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David & Emma-Lee BrowneSparta Racing | Sparta Racing News 61940 Basilinna Books Her Golden Ticket To The Melbourne Cup
BASILINNA BOOKS HER GOLDEN TICKET TO THE MELBOURNE CUP
Mon, May 19, 2025
It may have been cold and wet but there was no stopping the celebrations at Flemington on Saturday as our bonny mare Basilinna won her way into a Melbourne Cup spot with her gutsy victory in the Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes.
Relishing the 2800m and the soft conditions, the four-year-old travelled sweetly back in the field for Dean Yendall who had her into the clear swinging around the turn.
Joining the leaders with 400m to go, Basilinna had others in pursuit but she just kept finding and her winning margin of 1 1/4 lengths was impressive.
It was a well deserved stakes victory for the bay who was third in last year's Gr.1 VRC Oaks, second in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes and the Listed Port Adelaide Cup.
"We were pretty confident when the rain came but then we thought, she is a proper princess and it might be too much!"
The race however was a nice watch with David noting that "she was travelling the whole way. She probably got there a bit early because she was travelling so well. The other horses may have a better turn of foot on firmer ground but it comes back her way on the soft ground."
David described Basilinna as "a really gutsy staying mare" whilst Emma-Lee said "she means a lot to us."
"David bought her mum for me after I lost my good jumper, at the time I said 'you can't replace him' but I think he did a pretty good job!"
Having bred Basilinna by the Japanese bred Deep Impact stallion Staphanos, we are all the more excited.
"To have bred a horse who can run in the Melbourne Cup, that is absolutely amazing," Emma-Lee said and David agreed.
"I have never thought we'd have a runner, never in my wildest dreams!"
"It is just so hard to get a horse who runs out the trip and does it well. But she is a horse who, if she got the right conditions on the day, could be competitive."
It was a second win from three rides on the mare for Dean Yendall, "the second time he has given her an absolute peach of a ride," Emma-Lee said, "and we can't thank him enough!:
"This is a massive thing for our little stable and credit to our team. We've had a great season and this has really topped it off."
Basilinna had the Sandown Cup in early June on her agenda but with a Melbourne Cup start assured, a spell now beckons.
"We will put her out and focus on the angles on getting her to the Cup in the right shape," Emma-Lee said. "We want to pick the right path and make sure she gets to the day in the best possible condition."
Dean Yendall was delighted to win a feature race for the stable - "it is a big thrill for them and for myself," he said.
"This mare has been knocking on the door for a while, she has put the writing on the wall with some nice runs in hard races."
"She had a great run in transit from the wide gate and she found the line really, really easily."
"I thought it was just an even tempo but I had in the back of my mind that a lot of those horses were not going to handle the going. I just wanted to get her into clear running - and the rest is history!"
Relishing the 2800m and the soft conditions, the four-year-old travelled sweetly back in the field for Dean Yendall who had her into the clear swinging around the turn.
Joining the leaders with 400m to go, Basilinna had others in pursuit but she just kept finding and her winning margin of 1 1/4 lengths was impressive.
It was a well deserved stakes victory for the bay who was third in last year's Gr.1 VRC Oaks, second in the Gr.2 Kewney Stakes and the Listed Port Adelaide Cup.
"I can't believe it," said a very excited Emma-Lee, "I am a bit overwhelmed actually!"
"We were pretty confident when the rain came but then we thought, she is a proper princess and it might be too much!"
The race however was a nice watch with David noting that "she was travelling the whole way. She probably got there a bit early because she was travelling so well. The other horses may have a better turn of foot on firmer ground but it comes back her way on the soft ground."
David described Basilinna as "a really gutsy staying mare" whilst Emma-Lee said "she means a lot to us."
"David bought her mum for me after I lost my good jumper, at the time I said 'you can't replace him' but I think he did a pretty good job!"
Having bred Basilinna by the Japanese bred Deep Impact stallion Staphanos, we are all the more excited.
"To have bred a horse who can run in the Melbourne Cup, that is absolutely amazing," Emma-Lee said and David agreed.
"I have never thought we'd have a runner, never in my wildest dreams!"
"It is just so hard to get a horse who runs out the trip and does it well. But she is a horse who, if she got the right conditions on the day, could be competitive."
It was a second win from three rides on the mare for Dean Yendall, "the second time he has given her an absolute peach of a ride," Emma-Lee said, "and we can't thank him enough!:
"This is a massive thing for our little stable and credit to our team. We've had a great season and this has really topped it off."
Basilinna had the Sandown Cup in early June on her agenda but with a Melbourne Cup start assured, a spell now beckons.
"We will put her out and focus on the angles on getting her to the Cup in the right shape," Emma-Lee said. "We want to pick the right path and make sure she gets to the day in the best possible condition."
Dean Yendall was delighted to win a feature race for the stable - "it is a big thrill for them and for myself," he said.
"This mare has been knocking on the door for a while, she has put the writing on the wall with some nice runs in hard races."
"She had a great run in transit from the wide gate and she found the line really, really easily."
"I thought it was just an even tempo but I had in the back of my mind that a lot of those horses were not going to handle the going. I just wanted to get her into clear running - and the rest is history!"
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