TDN RISING STARS

February 20, 2016 - FLEMINGTON, Race 2, Lst Stk, AUD $120,000, 1100m, .0000

Weatherly (Aus), c, 3, 2013 by Beneteau (Aus)

1st Dam: Luna Bella (Nz), by Stravinsky
2nd Dam: Procure (Nz), by
3rd Dam: Getting There (Aus), by

Owner: Sumaya Stables
Breeder: International Equities Holdings Inc. (Aus)
Trainer: Paul Messara

Weatherly put himself in the frame for some of Australia’s most important juvenile contests with a maiden-breaking win in Flemington’s Listed Talindert S. Saturday. Off a beat slow–as he was when sixth on debut in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview Jan. 26–Weatherly settled last of a small stands’ side group of three up the Flemington straight. Shaken up by jockey Craig Williams at halfway, the bay strode to the lead under a handride and won by an eased-down 1 1/2 lengths over Conscious (Aus) (So You Think {NZ}). Weatherly is the lone horse currently campaigned in Australia by Chilean Oussama Aboughazale of Sumaya Stables, who was also a part-owner in the colt’s late sire Beneteau. Weatherly was shortened to as low as 9-1 in some markets for next weekend’s G1 Blue Diamond S., but would have to be supplemented to that contest, and may target the Mar. 19 G1 Golden Slipper instead.

“We’ll have to see, I’ll have to talk to the owner about that and he’ll make that decision,� trainer Paul Messara told Racing.com. “I know the owner generally doesn’t like backing up horses; that’s his general policy. From that aspect I’d say Sydney [is most likely].�

“He showed a lot of class today–pure speed this horse,� Messara added. “He’s pretty much untapped at the moment so it’s pretty exciting going forward.�

Messara also trained Beneteau to finish third in the 2010 Blue Diamond. Beneteau died last January at Arrowfield Stud, leaving just two crops, and was the country’s leading first-season sire last year.

Williams said after the race, “he’s pretty exciting. He’s just got that x-factor, he could be special. He’s a beautiful-looking horse, he’s got a great temperament and most importantly he’s got great ability, so he’s exciting going forward. We’ve got decisions to make. No doubt that Paul, John and the owners over in Chile will make the right decision for him.

Weatherly’s unraced dam, Luna Bella, is a full-sister to Hips Don’t Lie (NZ), the dam of last year’s Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper third Lake Geneva (Aus) (Fastnet Rock {Aus}). Luna Bella produced a filly by Beneteau’s sire Redoute’s Choice (Aus) last year.