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...
G3 Success For 2YO Maurice Filly Ethereum Girl
Improving off a close-up second in the Listed Oaklands Plate last start, two-year-old Maurice filly Ethereum Girl was too classy, winning the Group 3 South Australian Sires’ Produce Stakes.
$1million Mehmas a Stakes-Winner for Godolphin
One of the big ticket purchases for Godolphin at the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year was the half-brother to triple Group I winner Perfect Power by Mehmas and this 1million guinea purchase opened his stakes account overnight in the UK.
Joshua Brown Wins Listed Opunake Cup
The rookie pair of Joshua Brown and his owner-trainer Lance Gussey took out one of New Zealand racing’s biggest winter prizes in Saturday’s $120,000 Listed Sinclair Electrical & Refrigeration Opunake Cup (1400m) at New Plymouth.
Derby Dream Alive for Blueblood Justify Colt
The $150,000 VRC Byerley Handicap (1800m) at Flemington has the added incentive of providing the winner with automatic entry into the Group I VRC Victoria Derby later in the year and this year’s winner Arcora will certainly be heading in that direction.
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.
Robusto The Ultimate Inglis Digital Success Story
When Churchill (IRE) gelding Robusto was offered on Inglis Digital last September he was a solid Saturday class horse that had claimed a Benchmark 88 event on July 20, fast forward 12 months and he’s a $2.1million earner with the Listed ATC Winter Challenge (1500m) on his resume.
Without Peer Impresses On Debut For Pierata
Triple Crown Syndications appear to have a horse with plenty of upside as we approach the new season after their 2yo Pierata gelding Without Peer made a winning debut in the Traffic Warden @ Darley Handicap (1200m) on Saturday at Rosehill.
Yes Yes Yes – Useapin Set for a Good Prep
Yes Yes Yes has been relocated to stand at Gooree Park Stud this spring and the Everest hero was in the frame at Rosehill on Saturday when talented filly Useapin posted her first metropolitan victory.
Sires With Winners - Saturday July 19
Here is the full list of 101 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Five Consecutive Wins For Spirit Of Boom’s Shining Smile
Ending his Autumn campaign with three consecutive Listed victories, two-year-old Spirit Of Boom colt Shining Smile resumed from a spell on Saturday, winning the $150,000 VRC Member Sarah Hart Trophy (1000m).