First southern hemisphere Stakes winner for Bernardini

After nothing going right at his last start, two-year-old Bernardini colt Boban produced an outstanding effort to become the first southern hemisphere Stakes winner for his sire, taking out the Listed The Phoenix Stakes by two-and-a-quarter lengths at Doomben on May 26.

A winner of two of his five starts, both impressively, the Anthony Freedman-trained colt settled with the tail-enders and was pulled extremely wide as the field headed for home. Sprouting wings over the final 400m, while still showing he has a lot to learn, Boban defeated last start Stakes runner-up Hoss Amor.

Out of the G1 AJC Oaks winner Kenbelle, Boban was bred by Mr AB Thomas and Mrs R R Thomas of Queensland. Kenbelle currently has a weanling filly by the unbeaten multiple G1 winner Teofilo and was covered by the Champion European three-year-old Authorized in the latest breeding season.

The sire of a remarkable eight G1 horse and four G1 winners from his first northern hemisphere crops highlighted by To Honor And Serve, Stay Thirsty, A.Z. Warrior and Biondetti, Bernardini has sired four winners to date in the southern hemisphere including the G2 performer Meidung, Calamba and Toydini.

Standing the forthcoming southern hemisphere breeding season at Darley Kelvinside at a fee of $55,000 (inc. GST), Bernardini has now sired 14 individual Stakes winner on the international stage.