News

Encosta Filly Headed for Thousand Guineas

23rd Aug 2011

*Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Saturday, 20 August 2011

Beautifully bred Encosta de Lago filly Kneeling claimed the scalp of proven stakes performer Hallowell Belle to win the Listed MVRC Crockett Stakes at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Having just her second race start and resuming from a spell of 12 weeks, the stylish brown filly stamped herself as a potential spring star when she stalked the pace and then finished off too well for the hot favourite Hallowell Belle to win the 1200 metre contest by a head.

The John Thompson trained and Patinack Farm owned filly is entered for the Group I MRC Thousand Guineas to be run on October 12 and winning rider Michael Rodd is optimistic she will measure up.

Rodd partnered the filly in a track gallop at Moonee Valley earlier this week and is now an unabashed fan.

"I was excited to be riding her today after her gallop on Tuesday and Glen Thompson (stable foreman) has always had a big opinion of her,” said Rodd.

"To see her run down a horse of the quality of Hallowell Belle just goes to show that she has a big future.”

Kneeling (pictured as a yearling) was a $340,000 purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the third foal and first stakes-winner for stakes-placed Sunday Silence mare Sunday Service, who has a yearling colt by Golden Slipper winner Sebring and is due to foal to Kitchwin Hills young sire Duporth this spring.

A blue-blood who won up to 2000 metres, Sunday Service traces in tail female line to Natalma, the dam of Northern Dancer and great grand-dam of Danehill.

Her particular branch of the family through You’re My Lady also features Caulfield Cup winner Diatribe, so a mile should hold no fears for Kneeling.

Foaled and raised at Kitchwin Hills, Kneeling is the 84thstakes-winner for champion sire Encosta de Lago, who stands this spring at Coolmore at a fee of $110,000.

Kneeling (3f Encosta De Lago x Sunday Service (Sunday Silence (USA))
Lot 192 - 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - $340,000
Vendor: Kitchwin Hills, Scone
Buyer: Patinack Farm Pty Ltd