Longport earned another crack at Group One company later this month with a dazzling display on the final day at Flemington.

The Casino Prince mare returned to form for visiting Brisbane trainer Dan Bougoure in the last race of the Melbourne Cup carnival.  The mare was purchased by clients of the Bougoure stable for $800,000 out of the Patinack Farm dispersal sale at the Gold Coast in June.

The victory broke a run of near misses behind Norzita in Group One company with her last win the G2 Tea Rose Stakes at Randwick in September 2012.

Now that the mare is back in winning form, Bougoure will take her to Perth for the G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot on November 23.  “She ran a good race behind Fontelina here last Saturday even though she didn’t like the slippery conditions,” Bougoure said.  “She was down in class today and was suited by the extra furlong.”

“When she became available for sale it was hard to keep away from her,” Bougoure said. “We liked her tenacity. She was a Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter.

“She cost $800,000. We thought that was a good price for her but if she wins a Group 1 it will be cheap.

“In the end and we will look to breed with her later on.”

Longport (4m Casino Prince – Ocean Bridge by Dolphin Street) is a younger half-sister to 2009 AJC Breeders’ Plate winner Run For Wilson (Shamardal).  Their dam won three races in Melbourne and was also fourth home in the 2003 Oakleigh Plate won by River Dove.

Casino Prince (Flying Spur) stands for a $22,000 (inc gst) fee at Vinery alongside his champion son All Too Hard.

 

Vinery sire Mossman dominated the final day of the Flemington carnival with Buffering (G1 Sprint Classic) and Dothraki (LR Hilton Hotels Stakes).  He also sired city winners at Randwick (Absalon) and Riccarton (Shroud).

 

Vinery champion More Than Ready sired his 119th stakes winner with South African colt Diamond King on Friday night and he backed that up with city winners Better Than Ready (Eagle Farm), Dreamer (Riccarton), Get Pronto (Morphettville) and Celebrity Miss (Ascot) on Saturday.

 

More Than Ready is also the damsire of Atlante (Fastnet Rock) who won the New Zealand 2000 Guineas at Riccarton on Saturday.  It was his third Group 1 as a broodmare sire following Miracles of Life (Not a Single Doubt) and Rebel Dane (California Dane).  The trio are all by Danehill-line stallions.