The Encosta de Lago mare Busking, who was purchased for $13,000 from Darley Stud back in 2010, sadly died just over a month ago but what joy she provided for owner Michael Thomas and trainer Pat Webster.
Busking won just one of her 16 starts but she was a half-sister to Webster's dual Group III winner and Group 1 Galaxy Stakes runner-up Thankgodyou'rehere (Secret Savings).
At the time of her sale, Busking was carrying the Teofilo (IRE) colt Happy Clapper who earned another start in the Group I Doncaster Mile following a three and a half-length demolition in Friday's Group III Newmarket Handicap (1400m) at Newcastle.
Fresh off a Group I win in New Zealand yesterday, Blake Shinn had the son of Teofilo in a striking position before striding clear to defeat Got Unders (Southern Image) with Kellyville Flyer (Oratorio) a further three-quarter of a length back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
Happy Clapper will now strive to go one better than his second to Winx in last year's Doncaster Mile.
Following that he was third behind Lucia Valentina and The United States in the Group I Queen Elizabeth Stakes. He will likely follow a similar path this year.
"He always takes a couple of runs to be at his top," Webster said.
"I think his worst run was in the Cox Plate but he was within two lengths of Winx at the 200(m).
"He'll have another go at the Doncaster, he rarely runs a bad race."
Out of the winner's stall since the 2015 Group II Villiers Stakes, Happy Clapper advances his record to 7 wins, 4 seconds and 3 thirds from 23 starts with earnings of $1,563,000.
Busking has a 2yo full-brother to Happy Clapper and a yearling colt by Not A Single Doubt that sold Ciaron Maher Racing $280,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale.
After foaling another colt by Not A Single Doubt, Busking was covered by Teofilo (IRE) 10 weeks before her death.
