Beneteau’s new 2YO stakes performer
Her name doesn’t give any clues to her pedigree, but Dontpokethetiger’s runner-up finish in Saturday’s WRC Wellesley S. 1000m LR at Trentham, New Zealand suggested there would be plenty of quality on the page.
And indeed there is. She’s a daughter of brilliant 2YO Beneteau, second on last season’s Australian First Season Sires’ premiership, and La Lune (by Dehere), an unraced relative of Champion 2YO Miss Finland and her Group 1-winning daughter Stay With Me. The relationship is made closer by the fact that Beneteau is a son of Miss Finland’s champion sire Redoute’s Choice.
Dontpokethetiger is raced by her breeder Craig Dawson, who bought La Lune in foal to Beneteau from Arrowfield Stud at the 2013 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Trained by Peter Rudkin, the filly made her debut on her home track at Riccarton Park on 3 October, finishing third to What Choux Want and Lambada.
The decision to send her north for a black type start, instead of the 2YO race at Riccarton on the same day, hinted at some some confidence about her ability and only the race favourite Tennessee denied her a victory, by three-quarters of a length, with the same distance back to second favourite Fortaleza. (The Riccarton race was won impressively by Smart Missile’s first runner Smart ‘N’ Sassy.)
Watch the WRC Wellesley S. LR.
Dontpokethetiger is Beneteau’s fourth stakes performer this season, following 3YOs Tatoosh and Voilier (both Group-placed in Sydney) and 2YO filly Jeanneau (2nd, ATC Gimcrack S. LR). Along with Group 3 winner Prompt Return and stakeswinner Lady Jivago they are among the 135 live foals from the two crops Beneteau conceived before his death in January 2013.
Beneteau was also represented on Saturday by Bob & Sandra Peters’ 3YO colt Universal Law, a half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Delicacy. He maintained his unbeaten record with a third win in Perth.
