Heavens Above gave breeders and owners Reg and Greg Kemister their first Group 1 victory when she scored a thrilling win in the $600,000 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill.
The Kemisters, of President Bloodstock, raced Court Command to win the 2006 Golden Rose, but the race was only a Group 3 at the time.
While the Golden Rose is now a Group 1, it took until today's Coolmore Classic for the father-son combination to enjoy a legitimate top-level victory in its own right.
"It's a great thrill. It really is,'' Reg Kemister said.
"[Trainer] Tim [Martin] was always confident in this mare.
"I couldn't say she was a star from day one but Tim's always been confident in her ability.''
Heavens Above (image Steve Hart) is by the ill-fated stallion Street Cry out of Reggie, a mare Reg Kemister bought at the 2010 Sydney Easter Broodmare Sale in foal to Testa Rossa.
"I bought Reggie because I liked the breeding in that it had no Danehill,'' Reg said.
"A couple of so-called knowledgable guys said there's nothing wrong with the mare and she's sure been good to me.''
That Testa Rossa foal, who now races as Pindan Pearl, is being offered at the inaugural The Chairman's Sale Session II – Elite Breeding Prospects – as Lot 6 on Friday April 7.
The Chairman's Sale Session II begins at 5pm.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
Heavens Above was offered at the 2013 Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Broadwater Thoroughbreds but didn't reach her reserve.
Heavens Above has now won just shy of $1million in prizemoney for the Kemisters.
The 2017 Easter Yearling Sale takes place at Newmarket from April 4-6.
To view the catalogue,CLICK HERE.
Both sales have extremely strong catalogues, both of which strengthened in pedigree updates after today's race meetings.
Tulip won the Group 3 Magic Night Stakes at Randwick and two of her family members will be offered for auction through an Inglis sales ring in coming weeks.
Her full brother (Pierro x Musidora)is coming to the Easter Yearling Sale (Lot 251) in the Coolmore Stud draft while Rothwell Park Thoroughbreds are offeringTulip's High Chaparral half-sister She's A Vamp (Lot 80)in foal to Lonhro at The Chairman's Sale Session II (Elite Breeding Prospects).
Heavens Above capped a great day for Inglis graduates in feature events Australia-wide.
At Flemington, a group of first-time Chinese owners found themselves on the ride of a lifetime when Nicconi 2YO Sircconi won the Group 2 Sires Produce Stakes (1400m).
When trainer Peter Morgan hosted a BBQ for current and prospective owners 12 months ago, a plan was hatched and Sircconi is the outcome.
"About 100 of them came and I snagged five of them and they're all here today so it's a great thrill for them and me,'' Morgan said.
Morgan paid $80,000 forSircconi (Nicconi x On Credit)at last year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft.
Meanwhile I Am A Star continued her love affair with Flemington, claiming her fourth Stakes win from just 12 career starts when winning Saturday's Group 2 Kewney Stakes.
The Matthew Sandblom-owned and Shane Nichols-trained filly claimed her maiden Group 1 at the track in October in the Myer Classic and now has a Group 2 at headquarters as well.
Throw in a couple of Group 3s – one of which came at Flemington - and her $40,000 price tag at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (James Harron Bloodstock bought her from the Broadwater Thoroughbreds draft) is looking very cheap.
I Am A Star (I Am Invincible x Star Band)has now won over $800,000.
On Friday Easter blueblood Dawn Wall continued to build on her imposing career record when securing win No.3 – and a black-type victory at that - from four starts in the Group 3 Arrowfield Kembla Grange Classic.
The addition of black-type to her resume will prove invaluable to the 3YO filly's future value.
Dawn Wall (Fastnet Rock x Mennetou)cost BBA Ireland $1.3million at the 2015 Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Coolmore Stud draft.
Her dam is a half-sister to the 1994 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Carnegie while her granddam Detroit won the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe in 1980
Inglis Release
