Seymour Bloodstock's Spanish Whisper has the race performance and pedigree to grace any broodmare paddock in the land but that has been put on hold as she strives for that elusive Group 1 victory.
The 4yo daughter of the excellent Lope de Vega (IRE) added Saturday's Group II Let's Elope Stakes at Flemington to previous Group II wins in the VRC Kewney Stakes and MataRC Breeders Stakes.
Settled just off the pace by Mark Zahra, Spanish Whisper struck the front inside the 200 metres to defeat Miss Siska (So You Think) by a half-length with Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) finishing strongly along the rail to finish a nose back in third. (images Grant Courtney)
Spanish Whisper advances her record to 4 wins, 4 seconds and 1 from 14 starts with earnings of $423,502.
"She was placed beautifully by Mark Zahra in a good rhythm and she gave a good strong kick," Spanish Whisper's co-trainer Tom Dabernig said.
"Full credit to Mark Pilkington and Darren Thomas who is here today. "She was purchased in New Zealand and is really doing the job and she is definitely more mature this prep and more settled and hopefully she will go on into the spring and have a good campaign."
The Group 1
Toorak Handicap and Empire Rose Stakes are long term goals but the Group II
Blazer Stakes is likely to be her next start.
Spanish Whisper crossed the Tasman to the Lindsay Park stable off the back of a third-place finish in the Group 1 Sistema Stakes at Ellerslie.
Bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington acquired a controlling interest in Spanish Whisper for client, Darren Thomas' Seymour Bloodstock following negotiations with her breeder and part-owner, Daniel Nakhle who retained an interest along with his father Elias and Darren Brady who were all involved in the breeding of the 4yo mare.
She is the best of three winners from as many to race out of the unraced Encosta de Lago mare Cutting Remark who is a sister to Glowlamp who never earned a stakes win despite placing nine times at stakes level including the Group 1 AJC Champagne Stakes and Group 1 One Thousand Guineas.
A half-sister to the Group III Hobart Cup winner Offenbach (Danehill), Cutting Remark hails from the family of the champion Rock Of Gibraltar.
Purchased by New Zealand Bloodstock for $22,000 from the 2014 Patinack Farm dispersal, Cutting Remark has a yearling filly foal by Super Easy and was covered by Savabeel last spring.
