As the sire of seven individual G1 performers from his first crop of three-year-olds to race in the northern hemisphere, anticipation is high for the first-crop of Bernardini two-year-olds to hit the track in the coming months in Australia.
With two impressive and well-bred winners overnight in the USA, Bernardini’s tally of winners sits at 32. The first winner of the day came from the Marcus J. Vitali-trained Soul Silence. A half-brother to the G1-winning filly Splendid Blended and the G3 winner Richly Blended, this gelding was having his fifth trip to the races and recorded an impressive four-and-three-quarter length win over the 1500m of the turf track at Sufolk Downs.
Later that afternoon, this time at Belmont Park, the H. Allen Jerkens-trained Bold Warrior was also impressive, scoring by three-and-a-quarter lengths over 1400m. Out of the Champion three-year-old filly Hollywood Wildcat, this colt is a half-brother to G1 winner War Chant, G2 winner Ivan Denisovich and the Listed winners Ministers Wild Cat and Double Cat. Having his third start, the Irving Cowan-bred and owned colt has recorded two wins and a second placing.
With his first southern hemisphere-bred crop of yearlings having gone through the sale rings earlier this year and averaging $116,000, a lot will be expected as they turn two come August 1 this year. Currently 15 of his first-crop have been named, with the Gai Waterhouse-trained Belladini being one of his most expensive sold. Out of the Royal Academy mare Dora Maar, this filly is a half-brother to Exceed And Excel Stakes winner Mrs Kipling and comes from the famed Twiglet family of G1 winners Fairy King Prawn and Easy Rocking.
Purchased for $440,000 from the draft of Willow Park Stud at the Easter yearling sales, this filly was the second most expensive yearling sold by Bernardini behind the colt out of a full-sister to triple G1 winner Shamekha that was knocked down to Bart Cummings for $450,000.
The sire of G1 winners A Z Warrior and Biondetti, Bernardini will stand the forthcoming season at Darley Kelvinside for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).
