Winning Rupert 2yo filly Paint It Red was run down on debut last week but was good enough to return off a seven-day break to win the Corporate Membership Plate (1000m) at Bunbury on Saturday.
Paint It Red tracked Slip The Jab (Written Tycoon) in running before Tash Faithfull kicked clear at the top of the straight. The Amelia Park-bred pocket-rocket was looking for the post on the Soft 6 surface but had enough in reserve to deny Fiery Spark (Ole Kirk) and Ourgirlcanrun (Long Leaf).
It went some way to compensating Amelia Park for the withdrawal of its homebred mare Toropa (Toronado) who was a pre-post favourite for the featured LR Bolton Sprint (1200m). She was ruled out with a hoof abscess.
Paint It Red (2f Winning Rupert – Fairedu by Dawn Approach) was bred and sold by Amelia Park for $50,000 at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions and she’s already paid that back for a Ladies Syndicate with prizemoney and Westspeed Bonuses totalling $84,000.
Photo / Western Racepix
“She pulled up well after last week and we just went easy on her at the beach with some slow work,” trainer Hayden Ballantyne revealed. “She has a tough constitution and a serious motor. Her natural pattern is to jump and run and she will have a few weeks off before another run or two this prep.”
Her sire Winning Rupert stands at Geisel Park Stud and she’s the first foal from Amelia Park-bred mare Fairedu who won city races at Ascot (2) and Belmont. Her most recent foals are fillies by Awesome Rock and Nicconi.
Second-dam Hi On Love (Love a Dane) won a G3 Champion Fillies (1600m) at Ascot for Wendy and Danny Miller and she was purchased by Amelia Park owner Peter Walsh through Astute Bloodstock agent Louis Le Metayer for $130,000 at the 2015 Magic Millions National Sale.
Faithful had linked with Ballantyne to win aboard Countess Of Kenna (Rogano) at Northam on Wednesday and she rates Paint It Red highly. “She’s super quick and super tough. She ran into a good one (Twisted Steel) last week and was left a sitting duck when the leader stopped today but still got the job done.”
Winning Rupert had sired Madhi Girl to win the Volkswagen Hcp (1000m) earlier on Saturday at Bunbury. The Simon Miller-trained 3yo filly was runner-up to Big Shots (Sizzling) in last year RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra and her earnings are now approaching $400,000 for owner Teleah Hulse.
Winning Rupert (Written Tycoon) stands for $6,600 at Geisel Park alongside Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) at $5,500 and Aysar (Deep Field) at $8,800. Service fees (inc GST). Stud manager Conor Dunlop can be contacted for bookings or further details on 0447 434 735.
