Weekend double for Ballymore

It was a good weekend for Ballymore on both sides of the Tasman - Calypso showing great heart when leading throughout at Te Rapa whilst our Victorian base produced two winners - Baqaat saluting at Kyneton on Saturday and Little Hero (pictured) at Sale on Sunday.

And we went close to Sunday being an even bigger day with Macpherson and Lordoftheparrots both finishing runner-up at the Terang meeting - the latter running gamely in the Terang Cup.

Having her fourth run in Australia, imported mare Baqaat appreciated a step up in distance on Saturday - outstaying her rivals in an 1850m ratings contest.

Travelling well outside the leader for apprentice Jordan Childs, the lightly raced five-year-old settled in for a battle with two others from the top of the straight - she and the well related Runaway Princess (a granddaughter of the champion Let's Elope) drawing clear over the final 100m.

Getting the upper-hand over the final stages, Baqaat was just too strong recording the second win of her 13 start career - her first coming over 1700m at Epsom in April 2011.

At 26,000 guineas a good purchase by Paul Moroney at the 2011 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, Baqaat is by the Group One Dewhurst Stakes winner Alhaarth - also sire of tough stayer Mourayan.

Bred by Shadwell Stud, she is a half sister ot the Listed winner Nasij from a prolific international family whose members include the multiple Group One winner Chief's Crown.

Congratulations to Baqaat's owners Ballymore Stables, Gerard Van Ameyden, Geoffrey Sharp, Paul Woods, Samantha Nuttall, David Cunningham and the Trojan Tiger Syndicate (Manager Mrs B Emons).

Also well bred is our Sunday winner Little Hero - son of sire of the moment Fastnet Rock.

Having only his fourth run - and his first since September, the promising three-year-old found the line well to break his maiden over 1200m, proving 1 3/4 lengths too strong for his 12 rivals.

Showing good natural pace to make the running, the bay was clearly headed early in the straight - not only fighting back, but drawing clear over the final 100m.

Raced by the Slade Perfect Day Syndicate, John Murray, Gail Farr, Brian Coopersmith, Bradley Harrington, Roderick Campbell, B Doherty, Craig Cowley, Winning Ways 3 Syndicate and Three Men & A Filly Syndicate, Little Hero was bred in New Zealand and spent time at our stables there before heading to Melbourne.

A son of the Sydney winning Fusaichi Pegasus mare One Perfect Day, Little Hero is a grandson of the Group One mare Cannsea whose dam is the three times Group winner Beachside.