A Tragic Loss for Arrowfield

Mark Smith - Wednesday February 14

Arrowfield Stud's talented blueblood Miracle Of Love died of a suspected heart attack during a barrier trial at Scone on Wednesday.

Trained by Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich, the 3-year-old daughter of Dundeel and Miss Finland started three times.

A third on debut in the Listed Woodlands Stud Stakes at Scone last May, Miracle Of Love broke her maiden a fortnight later at Doomben.

Advertisement

Solidly backed in the Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes at Eagle Farm on June 10, Miracle Of Love clocked in second behind King Colorado and has not started since.

A distraught John Messara told Racenet it took some time to process the tragic news.

"Paul rang, it was the call I'd been waiting for, and I thought he was going to tell me how well the filly trialled,'' Messara told Racenet.

"But when he told me what happened, I said: 'You are pulling my leg'. I couldn't believe it.

"I feel so sorry for Paul; he has put so much work into this filly. She was an outstanding filly; we thought she had Group 1 potential.

"We couldn't wait to get her back to the races, and then this happened. This game is a great leveller.''

Miracle Of Love is a half-sister to Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas heroine Stay With Me (Street Cry), the dam of dual Listed stakes-winner Waltz On By (I Am Invincible).

The 5-time Group 1 winner, Miss Finland, has a 2-year-old colt by Castelvecchio named Castel Nuovo in the stable of Richard Litt. Ottavio Galletta had purchased him for $280,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Miss Finland's final foal is a yearling sister to Miracle Of Love.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Gin a Tonic Dominates MM 3YO and 4YO Victorian Classic
The $175,000 Magic Millions Victorian 3YO and 4YO Classic (1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday produced a dominant winner in Gin a Tonic, shining the spotlight on his half-brother by Ole Kirk to be offered at Magic Millions next month.
Best On Breeding
Saturday's JJ Atkins Plate (1600m) at Eagle Farm is the final Group 1 for juveniles, and Dundeel has two solid chances to add to a career-best season with his two-year-olds.
Widden Fairytale - Unit Five Delivers in $250,000 MM Victoria 2YO
There was a real mixture of tears and happiness for everyone at Widden Stud when the two year-old Supido colt named for the late Stud Manager David Merrick made a winning debut in the $250,000 Magic Millions Victoria 2YO Classic (1100m).
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 20
Here is the full list of 98 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Grafterburners Solidifies Magic Millions Sunlight Favouritism
Going three straight this time in and securing his first black type victory, the Listed BRC Gold Edition Plate (1200m) victory by Kelly Schweida’s 3yo Graff colt Grafterburners further enhanced his chances leading into the $3m TAB Magic Millions Sunlight Classic (1100m).
Autumn Carnival Awaits King’s Secret
Arguably in need of the run when a first-up third, Joe Pride’s consistent sprinter King’s Secret (Shalaa) appeared a class above his rivals on Saturday with black type races now on the horizon for the half-brother to $12.8m earner Private Eye.
Unbeaten $2.2million Zoustar Filly Poised for Black Type in 2026
The highest priced yearling by champion sire Zoustar sold in 2024 when fetching $2.2million at Inglis Easter, unbeaten filly Plaintiff took another step forward at Randwick on Saturday keeping her record perfect with three wins in as many starts.
Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes on the Radar for Miracle Of Love
Trainer Paul Messara is hoping his blueblooded Dundeel x Miss Finland filly Miracle Of Love has done enough to earn a spot in the $1,000,000  Group 1 JJ Atkins Stakes (1600m) at Eagle Farm on June 10 after breaking her maiden over 1350m at Doomben on Wednesday.
G3 Grand Prix Stakes To Snitzel’s Matias – Brother At Magic Millions
Breaking his maiden last time out over 1500m at Newcastle, 3yo Snitzel gelding Matias stepped up both in class and trip to win the $300,000 Group 3 BRC Grand Prix Stakes (1800m) at Eagle Farm and in the process added a lovely pedigree update to his Magic Millions bound brother.
Almanzor Caulfield Double
Cambridge Stud stallion Almanzor (Fr) was credited with a winning double at Caulfield Heath on Saturday when Roadcone held on for an all-the-way victory in the A$130,000 Magic Millions Digital Handicap (1500m) bringing a pedigree update for his half-sister by Ghaiyyath (IRE) that heads to Karaka Book 1 for Curraghmore.