High Chaparral's Mississippi Delta Earns Perth Cup Favouritism

Mark Smith - Sunday December 30

The 21st of December marked the four-year anniversary of the death of High Chaparral (IRE) who continues to be a major influence in Australasia.

Not yet halfway through the season the son of Sadler's Wells is having one of his best seasons in terms of stakes-winners. His tally of 11 stakes-winners in Australia and New Zealand is second only to the runaway leader I Am Invincible (20) and equal to the dominant force in New Zealand, Savabeel.

One of those that have added to High Chaparral's haul is the Bob and Sandra Peters homebred Mississippi Delta who doubled her stakes tally when defeating her more fancied stablemate Action (Pierro) in Saturday's Listed ATA Stakes (2200m) at Ascot.

Advertisement

Winner of the Listed Tattersalls Cup at Ascot two starts ago, Mississippi Delta came in to Saturday's race off the back of a runner-up finish in the Listed Towton Cup.

The winner of that race Cappo D'Oro (Medaglia d'Oro) could do no better than third on Saturday.


Chris Parnham gave Mississippi Delta a peach of a ride. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained mare defeated the fast-finishing Action by half a length with Cappo D'Oro a length back in third. (photo thewest.com.au twitter)

William Pike rode the runner-up and he admitted to being in a bit of a quandary to which one he should ride in next week's Perth Cup.

"I would have liked to have gone past her to make my decision easier," Pike told The West Australian.

"I still think he's the better stayer but she's in-form. Winning form is good form. I don't know what to do."

A half-sister to the 2014 Group 1 Railway Stakes heroine Elite Belle, Mississippi Delta advances her record to 8 wins and 3 seconds from 14 starts with earnings of $343,065.

Also, a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Battle Emblem (Second Empire), Mississippi Delta becomes is one of three stakes-winners for the Marooned mare Mississippi Belle.

All seven of Mississippi Belle's progeny to make the track are winners.

She has a yearling colt by Safeguard that has been catalogued in the Mogumber Park draft at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Mogumber Park purchased Mississippi Belle through Belmont Bloodstock Agency for $72,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Broodmare Sale.

She had a colt foal by WA Guineas winner Rommel (Commands) on October 30.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Friday September 12
Here is the full list of 43 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
One to Watch – Geelong
Best known as the sire of Champion Sprinter Nature Strip, Nicconi is one of those evergreen sires that always has a handy horse out running for him and he had an eye-catching three year-old winner at Geelong on Friday that might have a lot more to offer.
Oaks Winner Strikes Form at Valley
Quality High Chaparral (IRE) mare Princess Jenni won the Group I SAJC Australasian Oaks last season at just her sixth start and showed she will be a force this spring when capturing the Group II MVRC Stocks Stakes at Moonee Valley on Friday night.
Godolphin 2YO SW Starspangledbanner
Godolphin splashed out for a 450,000 guinea Starspangledbanner colt at the Tattersalls October Book 2 Yearling Sale last year and Avicenna made it two wins in as many starts when taking out the Listed Flying Scotsman Stakes (7f) at Doncaster overnight.
Toronado Winner Sign of Things to Come
So You Think and Dundeel have set a high standard for sire sons of the late Epsom Derby winner High Chaparral (IRE) with Swettenham Stud’s Toronado (IRE) also showing the promise of good things to come after making a strong start to the new season with his fifth winner since August 1 at Sale on Thursday.
Manaal Wins G2 Sheraco
Manaal is the horse that put her sire Tassort on the map when she won the Group III ATC Gimcrack Stakes on debut two years ago as a spring 2YO and the now 4YO mare is still going strong scoring a powerful win in the $300,000 Group II ATC Sheraco Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill on Saturday.
Big Payday for High Chaparral's A Man To Match
No black-type but a Group 1 prize for the connections of the High Chaparral (IRE) gelding A Man To Match who not only pocketed the $145,000 winners cheque as the inaugural winner of the $250,000 The Tab Wave (1800m) at the Gold Coast but had it topped off with another $200,000 for being a Magic Millions graduate.
Stampede Runs Then Into The Ground in Colin Stephen
Stampede has been out of the winner’s circle since October last year but when the son of High Chaparral (IRE) is gifted an easy run in front, as he did in Saturday’s Group III Colin Stephen Stakes (2400m) at Randwick, he proves very difficult to get by.
High Chaparral's Mississippi Delta From Last to First in Perth Cup
The late, great Coolmore stallion High Chaparral (IRE) may have celebrated more prestigious wins in his glittering career but Saturday was a real financial windfall for the son of Sadler’s Wells.
New SW Sweynesse - Miss Starlight Wins Canterbury Belle Stakes
Exciting three-year-old Miss Starlight thrust her name squarely into contention for future Group One honours when she destroyed a quality field of fillies in the time-honoured feature race at Riccarton on Saturday, the Listed NZB Canterbury Belle Stakes (1200m)