Strength of Cluster's Pedigree Highlighted

Larneuk Stud's  Neville Murdoch has always been impressed by the pedigree of resident stallion Cluster and was delighted to see his high opinion verified by a massive win by the young horse's full sister Miss Que at Canterbury on Wednesday.

Sent out second favourite behind a highly rated unbeaten trialler, the Joseph Pride trained three-year-old was slowly and awkwardly away in the 1100m contest, spotting her rivals many lengths turning into the straight.

But when jockey Corey Brown asked the bay for her effort she quickly let go, storming down the outside before drawing clear to win by a soft 3/4 length.

And everyone involved was excited!

"That puts a real smile on the face," said a delighted Pride.

"That was a very impressive win by a really nice filly. She was not all that comfortable in the going in the straight but her class shone through late. I think by next autumn she may measure up to the better horses."

Corey Brown agreed - "she is a lovely horse with plenty of upside, she will definitely win a lot more races, they are going to have a lot of fun with her."

"She can step up to Saturday class straight away with no dramas but we won't see the best of her till next time in. Whatever she does this preparation is a bonus - I think she will be the real deal later on."

Describing Miss Que as a horse "with a really deep pedigree," Pride said that it was "nice of the Morans to give me a filly of this quality."

 Like Cluster, Miss Que was bred by highly successful Queensland breeders Peter & Wendy Moran. She is the fifth winner from as many to race for the stakes winning Last Tycoon mare Tarcoola Diamond and looks set to follow in the black type footsteps of her big brother.

A stunning winner of the Gr.2 Theo Marks Stakes, Cluster (pictured) was a horse of outstanding ability and Murdoch is delighted with the quality of his first crop of weanlings - four of whom he is taking to this weekend's Inglis Great Southern Sale at Oaklands Junction.

"He is really stamping his progeny with his own refined quality," Murdoch said, noting that Cluster is a lovely mix of his champion sire Fastnet Rock and his prolific dam sire Last Tycoon.

"He has his sire's strength and imposing presence coupled with that Last Tycoon quality."

Lot 30 b/ br.c Cluster - Redwood Forest (General Meeting): half-brother to three winners out of an imported stakes placed mare whose dam Redwood Falls and grandam Robertet are French stakes winners.

Lot 110 b/ br.f Cluster - Taut (Strategic): out of a winning daughter of the Gr.3 mare Firm, she is bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Strategic cross as two times Group winner Missrock.

Lot 151 b.f Cluster - Alynya (Husson): bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Hussonet cross as the unbeaten juvenile Shoals, she is out of a daughter of the Gr.3 winner A Country Girl, in turn daughter of dual stakes winner Verdict Declared, sister to Gr.1 galloper Mr Innocent. "An absolute cracker," she is a half-sister to the Darren Weir trained two-year-old Riverside, a $220,000 purchase at last year's Melbourne Premier.

Lot 180 b.c Cluster - Bellevue Lady (Zabeel) : half-brother to the multiple city winner Flying Empress from the family of the big race winners Mastery, Kirklees, Cherokee Rose, Mukhadram, Noordhoek Flyer and champion sire Volksraad. Bred on the same Fastnet Rock/Zabeel cross as Atlantic Jewel and Planet Rock. "A ripper of a colt," he is a half-brother to the Michael Moroney trained youngster Anastazi Princess who fetched $160,000 at thee2016 Melbourne Premier.

"They have all x-rayed clean and are great types who are going to impress all who inspect them," Murdoch said.

Also taking a Cluster weanling to the sale is Tarcoola Stud who raced his talented dam Tarcoola Diamond... lot 323 , a brown or black colt out of the city winning Viscount mare Ingeniously.

For further information on Cluster who stands at $6600 ( incl gst), contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706.