Last-start Ascot winner Our Paladin Al is benefiting from a summer spell in the south-west at Amelia Park ahead of a defining year for the lightly-raced 4yo son of Westbury Park sire A Lot (USA).
Our Paladin Al signed off just his second racing campaign with a win against the odds in the MCA Polytrack (1800m) last month. He went out an odds-on favourite but was held up behind a wall of horses before getting out late to overhaul Fly With Caution (Galah).
“He’s a class horse and will be all the better for a break,” trainer Russell Stewart Stewart said this week. “I know what’s under the bonnet and he will fill out, build more muscle and mature before coming back for a cameo at Belmont. I know it’s a big step up but hopefully he can train on for The Pinnacles at Ascot.”
Our Paladin Al (Photo / Western Racepix) is a homebred for Queenslea Park’s Morton family in a partnership that includes Stewart, his wife Antonella and sons James and Kye.
His initial prep as a late-season 3yo comprised a running double at Northam and a black-type placing in the LR Aquanita Stakes (2020m) at Bunbury in July.
His dam Flirtatious (Purrealist) has a Playing God colt (Lot 176) entered for the Perth Magic Millions by Ruby Racing & Breeding (as agent) on Thursday, February 19.
A Lot (Tapit) will have 13 lots parading at the Perth Magic Millions and Westbury Park owner Phil Ibbotson is sending three fillies and a colt to the Swan Valley. They’re the first A Lot yearlings conceived at Westbury following a move to West Pinjarra after five books in the Great Southern.
“He covered over 70 mares first-up here and the quality is already showing through in their yearlings preps,” Ibbotson reported. “His chestnut filly from Amelia’s Missile (Lot 124) looks a smart runner and it’s a lovely pedigree. She’s closely related to the (G1) Victorian Derby winner Riff Rocket.”
The chestnut filly from Special Deal (Lot 88) also comes highly-rated. She’s a cracking type and the dam’s first three Perth-based gallopers have all won at Ascot. It’s a Peters Investments family going back to Real Treasure (LR Sheila Gwynne Quality) and her son Noble Cavalier (LR Melvista Stakes).
A Lot is a son of Champion USA sire Tapit and set a North American record for 1400m on turf when clocking 1.19.23s in the LR Elusive Quality Stakes at Belmont Park in New York.
The Westbury Stud consignment to the Swan Valley incorporates a variety of yearlings by Hunter Valley stallions. They were either pinhooked as foals or purchased in utero with their dams in the Eastern States.
The Written By – Social Smile filly (Lot 82) is from a winning daughter of My Lady’s Chamber (LR Canberra National Sprint). It’s a very successful Lomar Park family and her Widden Stud-based sire Written By has already been represented in Perth by LR Placid Ark Stakes winners Ripcord and Wind And The Lion.
Next into the ring on Day 1 is a leggy, athletic Trapeze Artist – Socialising filly (Lot 83). The dam won 6 of her first 10 starts for Eagle Farm trainer Tony Gollan and her three-quarter sister Work The Room (Bel Esprit) won a LR Qld Tatts Mile for Rob Heathcote.
The pick of colts from Westbury Park is the son of Coolmore sire Pierro who needs no introduction in Perth having sired the Peters Investments G1 Kingston Town Classic winners Arcadia Queen and Regal Power. Catalogued as Lot 151, he’s from Compatriot (Brazen Beau) who is a half-sister to Worthy Cause (G3 GCTC Gunsynd Classic).
The Westbury consignment will be stabled in the Scenic Blast Barn and Ibbotson can be contacted for further information on 0429 341 211.
