Looking every inch a thorough professional, the Helen Page-trained Double Heart had to dig deep to hold off a fast finishing Fast Lover in Saturday’s Listed JF Meynink Stakes (1000m) at Eagle Farm, to claim the honour of becoming the first southern hemisphere stakes-winner for Coolmore Stud shuttler Lion Heart (USA).

Given the run of the race by Jason Taylor, Double Heart (Lion Heart (USA) x Sad Eyed Lady (Eagle Eyed (USA)) found plenty under his 1.5kg penalty to defeat Fast Lover (Iglesia x Alessandra Demarco (IRE) (Danehill (USA)) by a half-neck with Phelan Ready (More Than Ready (USA) x Nancy Eleanor (Blevic) making a pleasing debut ¾-length back in third.

It was the second win in three starts for the son of Lion Heart, taking his earnings to $98,000 and earning him a trip to the Gold Coast in January for the $2 million Magic Millions 2yo Classic.  

Consigned by Kulani Park to the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale after being weaned and raised on their new farm, Double Heart failed to make his $120,000 reserve.

He is the fourth foal of Sad Eyed Lady, a daughter of Danehill’s disappointing brother Eagle Eyed (USA). Sad Eyed Lady made two starts in W.A. finishing 8 of 11 and 7 of 8 before the decision was made her future lay in the broodmare paddocks.

Sad Eyed Lady is the first foal of the WA Sires’ Produce Stakes (G3) winner Marooned Lady, who became a prized broodmare. She is the dam of Special Harmony (Spinning World (USA)), the best of her age and sex in 2003-2004, notching 9 stakes wins including the VRC Oaks (G1), STC Arrowfield Stud Stakes (G1) and MRC Thousand Guineas (G1). She is also the dam of WA Magic Millions 2yo Classic winner Gambei (Dehere (USA), Perth Cup (G2) winner King Canute (King Of Kings) and 2004 Karrakatta Plate (G2) winner Redwoldt (King Of Kings).

Sad Eyed Lady has a yearling three-quarter brother to Special Harmony by Spinning World (USA) and was bred back to the son of Nureyev last year.

A multiple Group 1 winning son of the high-flying Tale Of The Cat (USA), Lion Heart (pictured) will be represented by five yearlings at the Magic Millions Yearling Sale (Sessions One to Five) at the Gold Coast in January.