Helmet Filly Adds to Godolphin's Firepower

Mark Smith - Sunday March 10

Godolphin lost one major Golden Slipper hope in Tassort but added another two on Saturday with Tenley in the Group II Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill and La Tene in the Group II $200,000 MSS Security VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

A fortnight after the Anthony Freedman-trained Lyre carried the royal blue silks to victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, the James Cummings-trained La Tene added to the Godolphin haul in the Sires' Produce.

Advertisement

The daughter of Helmet took four starts to break her maiden at Sandown-Hillside on February 20 before her stakes breakthrough.


Settled in second position by Dwayne Dunn behind the pacesetting Fling, La Tene scored a short-neck win from the luckless favourite Dalasan (Dalakhani) with Fling (All Too Hard) hanging on gamely, a neck away third. (images Grant Courtney )

"We adore her, she's so tough," said Cummings' Melbourne foreperson Kate Grimwade.

"Her win last start at Sandown gave us one of the biggest thrills of the last few months the way she dug deep. I wasn't sure she had the class but she fought so hard.

Dunn said the daughter of Helmet has continued to improve throughout the preparation.

" Last start she had to fight them off and today she got it a bit easier, but she was up in grade," he said.

"We thought Adelaide might have been where she could get her black type, but the step up today was a big step forward for her.

"Maybe James will take her to Sydney as she's done everything asked of her down here.

"It would be a big step forward, but she's done that today." 

A half-sister to the stakes-placed 4-time winner Gaulois (Street Cry), La Tene is the fourth foal of Lonhro's top-class daughter Celts whose four wins included the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Listed Macquarie Cup.

Celts' dam Dinna Flash (Canny Lad) is a half-sister to the honest sprinter Appoint (Alquoz) whose 11 wins included the Group III VATC Rubiton Stakes.

Celts was not covered in 2016 but she delivered a Teofilo (IRE) frilly last spring before being bred back to Street Boss (USA).

La Tene becomes the ninth stakes-winner Helmet, whose son Thunder Snow won last year's Dubai World Cup by almost six lengths. The son of Exceed And Excel now stands at Gestut Fahrhof in Germany.

Advertisment
More Reading...
First Win for Flying Artie Brother
He will never trouble his famous older half-brother Flying Artie, but three year-old Helmet colt Give is now a winner after scoring at Pakenham on Thursday as favourite.
Expensive Ready to Run Colts to Follow 'Ka Ying' Path
Colts by proven New Zealand stallions Per Incanto and Satono Aladdin provided the highlights on Day One of the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with the top two lots set to join the Lindsay Park operation of the Hayes family.
Sires With Winners - Wednesday November 12
Here is the full list of 52 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Winning Debut for $2.2million Zoustar Filly
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, Plaintiff made her debut in a fillies maiden at Rosehill on Wednesday and came away with a stylish victory.
Smart Filly Keeps Winners Coming for Capitalist
Capitalist is a sire on fire with 10 winners in the past seven days and 31 in the past 30 and adding her name to the list at Caulfield on Wednesday was promising three year-old filly Espana.
$480 Mare Has a Group I Sibling!
Tatura’s Kasey Tozer paid special attention on Sunday to the Hong Kong International Races.
New Trainer- Winx Sister Finds Winning Form
As a three-quarter sister to world champion Winx, four year-old Pride of Dubai mare Wings of Desire has always had the spotlight on her and she got back into the winner’s circle at Caulfield on Wednesday at her first run for new trainer Grahame Begg.
Inglis Easter Bargain Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Maiden
One of the cheapest yearlings from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Big Tiger is shaping as a saleyard gift after opening his account at his second start at Rosehill on Wednesday when taking out the $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus maiden.
Helmet's Tin Hat Opens Stakes Account
Godolphin's promising 3yo colt Tin Hat capped a remarkable day for Darley stallions when the son of Helmet earned a maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group III Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
Doubtland’s Blaze Away Gives Trainer Claire Patterson First City Winner
Having just his fourth career start, progressive 3yo Doubtland gelding Blaze Away recorded consecutive wins, pulling clear to win the fourth race of the day at Caulfield on Wednesday, MRC The Big Screen Company Handicap (1100m), giving his trainer Claire Patterson her first city winner.