Balmont youngsters ‘flew’ at the Belmont Park barrier trials on Monday (May 14).
Society Mak led to win a 400m heat by a head (with seemingly plenty in reserve) in 23.72sec. then Park Lane cruised to the line taking a 1000m heat by four-lengths in 1.01.53.
Society Mak had won a 600m trial by a half-length in 35.96 at his first public appearance on December 19 and was subsequently strongly fancied for the Westspeed Plate (1000m) on January 7.
Unfortunately, he was slow into stride and returned with mild lameness to the near fore when finishing unplaced.
Society Mak, bred by Indonesian businessman Mr Santosa Wirya, is from the New Zealand-bred Lady Mak, by Frenchpark, who won three times over 1200m and 1400m.
Lady Mak’s third dam, Pert Lassie, won the Group 3 Molecomb Stakes in England and was the dam of Cheeky Trot, winner of the Group 2 Karrakatta Plate and the Listed Aquanita Stakes in Perth.
Cheeky Trot is the dam of Dancer’s Choice, winner of the Group 3 SA National Stakes and, in turn, the dam of Naden (Listed Creswick Stakes) and Catango (Listed Wylie Handicap). Catango is the dam of Chading, who won the Listed Balaklava Cup.
This is also the family of Holy Grail (Group 1 Hong Kong Derby), Clint (Group 1 Singapore Derby), The Blues (Group 2 Haydock Sprint Cup), Gussy Marlowe (Group 2 (English Falmouth Stakes) and the Australian Listed winners Perky Beau, Vagabond Boy and Madjic.
Park Lane, bred by Lynward Park owners Ted and Marilyn van Heemst, was a well-held third to Black Truffle and Fath Sun in a 400m trial won in 24sec. at his first public appearance last September 26.
He then finished a game four-length second to top-class Miss Solis in the Westspeed Plate (1000m) won in 58.49sec. on October 8. Miss Solis went on to win at her next two starts, including the Listed 1100m Supremacy Stakes, and was placed in the Listed 1100m Gimcrack Stakes and Group 2 1200m Karrakatta Plate before finishing her juvenile campaign by taking the McKenna Hampton Insurance Brokers Handicap.
Park Lane has now won both barrier trials since being transferred to leading trainer Jim Taylor.
Park Lane’s dam, Kirov Ballet, won over 1000m and 1200m as a two-year-old and was an unlucky third in the Listed Gimcrack Stakes. She is a sister to four-time winner, Fork In The Road, and is also the dam of winners Pytheas, Vigano and Kirov Park.
Kirov Ballet, by Dauberval, descends from a highly-successful maternal line that won a host of big races, mainly for the late Colin Hayes.
Among winners from the family are Baglaga Boy (WA Ascot Gold Cup andy SA Labor Day Cup-twice), Delicious (Port Adelaide Sires Produce Stakes, Mimosa Stakes and Mona Nursery), Ace Queen (SA Oaks and WA Tattersall’s Cup), Unconquered (SA St Leger and Port Adelaide Guineas), Without Peer (SA New Year’s Gift), Temptress (SA Hill-Smith Stakes), In Pursuit (SA Oaks, Chipping Norton Stakes and A.V. Kewney Stakes), Bravita (A.V. Kewney Stakes and Tranquil Star Stakes) and Major Drive (Sydney Cup).
Balmont was a world-class two-year-old and descends from the world’s greatest stallion family.
Watch this space!