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A stakes win for talented five year-old Happy Trails has been a long time overdue, but arrived at Morphettville on Saturday when the son of Good Journey (USA) charged home late to snatch a last stride win in the Group III SAJC Spring Stakes.
The Paul Beshara trained gelding was tuned up with a recent barrier trial win and produced a sizzling sprint over the last furlong to beat Gossip Girl in a close finish with Caulfield Cup winner and fellow Mill Park graduate Southern Speed steaming home for third in an encouraging return.
Happy Trails was last seen finishing sixth in the Group I ATC Doncaster Handicap beaten just a length and a half behind champion mare More Joyous, so connections will no doubt be targeting the big spring mile events in Melbourne over the coming months.
An $11,000 purchase for his trainer Paul Beshara from the Mill Park draft at the 2009 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Adelaide, Happy Trails (pictured as a yearling) has the overall record of three wins and 10 placings from 24 starts with prizemoney of $367,250.
The fourth stakes-winner for Cornerstone Stud based sire Good Journey (USA), Happy Trails was raised at Mill Park for his breeders Brenton and Liz Parker and is the second foal of the Perugino (USA) mare Madame Flurry, a half-sister to stakes-winner Lake Villa and to the dam of Group III winner Royal Sash.
Mill Park sold a Henny Hughes (USA) yearling colt from Madame Flurry for $70,000 to Prime Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Adelaide Sale earlier this year and she has a yearling filly by Dane Shadow to come.
Group 3 - 1200m Class: Open. Track: Dead. Time: 1:11.90. Sectional Time: 0:36.04 at 612m. Prizemoney: $115,000 - 1st: $73,000 2nd: $19,350 3rd: $10,000. |
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| 1 | 3. Happy Trails | Paul Beshara | J Holder (10) |
$4.20
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58.5 |
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5g Good Journey (USA)
x Madame Flurry
(Perugino (USA)
) Lot 201; 2009 MM Adelaide Yearling Sale; Vendor - Mill Park Stud; Buyer - PAUL BESHARA
$11,000 |
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| 2 | HD | 10. Gossip Girl | J W Mason | D Moor (7) |
$10
|
56.5 |
|
 6m Testa Rossa
x Secret Scoop
(Rory's Jester
)Lot 163; 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale; Vendor - BALLARTO LODGE, Pakenham South; Buyer - Passed $33,000 Reserve $50,000 |
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| 3 | 0.8 | 9. Southern Speed | L Macdonald & A Gluyas | Ms C Lindop (2) |
$3
|
56.5 |
|
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5m Southern Image (USA)
x Golden Eagle (NZ)
(Zabeel (NZ)
) Not Offered |
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| 4 | 1.7 | 5. Justify That | G P Moody | Ms L Hopwood (3) |
$17
|
58.5 |
|
| 5g King Of Prussia x Duty With Honour (West Point ) | |||||||
| 5 | 1.9 | 4. The Eighth Maker | Lloyd Kennewell | P Gatt (5) |
$6
|
58.5 |
|
| 7g Clangalang x Floral Emblem (Bluebird (USA) ) | |||||||
| 6 | 2.7 | 2. Diplomatic Force | E W Nichols | C A Robertson (9) |
$9
|
58.5 |
|
| 8g Oamaru Force x Talk It Over (Umatilla (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 7 | 3.6 | 1. Alcopop | Jake Stephens | D Tourneur (8) |
$17
|
58.5 |
|
| 8g Jeune (GB) x Iota Of Luck (Blevic ) | |||||||
| 8 | 4.1 | 11. Light Express | M S Hibbs | D Gauci (1) |
$10
|
56.5 |
|
| 5m Fastnet Rock x Lady's Light (USA) (Toolighttoquit (USA) ) | |||||||
| 9 | 5.3 | 6. Candle | Tony McEvoy | M Neilson (4) |
$31
|
58.5 |
|
| 6g Fantastic Light (USA) x Foam Follower (Bellwater (FR) ) | |||||||
| 10 | 7.8 | 7. Bertucci | Lloyd Kennewell | C Lever (6) |
$51
|
58.5 |
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| 5g More Than Ready (USA) x Lazulia (NZ) (Zabeel (NZ) ) | |||||||
| 11 | 11.8 | 8. Drifting Spirit | Darren Egan | Ms M Tyndall (11) |
$301
|
58.5 |
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| 7g Bel Esprit x Get Around (Xaar (GB) ) | |||||||
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