The stud dogs of Warrnambool – Mepunga Blazer, Mepunga Cruzer and Lightning Frank – will have straws donated to the winners of the Warrnambool Oaks and Derby which will be run on 21st and 28th of January.
The winning connections of the Warrnambool Derby will take home the $7,500 first prize and a Lightning Frank straw.
Lightning Frank, a winner of 22 races from 47 starts, is a son of Black Magic Opal and Kirabilli Abbie.
Trained by Matthew Wright, Lightning Frank claimed the Group 1 Temlee and the Group 1 Silver Chief, both at The Meadows.
Lightning Frank currently stands at stud for $1,100. But the winning connections of the Warrnambool Derby will receive one free.
“The Club has been good to us, so we are really happy to be able to give back,” Wright said.
“There are limited numbers on the ground but from all reports and from the pups I have had they are easy to break in and have really good natures.”
The Warrnambool Oaks winner, which will take home $7,500, will also be the lucky recipient of a Mepunga Blazer and Mepunga Cruzer straw courtesy of local breeder and Hall of Fame inductee Barry Smith.
Mepunga Blazer is known in the breeding ranks, currently standing with Jeff Britton in Anakie but you are forgiven if the name Mepunga Cruzer slipped through.
Mepunga Cruzer was unbeaten in four career starts which includes an impressive 25.01sec effort over the 450m at Warrnambool.
“Cruzer tore a triangle and a back muscle at a young age,” trainer and stud master Jeff Britton said.
“He is on another come back but we are taking things slow.”
“Cruzer is the fastest ‘breaker’ I have ever had. He went 17.25sec at Geelong and 29.87sec first look at The Meadows and he is faster early than Blazer.”
Mepunga Blazer was a winner of 13 races from 25 starts which includes victory in the Group 1 Maturity Classic at The Meadows.
Blazer ($2,200) and Cruzer ($1,100) are both sons of Barcia Bale and Mepunga Nicky, but from different litters.
