Bay Of Biscay’s emphatic win in the $2.1 million TAB Eureka at Menangle was another reminder of his rare talent.
The four-year-old entire, who has always carried an air of promise, secured victory in the world’s richest harness race on Saturday night for trainer Emma Stewart, driver Cam Hart and a large group of ecstatic owners.
“He’s always been a special horse. To see what he is doing it pretty phenomenal,” said Brett Coffey of Alabar Bloodstock, which bred Bay Of Biscay. “There’s just something different about him, he’s always stood out.”
The Bay Of Biscay story began when Alabar bought his New Zealand-bred dam Nike Franco and another mare, My Mackenzie, from North America through Auckland bloodstock agent John Curtin in 2019.
“Nike Franco had reached her mark in America and was put up for sale,” Coffey said.
She won 18 races in Australia including the Queen of the Pacific, Queensland Oaks and WA Westral Mares’ Classic, and a further 14 in America racing against the best mares in commission.
After being imported to Australia, Nike Franco produced Bay Of Biscay as her first foal via the frozen semen of the deceased champion sire Somebeachsomewhere.
The colt was subsequently knocked down for the equal top price of $150,000 at the 2022 Nutrien Equine Sydney Yearling Sale to a syndicate headed by Ballarat identity Tim Bunning and the late Tom ‘Tara’ Hogan.
The victor in three races as a two-year-old, Bay Of Biscay really came into his own at three, winning five races including the Nutrien Sales Classic, a heat of the NSW Derby and a season’s high $604,600 prizemoney.
As a four-year-old, he has proved himself the best of his age and gait, winning four of seven including the Eureka and $250,000 Chariots of Fire.
Since producing Bay Of Biscay in 2020, Nike Franco has left an Art Major three-year-old filly named Delle Donne, who was unraced and is now in foal to Pebble Beach, and a yearling filly by Ride High, who has been broken in and had one preparation.
Nike Franco has a positive test via embryo transfer to Pebble Beach.
Incidentally, My Mackenzie left the capable pacer Grayson Red as her first foal, while her Art Major yearling filly fetched the top price of $230,000 at this year’s Nutrien Melbourne auction.
The win of Bay Of Biscay in the Eureka was the cornerstone of a huge weekend for Alabar Bloodstock stallions.
On the same card, Cya Art (by Art Major) hoisted the equal second fastest mile ever in Australasia of 1:47.5 while winning the Group 1 $150,000 Len Smith Mile, while at Melton the close relatives Letsstartinheaven (by Rock N Roll Heaven) and Golden Shooz (Captain Crunch) annexed the Tatlow Stakes and Argent Classic respectively.
One night earlier, Lazi Dais (Rock N Roll Heaven) and Its Maa Time (Captain Crunch) won their divisions of the Group 2 $100,000 Westbred Classic for three-year-olds at Gloucester Park, and Alta Meteor (Art Major) and Oscar Bonavena (Majestic Son) annexed Group 3 features at Addington Raceway, Christchurch.
Benstud Standardbreds took the breeding honours at Melton on Saturday night with a double via the Tatlow winner Letsstartinheaven and exciting three-year-old Viney.
Stawell breeder-owner Ken Salmon has brought out a smart three-year-old filly in Surfe La Mer, who won her fifth race at Melton on Friday. Her close relation Surfingmakescents finished second the following night.
Well-known Victorian couple Greg and Sharyn Munnerley-Jose tasted success as the breeders of the winner of the Westbred 3YO Fillies Classic at Gloucester Park in Its Maa Time.
The opinions expressed in The Forum are those of the author and may not be attributed to or represent policies of Harness Racing Victoria, which is the state authority and owner of thetrots.com.au.
