The racing spotlight returns to Melbourne on Saturday with four stakes races.
The Listed VRC Taj Rossi Series Final gives the two-year-old’s a chance to stretch out to 1600 metres for the first time.
Last year’s race was won the high-class Royal Symphony who lumped 59kgs but still trotted up by over four lengths to keep his record at a perfect three for three.
Lindsay Park’s Sebring colt, Good 'n' Fast, will carry the same weight this year following his impressive last start win at Flemington.
Sebring has a second runner in the Mick Kent-trained filly Amanikan.
A former Best On Breeding recipient, Amanikan finished midfield on a heavy track at Geelong at her only start and we sure are not sacking her on that but she shapes like she needs a bit more time.
We have settled on OTI Racing’s filly Gregorian Chant who will vie to become the first stakes-winner for her young trainer Mitch Freedman and the first Australian stakes-winner for SA Derby runner-up Echoes Of Heaven (pictured ).
At her career debut back on June 2, Gregorian Chant endured a torrid when clocking in fourth behind the impressive Sepoy filly Anjana over 1200 metres at Moonee Valley.
Sent out an odds-on favourite to break her maiden over 1400 metres at Bendigo a fortnight later, Gregorian Chant did not look overly happy on the heavy track but got the job done to win by a length.
Bred by Donna Logan, Gregorian Chant is the fourth foal and second winner out of the Viking Ruler mare Norse Dancer who Logan had purchased as a weanling for $15,000.
She was no doubt influenced by the fact that Norse Dancer’s dam Strawberry Affair (Star Way) is a half-sister to Focal Point (Kashani) who Logan trainer to win the Group II Waikato RC Lady Norrie Stakes (1600m) and third in the Group 1 Zabeel Classic.
Donna Logan had purchased Focal Point for just $5,500 at the 2002 NZ Festival Yearling Sale.
Focal Point is a grand-daughter of the Trelawney Stud import Lattice (USA) who is a half-sister to Hopespringseternal the dam of the increasingly influential stallion Miswaki and Northern Eternity and the granddam of Group 1 winners Eternity Star and Lacovia who is the dam of the Dewhurst Stakes and Prix de la Salamandre winner Tobougg.
Gregorian Chant’s sire Echoes Of Heaven (Encosta de Lago) is a brother to Manhattan Rain and a half-brother to breed-shaper Redoute’s Choice.
He has averaged only about 25 live foals in his first five seasons at stud in New Zealand, however, he covered a career-high 72 mares last spring.
His best performer to date has been the champion Singapore 3yo Countofmontecristo.
