An extremely confident ride saw Shamardal filly Faint Perfume come with a rattling late run to win the G1 Vinery Stud Stakes on the line at Rosehill on Saturday.
The Bart-Cummings-trained filly had been settled near to the rear of the 15-strong field in the early stages and was still ten lengths off the pace when the leader turned for home but the diminutive VRC Oaks winner responded gamely when asked to peg back runner-up Valdemoro, ensuring her nose was in front where it mattered most.
Out of the Zabeel mare Zona, Faint Perfume was bred by Wynyarra Stud and part-owner Dato Tam Nim Cham. Her grand-dam Danendri (Danehill) was successful for Cummings in the same race 13 years ago before going on to further G1 glory in the AJC Oaks, which is likely to be Faint Perfume’s next outing.
Shamardal, the leading firest-season sire in Europe in 2009, is experiencing a stellar southern hemisphere racing season, with Faint Perfume being one of 10 Stakes horses for the dual French Classic winner.
At the Easter meeting at Oakbank in South Australia, consistent four-year-old Exceed And Excel mare Very Discreet recorded her fourth Stakes win, scoring by a length in the Crompton Stakes. Never very far away, the Richard Jolly-trained mare was stepping back in class after finishing just over two-lengths from the winner at G1 level last start.
Across the Tasman, Dubawi two-year-old Cellarmaster proved he is one of the most consistent colts in training in New Zealand, with his gutsy second place in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes. Having either won or placed in eight of his nine starts, six at Stakes level, the Kevin Gray-trained colt has enjoyed a successful campaign which has stretched since November.
