First Stakes Winner for Lucas Cranach

Mark Smith - Saturday March 13

By the time Flash Aah came to the stable of Mitchell Fry he had double the number of trainers than he had starts.

The son of the ill-fated Lucas Cranach (GER) honoured his sire with his first stakes-winner on Saturday when ploughing through the mud in the Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy at the Gold Coast.

Ridden by Madeleine Wishart, the 30/1 outsider of the field was the last horse standing over a brutal final 100 metres. The 5yo gelding defeated the Kris Lees-trained Top Prospect (Swiss Ass) by three-quarters of a length with the Tony Gollan-trained favourite Socialising (Bel Esprit) one and a quarter lengths back in third.

It would have been a bitter-sweet result for Australian Bloodstock who owned the runner-up Top Prospect. One of the much-loved horses to carry the Australian Bloodstock silks was the Melbourne Cup placegetter Lucas Cranach (GER).

The German-bred son of Mamool bowed out of racing after winning the Group II Peter Young Stakes at Caulfield. He stood at Bullarook Stud before transferring to Leneva Park where he met his untimely death in September last year.

Advertisement

Mitchell Fry was the fourth trainer of Flash Aah despite coming to the stable off just two starts.

The 5yo gelding has a decent strike rate with five wins from his ten starts with earnings of $141,650.

Bred by Clear Mountain Fairview, Flash Aah is the first foal of the Brisbane winning Hotel Grand mare Never Despair whose dam Sweet Venture (Quest For Fame) I a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 AJC Flight Stakes heroine Unworldly.

Never Despair has a 2yo colt by Worthy Cause, a yearling colt by Tycoon Ruler, a weanling colt by Worthy Cause and was covered last spring by Love Conquers All.

Advertisment

Race Result - Australian Turf Club Trophy LR 1400m

Gold Coast Track: Heavy(9) Time: 1:28.05
1
Flash Aah
- 5g Lucas Cranach (GER) x Never Despair (AUS) (Hotel Grand (AUS))
Tnr: M J Fry Rdr: Madeleine Wishart 54
2
0.8
Top Prospect
- 7g Swiss Ace (AUS) x Princess Carolina (AUS) (More Than Ready (USA))
Tnr: K A Lees Rdr: A Mallyon 55.5
NZB Karaka Book 1 $150,000
Seller: Westbury Stud
Buyer: John Foote Bloodstock
3
2.1
Socialising
- 5m Bel Esprit (AUS) x Costa Mesa (AUS) (Encosta De Lago (AUS))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: J Byrne 54
Bel Esprit
4
3.1
The Candy Man
- 7g Casino Prince (AUS) x Melody (NZ) (Stravinsky (USA))
Tnr: B S Baldwin Rdr: M Cahill 60.5
5
3.3
Victory Eight
- 7g Nadeem (AUS) x Queen's Colours (GB) (Rainbow Quest (USA))
Tnr: T N Miller Rdr: Ms S Thornton 54
6
3.6
Macewen
- 5g Rothesay (AUS) x Gogoreilly (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: T J Gollan Rdr: M R Du Plessis 54
7
3.9
Junction
- 6g Real Saga (AUS) x Ends Meet (NZ) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: M A Currie Rdr: B El-Issa 54
8
7.7
Take Tea
- 4m Testa Rossa (AUS) x Tramontana Lass (AUS) (Xaar (GB))
Tnr: L D Kelly Rdr: R Fradd 54
More Reading...
Saving Baby Ryan
An orphaned foal bred in Victoria faced an uphill battle when he arrived at Larneuk Stud in the spring of 2021 and four years on he is now a winner!
Headline Acts at a Bigger 2026 Inglis Easter
Countless headline acts are scheduled to take their place at next year’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, for which the catalogue is nearing its final stages of completion.
Breeding To Win - 2025 G1 WATC Northerly Stakes
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - so who can win? 
One To Watch - Randwick-Kensignton
Primed to make his debut off the back of six barrier trials, the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott trained Flying Artie colt Lancelot Du Lac impressed onlookers at his first race start, with the half-brother to Group 1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot pulling clear to score by just shy of two and a half lengths.
Chaldean Foals Popular at Tattersalls December
The first Northern Hemisphere bred foals by Cambridge Stud shuttler Chaldean (GB) were in keen demand at the Tattersalls December Foal Sale with a cracking filly leading the way when she changed hands for 240,000gns.
D’Argento Filly Wins $100,000 Inglis Xtra Bonus
Stakes-placed at two and fourth in the Group II ATC Percy Sykes Stakes to Tempted, it seems amazing that D’Argento filly Sequista was not a winner until Thursday, but she picked a good day to break the ice claiming a $100,000 Inglis Xtra bonus for her Gosford victory.
Second Time Lucky As Flash Ahh Wins Ipswich Cup
Having finished third in the Listed Ipswich Cup (2150m) back in 2021, rising 10yo Lucas Cranach (GER) gelding Flash Aah was back for another attempt on Saturday, winning the staying feature as part of the Troy Pascoe yard.
Shares in Group One Stars Highlight MM Digital Sale
Shares in three Group winning stars with major Summer and Autumn Carnival targets headline the catalogue for the latest Magic Millions Digital Sale which is now open for bidding.
From Kingston Town to Northerly - A Race Named for Champions
With the end of 2025 fast approaching it’s time to turn our attention to the final G1 race of the Australian racing year, and the last of the “big three” at the Ascot Pinnacles carnival - It is of course, the $1.5 million Northerly Stakes run over 1800m at WFA, and this year marks its 50th running.
Sires With Winners - Thursday December 4
Here is the full list of 34 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.