23 September 2009 -
The progeny of exciting Hong Kong Breeders Club-owned stallion Danroad have completed a trans-tasman treble of winners inside the past week.
In New Zealand, the star performer for Danroad was the Danica Guy-trained three-year-old filly, Monopoly (ex Queensway), who notched up her first win over 1400m at her third race-day appearance in a 1400m fillies and mares event at the Taranaki Racing Club meeting at New Plymouth last Friday.
Matamata-based Danica Guy was not at all surprised with the win by Monopoly whom she holds in very high regard.
“She is a very nice filly and is quite stunning to look at,” Guy said.
“She had been unlucky in her first couple of races so I thought she would be hard to beat at the Taranaki meeting,” she said.
“She will now run in listed company in the Soliloquy Stakes at Ellerslie this weekend,” Guy said.
“She is going to be right in her element once she gets over more ground and I see her as an Oaks filly,” Guy said.
Monopoly is owned by her breeder, Peter Retter, who formerly worked at Highview Stud and is now based in Matamata.
Danroad also posted a double success with his progeny in Australia last week.
Fran Houlihan-trained Mana Lane (ex Mana), a half-brother to the stakes winning Duke’s Deal and Via Suez, scored over 1400m at the Cranbourne meeting in Victoria on Sunday while in Brisbane the lightly raced Laurie Mayfield-Smith trained 3yo filly, Margaret (ex Clafouti), posted the first win of her racing career in scintillating fashion when successful at only her second start over 1350m last Wednesday.
Margaret is held in high regard by her connections and justified her hot favouritism for last week’s race. She is from an exceptional family which features champion New Zealand-bred South African fillies Hoeberg and Petrava.
The latest success enjoyed by Danroad’s progeny this season continues on from the fine results enjoyed by his stock over the past two seasons.
These have included the Australian Group 1 winner Rockdale and Group 2 winner and Group 1 Derby runner-up Down The Road. The latter is now in commission in Hong Kong where he is being set for some major assignments in the future including the Hong Kong Derby.
Danroad, a Gr. 2 winning son of Danehill, has made a huge impression in his stud career to date.
He has been represented by 19 individual winners from only 42 individual runners. His successful progeny have won a total of 34 races to date.
