The racetrack deeds of both Magna Grecia and St Mark's Basilica are proving to be two of Australian breeder Bob Scarborough's finest achievements, with their dam, Cabaret (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) establishing her credentials as the most elite and rare of blue hens.

Purchased by Scarborough through BBA Ireland’s Adrian Nicoll at the Tattersalls December Mares’ Sale in 2011 for 600,000 gns (AU$1.19 million), Cabaret, a Group 3 winner on the track, took until her fifth foal to produce an elite racehorse.

The Invincible Spirit (Ire) colt secured a price of 360,000 gns (AU$714,420) through the 2016 Tattersalls December Foal Sale. Purchased by M.V. Magnier, Mayfair Speculators and Peter and Ross Doyle, he would be named Magna Grecia and, like his dam, would join the Ballydoyle Stables of Aidan O'Brien.

Less than two years later, he would win the G1 Doncaster Futurity S. and he followed that up with a career-defining success in the G1 2000 Guineas the following May. The authoritative victory confirmed his future as a dual hemisphere Coolmore stallion. It was the final racetrack success of his six-start career.

That same year, his half-brother by Siyouni (Fr) came up through the draft of Norelands Stud at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale. It was no surprise to see M.V. Magnier again win the day in the ring, purchasing him for 1.3 million guineas (AU$2.58 million).

Hopes were obviously high for the colt named St Mark's Basilica, but not even the phenomenally successful Magnier family could have predicted what the colt was going to do on the racetrack under O'Brien's expert eye.

Like his half-brother, he was a Group 1 winner at two, winning the G1 Dewhurst S., but he would plot a slightly different path in his 3-year-old campaign resuming with a victory in the G1 Poule d'Essai des Poulains at Longchamp before claiming the G1 Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly.

St Mark's Basilica has entered rare territory with his most recent two wins against the older horses, thrashing Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 Coral Eclipse, and then, last Saturday, prevailing in an epic renewal of the G1 Irish Champion S.

"He's just an exceptional horse," O'Brien said after the race. "We're so lucky to have him, and it's to keep him safe now and have him to go off to stud, which is going to be very exciting for us all.

"He has all the Galileo-strong qualities, in that he is genuine and his head goes down when you ask him to lengthen. And then he is getting the speed from Siyouni, who is by Pivotal, so he is a beautiful blend of speed and determination."

Whether that it his final run, or there is still a chapter to be written in his racetrack story is yet to be seen, but his destiny seems to be to occupy the same stallion barns as his half-brother, in Ireland, and likely at Jerrys Plains in the Hunter Valley as well.

Two Cabaret stars

Magna Grecia's dual Group 1 winner from a proven, successful sireline in Australia, didn't need St Mark's Basilica to be an out-and-out champion to prove his own stallion credentials, but his half-brother's emergence as a champion through this year certainly can't hurt.

Now embarking on his second season at Coolmore Australia, having served a book of 122 in his first season, there is a sense of good timing about what his half-brother has been able to do through his 3-year-old campaign.

"Magna Grecia is the only son of Invincible Spirit to win Group 1s at both two and three years – a 2000 Guineas winner out of a Galileo mare just like exciting young sire Night Of Thunder – and an outstanding physical specimen," Coolmore Australia's Stud Manager John Kennedy told TDN AusNZ.

"St Mark’s Basilica is thought to be one of the best horses to go through Ballydoyle in many years, and his five straight Group 1 victories have certainly served to strengthen the already impeccable credentials of Magna Grecia as a stallion prospect."

The greatest advertisement for a young stallion is often not a burgeoning pedigree page, but what they can produce with their early crops, and with Magna Grecia's foals arriving across Australia over the past six weeks, strong first impressions are being made.

Evergreen impressions

At the Bott family's Evergreen Stud Farm, a Magna Grecia filly out of Slippery Satin (Benicio), arrived on August 27, and early signs are very positive.

"We are very happy with her. She's a nice, leggy, attractive filly, who has got a lovely head on her. She's got good strength, moves well, with a good action. We are looking forward to seeing her turn into a lovely horse," Aaron Bott said.

Slippery Satin, the half-sister to Group 1 winner Great Shot (Magnus) and stakes winner Gawne (Flying Spur), has produced three winners already.

Bott said the decision to send her to the son of Invincible Spirit was made on the basis of the usual criteria of the stallion's pedigree, type and race performance.

"His race record and race performance is very strong, and type is such a big thing here in Australia. That sireline is proven here in Australia as well," he said.

"We sent a couple of other mares to him last year. We have got a couple more to foal yet and we are looking forward to seeing the others. He's a gorgeous horse himself and he looks as though he is stamping them."

Bott indicated Evergreen would be sending mares back to the Coolmore stallion this year, perhaps the best endorsement of the first impressions the filly has made.

