Promising sprinter Dux Bellorum will be given every chance to boost his value as a stallion following his all-the-way win at Doomben.
Dux Bellorum, ridden by Larry Cassidy, easily accounted for his rivals in Wednesday’s www.brc.com.au Handicap (1200m), scoring by 1-3/4 lengths over Retrospect.
Dux Bellorum is part-owned by Lyndhurst Stud at Warwick but did his initial racing in Sydney under Denise McGrath before being transferred to Rob Heathcote in May.
“Lyndhurst Stud is one of his owners and they sent him to me hoping to win some black type with him,” Heathcote said.
“He’s closely related to Smart Missile hence the reason why he’s still an entire.”
Dux Bellorum’s dam My Moccasin is a half-sister to Comical Smile who is the mother of Smart Missile, winner of the Group Two Todman Stakes at Rosehill in March and the Group Three Run To The Rose at Rosehill in August.
Smart Missile was also runner-up to Manawanui in the Group One Golden Rose at Rosehill in September before failing at the elite level in the Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes and Caulfield Guineas in Melbourne.
Heathcote has no immediate plans with Dux Bellorum who won on debut for the stable at Doomben in September before finishing third to Havatryst at Eagle Farm on October 22.
“Havatryst’s form is pretty good so I was fairly confident with him today,” Heathcote said.
“He’s a nice horse who I feel will get better once he gets up to 1400 and 1600 metres.”
Heathcote is hoping to break through for his first Group One win with Woorim in the Emirates Stakes (1600m) at Flemington on Saturday.
He also will saddle up Buffering in the Group One Patinack Farm Stakes (1200m) on the same day.
“I think Woorim is a good chance following his Group Three win last start but we’re only going around for second prizemoney with Buffering who is up against Black Caviar,” he said.
Jockey Damian Browne, who turned down the rides on Woorim and Buffering, was suspended for eight meetings for causing interference at the 700 metres on his mount General Shareef in Dux Bellorum’s race.
Stewards alleged Browne shifted in when insufficiently clear causing Tony Patillo’s mount Fusette to check.
Browne’s suspension starts after his Doomben commitments on Saturday and will conclude on November 18.
Meanwhile, trainer Bryan Guy predicted a staying future for Manzano following his six-length romp over Zigurat in Wednesday’s Sky Racing Three-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1650m).
The son of Red Dazzler is owned by Singaporean Patrick Wee, a brother-in-law of Red Dazzler’s owner Melvin Foo.
“He’s been knocking on the door to win for some time and I think he’ll make a good stayer later on,” Guy said.
AAP TURF
