News

Royal Academy's Molto Bene Earns Second Stakes

7th Oct 2013

Breednet - Mark Smith - Sunday, 6 October 2013

One of the more spectacular performances on a champagne day of racing at Flemington on Saturday came when the Royal Academy (USA) mare Molto Bene stormed home from last to claim the Listed Headquarters Tavern Stakes (1410m).

Still at the tail of the field 400 metres from home, Molto Bene charged to the line under Dominic Tourneur to overpower pace setter British General by a length.

Winner of the Group 3 SAJC Sires Produce Stakes when trained by Will Clarken, Molto Bene remains unbeaten in two starts for Morphettville trainer Phillip Stokes.

"Her sectionals were great and she’s really come on from her first-up run at home,” Stokes said.

"She was the favourite for the Thousand Guineas this time last year so she has got the ability.

"I’ve just had her from the start of the campaign after she ran in the Oaks in Adelaide last season so it has been a good result. She’s an easy horse to train.

"She’s in for a good prep and we’ll probably go to a mile now and place her right.”

Bred by John and Fran Ovenstone, Molto Bene was a $40,000 purchase for her owner Brenton Scott from the Little Wych draft at the 2011 Inglis Sydney Classic Yearling Sale.

She is a half-sister to Group 3 Tasmanian Derby and Group 3 JRA Cup winner Mourinho out of the Generous mare Benevolent (NZ) who has a yearling filly by Congrats and was bred back to Magic Albert last season.

Molto Bene comes from the penultimate crop of Royal Academy (USA) who died in February last year.