The omens were good for Divine Shadow in Sunday’s Listed Pinjarra Cup (2300m) when the five-year-old gelding’s year younger sister Lady Duckworth won the previous race over the same distance by a widening five and a half lengths.
Divine Shadow had been an infrequent visitor to the winner’s stall in the past twelve months. However, the son of Blackfriars was on his game here defeating Media Baron (Written Tycoon) by three and three-quarter lengths with the favourite Trap For Fools (Poets Voice) a further one and a half lengths back in third.
Purchased by his trainer Brett Pope for $30,000 out of the Scenic Lodge draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Divine Shadow advances his record to five wins, seven seconds and five thirds from 27 starts with earnings of $299,860.
The best of four winners from six to race out of the Scenic (IRE) mare Idyllic Doll, Divine Shadow is a three-quarter brother to the 2-time Group 1 WATC Kingston Town Classic winner Playing God and Group II winner and Group 1 placed God Has Spoken.
Purchased for $68,000 at the 2012 Magic Millions Perth Autumn Thoroughbred Sale, Idyllic Doll visited Blackfriars in her first nine seasons until Blackfriars died in 2017. The VRC Derby winning son seemed to be the stallion for her. After nine consecutive foals she missed to Snippetson in 2018 and 2019.
The daughter of Scenic was covered by Maschino last spring but when she came up negative was covered by Snippetson on December 1.
Divine Shadow becomes the 43rd stakes-winner for the late WA stalwart Blackfriars.
