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Son of Fiorente breaks maiden at second attempt

The Richard Litt-trained Black Duke (3 c Fiorente - Empress Eleven by War Pass) shed his maiden tag on his second start as he ran out a ready winner of the Hyland Race Colours Maiden Handicap (1200m) at Canterbury on Wednesday. 

Last seen running fifth at Canberra, the three-year-old colt showed an explosive turn of foot to collar the well-bred Cat D'Oro (Medaglia d’Oro) in the final strides, eventually beating him by a long-neck, while Sacred Captain (Sacred Falls) was another quarter of a length away in third. 

The three-year-old colt is out of the placed War Pass (Cherokee Run) mare Empress Eleven, who is herself out of Edward Manifold Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Ascorbic (Mister C). 

Ascorbic herself is a half-sister to Spurring (Flying Spur) - the dam of Listed winner Fantisha (Collate). 

Further back this is the same family as Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) winner Warning (Declaration Of War), Group 2 winner Berberia (Jackson Square) and Group 3 winner Real Stolle (Elusive Quality). 

In 2018 Empress Eleven produced a colt by Helmet (Exceed And Excel), before producing a colt by Darley shuttler Frosted (Tapit) the following season and she has most recently been covered by Holler (Epaulette). 

Fiorente’s progeny is headed by Group 2 winners Stars Of Carrum and Hawkshot and he will stand the 2020 breeding season at Sun Stud for a fee of $17,600 (inc GST).