Second Stakes winner for Hard Spun in Australia

Racing second up from a spell, the three-year-old Hard Spun gelding Crystal Web became the second Australian Stakes winner for his sire, recording a dominant display to take out the Listed MSS Security Stakes down the Flemington straight in Australia.

Racing just behind the pace, the Matthew Ellerton and Simon Zahara-trained galloper defeated Exceed And Excel gelding Flamberge by three quarters of a length to record his second win from eight starts.

Bred by David Moodie’s Contract Racing Pty Ltd, who incidentally bred and raced Hard Spun’s other Australian Stakes winner, the unbeaten Royal Haunt, Crystal Web is out of the Snippets mare Crystal Snip, making him a half-bother to the Group One Golden Slipper-winning, Champion two-year-old Crystal Lily, as well as the Listed winners Amaethon and Crystal Wit. The extensive Black type family also includes G2 winner Carrara as well as Listed winners Crystal Hawk and Crystal Finale.

The sire of 19 Stakes winners including the recently crowned Eclipse Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Questing and fellow G1 winner Zo Impressive, Hard Spun is standing the 2013 season for $60,000 stands and nurses.