Tom Kitten's Half-Sister Va Via Captures Black Pearl

Mark Smith - Saturday January 6

The 4-year-old Astern mare Va Via upheld a family tradition when opening her stakes account in Saturday’s SEN Geelong Black Pearl Stakes (1200m) at Geelong.

Va Via is the third stakes winner from the first four foals of Transfers (image Grant Courtney)

Ridden by Damian Lane for James Cummings, the Godolphin homebred pulled clear in the closing stages to defeat the All Too Hard mare Danny's St Darci by two lengths, with the veteran Master Of Design mare Megamea a length back in third.

A half-sister to Group 1 ATC Spring Champion Stakes hero Tom Kitten (Harry Angel) and Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel), Va Via advances her record to five wins, two seconds, and five thirds from 20 starts with earnings of $478,275.

“She began well enough to hold her position and travelled so sweetly,” Lane said.

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uo;She’s shown previously that her turn of foot is her best strength, and she sprinted strongly.

“She came a long way last prep. She’s very versatile and got in so well at the weights.”

A stakes-winning half-sister to Tom Kitten, Va Via is worth a fortune (image Grant Courtney)

Va Via is one of four winners from as many starters for the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Transfers and is her lone filly.

A descendant of the breed-shaping import Dancing Show (USA), Transfers has a 2yo colt by Brazen Beau. She foaled a colt by Kingman’s 5-time Group 1 winning son Palace Pier (GB) on August 26, and was covered by Too Darn Hot (GB) in December after missing to an earlier cover by Harry Angel (IRE).

This branch of the Dancing Show family has had a lot of success in the past 12 months and there are 10 yearlings from it catalgoued for upcoming sales, click here to see them. 

Va Via is the 11th stakes-winner for Darley Stud’s Golden Rose winner Astern.

  

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Race Result - SEN Geelong Black Pearl Stakes LR 1200m

Geelong Track: Good(3) Time: 1:09.77
1
Va Via
- 4m Astern (AUS) x Transfers (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Damian Lane 57
2
2
Danny's St Darci
- 5m All Too Hard (AUS) x Darcibelle (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Archie Alexander Rdr: Declan Bates 56
All Too Hard
3
3
Megamea
- 7m Master Of Design (AUS) x Haumea (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Luke Oliver Rdr: Jye McNeil 58
4
3.3
Material Dreams
- 3f Lean Mean Machine (AUS) x Lincoln's Sunset (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Nick Ryan Rdr: L Currie 54
5
3.4
Eternal Flame
- 4m Sacred Falls (NZ) x Suriyan (NZ) (Savabeel (AUS))
Tnr: M C Kent Rdr: M J Dee 56
6
3.7
It's Kind Of Magic
- 7m So You Think (NZ) x Magically (AUS) (Danehill (USA))
Tnr: Tom Dabernig Rdr: D Yendall 56
7
4.5
Marble Arch
- 4m Per Incanto (USA) x Jonquil (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret (GB))
Tnr: Ben, Will & Jd Hayes Rdr: D W Stackhouse 57
8
4.8
Starlite Valley
- 5m Valentia (AUS) x Cherilyn (AUS) (Bianconi (USA))
Tnr: Kym Healy Rdr: J Potter 57
9
5.3
It's My Turn
- 4m Star Turn (AUS) x Bonded (AUS) (Danewin (AUS))
Tnr: D T O'Brien Rdr: Jordan Childs 56
10
5.4
Holly Lolly
- 4m Snitzel (AUS) x Zaina Rizeena (GB) (Shamardal (USA))
Tnr: C W McDonald Rdr: Celine Gaudray 57
11
5.5
Prairie Flower
- 4m Star Turn (AUS) x Leotie (AUS) (Darci Brahma (NZ))
Tnr: Henry Dwyer Rdr: M Aitken 56
12
5.7
Waverider Buoy
- 4m Nicconi (AUS) x Catch A Wave (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: John Allen 57
13
6.9
Defiant Diva
- 6m Dissident (AUS) x Cruz By (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: L & T Corstens Rdr: Liam Riordan 56
14
7.7
Rose Tycoon
- 6m Written Tycoon (AUS) x Dubai Me Roses (AUS) (Cape Cross (IRE))
Tnr: T & C McEvoy Rdr: Beau Mertens 56
15
11.9
Vallencourt
- 4m Caravaggio (USA) x Gilded Grace (AUS) (Gilded Time (USA))
Tnr: Mick Shepherdson Rdr: Sheridan Clarke 56
16
16.7
Little Miss Gutsaa
- 6m So You Think (NZ) x Emperossa (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: Jamie Edwards Rdr: Teodore Nugent 56
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