Encosta and Redoute's - A rivalry across the generations

Written by

Bren O'Brien

8 min read

For the fourth season in a row, two of the 21st century's most dominant Australian sires, the late Encosta De Lago and the late Redoute's Choice, are fighting it out for the right to be crowned Australia's Champion Broodmare Sire, continuing a rivalry that has waged for over 15 years.

Like Danehill (USA) and Zabeel (NZ) before them, these two great stallions have built a legacy and a rivalry that is set to power Australian bloodlines for years to come.

Comparison of statistics can often be reductive when it comes to champions of any ilk, but in this case, it is easy to argue that putting one's amazing record in parallel to another elevates the argument for the legacy that both have left.

In 2020/21, Encosta De Lago is set to gain posthumous bragging rights over Redoute's Choice.

As it stands, Encosta De Lago holds a lead of $1.8 million in the damsire category and is set to end the late Arrowfield Stud resident's two-season hold on the honour of being Australia's leading broodmare sire.

The late Encosta De Lago

It will be Encosta De Lago's fourth Champion Broodmare Sire title and his first since 2017/18 when he completed a hat-trick of victories in that category. In that season, he also edged out Redoute's Choice, who would subsequently relegate him to second in the past two seasons.

The contests they have had in recent years as broodmare sires extends the rivalry they built as sires, where on three occasions they both finished as the top two on the Australian Sires' Table.

"The contests they (Encosta De Lago and Redoute's Choice) have had in recent years as broodmare sires extends the rivalry they built as sires, where on three occasions they both finished as the top two on the Australian Sires' Table."

Redoute's Choice's first Champion title in 2005/06, in what was just his third season with runners to the track, came over Encosta De Lago, who by that point had five crops racing. Three seasons later, when Encosta De Lago secured his second Champion Sire title, it was Redoute's Choice in second place, just over $400,000 behind him.

In 2009/10, Redoute's Choice regained the ascendancy, winning his second of three Champion Sire titles, by just over $360,000 from Encosta De Lago.


2014/15	3	230	10	$9,881,866
2015/16	1	248	15	$16,760,239
2016/17	1	286	15	$18,921,539
2017/18	2	325	10	$23,090,582
2018/19	2	345	15	$21,927,923
2019/20	2	334	17	$24,629,558
2020/21	1	309	12	$28,572,416

Table: Encosta De Lago's broodmare sire record in Australia


2014/15	6	141	8	$7,523,904
2015/16	5	178	13	$10,124,749
2016/17	4	213	10	$12,131,189
2017/18	2	233	13	$18,509,297
2018/19	1	259	19	$23,235,952
2019/20	1	287	20	$27,486,767
2020/21	2	290	19	$26,739,289

Table: Redoute's Choice's broodmare sire record in Australia

All in all, there were eight seasons where the pair were adjacent to each other on the Champion Sires' Table. In four of those seasons it was Encosta De Lago on top and in four of those, bragging rights went to Redoute's Choice.

Overall, Redoute's Choice only recently surpassed Encosta De Lago for total Australian winners, 977 to 963, and he should have no issues breaking through the 1000 Australian winners milestone given his final crop are yet to turn two. He also leads Encosta De Lago in terms of the number of Australian stakes winners he has produced, 143 to 90, and total progeny earnings, $140 million to $125 million.


Encosta De Lago	963	90	$124,716,481
Redoute's Choice	977	143	$140,401,607

Table: Australian career statistics as a sire

Daughters carry the legacy

Given their respective success, it should be no surprise that the pair are now dominant broodmare sires in Australia.

And their current rivalry at the top of the Australian broodmare sires' standings is likely to continue for some time, with both Encosta De Lago (767) and Redoute's Choice (622) having more runners from their daughters this season than in any previous season.

Their stats this season are quite interesting in comparison, with Encosta De Lago having had more Australian winners as a damsire (309 to 290), but Redoute's Choice claiming the honour of having had more stakes winners from his daughters, with 19 as compared to 12.

The late Redoute's Choice claims the honour of having had more stakes winners from his daughters, with 19 as compared to 12 for Encosta De Lago

Encosta De Lago's total Australian prizemoney earnings as a broodmare sire this season of $28,572,416 is a new record, helped along by The Everest victory of his grandson, Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), who is out of his daughter Pinocchio.

Meanwhile, Adelong's (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) recent victory in the Listed June S. saw her damsire Redoute's Choice edge past Encosta De Lago when it comes to total Australian stakes winners from their daughters, with 96 to 95.

Their overall Australian head-to-head broodmare sire record sees Encosta De Lago, who was foaled three years before Redoute's Choice, leading on overall Australian winners, 1502 to 1076, and overall earnings, $170 million to $147 million, but Redoute's Choice is ahead on winners-to-runners (67.9 per cent to 64.5 per cent) and, as mentioned, stakes winners.


