Group Three Win and Hat-Trick for Bantry Bay

6th May 2007

Improving filly Bantry Bay (2f Tale of the Cat – Eastern Awe, by Persian Heights) scored her first Black Type success at Morphettville on Sunday when she got a protest verdict over Down Under Boy to claim victory in the Group Three SAJC Sires’ Produce Stakes over 1600 metres.

Bantry Bay traveled sweetly throughout in second place before moving to the lead at the top of the straight where she settled down to fight it out with Down Under Boy.

He finished a half head in front of her but lost the race when stewards found he had caused interference to Bantry Bay over the last 200 metres, and given that she had beaten him at their two previous starts the decision to uphold seemed more than justified.

Prepared by Barry Barnes, Bantry Bay has now won three of six starts earning $209,000 in prizemoney.

Bred and retained to race by Fernhaven Lodge, Bantry Bay is the seventh foal of the Persian Heights mare Eastern Awe, a minor winner from the family of Group winners Embassadora, Western Chorus and Jeune King Prawn.

Bantry Bay is one of six individual Australian juvenile winners this season for Tale of the Cat, joining stakes-placed Tower Cat, De Jetcat, Puss ‘n’ Boots, Maltese and stakes-placed Purrealist, who nearly made it a stakes double for his sire when he finished second in the Group Three SAJC The Jansz.

Tale of the Cat will return to Coolmore Australia this spring at a fee of $33,000.