3 minute read

Son of Your Song returns to winning ways in the Newcastle Newmarket Handicap

The Kris Lees-trained Gem Song (5 g Your Song - Beautiful Gem by Peintre Celebre) snapped a long losing streak when he landed his second race at Group level in the Newcastle Handicap (Gr 3, 1400m) on Friday. 

The Australian Bloodstock-raced five-year-old gelding had not been successful since his victory in the Gunsynd Classic (Gr 3, 1600m) in April 2019. Settled towards the rear of the field with the pace set by Outregeous (All Too Hard), Gem Song was taken to the outside in the straight and ran on well to run down Bottega (Snitzel), who looked the winner, and scored by a nose. Cascadian (New Approach), who raced on the rails throughout, was a further length away in third. 

Gem Song finished fourth first-up in the Southern Cross Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) on February 13 having not raced since November 2019 and his trainer was pleased to see the gelding return to winning ways. 

"It is a good result. He has been off the scene a long time," Lees said.

"Some good people have a share in the horse, so it's very rewarding.

"I think he is back to his best. He stepped slow, so he had a bit of work to do.

"I thought he got beat on the line, so I was relieved when the number went up in the frame."

With his third stakes win, the son of Your Song (Fastnet Rock) takes his record to six wins, two seconds and three thirds from 17 starts with earnings of $634,395.

Bred by Gooree Park, the gelding is one of four winners out of 2005 Sunline Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Beautiful Gem (Peintre Celebre), making him a half-brother to Listed scorer The Omega Man (Northern Meteor). 

Beautiful Gem herself is the daughter of Group 3 winner Just Blooming (Yeats), who also finished runner up in the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), making her a half-sister to Listed scorer Moti (Don Eduardo). 

Beautiful Gem was retired from broodmare duties in January and Gem Song is one of four stakes winners for Widden Stud-based Your Song with Brave Song, Miss Exfactor and Split Lip the others.