Backabel, Ibsen 24/12/08

XMAS EVE DOUBLE - IBSEN & BACKABEL
Nice Christmas present for Bel Esprit disciples on 24 December with victories to Ibsen at Ascot and the well named Backabel at Wagga.
It was a tremendous performance by Ibsen to score over the 1000m at Perth’s premier track, racing away to win by near on four lengths.
Raced by some of Victorian breeding’s leading lights – including David and Jenny Moodie, David Kobritz, Peter Anatasiou, Adam Sangster and Peter Sidwell, Ibsen has only been lightly raced with 11 outings, highlighted by two wins and three seconds.
Two of those seconds led up to the Ascot victory, picking up the minors at Pinjarra and Ascot in December after resuming from a six month spell.
Ibsen is racing royalty and the third son of blue hen mare, Scandinavia, to make his presence felt. His year older half brother, Magnus won the AJC Galaxy-G1 and is now standing at Eliza Park (where it all began!), while the year younger half brother, Wilander (sold by Eliza Park for $625,000 at the 2007 Australian Easter Yearling Sale) won the 2008 Schillaci Stakes-G2 during the spring.
Sold by Eliza Park to David Moodie’s Contract Racing for $200,000 at the 2006 Melbourne Premier, Ibsen is certainly well named.
I’m not particularly familiar with the works of Henrik Ibsen, but turns out he was a noted Norwegian playwright of the late 19th century (the equine Ibsen is a grandson of Song of Norway). Some of his works include Peer Gynt, the story of a life based on avoidance (bit like myself come 9am Mondays!).
Ibsen died on 23 May 1906 after a series of strokes. When his nurse assured a visitor that he was a little better, Ibsen sputtered: “on the contrary” and died.
Backabel, on the other hand, doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, but was definitely an omen bet at Wagga on Christmas Eve.
Sent out an $8 pick over the 1200m, Backabel proved too strong for rivals which included another Bel Esprit in the unlucky Royal Express.
Backabel, a 3YO having just his fourth start, is trained and part owned by Rodger Waters at Wantabadgery after being passed in at last year’s Sydney Classic.
A half brother to five winners, including city winners Announcer and From the Boulevard, Backabel is out of an unraced sister to Blue Diamond Stakes-G1 winner Knowledge.
Bel Esprit looks as if he might have a few more winners up his sleeve over the next couple of days and you can check them out on the Bel Esprit blog by clicking here.