Encosta De Lago	1502	95	$169,929,940
Redoute's Choice	1076	96	$146,727,382

Table: Australian career statistics as a broodmare sire

Sires Of Sires

Of course, a substantial legacy is also left through their sire sons. In the case of Redoute's Choice, he has produced upwards of 40 stallions in their own right, headed by Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel, who has been Australia's Champion Sire the past four seasons, and his former barnmate Not A Single Doubt, who sits second on the 2020/21 Australian Sires' Table.

According to Arion, Redoute's Choice features in the pedigree of 72 individual stallions which will stand at stud in Australia in 2021.

"According to Arion, Redoute's Choice features in the pedigree of 72 individual stallions which will stand at stud in Australia in 2021."

Encosta De Lago's influence is also extensive, with nine of his sons at stud in Australia in 2021, while the impact of his late son Northern Meteor is growing significantly. All in all, there are 29 stallions on Australian rosters in 2021 which feature Encosta De Lago in their pedigree.

There are eight current Australian-based stallions which feature both Encosta De Lago and Redoute's Choice in their pedigree, Zoustar, Alabama Express, Invader, Lean Mean Machine, Maschino, My Admiration, Sun City and Zousain.

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Gallery: Some of the current Australian-based stallions which feature both Encosta De Lago and Redoute's Choice in their pedigree

Cut from the same cloth

Going back through their own pedigrees, Encosta De Lago and Redoute's Choice share a similar profile. Both were by American-bred shuttle stallions from the Northern Dancer (Can)-line in Fairy King (USA) and Danehill respectively. They were also both from Australian-bred mares, Shoal Creek (Star Way {GB}) and Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad), which were in turn out of American-bred mares in Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky II {Can}) and Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}).

As racehorses, both forged their racing reputations in the fire of the 1990s Melbourne racing scene. The Emirates Park-bred Encosta De Lago graduated from being a stakes-placed 2-year-old to a Group 1-winning 3-year-old in the 1996 Vic Health Cup (now the Sir Rupert Clarke S.) under the guidance of Lee Freedman before his career was ended after just eight starts.

Bred by Muzaffar Ali Yaseen, Redoute's Choice's racetrack career for trainer Rick Hore-Lacy was similarly brief, lasting just 54 weeks from when he won the Listed Veuve Clicquot S. in February 1999 until when he finished third in the G1 Futurity S. in March 2000.

In between, he won a G1 Blue Diamond S., just seven days after his debut, was famously scratched on the morning of a Golden Slipper S. for which he was favourite, then came back in the spring to win the G1 Manikato S. and the G1 Caulfield Guineas. Further Group 1 glory would follow in the autumn in his 3-year-old season against the older horses in the CF Orr S.

Encosta De Lago entered stud in Australia in 1997, where he initially stood at Blue Gum Farm in Victoria, with his first progeny hitting the track in the 2000/01 season. He was secured by Coolmore Australia in 2003, where he continued his remarkable career until he was pensioned in 2014. He also shuttled one season to Coolmore Ireland in 2007.

On his passing in 2018, Coolmore Australia Principal Tom Magnier reflected on his amazing legacy.

"Encosta will be greatly missed by all who dealt with him at Coolmore over the last 14 years," he said.

"He was a horse with a beautiful nature and we were incredibly lucky to have him. His legacy will live on through his sireline descendants like Zoustar and Rubick, as well as through his daughters, who have already made him Champion Broodmare Sire.”

"He (Encosta De Lago) was a horse with a beautiful nature and we were incredibly lucky to have him. His legacy will live on through his sireline descendants like Zoustar and Rubick." - Tom Magnier

Redoute's Choice's stallion career began at Arrowfield Stud in 2000, with his first crop hitting the track in 2003/04. He would serve 19 seasons in Australia, as well as two seasons in France at Haras de Bonneval, before he died age 22 in March 2019. He was remembered as a horse of enormous significance by Arrowfield.

"Redoute’s Choice is such a big part of all our lives, and right now it’s hard to imagine Arrowfield without him," Arrowfield Chairman, John Messara, said at the time.

“He has given us so much, Arrowfield has been built on his back and he’s allowed all of us and many, many other people to fulfil our dreams and ambitions."

The late Redoute's Choice with Paul and John Messara | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

* all stats sourced from Arion and accurate as of July 6, 2021

Redoute's Choice

Encosta De Lago

Arrowfield Stud

Coolmore Stud

Blue Gum Farm

Broodmare Sires

King wins out in memorable Kensington juvenile battle

Written by

Jessica Owers

6 min read

The I Am Invincible juvenile King Of Sparta brought up his sire’s 197th individual Australian winner of the season on Wednesday in a race that proved a battle of the bluebloods at Kensington.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

The midweek meeting at Sydney on Wednesday was somewhat overshadowed by Grafton’s black-type card, but Randwick nevertheless hosted a substantial raceday on the Kensington surface, with the 2-year-old event of particular interest.

