Bargain Priced Inglis Digital Purchase Claims Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday May 2

Move over Con Te Partiro (USA), you are not the only mare to win a Group 1 this season after retiring to stud as Will Clarken’s $22,500 Inglis Digital purchase Bella Vella led all the way under Todd Pannell in Saturday’s Group 1  Robert Sangster (1200m) at Morphettville.

If anyone was cheering harder than the connections it was Coolmore’s Client Communications Manager Fionnuala Timoney who purchased Bella Vella’s Forget the Weather (USA) for $20,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

A 5yo daughter of Commands, Bella Vella was retired to stud in 2018 by Sir Owen Glenn to be covered by his 4-time Group 1 winner Criterion. The son of Sebring impregnated just four of his 15 mares that season and Bella Vella was not one of them.

She was put up for sale on Inglis Online and the $22,500 shelled out by part-owner John Kellton has proven to be a rare bargain.

Todd Pannell had the 5yo daughter of Commands travelling sweetly out front and waited until the 250 metres before asking her for an effort.

She held Godolphin’s fast-finishing Lyre (Lonhro) by a half-neck with Bam's On Fire (Universal Ruler) one and three-quarter lengths back in third.

Bella Vella has won six races since her purchase advancing her record to 9 wins, 5 seconds and 3 thirds from 28 starts with earnings of $634,360.

“We bought her online, David Jolly actually found her and some of my owners were looking at her as well so we put a syndicate together so obviously it’s a fairy tale story now,” Clarken said.

“She was previously owned by the owner of Criterion who was infertile, so we bought her back to the track and the rest is history.

“She’s a stable favourite and some of my really good mares Lachie Weekley and John Kelton have shares and they have been with me from the start when I had just five horses in work.

“She wore my dad’s colours who was a passionate racing person so it’s very special.

Clarken was non-committal about starting the daughter of Commands in the Group 1 Goodwood but nominated the Moir Stakes as a long-range target.

Originally purchased by Paul Moroney Bloodstock for $100,000 out of the Willow Park draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bella Vella is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the imported Stormy Atlantic mare Forget The Weather who is a half-sister to three stakes-winners, Wedlock (Maria’s Mon), Ever After (Kris S) and Extravert (Wild Again).

Forget The Weather has a 2yo Smart Missile colt named Typhoon Force who was purchased by Gollan Racing/John Foote/Aquis/BRT Bloodstock for $75,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

Following her purchase by Fionnuala Timoney, Forget The Weather foaled a Shooting To Win colt last spring and was bred back to Gailieo’s 4-time Group 1 winning son Churchill.

 

Advertisment

Race Result - Tab Classic - Robert Sangster Gr1 1200m

Morphettville Track: Soft(6) Time: 1:11.07
1
Bella Vella
- 5m Commands (AUS) x Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic (USA))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Todd Pannell 56.5
2
0.2
Lyre
- 3f Lonhro (AUS) x Erato (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Damien Thornton 55
3
2.0
Bam's On Fire
- 4m Universal Ruler (AUS) x Im Your Fire (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor (IRE))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Jake Toeroek 56.5
4
2.1
Amberdi
- 5m Ambidexter (AUS) x Double Daian (AUS) (Blevic (AUS))
Tnr: Ms S Jaensch Rdr: P Gatt 56.5
5
2.9
Away Game
- 2f Snitzel (AUS) x Elusive Wonder (AUS) (Elusive Quality (USA))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: Dean Holland 47
6
3.2
Savatiano
- 5m Street Cry (IRE) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Holder 56.5
7
3.5
I Am Excited
- 5m Snitzel (AUS) x Lady Beckworth (AUS) (General Nediym (AUS))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: D Tourneur 56.5
8
3.9
Street Icon
- 4m Street Boss (USA) x Villa Albani (AUS) (Mossman (AUS))
Tnr: K L Corstens Rdr: R J Hurdle 56.5
9
4.2
Spanish Whisper
- 4m Lope De Vega (IRE) x Cutting Remark (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: D & B Hayes & T Dabernig Rdr: Ethan Brown 56.5
10
4.3
Humma Humma
- 4m Denman (AUS) x Humma Mumma (AUS) (Bel Esprit (AUS))
Tnr: John McArdle Rdr: Zac Spain 56.5
11
4.4
Madam Rouge
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Cabernet (AUS) (Al Maher (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: Kayla Crowther 56.5
12
5.0
Beautiful Flyer
- 7m Solo Flyer (AUS) x Blow The Budget (AUS) (Luskin Star (AUS))
Tnr: Mick Kluske Rdr: J Potter 56.5
13
5.7
Everyday Lady
- 5m Charge Forward (AUS) x Any Other Day (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: Will Clarken Rdr: Ms G Cartwright 56.5
14
6.7
Embrace Me
- 4m Shamexpress (NZ) x Party Royal (NZ) (King's Chapel (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: John Allen 56.5
15
6.9
Teleplay
- 5m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Special Episode (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: S Cahill 56.5
16
7.6
Sunlight
- 4m Zoustar (AUS) x Solar Charged (AUS) (Charge Forward (AUS))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: B Vorster 56.5
More Reading...
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Melbourne Cup Pedigree Analysis - Do It Yourself
Breednet has produced a great page with click through to five generation pedigrees for all the Melbourne Cup runners, so for amateur pedigree buffs looking to have a Cup flutter based pedigree here’s your chance  to DIY it!
Magic Nick Strikes Again – Fastnet Rock x Galileo
The Fastnet Rock x Galileo nick has been on fire in Melbourne this spring producing Cox Plate winner Via Sistina (IRE) and leading Melbourne Cup contender Buckaroo (GB) and it struck again overnight in the UK with a brand new stakes-winner in Military Academy, who captured the Listed Floodlit Stakes (1m4f) at Kempton.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Tycoon Star Makes Winning Debut in G3 Maribyrnong Plate
Tycoon Star looked like the consummate professional when making a winning career debut in the Group III Darley Maribyrnong Plate (1000m) to kickstart Melbourne Cup Day at Flemington.
Cup Day Stakes-Winner for So You Think
The Listed VRC TAB Trophy (1800m) for three year-olds on Cup Day at Flemington drew a competitive field of up and comers with So You Think gelding Opening Address stamping himself as a bright prospect for the future with a stylish victory.
Remarkable Comeback from Bella Vella
Group 1 winning Commands mare Bella Vella isn’t showing a lot of interest in becoming a mum.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
Bella Vella back with a Bang
More joy for the South Australians with the Will Clarken-trained Bella Vella making it four in a row with a successful seasonal debut in Saturday’s Group II Mittys McEwen Stakes (1200m) at Moonee Valley.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.