The strength of the field which lined up for the Essendon Nissan Stakes (Listed) at Moonee Valley was a sure sign that spring is in the air – and the result gave a very strong suggestion that it could be a great spring for Darley sires.
Last season’s narrow Golden Slipper runner-up Von Costa De Hero headed the field for this 1200m contest, and the Peter Moody-trained Fury was heavily backed as the race approached. However, neither got a look in as the Lonhro colt Minnesota Shark came with a withering run under Damien Oliver to edge out Acoustic Sound, a son of Commands who had looked home and hosed when opening up what had seemed a decisive lead at the top of the straight. To complete a trifecta for Darley sires, third place was taken by Captain Fantastic, the son of Fantastic Light whose two-year-old campaign was highlighted by a victory in the G2 Challenge Stakes at Trentham, plus second placings on either side of the Tasman in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes at Awapuni and the G2 Champagne Classic at Doomben.
All three horses now look set for a rewarding spring, with Minnesota Shark appearing a particularly exciting prospect. A son of the Flying Spur mare Ponton Flyer, Minnesota Shark showed promise in all his four juvenile starts, including running third in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield behind Exceed And Excel's sons Wilander and Exceedingly Good, and fourth to Von Costa De Hero and Carnegie's son Carnero in the G2 Sires’ Produce Stakes at Flemington. His relaxed style of racing, allied to the way he finished the race off so strongly, suggests that he will improve further over more ground, and his trainer Tommy Hughes agrees, saying after this first-up victory, “What he did last time was terrific and it was really a bonus for us to be Stakes placed in his two-year-old season. He’s improved enormously this time in and the race will be a stepping stone to races like the Caulfield Guineas and (Victoria) Derby”.
Further spring promise for Darley came in Sydney where Aichi, a son of Strategic from the Quest For Fame mare Nagoya finished second, beaten a nose by Dreamscape, in the G3 Up And Coming Stakes at Warwick Farm, the pair having drawn one and a quarter lengths clear of last start G3 San Domenico Stakes winner Duporth.
