Super Elegant a Doomben Delight Down Under

Super Elegant collected his second grade I in a week in defeating a talented bunch of sprinters in the Doomben 10,000 (Aust-I) in Brisbane, Australia, on May 22.

The 10,000 moniker was coined in the 1950s and overtaken by inflation before Secretariat became the ninth Triple Crown winner. The 1,350-meter sprint at weight for age carried $500,000 (Australian funds) for its 72nd running.

Super Elegant's stretch run at the rail under Greg Childs earned the grandson of Danzig $315,000, pushing his career total to nearly $1.4 million with 12 wins (nine graded) from 46 starts.

In a thrilling finish, the late rush by the 5-year-old Our Egyptian (4-1) came up a head short. The New Zealand-bred daughter of Desert Sun has now been runner-up in no less than four grade I races from 1,000-1,600 meters without cracking the code.

Scenic Peak completed the shut-out of the younger brigade in finishing third, a half-length back. As is the winner, this Scenic son is a gelded 6-year-old and a grade I winner.

Within a start or two of a joining the stallion roster of Windsor Park, Thorn Park (5-1) was a half-length out of the placings. The 4-year-old's sire, Spinning World, worked from Windsor Park at his single New Zealand season in 2000.

The 1:17.73 final time was .52 off the stakes mark set by dual Hong Kong Sprint Cup (HK-II) hero Falvelon.

Super Elegant won the Goodwood Handicap (Aust-I) in Adelaide on May 15. It saw the durable Mister C. son rated a 7-1 chance against the stronger line-up in the Doomben.

Only Words was a disappointment as the 7-2 favorite, finishing 11th of the 15 after being second into the stretch.

Tony Vasil trains the Fred Peisah-bred Super Elegant for a group of clients including David Trevethan, a part-owner of champion Better Loosen Up. Trevethan sold his share in the future 1990 Japan Cup (Jpn-I) winner after just three races, but stayed with this horse after being talked into buying the then foal for $45,000 with Rob Lyons, a close friend.

Peisah stands Mister C. at his Lomar Park Stud in New South Wales. The 20-year-old sire includes a Churchill Downs stakes win among nine wins.