Family celebrations through the generations

There is a notable update in the Swettenham Stud draft, when the Master of Design filly, Bennelong Dancer won convincingly at Wagga yesterday.

Bennelong Dancer is from the stakes winning mare Prancelot who is the grand dam of Lot 89, a chestnut colt by Street Boss, the group one winning son of Street Cry from the Choisir mare, My Choisir.

Pracelot won the SAJC Walter Brown stakes and is from the immediate family of multiple stakes winning Hong Kong galloper Aashiq and the Group 2 placed Finderskeepers.

A well-grown, very attractive colt, Lot 89 is getting plenty of attention during the inspections, being well liked by astute buyers.

Speaking on behalf of the breeder Kym Burke, Arthur Dabernig commented that they have been working for three generations to breed out of this family. “It’s important to go back to this colts great-great-great dam Salvata, who was brought out to Australia by the late Colin Hayes and Robert Sangster, as her female tapline goes back to Without Fear.”

“Lot 89 was purposely bred as the Street Boss cross blends beautifully, and there are numerous matings in his family that show how well the Danehill Dancer cross works.” Dabernig said.

Pracelot’s full sister Topswan was by Jeune out of Comical Dancer by Danehill Dancer. Topswan produced Kissy Lips who was covered by Street Boss, producing Archie Luxury. Topswan herself has also been bred to Street Boss in the 2015 season, and has a weanling filly foal. “We have some females coming through which will continue this family line and I’m looking forward to seeing the resultant progeny” commented Dabernig.

Bennelong Dancer now gives Pracelot three winners from her three named foals.

Trained in Albury by Graham Hulm, she saluted in the “Book your wedding at the MTC” F&M maiden plate over 1300m, ridden by apprentice Blaike McDougall.

Bennelong dancer was purchased out of the Swettenham Stud draft at the 2015 Inglis Premier sale for $30,000 by Graham’s daughter Leanne’s partner and good judge Rhys Holleran.

Graham runs a family operation with Rhys, and his daughters Donna and Leanne and as they were also the owners, the win today was cause for a family celebration.

With only two starts, she was unlucky at her debut over 1000m when she drew wide and was slow from the gates. However once she got into a nice tempo, she flew home, making up 10 lengths and only just missing the chocolates.

Speaking to Donna, they were quietly confident going into today. “We put her over a bit more ground to help her get her action right, and after jumping well, she was able to break clear in the straight and was strong home. I think giving her more distance to get into her rhythm suits her.”

“Blaike has ridden her in trails and has a high opinion of her. She really uses herself when galloping, and gives Blaike a beautiful feeling. Although she is racing quite greenly, and has a bit of a wobble when asked to quicken it shows that she still has a lot of improvement to come.” Donna said.

“She is a lovely horse to have in the stables, very mature and well behaved at the races – she can only get better. We knew she had plenty of scope, so we sent her to Flemington for her education; we always though something of her,” Donna said.

Swettenham Stud will look forward to seeing where she heads to next, and will be watching with great interest.