Hallowed Crown's Vilana Romps in G2 Moreton Cup

Mark Smith - Saturday June 8

The win of Vilana in Saturday’s $300,000 Group II The Star Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm made it five winners on the day for James McDonald, who added the son Hallowed Crown to a list of Stradbroke hopefuls.

That's five for J-Mac (Image Racing Queensland/Michael McInally)

Winless in ten starts since the Group III Hall Mark Stakes at Rosehill in April last year, Vilana left his rivals without an excuse when downing the crack sprinter Mazu (Maurice) by three and a half lengths with Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) a neck back in third.

With his fourth stakes success, Vilana advanced his record to eight wins, two seconds, and one third from 23 starts with earnings of $2,105,300.

Winning trainer James Cummins said gelding the 5-year-old had helped Vilana focus.

“We liked the horse in the race two years ago as a three-year-old, and now that he’s been gelded this preparation, he’s been flying,” Cummings said.

“A couple of things haven’t quite gone his way, but third-up he was bang on and is now on track for the Stradbroke in seven days. He was a rank outsider a week ago and we were struggling to find a jockey, but I think Tim Clark will be happy he got on the front foot and secured the ride.”

Advertisement

“The Stradbroke has always been a desirable goal for Vilana, he was beautifully placed in the set weights and penalties today and we felt he had a lot of hidden merit to his run in the BRC Sprint. It’s exciting to see him loom up and win a race like this so easily.

“We know what we’re doing with him, he’s going so well that we just stick to the routine. Provided he pulls up well, we’ll have him in good shape for the race. He’s a dynamic late bloomer into the race given the form he carries into it; he’s going to be a real X-factor.”

James McDonald said Vilani and a previous winner, Yellow Brick, had top chances in the Stradbroke.

“I’ve qualified two horses for the Straddie today, and can’t get on either of them,” McDonald said.

“Both are really good horses for that sort of race. They’re down in the weights and if it’s a fast run race I’m sure they’ll produce the goods.

“He exploded and gave me a beautiful feel. The race panned out perfectly and he’s been promising that sort of performance. He’s a beauty to ride.

“It was a very good performance and it’s difficult to split them, but Yellow Brick at 51 kilos has got to be a really good chance. He gave me an excellent feel so there’s not much between them, I’ll sit on the fence.”

Vilana upholds family tradition (image Pat Scala/Racing Photos)

Vilana is one of three stakes winners for his dam Retsina, a daughter of Redoute’s Choice, who made the best possible start to her broodmare career.

Her daughter Savatiano (Street Cry) was first past the post in Group 1 ATC Canterbury Stakes, only to lose it 12 months later due to a positive swab. She won five Group II’s, and like Vilana, won the $1,000,000 The Hunter, on the way to banking over $2.3million.

Retsina made it two stakes winners from her first three foals with the Lonhro filly Athiri.

A dual Listed stakes-winner Athiri banked $811,300 from five wins and seven placings, including the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude, Group III Magic Night Stakes and Group III Kindergarten Stakes, from 22 starts.

Retsina’s Lonhro colt named Rakomelo has two wins and three placings from 21 starts and was second to Best Of Bordeaux in the Canonbury Stakes.

Retsina has a 2-year-old filly by  Blue Point (IRE) named Efharisto, who finished second to Ern’s Cube on debut in the Max Lees Classic at Newcastle last November, and a yearling colt by Blue Point (IRE) named Aleppo Pine.

After missing in 2022, Retsina was covered by Pinatubo (IRE) last spring.

Vilana is one of eight stakes-winners for Twin Hills Stud’s dual Group 1 winning Street Sense stallion Hallowed Crown, which stands at $8,800 in 2024.  

 

 

Advertisment

Race Result - The Star Moreton Cup Gr2 1200m

Eagle Farm Track: Good(4) Time: 1:09.40
1
Vilana
- 5g Hallowed Crown (AUS) x Retsina (AUS) (Redoute's Choice (AUS))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56
Hallowed Crown
2
3.7
Mazu
- 5g Maurice (JPN) x Chatelaine (AUS) (Flying Spur (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: Jamie Kah 56
3
3.8
Jigsaw
- 5g Manhattan Rain (AUS) x Demandz (NZ) (Lonhro (AUS))
Tnr: Ms C Alderson Rdr: N Rawiller 57.5
4
3.8
All That Pizzazz
- 4g Spirit Of Boom (AUS) x Pizzazz (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: M Zahra 56
5
4.8
Insurrection
- 4g Russian Revolution (AUS) x Marple Miss (AUS) (Not A Single Doubt (AUS))
Tnr: Michael Freedman Rdr: Zac Lloyd 55.5
6
5.2
Zarastro
- 5g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: Angela Jones 56
7
5.5
Nettuno
- 4g I Am Invincible (AUS) x Saint Minerva (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: V Duric 55
8
5.9
Opal Ridge
- 4m Rubick (AUS) x Chadana (AUS) (Myboycharlie (IRE))
Tnr: Luke Pepper Rdr: Tommy Berry 54.5
9
6
Rocketing By
- 6g So You Think (NZ) x Across The Moon (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: David Pfieffer Rdr: A Hyeronimus 56
10
6.7
At Witz End
- 8g Epaulette (AUS) x Here's The End (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Daniel Bowen Rdr: S T Collett 55.5
11
6.9
The Big Goodbye
- 6g Host (CHI) x Penny Opera (NZ) (Danasinga (AUS))
Tnr: R L Heathcote Rdr: B Shinn 56
12
7
What You Need
- 4h Supido (AUS) x Intuit (AUS) (Commands (AUS))
Tnr: M Price & M Kent Jnr Rdr: Craig Williams 55.5
13
7.1
Lekvarte
- 5m Reliable Man (GB) x Plumm (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: Joseph Pride Rdr: M J Dee 54.5
More Reading...
Vilana Upholds Family Tradition in The Hunter
Three years after Savatiano claimed the first running of The Hunter, her half-brother Vilana claimed the $1million feature at Newcastle.
Hallowed Crown's Vilana Adds to Family Fortunes
Like most of the breed, the 3yo Hallowed Crown colt Vilana loves a rain affected track and he found conditions to suit in Saturday’s Listed Bisley Workwear South Pacific Stakes (1400m) at Randwick.
Hallowed Crown's Vilana Captures Fred Best Stakes
Unraced at two, Godolphin’s 3yo Hallowed Crown colt Vilana has quietly built a formidable record. His third stakes success of the season came in Saturday’s $250,000 Group III Mullins Lawyers Fred Best Classic (1400m) at Eagle Farm.
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.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
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.
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
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.
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.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.