Elvstroem’s second season has started off with a bang courtesy of a stakes double.  On Friday night Carrara delivered the goods for Blue Gum when he lifted the Group 2 Stutt Stakes (1600m) at Moonee Valley. The following day at Randwick another of Elvstroem’s sons, Viking Legend, showed his versatility to win the Listed Dulcify Quality (1800m) at Randwick.
  At Moonee Valley on Friday night, Carrara was sent out as the punters’ elect under Craig Williams.  Beginning well, Carrara settled well in behind Point Pain, under Glen Boss, in the 1600m Group 2 event. Boss set a moderate tempo and Williams had no hesitation in moving up alongside him at the half-way point.  Rounding the home turn, Williams said go and Carrara responded. Then he was immediately under siege from Extra Zero.
   Going stride for stride down the Moonee Valley straight Williams got Carrara’s head out when it mattered most to score a last stride win by the barest margin over Extra Zero (Danzero ex Extra Bubbly by Bellotto) who safely held Miss With Attitude (Galileo – Sizzle ‘em by Flying Spur) by a length.
   Caulfield-based trainer Tony Vasil admitted to TVN’s Bruce Clark, that he was concerned that Carrara had not shown him the same turn of foot that had brought him victories at his two previous starts.
  “I was little bit disappointed but that might be put down to the (wet) ground,” he said.
  While Williams said, “He did a good job and toughed it out to the wire.”
  The victory took Carrara’s record to five wins from his eight starts and he was on trial at 1600 metres after wins in the McKenzie Stakes (1200m) and the Listed Henry Bucks Stakes (registered name Exford Hcp) at Flemington over 1400m at his previous runs.
   Carrara races for the Arch Of Gold Syndicate, who paid $200,000 for him as a yearling at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Sold by the Little Plains Stud Draft, Carrara has now won more than $400,000.
   He is the first foal of the Melbourne-winning Hurricane Sky mare Crystal Sprite, a three-quarter sister-in-blood to Listed winner Crystal Finale and a half-sister to SAJC Listed Dequetteville Stakes-winner Crystal Wit (Distorted Humour).

   The following day at Randwick, Viking Legend underlined his credentials for future higher grade stakes success with a solid effort in the Listed Dulcify Quality (1800m).
  A brown colt, trained at the track by Gai Waterhouse, he is expected to back up in next Saturday’s Group I Spring Champion Stakes (2000m).
  Ridden by Blake Shinn, Viking Legend was settled back in the field under instructions from Waterhouse as she had been concerned about the strong wind at Randwick.
  Shinn was ‘stood on his head’ soon after the start and found himself a pair further back than he wanted near the inside rail.  Once into the straight and when he was balanced, Shinn got Viking Legend away from the rail to the middle of the track and then asked him for his effort.
  They quickly gathered in Hus Der Lieften and Well Handled to go on and defeat Saint Encosta (Encosta de Lago – St Katherine by Barathea) by a neck with Smart Lady (Catbird – Lady Elaine by Grosvenor) another two lengths away in third.
  Viking Legend was sold by Blue Gum Farm, who stand Elvstroem, at the 2008 Melbourne Premier Sale to Waterhouse for $165,000.
  He is the first stakes winner for his winning dam, Innocent Baby (by Jugah), a half-sister to the Listed winner Innocent Affair (by Kingston Rule).
   By the late great Danehill, Elvstroem is Victoria’s leading second crop sire and he currently occupies second spot on the National list behind Fastnet Rock, another son of Danehill.

Permalink| Sep 27, 2009

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