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FORTY SHADES OMEGA can be traced back to DON PEDRO ASB.25086, a winner of 5 principal wins including;
VATC Eclipse Stakes
VRC CB Fisher Plate
MVRC Moonee Valley Cup
VATC Toorak Handicap
&
VRC McKinnon Stakes
VICTORIA DERBY DEBUT:
DON PEDRO burst onto the racing scene in 1945 and was the hot favourite for the AAMI Victoria Derby in 1945 which he finished a very close second to MAGNIFICENT whilst beating ATTLEY who placed 3rd. The Derby is generally regarded as the VRC's second most important race. It is a show case for 3 Year Olds and is one of the most important races for horses in this age category in Australia. Many Victoria Derby winners and placegetters have continued on to win the Melbourne Cup, and/or to achieve success at stud.
MOONEE VALLEY CUP:
With Don Pedro winning 1947 Moonee Valley Cup this brown stallion opened the field as favourite for the Caulfield Cup. 'Ascot' in the Sporting Globe predicted that Don Pedro would defeat Hiraji in the 1947 Caulfield Cup but it was not to be due to being withdrawn after pulling up sore after track work.
McKINNON STAKES:
Perhaps his most notoble win is his 1947 McKinnon Stakes win overcoming ATTLEY and COLOUMNIST. This race, first run in 1869, was originally known as the Melbourne Stakes. Run at Weight-For-Age over 2000 metres, it provides an important final lead up to the Melbourne Cup. After starting as one of three favourites for the 1947 cup it was a huge disappointment when DON PEDRO was withdrawn from the field after showing signs of soreness.
It has been won by great names such as:-
Carbine (1890), Phar Lap (1930 & 1931), Peter Pan (1932), Ajax (1938), Tranquil Star (1942, 1944 & 1945), Flight (1946), Comic Court (1949 & 1950), Rising Fast (1954 & 1955), Tulloch (1960), Sky High (1961), Tobin Bronze (1966), Leilani (1974), Dulcify (1979), Horlicks (1989), Better Loosen Up (1990), Let's Elope (1991), Lonhro (2002) and Grand Armee (2004)
DON PEDRO BREEDS CHAMPION STEEPLE CHASER:
Winning a total of £17,218 prize money over his racing career of 11 wins, 10 seconds, 8 thirds and 8 unplaced DON PEDRO was put to stud at Braeside Park, located near Dandenong, Victoria. The notice of DON PEDRO'S availability noted the fee of 100 guineas. The first service of DON PEDRO was over a mare which produced a filly renown for her big heart, PEDRO PRIDE, was a champion steeple chaser which many believed was one of the greatest steeple chasers the country had seen with an outstanding race record which includes:
1957 Australian Steeple, 79kg
1957 Grand National by 10 lengths, 75.5kg on a heavy track.
1957 Hiskens Steeple, 79.5 kg
IDOL GOSSIP'S 2nd Dam is a half sister to PEDRO'S PRIDE.
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