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The Harry Angel at Darley Plate, a 1150 metre scamper for the juveniles, had an 11-horse field, headed by equal favourites King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) and Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice). And that’s exactly how they came home, with the pair fighting out the finish, 3.9l ahead of third-placegetter Lucky Sun (Maurice {Jpn}).

Just a nose separated King Of Sparta’s win from Military Expert, the latter having his first racecourse appearance for trainer Annabel Neasham.

King Of Sparta, on the other hand, was vastly more experienced in the Newgate-China Horse Club colours. Recently gelded, the youngster was having his fifth race for the Snowden team and, off the back of two recent trial wins, Wednesday’s race proved King Of Sparta’s debut win.

It was also a nice result for his owners, who have waited patiently for the horse to hit the winner's circle.

China Horse Club and Newgate Bloodstock, in partnership with Starlight Racing, paid $700,000 for King Of Sparta as a yearling at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Good types, good legs

King Of Sparta is the fourth foal from the Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) mare Octavia. She was a very good racemare herself, winning the G3 WW Cockram S. and Listed Kevin Hayes S. in 2013.

Three of her foals have been winners, while her dam, Filming (Brocco {USA}), is a half-sister to South African stakes winner Sweet Sheila (Kenmare {Fr}), who in turn produced a pair of Group 1 winners in Zirconeum (SAF) (Jallad {USA}) and Stellite (SAF) (Fard {Ire}).

King Of Sparta as a yearling

Octavia was trained through her 21-start career by Michael Moroney, who purchased her for just $42,000 from Newgate Farm at the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Her first two foals, both by I Am Invincible and full siblings to King Of Sparta, sold for $200,000 and $625,000 respectively.

She is now owned by Yarraman Park in partnership with Hilton Cope.

“Octavia was a pretty good racemare,” said Arthur Mitchell, director of Yarraman Park. “She throws good sorts, and I Am Invincible tends to throw pretty good types with good legs. The first foal out of her was quite a smart horse, but this horse (King Of Sparta) was a much better type. He was bigger. First foals can do that.”

"Octavia was a pretty good racemare. She throws good sorts, and I Am Invincible tends to throw pretty good types with good legs." - Arthur Mitchell

Octavia has a weanling filly by Zoustar on the ground at Yarraman, which Mitchell said will head to Magic Millions' January Sale. The mare will foal to I Am Invincible in the spring, one of about 140 foaling mares on the property.

“She’s had a few little issues,” the studmaster said. “She picked up something very strange and spent a bit of time in the veterinary hospital. It wasn’t colic, but it was some form of gut infection, and it’s taken a lot of sorting out. She’s back on-farm now, but only with restricted access, so we’re molly-coddling her until she gets over it.”

Octavia when racing

The 200 Club

King Of Sparta brought up I Am Invincible’s 197th individual winner this season, a figure that is very likely to tip over 200 with three weeks of the season still to go.

“In I Am Invincible’s case, it’s another string to his bow,” Mitchell said. “But it does mean they (the progeny) are basically all very sound horses that get to the races. To have that many individual winners means they are getting to the races, and they’re winning.”

I Am Invincible had a treble at Randwick on the day with 3-year-old fillies Skedaddle and Rosa Moyessi also winning, while he also had Barragunda win at Sandown. That trio were all previous winners this season.

The stallion will cover between 170 and 180 mares this season, with Mitchell adding that those figures were enough to keep the horse busy.

“We’ve cut his numbers back a little,” the studmaster said. “But his book is pretty packed already.”

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And with good reason.

I Am Invincible is in the rarest of air right now, siring more individual seasonal winners than any sire before him. He leads the table by wins too, and is currently third on the Australian General Sires’ Table by earnings (behind Written Tycoon and Not A Single Doubt).

Destined for bigger things

King Of Sparta’s win at the Kensington meeting was full of merit.

After jumping from barrier four with jockey Regan Bayliss, the 2-year-old gelding took a handy position throughout and galloped down the centre of the straight in the closing stages.

He was tackled gallantly by Military Expert, and it turned into a two-horse race through the final furlongs before the gelding just got the better of the colt.

"The first and second horses (King Of Sparta and Military Expert) can be destined for bigger things, and as far as our bloke is concerned, it’s for sure." - Paul Snowden

“The first and second horses can be destined for bigger things, and as far as our bloke is concerned, it’s for sure,” said co-trainer Paul Snowden. “It’s always hard to loom up and put a field away on this track. It just seems to be quite difficult at times, and he always looked like he was going to win the race, but he just got there.”

Snowden said King Of Sparta was headed to the spring herein.

