Big Spring beckons for Beneteau winners

Beneteau’s first crop has quickly picked up where they off last season, adding a couple of smart debut winners to their record in the past week. Both have major Melbourne targets on their Spring programs.

At Sale on 30 August 3YO gelding Puritan (ex Mina by Dracula) came with a big run from the back of the field to score by 2.5 lengths over 1112 metres at Sale on 30 August.

Watch Puritan’s debut win at Sale.

Bred by Simon Cox, Puritan was sold initially for $46,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale, then purchased by his trainer for $80,000 at the 2014 NZ Ready to Run Sale.

Warren says, “He is one of the most talented horses to come through Denistoun Park for a while. He is still very raw and new and has a stack of improvement to come which is pretty scary.”

Puritan will now head to Flemington on 12 September for a crack at the Group 2 Danehill Stakes.  “It’s a big jump in grade but I am pretty confident that he will measure up. What he lacks in experience and race smarts, he makes up with sheer talent which will take him a long way”.

Five days later on Friday 4 September, it was the turn of the filly Ocean Embers to step out at Bendigo where she won an 1100-metre maiden in very professional style, by 3 lengths.

Watch Ocean Embers’ debut win at Bendigo.

Her trainer Shea Eden has nominated Ocean Embers for the Thousand Guineas G1 on 10 October, and was thrilled with her win.  He said, “She’s got a bright future…she’s showed us she’s got really good natural ability at home.”

Ocean Embers was bred by Arrowfield’s highly successful partnership with Katsumi Yoshida from the US-bred mare Burningwood (by Tabasco Cat) who left Group 3 winner Fireflaught in Japan before arriving in Australia nine years ago. The best of her foals since then is the speedy Pyrography (by Danzero), winner of four races including two in Sydney & Brisbane.

Burningwood has a 2YO filly Flame of Love (by Smart Missile), a yearling filly by All American and produced a Manhattan Rain filly a day before Ocean Embers won.

Beneteau has also been represented by a pair of 3YO Group performers: Voilier, second in the ATC Up and Coming S. G3 and the Rosebud H. LR, and Tatoosh, runner-up in Saturday’s Ming Dynasty Quality G3.

Second on the 2014/15 Australian First Season Sires’ Premiership, Beneteau’s final crop of 2YOs will race this season.