Brisbane, July 27 – Handy gallopers Armstrong Jones and Morning Colours provided a winning double at Doomben on Saturday for horses sold as yearlings by Yarraman Park.
Now with Eagle Farm based trainer David Murphy, Armstrong Jones continued his recent good form when scoring a half neck win in the Class Six event over 1615 metres.
A $360,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Armstrong Jones has won five races and placed six times from 16 starts earning in excess of $123,000 in prizemoney.
Bred and offered for sale by Yarraman Park, Armstrong Jones was the most expensive yearling by Catbird sold in 2006 and is from the stakes-placed Zoffany (USA) mare Annalea, a full sister to Cantinela, the dam of smart Melbourne stakes-winner Cocinero.
Six year-old Marju (IRE) gelding Morning Colours produced a barnstorming finish to claim a half head victory in the open event over 1350 metres for the Bryan Guy stable, his eighth win from 31 starts.
A $130,000 for Keiran Moore Bloodstock from the Yarraman draft at the 2004 Magic Millions Yearling Sale, Morning Colours has returned just shy of $150,000 in prizemoney for his owners Ron and Judy Wanless and David Hayes.
Bred by Yarraman Park, Morning Colours is a half-brother to stakes-placed Magic Jet being from the good producer Military Call, whose yearling filly by Magic Albert fetched $85,000 at Magic Millions earlier this year.
The success of Armstrong Jones and Morning Colours followed on from a Melbourne double at Caulfield last weekend for At the Crease and Alkhafif, both horses foaled and raised at Yarraman Park for clients Michael Collins and Shadwell Stud.
A three year-old gelding by Catcher in the Rye (IRE) from Dynamite Lady, At the Crease made it three wins from eight starts when scoring an impressive length win over 1400 metres for astute conditioner Brian Mayfield-Smith.
Yet another juvenile winner for leading young sire Exceed and Excel, the David Hayes trainer first starter Alkhafif made a keen impression with a fast finishing win over 1000 metres and is the first foal of the Swain mare Alaloof (USA), a grand-daughter of Group One Cheveley Park Stakes winner Desirable from a full sister to dual Group One winner Shadayid.