“Those early races, even in Melbourne, come up pretty quick now for these types of horses, so we’ll just sit back and take stock,” the trainer said. “I know he’ll pull up well because he was pretty forward today, so there’s no issue there. It’s just a matter of placing him in the right races now.”

Both King Of Sparta and Military Expert were the two most expensive juveniles in the race.

Military Expert is a $1.1 million graduate of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the second foal from the unraced GSA Bloodstock mare Gresset (Hussonet {USA}), whose second dam, Darazina (Fr) (Labus {Fr}), has a glittering pedigree of European stakes winners behind her.

Military Expert as a yearling

I Am Invincible

King Of Sparta

Military Expert

Kensington

Yarraman Park

Arthur Mitchell

Thoroughbreds Are Go

3 min read

Caroline Searcy's Thoroughbreds Are Go is back and will run weekly in TDN AusNZ. This series encourages the equestrian world to take on this highly athletic and intelligent breed and educate owners and trainers on finding the best home for thoroughbreds away from racing.

This week’s episode

Week of July 5, 2021

In this week's episode of Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG), Caroline speaks to Godolphin's Vin Cox and Thoroughbred Industry Careers' (TIC) Lindy Maurice, who targeted the Coonabarabran Interschools' Expo in Northern NSW to recruit a new generation of horse-loving kids into the racing and breeding industry in an exciting range of careers.

Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG) presents a story on Sport Horse Association's Krissy Harris, and Caroline also speaks to trainers and sponsors Adrian Bott and John Cooper who explain why sponsorship is so important to encourage equestrians to take on thoroughbreds in competition in Australia.

Arrowfield Stud's 'strapper stories' features Hayley Bray and the horse she used to care for in training, Global Royal who only raced once but is now with Hayley for life.

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Earlier episodes

Week of June 21, 2021

In this week's episode of Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG), Caroline speaks to leading NSW jockey Jeff Penza and his wife Michelle, about riding off the track racehorses as showjumpers. Jeff explains his passion for the breed and how they helped him return to race riding after a severe fall.

Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG) also presents a story on Victoria's Lou Abey, who is repurposing retired broodmares as riding horses. Arrowfield Stud's 'strapper stories' features Alison Sketcher with recently retired Mystyko, who is already performing in the show ring.

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THOROUGHBREDS ARE GO - EP 3 2021

Week of June 21, 2021

In this week's episode of Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG), Caroline speaks to Jen Hughes who explains the programs implemented by Racing Victoria's Off The Track, aimed at accrediting re-trainers and encouraging thoroughbred uptake in the equestrian world.

Caroline also speaks to Triple Olympian Vicki Roycroft who is still riding competitive thoroughbreds and loving them! Along with Godolphin's Gillian Thompson who owns a popular ex-racehorse in Arrowfield Stud's 'strappers stories'.

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THOROUGHBREDS ARE GO - EP 2 2021

Week of June 14, 2021

In this week's episode of Thoroughbreds Are Go (TAG), Caroline takes us to the Interschools Expo in Coonabarabran, NSW, which attracted hundreds of kids and horses, including many thoroughbreds. Hear from Godolphin's Vin Cox about why this event is so important.

Kingstar Farm brings you a story on Krissy Harris and the Thoroughbred Sport Horse Association, who lead the way as an independent organisation rewarding riders for taking on thoroughbreds.

Also, in this episode of TAG Arrowfield Stud's 'strappers stories', Caroline speaks to Amber Edmeads from John Sargent's Randwick stable about her love for an ex-racehorse that has gone from birth to racing and now life as an eventer in Tasmania.

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Caroline Searcy

Thoroughbreds Are Go

Southern Lad pips the favourite in the Ramornie

5 min read

Written by Jessica Owers

The 53rd running of the Listed Ramornie H. occurred on Wednesday afternoon for the Clarence River Jockey Club, it being Day Three of the Grafton Gold July Cup Carnival. A robust field of 16 headed to post, with the Michael Costa-trained Phobetor (Dream Ahead {USA}) a pre-post favourite.

The lightly raced 5-year-old gelding justified the faith in the closing stages of the race, and looked at one point like the winner.

However, the John O’Shea-trained gelding Southern Lad (Ocean Park {NZ}) was too good for jockey Christian Reith, and he put away the favourite inside the closing stages by 0.42l.

Southern Lad was a last-start second in the Listed Hinkler H. at Eagle Farm three weeks ago, a race that saw the talented filly Away Game (Snitzel) finish third. He was therefore on-song for the Ramornie on Wednesday, and started second-favourite or thereabouts.

Overall, the 6-year-old Randwick gelding has raced 32 times for 6 wins and 13 placings, and is just shy of $600,000 in prizemoney. He has been a consistent warrior for his large ownership group, headed by Champion Thoroughbreds and its principal, Jason Abrahams.

