2 days ago
Veteran gelding Front Page is likely to be fighting to the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm
If Front Page is judged on his genetics, then the veteran gelding is likely to be fighting to the finish in Saturday's Group 2 Moreton Cup (1200m) at Eagle Farm.
The Matt Dale -trained sprinter is the $3.50 favourite in the race that offers the winner a golden ticket into the upcoming $3m Stradbroke Handicap (1400m).
But Front Page is lucky to be even in this world after his late mother Stacey Lee suffered horrific leg injuries in the paddock nine years ago.
'She was in foal and just rolled too close to the fence, got her legs stuck in the fence and sort of shredded both her back legs,' the eight-year-old's part-owner Paul Duryea recalled.
'It exposed all the tendons and everything. We got her to Shepparton and they said to put her down, we couldn't save her.
'She was in-foal with Front Page. We bought her as a weanling so we had her all our life and raised her and she was super tough.
'We found a lady, Suzanne Royal at Asscher Park near Violet Town, who was a vet nurse and she took her on and did a remarkable job in fixing her.
'She not only came good with barely any scarring but she kept her foal as well.
'Every one of her progeny has won. I strapped her nearly every start of her life and she was a very good racemare.
'She could run times that Front Page can't run. She hurt her knee at Caulfield one day early in her career and she was never really the same, even though she won five races.'
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Stacey Lee also survived floodwaters at broodmare farm Noorilim Park near Nagambie, Victoria in November, 2022 so her toughness and tenacity are undeniable.
'They put her foal (Corningstone) in a boat and Stacey Lee actually swam a kilometre by the boat to get out of the floods so she's had a few dramas,' Duryea said.
'Not only did she save herself but she saved her foal too. Unfortunately about six months later Stacey Lee got crook and we couldn't save her, she had to be put down.
'What Stacey Lee has done for us is unbelievable.'
In an amusing sidenote to what could have been a tragic story, the rescued foal was named after the movie character Veronica Corningstone, portrayed by Christina Applegate in the blockbuster hit comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy.
Fast-forward to Saturday and Front Page, who has won $3.4m in prizemoney, has a golden opportunity to continue her mum's legacy in the $300,000 Moreton Cup.
Front Page and @G1TySchil go back-to-back in the #TheKosciuszko! 🙌
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) October 14, 2023
He is also accepted for the Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes (1100m) at Randwick on Saturday but Duryea said he would instead likely race in Brisbane where Tim Clark will ride.
Asked about potentially running in the Stradbroke, Duryea said: 'If he was to win (the Moreton Cup) then we would consider it but it depends on how he pulls up.
'But, touch wood, he hasn't had any dramas or niggles for 12 months or more now.
'But being an automatic entry for the winner, we would consider the Straddie and hopefully we get that option.'
Goulburn's Dale took over the training of Front Page from Duryea's dad Geoff in mid-2023.
The winner of seven races from 28 starts, Front Page has twice placed in Group 1 The Galaxy (1100m), including a runner-up behind Private Harry on March 22 at Rosehill Gardens.
He finished a disappointing 11th in the $5m The Quokka (1200m) in Perth in late April but Dale said the gelding didn't appreciate running 'the Melbourne way'.
