Memorable Derby-Oaks double beckons for Novara Park

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Explosive Jack’s emergence may have delivered bittersweet moments for Muollo following the premature passing of his foundation sire Jakkalberry (Ire), but he is all too aware of the fickle nature of the industry.

Muollo is focused on the future and has a number of Exploding Jack’s that he continues to breed from and a daughter of resident Novara sire Sweynesse, who stands alongside Staphanos (Jpn), will carry his hopes in Saturday’s G1 Australian Oaks.

He co-bred and has sole ownership of Signora Nera (NZ), who in her second appearance from Chris Waller’s stable finished a luckless fifth in the G3 Adrian Knox S. She is a daughter of the stakes winner Madonna Mia (NZ) (Red Clubs {Ire}).

Jakkalberry was well-travelled in his racing days and the son of Storming Home (GB) won 12 races in four different countries, including the G1 Gran Premio Di Milano and finished third in the G1 Melbourne Cup and the G1 Dubai Sheema Classic.

He was secured in 2014 as Muollo’s foundation sire at his Cambridge operation, but tragically passed away in 2018 after succumbing to an intestinal infection.

“You look back, but it’s no different to any other stallion that people have lost recently like Sacred Falls, Tavistock and others. It happens and you just have to move on and make the best of it,” Muollo said.

“I look at it now and try to be a supermarket. I’m not necessarily trying to breed what the Aussies are doing, we want to breed a horse that can win a Group 1 race in Australia from 1600 to 2400 metres.”

Muollo bred Explosive Jack under his Explosive Breeding banner with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 3-year-old a tough customer who also won the Listed Tasmanian Derby in February.

He hails from a versatile family with G1 New Zealand Derby winner Vin De Dance (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) close up in the pedigree and also sharper performers.

“His half-brother (Pick Number One) was a Champion Griffin in Hong Kong and had five wins from six starts at 1200 metres,” Muollo said.

“I’ve also got Short Fuse, who’s a 1200 metre horse and I’ve recently bought back Jakkelbomb, who was second in the G3 Desert Gold S., third in the Taranaki Oaks Prelude and fourth in the G3 Lowland S. The family can produce anything.”

Explosive Jack, who has won four of his seven starts, was originally purchased by Moody Racing at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale for NZ$100,000.

“I was disappointed and thought he would go for much more. He was very well-balanced and when you’re taking a November yearling to the sales, compared to a September foal, you can sometimes see the difference,” Muollo.

“They have done a good job with him and I’ve watched him every start. He’s got better and better and I still think the best is ahead of him.

“I sold his half-brother by Time Test and retained a good chunk and the mare’s got a lovely Staphanos filly at foot. I have to decide whether I keep her or sell, at this stage, I’m more inclined to keep the fillies and sell the colts and the mare is in foal to Sweynesse.

“I did have a Per Incanto filly as a 2-year-old with Stephen Marsh, but she had a bad accident and had to be put down so that was quite devastating. She really looked the part.”

Sweynesse on rise

Sweynesse is tracking impressively through the early stages of his career at stud with 14 winners from 42 representatives and 7.1 per cent of stakes winners to runners.

“We had Botti win last Saturday and on Wednesday, Only Words who won the Listed Wanganui Guineas, won in Sydney and then on Friday Bonita Aurelia won for Jamie Richards,” Muollo said.

“On Saturday, I had Signora Nera in the G3 Adrian Knox S. and she was very, very unlucky and should have won so we’re pressing on to the Oaks with her.

“Only Words is heading to the Queensland carnival and Dragon Queen is also heading toward the G1 Queensland Oaks. I sold Explosively for big money to Hong Kong so Sweynesse is really going well.

“He was our leading first-season sire and nearly leading second-season sire. I have no doubt that he will make it in New Zealand. For me, the main priority is to make it in Australia and Hong Kong.

“He’s got more than enough on numbers of trial-winning colts heading to Hong Kong – Swyenesse is going great guns and I’m racing more in Australia.”

Staphanos strikes a chord

Associate sire Staphanos was a Group 3 winner and multiple Group 1 placegetter both in Japan and Hong Kong and is a son of the legendary Deep Impact (Jpn) out of a Kurofune (USA) mare.

“We’re very happy with him and two weeks ago in the G1 Osaka Hai, a race Staphanos was second in, was won by Lei Papale who is by Deep Impact out of a Kurofune mare,” Muollo said.

“The 1000 Guineas was won by Sodashi who is by Kurofune and to show how dominant Staphanos’ pedigree is, the second horse is by Deep Impact and the third is by Kizuna, a son of Deep Impact, the fourth is by Deep Impact, fifth was out of a mare by Deep Impact and so was the sixth.

“We’ve definitely got the blood and Maurice is starting to show up in Australia now and Staphanos competed against him and beat him as a 3-year-old and placed second against him in a Group 1 in Hong Kong and placed to him in a Group 1 in Japan.”

Staphanos was well-received in his first year at stud and served 108 mares.

“They are really nice foals, very athletic and very much like Staphanos. We’ll retain a lot to race and with my brother Tony we own Staphanos and he’s got 15 mares that he’s sent to support him and Sweynesse,” Muollo said. “He’s going to get every chance and we’re really excited about both stallions.”

Novara Park is currently a two-stallion operation, but are always open to adding to the roster.

“We’re always looking and nearly did a deal about a month ago, but unfortunately he didn’t tick all the boxes. It’s not just for the sake of getting a stallion, he’s got to have performance, pedigree and conformation and must be value for money,” Muollo said.