Yarradale Stud resident Shooting To Win sired his first juvenile winner of the season when Dixie Doo nailed Yarradale homebred Hillside Avenue (Pinatubo) right on the line in the Liquor Barons Plate (1200m) on Wednesday.
Dixie Doo (2f Shooting To Win – Templates by Teofilo) had worked overtime at her previous start at Bunbury earlier this month and that inspired some serious support at Belmont yesterday when she firmed from $11 into $4.40. “That was a gutsy effort but I wasn’t sure whether we got there,” winning jockey Chris Parnham admitted. “The leader gave her something to run down in the straight and she produced a good sprint to make it a fighting finish.
Photo: Dixie Doo (outer) arrives late to win the Liquor Barons Plate / Western Racepix
“She’s not a readymade 2yo and is a long way from the finished product. I think we’re going to see a much better filly when she comes back from a spell next preparation.”
Dixie Doo is trained by Sean and Jake Casey for Victorian-based Brian and Joan Durran who raced several winners by former Yarradale stallion War Chant (USA). They included the full-brothers Civvy Street and On Patrol and mares like Military Beat, Memory Parade and Over There.
Willaview Park owners Col Hunter and Claire Williamson are hoping Wednesday’s result was a winning omen for her older half-brother and stablemate Aberdeen Flyer (Astern) in the LR Melvista Stakes (2200m) at Ascot this Saturday.
Aberdeen Flyer is the first foal out of Templates following her transfer to WA in 2022. Willaview Park had purchased the former Darley mare for $3,000 at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Dixie Doo is her second foal and the third is a Splintex colt that sold for $200,000 to Wally Daly at last month’s Perth Magic Millions.
