Willaview Park mare Templates (Teofilo) created a unique record on Tuesday morning when three of her foals won barrier trials at Belmont.
There’s not a penny in prizemoney at the trials but her 2yo gelding Sprint For Glory (Splintex) is destined to build a tidy bank just like his 4yo half-brother Aberdeen Flyer (Astern) and 3yo half-sister Dixie Doo (Shooting To Win). The stablemates have combined to earn over $250,000 for clients of Bullsbrook trainers Sean and Jake Casey.
Aberdeen Flyer won the LR Melvista Stakes (1800m) at Ascot during an autumn campaign that can be the platform for a successful spring prep this season. He settled last of five in a 1200m hit-out yesterday and scouted wide for Bonnie Casey to nail Noble Connection (Rommel) right on the line.
Willaview Park owners Claire Williamson and Coel Hunter bred and retained Aberdeen Flyer for a syndicate that includes Claire’s mother Jan. And they had purchased Templates on the advice of Claire’s father Gray at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She was carrying Aberdeen Flyer and was an absolute bargain at $3,000.
Templates was bred and raced by Godolphin to win a Gosford maiden for trainer James Cummings and her second-dam Plagiarize (Stravinsky) won a STC G2 Silver Slipper Stakes (1100m). Plagiarize is also a half-sister to the dam of VRC G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes (1200m) winner Japonisme (Choisir).
“Aberdeen Flyer has pulled up great and we have left his spring program with Sean and Jake. They do such a good job with all their horses,” Claire said on Wednesday morning. “We have full faith they will get the best out of him.”
Templates pictured with Darby Hunter at Willaview Park
Dixie Doo was positioned midfield in the running line for Chris Parnham yesterday before finishing off like Aberdeen Flyer in a busy finish over 1000m. She had won a Belmont nursery in March when Parnham declared she was a long way from the finished product.
“I think we’re going to see a much better horse when she comes back from a spell as a spring 3yo next season.”
Dixie Doo sold for $30,000 out of the Willaview Park draft at the 2025 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. The Caseys purchased her on behalf of Victorian couple Brian and Joan Durran who have raced numerous city winners in the west
Sprint For Glory looks a frontline candidate for the $80,000 Initial Plate (1000m) at Ascot on Saturday week, October 10. It kick-starts the Perth 2yo season and he won a 400m trial down the straight on Tuesday despite jumping sideways out of the gates for Bonnie Casey.
Willaview sold him for $200,000 to Wally and Maureen Daly at the Perth Magic Millions in February. He was the most expensive yearling by instant stud success Splintex and certainly looked the part parading at the Swan Valley Sale.
“He’s a beautiful big dark horse with a lovely presence and gentle temperament,” Claire confirmed. “When I walked him out for Trevor Andrews during inspections at the farm he said; “Wow. You will be right if you can breed them all like that!”
Templates is a fertile mare and her fourth foal in as many seasons is a yearling filly by Splintex. She’s due to Maschino in the next week or two and, all going well, will then be covered by Darling View’s first-season sire Royal Patronage.
“When we took a photo of her with our son Darby this morning, Kristy Casey was very impressed. ‘Templates knows how to produce a star from any stallion. That’s incredible’.
“She produces such beautiful horses. Well-balanced and well-built and I suppose we should take Dad out to dinner after finding such a wonderful mare for us at the Magic Millions.”
