Age Of Grace showed she has the ability and staying power to win better races than an Anzac Day maiden at Pinjarra for owner-breeder Andy Phelan.
The 3yo daughter of Champion Sire So You Think (NZ) tracked Declared Innocent (Grunt) and took over from the long-time leader only to be headed by the favourite Kermelia (Kermadec) in the straight. They settled down to duel at the furlong and it was Age Of Grace who responded in a slogging finish for Willie Pike when stepping up to 2200m for the first time at her fourth start in the Country Comfort Perth Maiden.
“Our well-bred staying filly Age of Grace secured her maiden win and is beginning to show her potential on the track,” Durrant Racing reported. “Well done to owner-breeder Andy Phelan who is a long-standing supporter of the stable.”
Phelan raced 1986 Perth Cup winner Ullyatt (NZ) and 1995 Perth Cup winner Ros Reef (Muros) with trainer Kay Miller. He has also combined with Adam Durrant to win numerous races like last year’s LR South-West Cup at Bunbury with Come Right Back (Toronado).
Age Of Grace is bred on the So You Think – Zabeel cross that has a 65% strike-rate led by Randwick Group 1 winners Think It Over (Queen Elizabeth Stakes) and Nimalee (Queen of the Turf Stakes). It has also clicked in the west with Midnight Blue (G2 Perth Cup) and Diamond Scene (LR Luckygray Stakes & LR ATA Stakes).
Phelan purchased her dam Zarenza for $80,000 from Glastonbury Farms at the 2013 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale. Her second-dam Buenos Aires (Rainbow Quest) is a half-sister of two-time Australian Horse of the Year Might And Power (Zabeel).
Zarenza retired unraced and has also foaled Pinjarra winner Broadway Brenda (Manhattan Rain) and Northam winner Bring One Home (Toronado) for Phelan and Durrant. Her first foal Burn One Down (Toronado) won at Ascot for trainer Rob Gulberti.
