Lynward Park homebred Petrouchka is being set for a valuable black-type target after a bolting in by more than two lengths for Willie Pike at Northam on Thursday.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained filly started an odds-on favourite for the Kunine Grazing Maiden (1400m) following placings at her first three outings at the provincials and is now city-bound for the LR Belmont Oaks (2000m) on July 6.
Petrouchka (Photo / Western Racepix) travelled well within herself on Thursday despite being caught in traffic until the home turn. Extricated at the top of the straight, she raced past Peters Investments homebred Abissi (NZ) to give Pike one of his easier winning percentages in the Avon Valley this season.
“She was heading to the Perth autumn carnival but went shin-sore after a barrier trial at Lark Hill,” Lynward Park’s Troy van Heemst said. “We had to tip her out but she has a bright future and her turn of foot is a weapon.”
The daughter of Vinery Stud’s legendary shuttler More Than Ready (USA) is a half-sister to the van Heemst family’s black-type winners I’m Feeling Lucky (G3 La Trice Classic), Utgard Loki (LR Bull & Bush Cup) and Baronova (LR Belmont Classic).
Their dam Twinkle Toes (Danehill) is a close relation of Group 1 Moyglare Stud Stakes winner Maybe (Galileo) and her Group 1 English 2000 Guineas-winning son Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact).
There was another update for Lynward Park in Sydney on Saturday when Team Hawkes youngster Swiftfalcon was an explosive winner of the Chandon Hcp (1400m) at Rosehill. The first-crop son of Exceedance didn’t go a yard in the early stages on a Heavy 9 but then clicked into gear and swooped on the leaders to win by over a length.
“He will go to the paddock for a breather now and will come back for some of the better races in the spring,” John Hawkes said. “He was gelded to give him a chance to be a racehorse and I’m sure he will run a mile and make the grade as a 3yo.”
His dam Tempting Delight (Northern Meteor) was sold to Lynward Park at the 2023 Magic Millions National Sale in foal to Exceedance. “That Exceedance is a filly and she’s an absolute cracker,” van Heemst revealed.
“Tempting Delight is in foal to Farnan and we brought her back home this year. The plan is a spring cover by our Snitzel sire Bondi.”
Bondi has been a revelation this season and Lynward Park can continue kicking goals with Niccimota (Nicconi) who won a Belmont 2yo trial last Monday. She was bred and sold by the Bullsbrook nursery to Jim Taylor for $120,000 at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions.
Lynward Park purchased her dam Outboard Motors (Sebring) for $60,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale on the Gold Coast carrying Niccimota. The mare has a Bondi filly foal and was bred back to Playing God last year.
Lynward Park will stand Bondi for an unchanged $6,600 (inc GST) service fee this season.
