Justine Erkelens completed a rare treble at the races and the sales on Wednesday with 5yo mares Ilgiro Delmondo (Oratorio), Millstee (Sessions) and Own The Queen (Awesome Rock).
The Muchea trainer and jockey Shaun O’Donnell doubled up with Ilgiro Delmondo and Millstee at Belmont while Own The Queen was changing hands for $150,000 at the Inglis August (Early) Online Sale.
Ilgiro Delmondo (5m Oratorio – Quirimbas by Street Boss) was bred and sold by Rangeview Stud for $17,000 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions and she won the MCA Polytrack Hcp (2200m) running away by more than three lengths for a partnership managed by Sonia Zucchiatti.
“This is her first prep for me and didn’t she come home well,” Erkelens said. “She’s only tiny but is as honest as the day is long. She was a bit hot at first but has chilled out since being trained out of a paddock.”
Millstee (5m Sessions – Ellora May by Trade Fair) is a homebred for Greg Hobbs and won the Unite Resourcing Hcp (1400m) with similar tactics that worked for Ilgiro Delmondo. O’Donnell presented her down the centre of the track on a Soft 5 surface to defeat the dead-heaters Choux Shoe (Churchill) El Patron (Patronize).
Shaun O’Donnell and Justine Erkelens with Greg Hobbs after Millstree won at Belmont / Photo: Western Racepix
The mare had gone ten starts since winning her maiden as a autumn 3yo at Belmont and she coped with the blustery conditions that prevailed at the midweek meeting. “She’s more relaxed and was calm in the tie-up stalls today,” Erkelens said. “She’s been knocking on the door and is much more mature now.”
Own The Queen (5m Awesome Rock – Queen Of Choice by Patronize) was a Top 5 leaderboard buy for Rob Bavcevic (Bavcon P/L) when bidding closed for the Inglis August (Early) Online Sale on Wednesday afternoon.
Erkelens had a share in Own The Queen after targeting her for $57,500 through Western Breeders Alliance at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions. She dominated the 3yo fillies division in 2023-24 winning the LR Ascot 1000 Guineas (1800m), LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) and G3 WA Oaks (2400m).
That classic campaign saw Own The Queen bank over $500,000 and yesterday’s sale windfall of $150,000 made it a day to remember for the Golden Sixty syndicate managed by Greg Browne. “Buying into Own The Queen started an amazing journey,” Browne said. “We enjoyed every minute winning those races and visiting Justine’s stables to pat the horses.”
Browne and his partner Kelly Curtis are also in the Erkelens-trained Machine Gun Gracie (Maschino) who joined Own The Queen on the roll-call for the LR Natasha Stakes (2200m) and G3 WA Oaks (2400m) this year before defeating the colts in the G2 WATC Derby (2400m) in April.
Machine Gun Gracie is twelve months younger than the 5yo trio and is right on track for the Ascot carnival although her in-form trainer is being patient at this early stage. “She’s still a little way away from trialling,” Erkelens told Lachie Taylor at Belmont yesterday. “But she’s still as cheeky as hell.”
