REYKJAVIK TURNAROUND AT BELMONT

Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Reykjavik staged a welcome return to winning form for Balmoral Stud owner Neil Irvine at Belmont last week.

Responding to a well-timed ride by Jordie Turner, he edged out King Of Judah in a tight finish to the David Grays Aglink Hcp (1300m).  The narrow victory followed a run outs stretching back to March 2017.

There was more than one black-type placing in that time including a third to Money Maher and Achernar Star in the LR Fairetha Stakes at the last summer carnival.  The Lindsey Smith-trained 3yo was also placed twice at Ascot last month.

Reykjavik (Artie Schiller) impressed Turner who is back in Perth after a stint in Melbourne.  “There was plenty of speed early and that suited him,” Turner explained.  “Lindsey said he would put me on went I got back home and this horse gave me a great ride.”

His yearling half-sister by Written Tycoon was a $150,000 buy for Irvine at the Gold Coast Magic Millions in January.  Their dam Gibraltar Storm is by Coolmore Stud champion Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill) who won 8 Group 1 events in Europe and, at last count, has sired 123 stakes winners.

Irvine has a rising Rock Of Gibraltar connection with brilliant sprinter Proart at Balmoral Stud in Bedfordale.  Last-start Malaysian winner Suntzu kept the tacho ticking over in June and his Perth 2yo filly Classic Pro is due to deliver in July.

Suntzu led home a Sunspeed quinella from Sparkler (Bletchley Park) in the Loonshiang Hcp (1200m) at Perak.  It was his third win for former WA trainer Frankie Maynard and the Lucky Sixty Six Stable.  His dam Three Mates (Naturalism) is a half-sister to G2 Perth Cup winner Black Tom.

Classic Pro put the writing on the wall with a first-up fourth to Fire And Rain at Belmont for owner-trainer Mike Santich.  And on the strength of a ripper run in the RL Magic Millions Classic earlier this year, she can figure in the finish of the Kirin Megumi Plate (1000m) at Belmont this Saturday.

Balmoral Park stud manager Brian Collison can be contacted for more information and bookings to Proart on 0411 055 164.

Karl Patterson

Thoroughbred Express