Something Special

Champion Thoroughbreds purchased Southern Lad in 2016 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The horse cost $75,000 and has returned that sum eight-fold.

He is the third foal from the notable broodmare Distinctive Lass (Orientate {USA}), who was bred by Arrowfield Stud and has produced two stakes winners in Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and the five-time Listed winner Kuro (NZ) (Denman).

Southern Lad as a yearling

This is the exceptional family of Special (Habituate {Ire}), who was a sprinting queen through 1987 and 1988.

Special won three Group 1s, including the Lightning S. and Newmarket H., as well as the G2 AJ Moir S. and G3 Bobbie Lewis Qty H.

As a broodmare, Special got the stakes winners Stavka (Xaar {GB}) and Specialize (Bluebird {USA}), but she was also responsible, through her daughter Lady Special (Alzao {USA}), for the stakes winners Bomber Hill (Air De France {USA}), his full brother Camargue and Special Song (Song Of Tara {Ire}).

Special when racing

Special was a 10-time winner during her exceptional career, and ran into the likes of Placid Ark, Snippets and Rubiton.

Distinctive Lass hasn’t had the same stellar career, but her first foal, the stakes winner Kuro, was purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds for $170,000 in 2013. Kahma Lass went to David Ellis’ Te Akau Racing in 2019 for $290,000.

A good Lad

Jason Abrahams had an airline ticket and hotel booked for the Grafton meeting this week, but Sydney’s ongoing lockdown forced him to cancel those plans, and the Champion Thoroughbreds principal wasn’t trackside to see Southern Lad win the Ramornie.

“It would have been tremendous to be there,” Abrahams said. “My dad’s got a share in Berdibek, who is second-favourite for the Cup tomorrow, so I was keen to get up there and see both races, but we’ve just had to cheer them on from the office at home instead.”

“It would have been tremendous to be there. My dad’s got a share in Berdibek, who is second-favourite for the Cup tomorrow, so I was keen to get up there and see both races." - Jason Abrahams

Southern Lad is the chief flagbearer for Champion Thoroughbreds at the moment and, with his half-brother Kuro a previous runner in the same silks, it’s a family with whom Abrahams is well-acquainted.

“We knew that Kuro was a talented horse, so when Southern Lad went to the Sale we were keen to look at him,” he said. “We liked Ocean Park as well, so the pedigree did attract our eye. But he’s not the biggest individual, so we were lucky in a way because we liked him enough to want to buy him, and we managed to land on him for $75,000.”

It was a good price, all things considered.

At the time in 2016, Kuro was showing promise but little else, and the pedigree certainly wasn’t as hot as it is looking now. Southern Lad has also proved a brilliant doer for his owners, causing next to no headaches.

“He’s sound as a bell,” Abrahams said. “He wouldn’t even know what the vet looks like, and he always puts his best foot forward. He’s reached his ceiling as far as giving us his best at the moment, and it’s always hard when they reach that kind of open stakes-grade to keep winning races when they’re doing their best.”

Jason Abrahams and John O'Shea

Abrahams said Southern Lad wasn’t a Group 1 horse, but that he’s been unlucky throughout his career with poor draws and bad circumstances.

“I’ve always felt his benchmark rating was a bit higher than it should have been, and he was unlucky not to have won a few more races,” he said. “He was heavily weighted in his younger days, probably because of his consistency, and in the June S. last year he was second to Classique Legend, and you just don’t come up against Group 1 horses in the June S. in the middle of winter.”

Southern Lad similarly ran into Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) in the G3 Southern Cross S. in February, also finishing second.

“He has always seemed to find a horse on the way through, and he’s been perennially unlucky,” Abrahams said. “But we know he’s consistent and we always know we’ll get a good run out of him. He just needs things to fall his way in the race and then he’s a chance.”

Southern Lad

Champion Thoroughbreds

Jason Abrahams

Ramornie H.

Short Stories tops Magic Millions Online Sale

4 min read

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

Written by Bren O'Brien

Recent Morphettville winner Short Stories (Shamus Award) has topped the Magic Millions Online Sale (5-7 July) after selling to Shawn Ricardo Bloodstock for $120,000.

The 3-year-old, who had been purchased by trainer Will Clarken for $26,000 from the Inglis Melbourne Gold Sale as a yearling, has had four starts and broke his maiden with a Saturday win at Morphettville on June 5. He followed that up with a second in a BM68 race two weeks later.

Bred by Golden Grove Stud, he is out of the Show A Heart mare Ravaged Heart, whose dam, Devil Inside (Langfuhr {Can}), was a multiple stakes winner.

The new ownership group have the chance to begin recouping their money from this Saturday with Short Stories entered for an 1100 metre race at Gawler.

