Supremo holds high hopes for Mula

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

By Bren O'Brien

Breeder and managing owner Wilf Mula is under no illusions about the quality of opposition for his debutant Supremo (Written Tycoon) at Randwick on Saturday, but he holds lofty ambitions for the colt, who is a half-brother to G1 VRC Oaks winner Pinot (Pierro).

Several of Supremo's rivals in the Darley 2YO H. over 1300 metres are likely to head to the G1 JJ Atkins S. in Brisbane next month at their next start, and while the John Thompson-trained colt will be spotting them race experience, there is still a hope in Mula's mind that he might head the same way.

Mula and Thompson have already plotted a similar late charge at a Group 1 this year with their colt Mamaragan (Wandjina), who won the G2 Skyline S. at his first start and then ran third in both the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Inglis Sires' at his subsequent appearances.

Mula told TDN AusNZ that Supremo compares favourably to Mamaragan, having performed well at a trio of recent trials.

"It doesn’t look an easy race. But he's done everything we've looked for so far and we are just hoping he lives up to what he has shown us to date," he said.

"When we broke him in, they told me he was something special and John has thought that too. We've got Mamaragan, but they think this guy is pretty good too. We will just see how he starts out on Saturday.

"1300 metres first-up is not an easy thing, but we thought if he did well, we might send him to Brisbane as a throw of the dice. That's probably a longshot, but we will see after Saturday."

A Group 1 pedigree

Mula's Aston Bloodstock-bred Supremo from G1 ATC Oaks winner Dizelle (Zabeel {NZ}), who has produced an Oaks winner of her own in Pinot as well as Listed winner Dizlago (Encosta De Lago) and stakes-placed pair Lucky Lago (Encosta De Lago) and Rock Giselle (Fastnet Rock).

Dizelle is out of G1 Blue Diamond S., winner Danelagh (Danehill {USA}), who also produced Hong Kong champion Vengeance Of Rain (Zabeel {NZ}).

Mula sold Supremo through Newgate at the 2019 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $260,000 to Thompson but stayed in for a majority share.

"I've got 70 per cent of him. The late Paul Whelan told me when the horse was born that he was all quality and I asked him if he wanted to remain a part of him and he took 10 per cent, so the Whelan family are in him too," he said.

"Every person that has had something to do with him thinks he's a bit special. He is probably six months away yet, that's what John said. He was initially all Written Tycoon, but now he's looking more Zabeel."

Rachel King, who rode Supremo at the second of his three trials at Randwick earlier this month, is set to get the ride with Nash Rawiller suspended. Mula said Supremo wouldn't take his place in the race if the track was heavy.

Having not seen much of the horse up close due to the coronavirus lockdowns, Mula has found it hard to form an opinion of exactly where he is at, but the feedback from Thompson is that he may need another campaign to hit his peak.

"That's what John thinks. I haven’t seen the horse for so long and I can only go on what they tell me. From what I've seen from his barrier trials and what John sends me, he is still a magnificent looking type. We've always had a big opinion of him, through what he has shown until now," Mula said.

Smitten with Written

Supremo's development has certainly encouraged Mula's enthusiasm for his sire, Written Tycoon, who has relocated to the Hunter Valley to stand at Arrowfield Stud this year.

He revealed that Kentucky Miss (Foxwedge), who he purchased for $250,000 in foal to Flying Artie at the recent Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, would be headed to Written Tycoon this year.

Bred by Aston Bloodstock, she was offered as part of the Luskin Park Stud dispersal by his good friends the Whelan family and Mula took the opportunity to form a new breeding partnership, with the mare having solely gone to Flying Artie to date.

"I bought her with a friend of mine who wanted to come in. He was in the horse originally, but is not much into racing, he and I are now partners in her. We will send her to Written Tycoon," he said.

The other broodmare he purchased at the online Broodmare Sale was Ruby Soho (Publishing) for $90,000.

Trainer Mick Price paid $80,000 on behalf of an ownership group headed by Mula for her first foal, Sir Warwick (Written Tycoon), at the 2019 Inglis Classic Sale.

Sir Warwick debuted in the Aston Bloodstock colours at Ballarat on Wednesday, finishing fifth on debut after leading up in a 1200 metre 2-year-old maiden.

Encouraged by the reports on Sir Warwick, Mula was happy to buy his dam, who is in foal to Russian Revolution.

"I thought it might be a good play. Mick has got a good opinion of this bloke, Sir Warwick, but he's a bit naughty. Mick has described his as a delinquent," he said.

"We might send Ruby Soho to Brutal. Henry Field told me if they had have kept her, that's where she would have gone and I’ll take his advice. He's pretty good and he said Brutal would suit her."