Helmet Filly Adds to Godolphin's Firepower

Mark Smith - Sunday March 10

Godolphin lost one major Golden Slipper hope in Tassort but added another two on Saturday with Tenley in the Group II Reisling Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill and La Tene in the Group II $200,000 MSS Security VRC Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Flemington.

A fortnight after the Anthony Freedman-trained Lyre carried the royal blue silks to victory in the Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, the James Cummings-trained La Tene added to the Godolphin haul in the Sires' Produce.

The daughter of Helmet took four starts to break her maiden at Sandown-Hillside on February 20 before her stakes breakthrough.


Settled in second position by Dwayne Dunn behind the pacesetting Fling, La Tene scored a short-neck win from the luckless favourite Dalasan (Dalakhani) with Fling (All Too Hard) hanging on gamely, a neck away third. (images Grant Courtney )

"We adore her, she's so tough," said Cummings' Melbourne foreperson Kate Grimwade.

"Her win last start at Sandown gave us one of the biggest thrills of the last few months the way she dug deep. I wasn't sure she had the class but she fought so hard.

Dunn said the daughter of Helmet has continued to improve throughout the preparation.

" Last start she had to fight them off and today she got it a bit easier, but she was up in grade," he said.

"We thought Adelaide might have been where she could get her black type, but the step up today was a big step forward for her.

"Maybe James will take her to Sydney as she's done everything asked of her down here.

"It would be a big step forward, but she's done that today." 

A half-sister to the stakes-placed 4-time winner Gaulois (Street Cry), La Tene is the fourth foal of Lonhro's top-class daughter Celts whose four wins included the Group III ATC Birthday Card Stakes and Listed Macquarie Cup.

Celts' dam Dinna Flash (Canny Lad) is a half-sister to the honest sprinter Appoint (Alquoz) whose 11 wins included the Group III VATC Rubiton Stakes.

Celts was not covered in 2016 but she delivered a Teofilo (IRE) frilly last spring before being bred back to Street Boss (USA).

La Tene becomes the ninth stakes-winner Helmet, whose son Thunder Snow won last year's Dubai World Cup by almost six lengths. The son of Exceed And Excel now stands at Gestut Fahrhof in Germany.



Advertisment
More Reading...
Jamieson Park Celebrate Grail Seeker G1 Success
Further top-flight success on the home front and an overseas double has boosted spirits at Jamieson Park ahead of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
First Win for Flying Artie Brother
He will never trouble his famous older half-brother Flying Artie, but three year-old Helmet colt Give is now a winner after scoring at Pakenham on Thursday as favourite.
Savvy Broodmare Investment Delivers $400,000 Toronado Colt for Daandine
Queensland farm Daandine Stud have bred and sold a lot of good horses including Golden Slipper and Magic Millions 2YO Classic winning sire Capitalist and a mare they purchased at the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale in 2023 for $250,000 produced a great result for them on Tuesday at the Gold Coast.
Helmet's Tin Hat Opens Stakes Account
Godolphin's promising 3yo colt Tin Hat capped a remarkable day for Darley stallions when the son of Helmet earned a maiden stakes win in Saturday's Group III Manfred Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield.
$1.6million for I Am Invincible Filly from Avantage
The first million dollar yearling to be sold at the Gold Coast at Magic Millions this year arrived late in the afternoon when the Coolmore consigned I Am Invincible filly from Avantage stepped into the sale ring.
$480 Mare Has a Group I Sibling!
Tatura’s Kasey Tozer paid special attention on Sunday to the Hong Kong International Races.
Go Bloodstock Purchase Snitzel Colt for $850,000
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds and sold by Segenhoe is often a recipe for stakes success and Go Bloodstock will be hoping they have got the recipe right again after purchasing a Snitzel colt from Villami for $850,000 at Magic Millions on Tuesday.
$1.7Million Wootton Bassett Colt to Race in Munz Colours
The highest priced colt during the opening session of the Magic Millions Yearling Sale on Tuesday was the Milburn Creek bred and consigned Wootton Bassett (GB) colt from Battleofwinterfell (USA) that sold for $1.7million.
Bowness Stud Mare Investment Rewarded with $650,000 Too Darn Hot Colt
At the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale Bowness Stud bid $70,000 to secure a young well related mare by American Pharoah (USA) in foal to Too Darn Hot (GB) in her first season and the resulting colt from that mating provided a huge windfall when selling for $650,000 on Tuesday at the Gold Coast.
Yulong Delighted with $1.8million for First Foal of Away Game
Just three lots after the I Am Invincible filly from Avantage sold for $1.6million, the Magic Millions had it’s second million dollar youngster when the Yulong bred and offered first foal of Away Game sold for $1.8million to North American investor John Stewart of Resolute Bloodstock in conjunction with Ciaron Maher Racing.