It was the highlight result of a promising Online Sale for Magic Millions, with an aggregate of $831,700 across 54 horses sold.

Short Stories sold for $120,000 to Shawn Ricardo Bloodstock

"I thought the Sale, on a whole, having a $120,000 Sale-topper and a gross of $800,000 for a relatively small number of horses, was a great result," Magic Millions Managing Director, Barry Bowditch, said.

"We are serious about getting into this online space and getting our vendors to get behind our platform. We thought it was a really good start to that."

"We are serious about getting into this online space and getting our vendors to get behind our platform. We thought it was a really good start to that." - Barry Bowditch

Magic Millions has invested in an online presence over the past 18 months, with monthly Online Sales scheduled throughout the remainder of 2021.

"There's definitely plenty of room for us to be active in this area and it’s an important part of our game and we are serious about making it work. We appreciate the support and work of the vendors and buyers today and we look forward to growing this part of the business in the months ahead," Bowditch said.

In other major results, unraced Astern gelding Mafaaheem was secured for $97,500 to Hastings Bloodstock after being offered by Lindsay Park on behalf of Shadwell.

Mafaaheem, a 2-year-old, has only made one appearance at a trial, finishing fourth at Tatura last month, but is a half-brother to four winners and is out of the Redoute's Choice mare Maraaseem, who was a city winner.

The second dam is the Listed winner Warm Smytzer (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who is closely related to the Group 1 winner Clear Rose (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}).

Mafaaheem sold for $97,500 to Hastings Bloodstock

A share in first season Leneva Park stallion Fierce Impact (Jpn) was sold to Carlton Traders Syndicate for $70,000.

The share entitles the buyer to two service rights for each of the first three years that the multiple Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) stands at stud, and one per year thereafter.

Fierce Impact, who alongside his strong race record, boasts a pedigree that includes his Group 3-winning dam Keiai Gerbera (Jpn) (Smarty Jones {USA}) and his Group 1-winning brother Keiai Natuique (Jpn), stands his first season at Leneva Park for $16,500 (inc GST) in 2021.

The 4-year-old gelding Dimaggio (Deep Field), twice a winner and recently a close-up second at Pakenham for Tony and Calvin McEvoy, was sold for $65,000 to Killanoola Thorughbreds, while 5-year-old gelding Bumper Blast (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), a four-time winner when in the stables of Robert Hickmott, was secured for $60,000 by Matthews Bloodstock.

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Meanwhile, a 60 per cent share in the unraced 2-year-old Red Hawk (Deep Field) was purchased by Belmont Bloodstock for $60,000.

Red Hawk, trained by the McEvoys, was a $260,000 purchase for McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and is out of a half-sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Zipping (Danehill {USA}).

The top-priced broodmare of the Sale was Super Longlea (More Than Ready {USA}), who was offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds in foal to Shalaa (Ire) and was secured by Gervase Park Stud for $38,000.

Short Stories

Magic Millions Online Sale

Barry Bowditch

Mafaaheem

Deep Impact

Dimaggio

Bumper Blast

Fierce Impact

Black type preview: Grafton

2 min read

The Purrfect storm

Grafton, Listed The Maclean Hotel Grafton Cup, $200,000, 2350m

Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) can bounce back here after finishing 12l second behind boom gelding Incentivise (Shamus Award) last start.

The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained gelding hasn’t been at his best this time in but if he can recapture his form when winning last year’s G1 Metropolitan H., he will prove extremely hard to beat despite carrying 60.5kgs.

Talented mare Purrfect Deal (Dundeel {NZ}) dominated her rival's last start at this track when winning by 3.5l.

She steps right up in class here but gets a significant weight relief for this event. Expect her to land in a prominent position from barrier six and prove hard to hold out late.

Berdibek (Dark Angel {Ire}) presents on a quick backup after finishing down the track at Rosehill over 1800 metres on Saturday. He draws awkwardly in barrier 13 but expect him to relish stepping back up in trip.

Parry Sound (Pierro) has built a reputation as a non-winner after finishing in the minor placings at his last sixth starts. The Bjorn Baker-trained gelding will again be right around the mark after finding a similar class to what he contested just under three weeks ago at Rosehill.

Black type preview

Grafton

Black type results: Grafton

2 min read

Listed Grafton District Services Club Ramornie H., $200,000, 1200m

Race summary

Southern Lad (Ocean Park {NZ}) reigned supreme in a fiercely contested edition of this competitive midweek feature.

The John O’Shea-trained gelding stepped quickly into stride but was restrained by rider Christain Reith to settle in a midfield position with cover.

Reith proceeded to bide his time before presenting towards the middle of the track on straightening. From there he trucked up to the leaders under hands and heels before asking his mount to extend.

Southern Lad responded and let down with a strong turn of foot to outlast a brave Phobetor (Dream Ahead {USA}) over the final 100 metres.

