Geisel Park has more than one winning connection with the LR Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and the latest renewal of the feature race for 3yo fillies added another when Playin’it Sweet prevailed for owner-breeders Rod and Tania Cosgrove on Tuesday.
Playin’it Sweet (Playing God) is the third winner for her dam Sweet Ora (Oratorio) who was bred and sold to the Cosgroves by Geisel Park owner Eddie Rigg at the 2015 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. “We bought a Onemorenomore colt for $70,000 on Day 1 and I liked an Oratorio filly in the Geisel Park consignment on Day 2,” Rod Cosgrove recalled. “And she was a cheapie at $15,000.”
The colt was registered as No More Nonsense and he was beaten a dozen lengths in a Pinjarra maiden at his first and only start. The filly was named Sweet Ora and she won 7 races and over $455,000 topped by a four-length victory in the Carbine Club of WA Stakes (1000m) at Belmont.
Rigg had puchased Sweet Ora’s dam Blondine (Danehill) for $10,000 at the 2010 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale. She had already foaled LR Hareeba Stakes winner La Famelia (Strategic) and her dam Biancaneve (Salieri) was a three-quarter sister to Champion Australian Sprinter Schillaci (Salieri).
There were no other fillies from the family to continue that line but there’s better news for Geisel Park’s 2022 Burgess Queen winner Laced Up Heels (Toronado). She is in foal off a maiden cover to Champion Australia sire Zoustar at Widden Stud.
And 2007 Burgess Queen winner Impressing Matters (Viscount) foaled a colt at Geisel Park on Caulfield Cup Eve from the second crop of its LR MVRC Chautauqua Stakes (1200m) winner Aysar (Deep Field).
Geisel Park sire Manhattan Rain has also been in the spotlight at the Melbourne Spring Carnival with news his quality sprinters Jigsaw and New York Lustre are being set for the $1 million Cranbourne Meteorite (1200m) on November 22.
Jigsaw qualified for part-owner and trainer Cindy Alderson after a front-running victory in the G2 McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day. He holds the Cranbourne 1000m course-record (57.24s) and is unbeaten on home turf.
Fellow Cranbourne trainer Enver Jusufovic is also aiming his mare New York Lustre at the seven-figure slot race after she closed Saturday’s Victoria Derby meeting with a late burst in the G3 Kirin Ichiban Sprint (1100m) at Flemington.
Photo / New York Lustre (Carleen Hefel) earns her first-black type victory on the first day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival
She became the 20th individual stakes winner by Manhattan Rain when skirting the grandstand rail to nail the straight-six sprint from Flying For Fun (Spieth) and Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot). Her career card now stands at 6 wins in 14 starts for prizemoney of $470,000.
“I thought she put the writing on the wall last start in the (LR) Alinghi Stakes at Caulfield,” Jusufovic said. “She has a mind of her own but we added blinkers today and that kept her focused. She’s tough and has been up a long time although we give her nice little breaks in between.”
Geisel Park stands Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) for a $5,500 service fee alongside Winning Rupert ($6,600) and Aysar ($8,800). Fees (inc GST). For bookings or further information, contact stud manager Conor Dunlop on 0447 434 735.
