SUCCESSFUL owners Emilio and Mary Rosati have raced some very talented horses around the world. When questioned about the best horse he has owned he quickly answers Excel Stride, but the gelding’s ranking could be under threat due to the emergence of impressive American filly Blue Moon Stride.
The Mark Harder trained filly won the $100,000 New Jersey Sires Stakes Final at the Meadowlands over the weekend and Rosati believes this is just the beginning for the daughter of Rocknroll Hanover.
“I spoke to her driver Andy McCarthy after the win and he told me she cruised home and he never touched her, I think she might be something special,” Rosati said.
“She ran 1:50 and two fifths at her run prior and Andy told me he thought she could have broken 1:50 if he had asked her to. She is staked for a lot of big races over there and Pocono will be her next stop.”
Blue Moon Stride’s dam is Classic Star, a full sister to superstar sire Bettors Delight and Rosati was very keen to buy into the family.
“They don’t come much better bred than her, it is an interesting story because she had a full sister go through the sales before I bought her. I looked at the full sister but I wasn’t 100% happy with her confirmation and she ended up going for $120,000 at auction.
“When Mr Perretti died the family sold all of his horses including the weanlings so I rang Mark Harder about the weanling. He went and had a look at her and told me she was very small but very correct, I was very keen to buy into the family so I told Mark to go and buy her.”
Harder purchased the weanling filly at auction and contacted Rosati to pass on the good news.
“When Mark rang he told me he had purchased her but I was shocked when he told me the price, I couldn’t believe it when he said he only paid $27,000 for her. The Americans just don’t like buying weanlings, they like to see the yearlings stride out and because she was small I think that’s why I got her so cheap.
“I sent her straight to a farm that I have sent horses to before where the grass is up to the horses’ knees and told them to take care of her. She continued to grow and she is now the best part of 16 hands.”
Rosati is hoping to see Blue Moon Stride compete in Delaware and Lexington.
“I’d love to see her race in the Jugette and then go to the Red Mile, if that was the case Mary and I would go over to watch her.
“We aren’t going to Canada, she picked up an allergy when she went last year and while there are some nice races there for her, it took too long for her to get over the problems last season.”
Blue Moon Stride was a tall lean two year old but has developed as an early three year old.
“She really filled out and has matured a lot, if she stays sounds then who knows where she may end up, I’d like to bring her to Sydney to race in the 2018 Miracle Mile but there is a lot to happen between now and then.”
“She hasn’t done as much as Excel Stride did yet but she has the potential to be my best.”
Rosati confirmed the filly will end up coming to Australia whether it is to race or breed.
“All of my broodmares are here in Australia so at some stage she will be here too. I’d love to see her come here and race but when I bought her I wanted to buy into the family and her bloodlines are so good that I’m excited by what she could do as a broodmare.”
Approved By Dean Baring www.harnessbred.com
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