Fender (Toronado {Ire}) endured a soft run in transit and battled his way into third along the rail to round out the minors, while rank outsider Phantom Falcon (NZ) (Swiss Ace) finished a distant fourth.

Pedigree notes

Bred by Nearco Stud, Southern Lad was a $75,000 2016 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Champion Thoroughbreds via the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

He is the sixth foal out of the Listed-placed Distinctive Lass (Orientate {USA}), thus making him a half-brother to G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and six-time Listed winner and dual Group 1 placegetter Kuro (NZ) (Denman).

Distinctive Lass’ grandam is the three-time Group 1-winning sprinter and high-class broodmare Special (Habituate {Ire}), who herself is responsible for the three-time Group 1 winner Bomber Bill (Air De France {USA}) and G2 Thoroughbred Club S. winner Camargue (Air De France {USA}).

Southern Lad’s sire Ocean Park (NZ) is continuing to cement his status as a producer of top-class racehorses. He is now responsible for 10 individual stakes winners this season, including Group 1 winners Kolding (NZ) and Tofane (NZ).

Ocean Park will stand this breeding season at Waikato Stud for a service fee of NZ$30,000 + GST off the back of his progeny's recent success.

Black type results

Grafton

Southern Lad

Ocean Park

Daily News Wrap

First for Freedman

Safeeya (Fastnet Rock) gifted legendary trainer Lee Freedman his first victory on Australian soil since July 2011 at Eagle Farm on Wednesday.

The Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum-owned filly was Freedman’s second runner since returning from an extended stint in Singapore.

Safeeya is out of the unraced Star On High (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), who herself is a half-sister to five stakes winners. She also hails from a second damline littered in stakes success.

Maldivian passes

Mark Kavanagh’s three-time Group 1-winning gelding Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) died on Monday, aged 18.

The 2008 G1 Cox Plate hero lived out his latter years as a paddock nanny to yearlings and weanlings at Victoria’s Cityview Farm.

Arqana August catalogue revealed

The Arqana August Yearling Sale will feature a catalogue of 355 blue-blooded colts and fillies as it returns to its standard slot in the calendar from August 14 to 16 in Deauville.

This year's catalogue boasts 19 siblings or half-siblings to Group 1 winners and in Part I of the Sale, over half of the yearlings selected are out of black-type mares and a quarter of the yearlings are siblings or half-siblings to Group winners.

Some of the best European and international sires will be represented, including Galileo (Ire), Frankel (GB), Dubawi (Ire), Camelot (GB), Wootton Bassett (GB), American Pharoah (USA), Fastnet Rock and Zoustar.

One of the Sale's headline acts is Lot 120, a filly by Galileo who herself is a half-sister to G1 Epsom Derby winner Wings Of Eagles (Fr) (Pour Moi {Ire}).

Hoops in the clear

Queensland Police and Racing NSW have cleared Champion jockeys Hugh Bowman and James McDonald of any wrongdoing after the pair were alleged to be in breach of local COVID-19 orders.

A police investigation was set in motion last week when A Current Affair aired footage of both riders racing cane toads in Port Douglas.

"Both jockeys were interviewed by Queensland Police and they were found not to be in breach of any Queensland COVID-19 orders and therefore, no action was taken against them," a Racing NSW statement read.

Class of 2021 graduate

The Godolphin Flying Start Class of 2021 graduated last Friday via a Zoom Webinar and were joined online by over 100 family, friends, and mentors from across the globe.

The 2021 graduates comprised of four men and eight women from America, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France, Argentina, Japan and Australia.

The final two diplomas were presented to Lowri Allen and Emma Coleman, who achieved the joint highest grades among the 2021 graduating group, both attaining Distinction awards.

“On behalf of the global Godolphin team I congratulate this graduating class and wish them success and encouragement for their futures in the thoroughbred industry,” said Joe Osborne, managing director of Godolphin Ireland and trustee of Godolphin Flying Start, said.

The next opportunity to apply for the Godolphin Flying Start two-year program is January 2022, and for more information about the course please visit the below link.

Find out more

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Lindsay and Little to join forces

Multiple Group 1-winning trainer Colin Little is set to join fellow Caulfield-based horseman Matthew Lindsay in partnership from the beginning of next season.

Lindsay said the application will be reviewed by Racing Victoria in the coming days.

“I had my first part-time job with Colin in my high school years just chipping away here on the weekends,” Lindsay told Racing.com.

“I didn’t know much about horses but he showed me the ropes early doors, so I’m looking forward to hopefully getting a few winners together.”

Avalon nears return

Trainer Shane Nichols has confirmed that dual Group 1-winning gelding Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) has pulled up well following a soft trial victory at Traralgon over 950 metres on Wednesday.

