Yarradale Stud-bred winners signed off Sunday’s Pinjarra meeting with a running double and there will be a value-added element apart from the combined prizemoney come the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale next month.
Promising 3yo Vatican Storm (Playing God) won the first-leg and his dam Amalfi Lass (War Chant) has a Gingerbread Man filly (Lot 121) catalogued by Yarradale at the Swan Valley Sale.
Pearce Racing mare Platinum Shot (Shooting To Win) filled out the double and her dam Platinum Power (Commands) has a Lightsaber colt (Lot 249) as part of the 17-strong draft coming down from Gidgegannup to the Magic Millions on February 19 and 20.
Platinum Shot carries Yarradale’s colours to victory at Pinjarra / Photo: Western Racepix
Vatican Storm was a $100,000 buy from Yarradale at the 2024 Perth Magic Millions for Ascot trainer Stefan Vahala and a syndicate managed by Kyle Sutherland. He won a Pinjarra maiden earlier this month and went back-to-back as an odds-on favourite in the MM Ladies & Valentines Day Hcp (1400m) on Sunday.
“He got his head in front and did just enough although Clint (Johnston-Porter) didn’t use the stick,” Vahala reasoned following the narrow victory over Azena (Maschino). “He hit the front too early and was probably waiting for the mare. He’s a Playing God and is tough, versatile and will keep growing in confidence.”
Amalfi Lass (War Chant) won at Ascot over 1600m for trainer Dan Morton and second-dam La Sirenuse (Barathea) won the G3 Carlyon Cup (1600m) at Caulfield in 2004. Group 1 miler Machine Gun Tom (WATC Railway Stakes) appears further down the page alongside renowned Group 1 two-miler Rogan Josh (VRC Melbourne Cup).
Yarradale manager Davy Hanratty believes Vatican Storm is a black-type winner-in-waiting and describes his yearling half-sister as a typical Gingerbread Man. “She will be popular as a short-coupled, athletic filly. There are 10 black-type winners on her page and she backs it up on type with a deep chest and very strong hindquarters.”
Platinum Shot landed her sixth win in the Country Comfort Racy Weekend Hcp (1400m) around the Scarpside circuit in Yarradale’s Dark Green and Gold colours on Sunday. “She put the writing on the wall making late ground at Ascot last time,” co-trainer Dan Pearce explained.
“She sprung the gates today so Holly (Nottle) was able to position her outside the leader and they pulled away in the final stages. She’s been an honest campaigner from the outset and has now banked $215,000.”
Platinum Shot had earned black-type as a spring 2yo when runner-up in the LR Supremacy Stakes (1000m) at Ascot and she’s a half-sister to the city winners Little Silver (Exosphere) and Gambler’s Gold (War Chant).
“We bred Platinum Shot when her sire Shooting To Win stood at Darley in the Hunter Valley,” Hanratty recalled. “We also bred and kept a share in Wubin Gold from that same book and she’s won $325,000!”
When Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) became available last year, Yarradale owner Lyn Sayers and Hanratty jumped at the chance to stand him alongside Gingerbread Man. “Our Lightsaber – Platinum Power colt is a ripper and is the best foal the mare has thrown. He’s a big beast with a strong jaw-line and is a typical Zoustar through Lightsaber.”
