson and Jess Wilson, Dark Dream is the best of four winners from as many to race out of the Lion Hunter mare, Buchanan Girl who was purchased at the 2011 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale for just $800. 

You need to go back five generations to find the previous stakes winner, the SAJC Sires Produce Stakes winner Tell Fibs who is a half-brother to the dams of Victoria Derby and Spring Champion Stakes winner Nothin' Leica Dane and to the granddam of AJC Australian Oaks winner Leica Smile and Victoria Derby winner Redding.

Buchanan Girl has a weanling colt by the unheralded Redoute's Choice stallion May'Haab and was covered by the Cox Plate winner Shamus Award last spring.

Dark Dream becomes the second Group 1 winner for the handsome All American (pictured) after ATC Sires' Produce Stakes and Spring Champion Stakes heroine Yankee Rose, who coincidently was trained by Parker's former boss David Vandyke.

A Group 1 winning son of Red Ransom (USA), All American (pictured ) will stand at Geisel Park in 2018 at a fee of $7,700.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Kiwi Breeders to be Honoured at National Awards
The New Zealand thoroughbred breeding community will come together on Saturday July 26 to celebrate another year of excellence at the Property Brokers National Breeding Awards at the Sir Don Rowlands Centre in Cambridge.
2YO Spandeedo Heads Sharrock Treble
It was a red-letter day at Hawera on Tuesday for Gavin Sharrock, with the Stratford trainer posting his first treble.
High Hopes for Up and Comers
Andrew Forsman is hoping the younger members of his stable can make their mark in the new season’s age group events.
Sires With Winners - Monday July 14
Here is the full list of 25 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Rosehill
There were six heats won by juveniles at the Rosehill trials on Tuesday morning and they included a couple of promising horses that have already proven their stripes in stakes company, plus an unraced youngster by in form sire Flying Artie.
Veteran Tavis Court Keeps Winning Streak Alive
Evergreen galloper Tavis Court had won a race in every season of his career since he debuted as a three-year-old, and at the tail end of his nine-year-old year, he kept that remarkable streak alive at Hawera on Tuesday.
Colt from Aussie Glamour Girl Mosheen Tops JRHA Select Sale - Yearlings
The first day of the 2025 JRHA Select Sale featuring yearlings was held at Northern Horse Park in Hokkaido on Monday and the horse that topped the session is a colt from four time Australian Group I winning mare Mosheen.
One to Watch – Newcastle
The O’Shea /Charlton stable have had a lot of success this season and pivotal to that have been the Kiwi breds in the stable highlighted by G1 winning 3YO’s Linebacker and Maison Louis and the dynamic duo unleashed a promising 2YO debut winner on Tuesday with the NZ suffix.
Century of Winners for McDougal
Corrina McDougal had to wait on a protest before earning her first training success, but on Sunday at Woodville, her 100th was never in doubt.
Winning Return for Zoustar Colt
Group placed during the autumn when he went around in several of the Golden Slipper lead up races, promising Zoustar colt Hillier made a winning return at Newcastle on Tuesday when resuming from a spell.