Nichols said the 6-year-old gelding will resume in the G3 Bletchingly S. at Caulfield later this month.

"He has been able to have a nice eight weeks off and then a nice long build-up. So, he is really sound and well,” Nichols told Racing.com.

Streets Of Avalon

Axe stays put

Queensland-based trainer Michael Costa has opted to keep talented sprinter Axe (Written Tycoon) at home after bypassing Wednesday’s Listed Grafton District Services Club Ramorine H. at Grafton.

The 4-year-old gelding was withdrawn from the feature event after drawing barrier 20. He also held nominations for a 1300 metre contest at Rockhampton on Friday and a benchmark affair at Randwick on Saturday.

“He’s probably got one more run left in him this preparation and I’ve been mulling over whether to start once more or send him to the paddock,” Costa told Racing.com.

“However, Jag (Guthmann-Chester) rode him in the gallop on Tuesday and he came back with a lot of confidence about him being able to start one more time.”

Baffert suit in motion

The New York Racing Association (NYRA) on Tuesday gave notice to a federal judge that it intends to file a formal motion to dismiss trainer Bob Baffert's civil complaint, which seeks to overturn NYRA's ban against him.

On May 17, NYRA informed the Hall of Fame trainer with the highly publicised string of recent equine drug positives that he was temporarily not welcome to stable or race at the association's three tracks, Saratoga Race Course, Belmont Park and Aqueduct Racetrack.

That ban, NYRA said at the time, would be re-evaluated once the Kentucky Horse Racing Commission adjudicates Medina Spirit's (USA) (Protonico {USA}) positive Betamethasone tests that came back after the colt won the G1 Kentucky Derby.

Daily News Wrap

Looking Ahead - July 8

Cranbourne, Race 1, 1pm AEST, Designer Coolrooms 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1200m

Dar Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) was one of a group of 10 yearlings which John Sadler purchased on behalf of Bon Ho at last year's Magic Millions, with two of them already notching up victories in Starry Legend (Zoustar) and Cheerful Legend (Shalaa {Ire}). This colt cost $340,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft and is the first foal from the multiple stakes winner Cavaloce (Testa Rossa), who is out of a half-sister to the Group 1-winning mare Reactive (Geiger Counter {USA}).

Dar Legend as a yearling

Dar Legend has had a few jump-outs at Caulfield and at the most recent he looked very professional jumping out well and winning from the front. He has drawn barrier one here on debut and has experienced jockey Joe Bowditch in the saddle.

Cranbourne, Race 2, 1.30pm AEST, TAB Long May We Play Mdn, $35,000, 1400m

Peter Moody gives a debut to Tavistock (NZ) filly Killarney Kiss (NZ) after her recent Pakenham jump-out, where she finished just on the heels of the winner in a promising effort. She is bred to handle the Heavy conditions and her late sire Tavistock is having a career-best season with his progeny in Australia, with 100 winners.

Killarney Kiss (NZ) as a yearling

Her dam, Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) won a G1 Telegraph H. and has already produced the Hawke’s Bay winner Viking (NZ) (Savabeel). This filly's grandam Irish Belle (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) was stakes-placed and is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 winner Final Destination (O'Reilly {NZ}). She was offered through the Milan Park draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where she cost NZ$150,000.

Kembla Grange, Race 4, 1.45pm AEST, Stephen Hood 2YO Mdn, $35,000, 1000m

In what is a quality maiden with a host of well-bred 2-year-olds, the Annabel Neasham-trained Love To Dream (Written Tycoon) takes the eye off the back of her powerhouse trial performance at Wyong, where she led all the way and strode clear to win by 4.3l.

Love To Dream as a yearling

She was initially purchased for $800,000 as a yearling by Aquis through the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and was then offered through the Blue Sky Premium Consignment at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where Mitchell Bloodstock paid $325,000 for her.

She is the first foal out of the Listed winner Hijack Hussy (Hussonet {USA}) from an extended family that includes Group 1 winners Masked Party (Marscay), Festal (Vain) Inspiration (Flying Spur), Wandjina, Dracula and Complacent.

Looking Back

Military Expert (Redoute's Choice), a $1.1 million yearling, was picked out for this column on Wednesday and ran an excellent race to be beaten a short margin by King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) in his debut at Kensington. He should be breaking his maiden shortly.

The other we highlighted from Kensington, Cat D'Oro (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) finished fifth in his race and will hopefully benefit from his first-up run.

We didn't get chance to see our other selection, The Velvet Queen (Universal Ruler), as the Belmont races were abandoned.

Looking Ahead

2YO & 3YO Winners By Sire

First Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

First Season Sires' Results

Results: Wednesday, July 7

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Thursday, July 8

Second Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

Second Season Sires’ Results

Results: Wednesday, July 7

Second Season Sires’ Runners