Placed behind stablemate’s Bodyguard in the Group III Blue Diamond Prelude and High Octane in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview, Holmes A Court found his time to shine in Sunday’s $250,000 Group III John Mcgrath Auto Group Black Opal Stakes (1200m) at Canberra.
Given the perfect stalking trip by Tommy Berry, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained son of Capitalist overpowered the favoured Hellbent colt by one and a half lengths, with Capitalist colt Amazing Eagle a closing third.
Holding entries for the Golden Slipper and Sires’ Produce Stakes, Holmes a Court breaks his maiden at start three, taking his prizemoney to $219,500. He is the fifth winner of the feature for Peter Snowden, who trained Epaulette when in charge at Darley, then in partnership with Paul Snowden, Defcon, Barbaric, and in 2021 with the Capitalist colt Kalashnikov.
An $850,000 buy for China Horse Club/Newgate/Go/Trilogyfrom the Newgate Farn draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Holmes a Court is the first foal of the Zoustar mare Menagerie.
A winner at Newcastle and placed five times from eight stats, Menagerie was a $240,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase for Joe Pride.
A half-sister to Group 1 Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes winner Il Quello Veloce (Captain Rio), Listed winner Donna Cattiva (Captain Rio), and stakes-placed Miles of Krishan (Snitzel), Menagerie missed in 2021 and 2022 and was covered by Capitalist last spring.
Bred by Blake Sandblom Pty Ltd, Tim Ungar, Double R Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd, Anthony Rix, Henry Field Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Holmes A Court is the 19th stakes-winner for Newgate Farm’s Capitalist and a first as a broodmare sire for Widden Stud’s flagship stallion Zoustar.
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