Bletchley Park Takes Railway Stakes

Caerleon son Bletchley Park scored his most important success as stallion when Modem (5-1) overwhelmed his 15 rivals with a flashing late run to win the $500,000 (Australian funds) Railway Stakes (Aust-I) at Perth's Ascot oval Dec. 4.

The Irish-bred Bletchley Park has sired the winners of about $8.5 million in Australia and Singapore. From nine crops of racing age, however, his only other group I winner had been Hot Jules at the same track in the 1997 Western Australian Derby. Bletchley Park is rostered at Lynward Park Stud, where he stands $7,500.

Modem's fourth group success advanced his earnings to $736,000 for a syndicate put together by his breeder, Stan Quinlivan. Modem's 38 career starts have yielded 12 wins and eight seconds. He is is trained by Trevor Andrew and was ridden by Paul Harvey, also the winning rider when Plastered won the Oct. 30 Victoria Derby (Aust-I).

As he had at Flemington, Harvey's mount arrived three-quarters of a length ahead of a talented 3-year-old, this time gelded Peintre Celebre son Mr Sandgroper (5-1). Blinded was a similar distance away in third, the 1,600 meters covered in 1:35.94.