Amelia Park homebred Amelia’s Affair kicked off Melbourne Cup Day with a runaway victory in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) and that was the catalyst for WA-based stallions Bondi and Manhattan Rain to chime in with a running double at Flemington.
Lynward Park resident Bondi (Snitzel) sired Beach Pad to a rich result in the $250,000 Australian Heritage Cup (2800m) and Rangeview Stud stallion Manhattan Rain (Encosta de Lago) had Sabaj scoring for the second time at Listed level in the $200,000 Asahi Super Dry Plate (1800m).
Beach Pad (6g Bondi – Perfect Heart by Celtus) had won a Pinjarra maiden in March 2024 when trained by Mitch Pateman for owner-breeder Geoff Evans. He transferred to Adelaide for a Morphettville double before a further move to the Victorian stables of Shane Jackson earlier this year.
The WA connection was restored on Cup Day with Willie Pike on board and Jackson credited ‘The Wiz’ as the difference between winning and losing. “He is a genius and everything went right today, Thank God.
” Beach Pad hasn’t put in a bad one and we just keep him fresh. He might have had one gallop between his last few runs. You can’t get him any fitter and it’s more about keeping him happy. He’s phenomenal and swaps between our stables at Flemington and Warrnambool and it seems to keep him sweet.
“We won’t make any decisions today but he’s definitely on his way.”
Pike said it was fantastic to ride a winner on Cup Day. “My Mum, my brother and a whole heap of family members are here. I made sure we stayed out of the jostle for positions and he switched off. From there it all unfolded and we were floating along behind a genuine speed.
“I produced him a little earlier than I wanted to because he does think a bit and is a little wayward. We were in front for a long time but he got the job done.”
Geoff Evans races under the Distinct Racing & Breeding banner from Key Farm in Serpentine and he knows what’s required at the Melbourne Cup carnival having won the G1 Mackinnon Stakes (2000m) with Trap For Fools (Poet’s Voice) in 2018. He bred Beach Pad (Photo / Racing Photos) from unraced mare Perfect Heart. She’s the final foal from 1998 Melbourne Cup heroine Jezabeel (Zabeel) and her yearling is a colt by Oakland Park sire Ingratiating.
Beach Pad is the leading earner by Bondi with 6 wins from 24 starts for $363,000 in prizemoney. He also owns a black-type placing from the LR Ansett Classic (2400m) at Mornington in September.
Lynward Park stands Bondi (Snitzel) for a $6,600 (inc GST) service fee. For bookings or further information call Troy van Heemst on 0439 957 111.
