Another Perth star for Pentire

Rich Hill Stud stallion Pentire is an all-purpose sire.  Last month he sired a third Derby winner when Markus Maximus claimed the G1 WATC Derby and yesterday his rejuvenated jumped Sir Pentire created history in the Grand Annual Steeplechase at Warrnambool.

Racing first-up after being sidelined for two years, Sir Pentire was too fit and too good in the longest thoroughbred race in Australia.  The Grand Annual Steeplechase is run over 5500 metres and over 33 fences.

Sir Pentire won his first feature in the 2003 G3 VRC St Leger (2800m) and he is one of 20 stakes winners by Pentire (Be My Guest) including the G1 winners Xcellent, Zarita, Art Success, Pantani and outstanding miler (King) Mufhasa.

Markus Maximus is his latest G1 winner and there’s another Pentire about to make a name for himself in Western Australia.  Premier trainer Neville Parnham believes his Pentire colt Bridgestone will be a big force in Perth’s classics next season.

Bridgestone (2c Pentire-Golden Dawn by Gold Brose) earned his first black-type when placed behind God Has Spoken and Wolfe Dreams in a quality finish to the G3 WA Sires’ Produce Stakes on April 11.

A fortnight later, he stormed home to win the Jacks Or Better Plate (1600m) at Ascot on Anzac Day but Parnham doesn’t want to get too far ahead of himself.

“He has always displayed above average ability but I didn’t expect him to be doing this at this stage of his career.  I really like him as a racehorse and he will make a better three year old.”

Bridgestone was a $200,000 purchase at the 2008 New Zealand Karaka Sale.  His dam Golden Dawn is a winning half sister to Te Akau Class (Masterclass), a G3 winner of the Eclipse Stakes (1800m) at Sandown.

He is a half brother to the stakes placed Snipza Gold (Pins) whose last win to date was in the NZ Ashburton Cup last October.  Golden Dawn foaled a filly by Danehill sire Darci Brahma last year.

Bridgestone’s second dam Rapunzel (Star Way) is an unraced half sister to G2 Avondale Concorde winner Our Travellin’ Man (Blues Traveller).