Written by Jessica Owers
The third race on Mornington’s Tuesday card was a 2-Year-Old Maiden Plate for fillies and, in the fetching colours of Nature Strip (Nicconi), Under The Dunes (Under The Louvre) saluted for jockey Ben Allen and the Ciaron Maher-David Eustace partnership.
The filly worked hard at the front of the field for most of the race, jumping from the inside draw and carrying along Hollerforadollar (Holler) and Mystery Eclipse (Exceed And Excel). In the straight, she found an extra length when it mattered, and won by 0.75l from Godolphin’s Salamanders (Animal Kingdom {USA}) and third-placed Identical (Brazen Beau).
Under The Dunes was having her second race-start. Her only previous outing was at Ballarat in late March, where she was second on debut to handy filly Douceur (No Nay Never {USA}).
Part-owner Rod Lyons was trackside for the win, and said the stable was very confident on Tuesday that Under The Dunes would go one-better in the Mornington event.
“She proved that she was confident after her first-up run at Ballarat, and she proved hard to beat today,” he said.
Famous colours
Lyons added it was extra special to win with the progeny of Under The Louvre, whom he also raced and who is now resident at Queensland’s Grandview Stud.
“We raced Under The Louvre, so it’s a bigger thrill to race his progeny and see them win,” Lyons said. “This is the second one we’ve got with Ciaron and David. Cadboll won his first run as well, so the stallion’s done a pretty good job with his first-race runners.”
The well-named Under The Louvre, by Excellent Art (GB), was a three-time stakes-winning racehorse, including the G1 Stradbroke H. in 2016 and the Listed Hareeba S. at Mornington. He entered stud in 2017, and has covered 346 mares across four seasons.
Under The Louvre | Standing at Grandview Stud
Humble brag
Under The Dunes is the sixth foal from broodmare Al Sahra (Desert Sun {GB}), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Alart (Excellent Art {GB}). She was consigned at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by Kanangra, Scone, and purchased by Ciaron Maher for $70,000.
Through third dam What Price Glory (New Regent {Can}), the family boasts stakes winners Hot As Hell (County), Flaming Hot (County) and Hong Kong performer Craig’s Dragon (Catbird).
However, the pedigree is most notable for the presence of 2019 The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, whose dam is a half-sister to these stakes horses, and In Her Time (Time Thief), two-time Group 1 winner and Equal Leading Older Female on the 2018 World Timeform Ratings (Sprint).
