Awesome Beholder wins Breeders’ Cup Distaff

Champion filly Beholder gave her sire Henny Hughes a rousing send-off from Rangeview Stud with an awesome victory in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (1800m) on Friday.

The Distaff was billed as a showdown between Beholder, Royal Delta and Princess of Sylmar but the Henny Hughes filly blew her high-class rivals away with a runaway four length success.

Beholder (3f Henny Hughes – Leslie’s Lady by Tricky Creek) had won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies 12 months ago and she will claim another Eclipse Award on the strength of her second triumph in the North American championships at Santa Anita.

“Champions are made by beating champions,” winning owner B. Wayne Hughes said.  “I think she’s done enough.”

Rangeview Stud sold Henny Hughes to Yushun Stallion Station in Japan earlier this week.  Owners Robbie and Jody Gray had purchased him from Darley in May 2012.

Without mentioning any figures, Robbie Gray believes Henny Hughes is the most expensive stallion ever sold out of Western Australia.  “The Distaff is a great result for the Japanese buyers, too,” he said on Saturday morning, Perth time.  “The deal has set us up for life.”

Henny Hughes celebrated by covering Markedly Absent straight after the Distaff.  The Marquetry mare had foaled a Henny Hughes filly on October 5.

Earlier on Friday, Beholder’s older half-brother Intense Focus (Harlan´s Holiday) sired Goldencents to win the G1 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile.

Henny Hughes is standing for a $7,700 (inc gst) service fee at Bullsbrook-based Rangeview Stud.  He will fly out to Japan in six weeks.

– Karl Patterson

Beholer Distaff

BEHOLDER
Henny Hughes filly wins the BC Distaff eased down by jockey Mike Smith