Weatherly (Aus) (Beneteau {Aus}–Luna Belle {NZ}, by Stravinsky), named a 'TDN Rising Star' after overcoming a slow start to break his maiden in the 2016 Listed Talindert S. at Flemington last February, was euthanised after going wrong in Saturday's Schweppes H. (1100m) at Canterbury.
“Sickening loss for our team [Saturday] with the loss of Weatherly,” read a post on trainer Paul Messara's Facebook feed. “We loved him and he was the star of our team. Above all he was a beautiful animal that we will miss having around.”
A homebred and the lone Australian-based runner for Chilean Oussama Aboughazale of Sumaya Stables, Weatherly belied odds of 9-1 to take out the Talindert Feb. 20 and made his next start in the G2 Todman S., finishing third to Kiss and Make Up (Aus) (More Than Ready) and subsequent G1 Golden Slipper S. hero and fellow 'TDN Rising Star' Capitalist (Aus) (Written Tycoon {Aus}). Spelled thereafter, Weatherly was making his return to the races Saturday, having won barrier trials at Scone and Rosehill.
Weatherly was a one of just 136 foals sired from two crops by Beneteau, also trained by Paul Messara, who died in January 2013 at Arrowfield Stud. Beneteau was second on the 2014/2015 first-season sires' premiership.
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