Lynward Park stallion Bondi upped the ante for the WA second-season sires’ premiership when Bondi Bubbles won the $250,000 Magic Millions 3YO Trophy on Saturday.
Rivercrest Park resident Ducimus held a significant lead before the weekend and looked likely to go further ahead when his consistent gelding Leading Taddy kicked clear in the 3YO Trophy only to be swamped in the shadows of the post.
Their duel went tit-for-tat at Ascot on Wednesday when Bondi Plunge (Bondi) and Hero Hunter (Ducimus) won 3yo maidens before Icebergs (Bondi) landed the last at the 12-race meeting. The trio are all graduates of the 2022 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale.
Arion Pedigrees has Bondi leading the WA second-season table ($571,268) from Ducimus ($543,506) with this week’s Westspeed bonuses still to be added. Both sons of Snitzel, they are 13th and 14th respectively on the Australian second-season table.
Hero Hunter (Photo / Western Racepix) got a run from first emergency in the Amelia Park Maiden (1600m) and made the most of a late call-up to sit in the box-seat behind front-runner Crystal Rose (Demerit). “He jumped well and responded when I gave him a dig,” jockey Jordie Turner reported. “He’s still a prep or two away and will be better when he puts on a bit more condition.”
Ducimus sired him from Magnificent Pair (Bletchley Park) whose second-dam Mercurial Madam (Is It True) won the G3 Champion Fillies Stakes (1600m) in 1996. Group 1 winning trainer Colin Webster bought Hero Hunter from Alwyn Park (as agent for Rivercrest Park) for $34,000 two years ago.
Rivercrest Park studmaster Steve Hoare has three yearlings by Ducimus being sold through the Alwyn Park draft on Thursday and Friday at the Perth Magic Millions.
Lot 85 Filly Ducimus – Inimitable (Lonhro)
“She’s closely related to Super Smink and is a lovely, loose-walking filly,” Hoare said on Sale-eve. “She’s a good size with a deep girth and we’ve had people coming back for a third inspection.”
Lot 159 Filly Ducimus – Shezapro (Econsul)
“The dam had thrown the Stakes filly Classic Pro and this one will go early. She’s also a full-sister to a Ducimus 3yo named Dutch Por. Luke Fernie likes him but is giving him time to grow into a big frame.”
Lot 253 Gelding Ducimus – Gondiggin (Universal Prince)
“He has plenty of admirers with a strong shoulder and hindquarter. We’ve been kept busy pulling him out for inspections and the vibe has been positive all around the sale grounds.”
Hoare is also prepping the only son of Per Incanto (USA) for the Swan Valley Sale (Lot 197). Bred in NZ by Orbis Bloodstock, who own Ducimus, he displays a strong work ethic and is the first foal from an unraced half-sister to G2 WA Derby winner Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock).
The only God Has Spoken filly (Lot 202) is also among the yearlings in Barns B & C. “She’s from a Galileo mare and looks a classic filly,” Hoare predicted. “She’s well grown and so light on her feet it looks like she’s floating in the paddock.”
The Ducimus – Renegade Girl (War Chant) filly (Lot 144) is a late withdrawal from the catalogue. She’s a full-sister to Define Beautiful who finished fourth in the RL Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra. She lay inwards and steadied on straightening off the heels of Onemoretwomany (Tassort) and did well to finish a length and change behind the winner Big Shots (Sizzling) on Saturday.
Trainer Trevor Andrews will aim Define Beautiful towards the G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on April 20 and a share of the $500,000 prizemoney will set up a tight finish between Bondi and Ducimus for second-season sire honours.