Spritely nine-year-old Hadabeclorka turned in the performance of his career at Ascot on Saturday when he sprinted home over the top of his rivals in the Group Two $750,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m).

Ridden off the speed by star Perth jockey William Pike, Hadabeclorka came with a well timed run in the straight to reel in his rivals and beat fellow local King Kool Kat and Sydney raider and race favourite Whitefriars.

Trainer Brent Larsson was confident his charge could run well in his state’s premier sprint event – but like most punters he was lost for words when the $41 pop hit the line first.

“That was great,” Larsson beamed. “I’m speechless.”

“It’s good to have a horse in a race with this quality and to win it is unbelievable.”

“I thought he was a good chance of running a good race. He’s a nine-year-old now – but he’s always shown above average ability to us.”

“And on his day he can be very hard to beat.”

Larsson, who trains the son of Hurricane Sky from Bunbury, felt his charge might have been closer in the run, but was delighted with how William Pike rode his star.

“Willy rode him really well. I was a bit worried that he got him too far back but as it turned out he rode him really well.”

“We actually thought he might be closer to them. But as it turned out with the speed on it turned out well.”

Larsson said the stable star had pleased him since his recent second up run when sixth behind Ma Ma Machine in the Group Three Colonel Reeves Stakes.

“I’ve had him down at the beach and also on the grass at Bunbury and that’s about it.”

Hadabeclorka ($41) cruised home to beat crowd favourite King Kool Kat ($11) by a length and a quarter.

The favourite Whitefriars ($3.40 fav) was next another three parts of a length, while second favourite Waratah’s Secret ($4) was fourth.

Hadebeclorka was bred by Rob and Jenny Ferguson and was purchased by leading Perth based bloodstock agent John Chalmers for $26,000 at the 2002 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.

Through his entire racing career Hadabeclorka has been raced by the Jilley Super Syndicate and has now earned his jubilant connections over $825,000.

By Durham Lodge based sire Hurricane Sky, Hadabeclorka is one of two stakes winners from the twice winning Snippets mare Mrs. Bold.

Her other stakes winner is the John Moloney trained Umatilla mare Songs of Vienna – a four time winner and earned of over $267,000.

Mrs. Bold, whose two wins were registered on Sydney city tracks, is a half sister to three stakes performers including the four time stakes winner and New Zealand Oaks placegetter Red Chiffon.

Hadabeclorka’s sire Hurricane Sky, a former star galloper by Star Watch, is the sire of other star gallopers including Desert Eagle (Grand Delight in Hong Kong), Divine Madonna, Desert Sky, River Dove, King’s Choice (Able Prince in Hong Kong), Honalee, Wildly and South African star Hurricane Queen.

Eight quality yearlings by Hurricane Sky are catalogued for February’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

 

Winner: Hadabeclorka (Hurricane Sky-Mrs. Bold)
Race: WATC Winterbottom Stakes G2 (1200m)
Sold for: $26,000
Sale: 2002 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale
Vendor: Torryburn Stud
Buyer: John Chalmers Bloodstock
Earnings: $825,005
Owner(s): Jilley Super Syndicate (Mgr: BW Jilley)
Trainer: Brent Larsson (Bunbury)