On a day when six of our second crop sires all posted winners, only one of them managed a winning double and that was Darley’s Hallowed Crown, who had two short priced favourites salute at Bendigo for Godolphin.
Placed at his five previous starts, three year-old colt Nerone was long overdue to break the ice and led all the way to score a tenacious short head win in the 1300 metre maiden for trainer James Cummings.
A homebred for Godolphin, Nerone is the fourth winner from five to race from well-bred import Rose Raisa (USA), who was retired from service this year. She is a half-sister by Rainbow Quest to four time Group I winner Campanologist.
James Cummings made it a winning double for Hallowed Crown when promising three year-old gelding Widespread won his third race from five starts when taking out the Benchmark 70 event over 1300 metres by three-quarters of a length.
Widespread was bought by Godolphin for $50,000 from the Jorson Farm draft at Inglis Classic and has already won back his purchase price, banking nearly $70,000 in prizemoney.
He is the second winner from minor winning Danehill Dancer (IRE) mare Wide Open, who comes from the family of stakes-winner The Essence.
A dual Group I winner at three by Kentucky Derby winner Street Sense (USA), Hallowed Crown has sired 15 winners and stands at a fee of $11,000.