Fairhill filly standing out

Mike and Debbie O'Donnell of Fairhill Farm welcomed a Magna Grecia filly out of High Specs (High Chapparal {Ire}) on August 9 and have been suitably impressed by her early development.

"She has got a lot of quality. She's a very nice and tidy filly," Mike O'Donnell said. "There is no doubt Magna Grecia is stamping them, and there is a bit of High Chapparal influence there with her too."

Fairhill Farm purchased High Specs, who is out of stakes-winning Flying Spur mare Creative Plan, for $50,000 through this year's Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, in foal to Magna Grecia.

She may be the only mare on Fairhill to foal to the stallion this season, but the impression her filly has made will likely see him as part of their breeding plans moving forward.

"It certainly influences a person's thinking when you get a nice filly like that and see some of the photos that others are putting out. He seems well worth a try," O'Donnell said.

"When you consider what his family is doing currently, he's got that very good half-brother in the Northern Hemisphere, it augurs well for him."

On the home front

At Coolmore's Jerrys Plains property, the first Magna Grecia foal to arrive was a colt out of Sucker Punch (Encosta De Lago) on August 10. Two days later, another colt out of Cat's Wish (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) was foaled.

"Both of them are standouts in their respective paddocks," Kennedy said.

"Each of them have continued to please us in their progression, with both of them possessing many of the same qualities of their sire. The Sucker Punch colt is a proper foal, with great scope and a wonderful rich colour. He is a real ‘head turner’. The Cat's Wish colt is a strong and powerful-looking foal, and he looks fast. We couldn’t be happier with him."

Both colts are out of families with strong Australian pedigrees. Cat's Wish is out of Mighty One (Giant's Causeway {USA}), the half-sister to the dam of G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Catchy (Fastnet Rock).

Sucker Punch is out of G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Merlene (Danehill {USA}), which is the family of G1 VRC Oaks winner Dear Demi (Dehere {USA}), as well as fellow Group 1 winners Miss Pennymoney (Brocco {USA}) and Capitalist.

Feedback Coolmore has sourced from those breeders who supported Magna Grecia in his first season has been overwhelmingly positive.

"Magna Grecia was a real ‘talking horse’ last year amongst the first-season sires. He is one of the best-looking horses you will ever see and thankfully his foals have inherited many of his redeeming qualities," Kennedy said.

"One thing common amongst all of them, both at Coolmore and at other farms throughout the Hunter Valley, is their great colour, good limbs and quality heads."

Star siblings could be set to unite

There is a strong possibility that come the 2022 breeding season in Australia, as Magna Grecia's second crop hits the ground, Australian breeders will also be assessing the possibility of sending their mares to St Mark's Basilica.

That's something that excites the team at Coolmore Australia.

"St Mark’s Basilica is an extremely rare proposition, having the speed and precocity to win over 1200 metres as a 2-year-old, with enough class to stretch out and win the French Derby and Irish Champion S. as a 3-year-old," Kennedy said.

"He has now won five Group 1 races in a row, including the Dewhurst S. as a juvenile, and is arguably the most exciting sire prospect in the world. Given the success of Siyouni in Australia, there is no doubt that he would be extremely popular as a stallion in this part of the world."

With two of Cabaret's sons so well-positioned to make an impact with Coolmore, Kennedy says there is a great gratitude to the foresight of Scarborough.

"It is such a great achievement by his Australian breeder Bob Scarborough to produce two Champions in such quick succession," he said.

As for what is coming next for Cabaret, her 2-year-old Siyouni (Fr) colt named Paris Lights (Ire) was retained by his breeder after passing in short of his 700,000 gns (AU$1.39 million) reserve last year and is in work with Jessica Harrington. She foaled a Kingman (GB) colt his year and is in foal to Kingman again.

“I’m still waiting for a filly to keep and race so we’ll see what happens. She’s still young enough to hopefully produce a couple of fillies for me,” Scarborough told TDN AusNZ earlier this year.

At A Glance:

Market strengthens on second day

If Monday's first session of the Keeneland September Sale was solid, Tuesday's second day of selling and final Book 1 session was very strong. Three yearlings hit the seven-figure mark during the opener, and another eight brought that amount or more on Tuesday, led by the current Sale-topping US$1.6 million (AU$2.19 million) Quality Road colt.

“It was a great couple of days,” said Keeneland President and CEO Shannon Arvin. “We are really excited about the results, about the feeling and the excitement on the grounds. (Keeneland's retired Director of Sales) Geoffrey Russell likes to talk about the hustle and bustle and that was really present.

"It was a really diverse buying bench. Out of the 10 highest prices, there were nine distinct buyers, which is really encouraging to see, including domestic buyers and international participation.

“I think it was electric today with the energy and the optimism,” said Keeneland's Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy.

“I think the sellers were having as much fun as the buyers, which across the board is really what we are trying to accomplish. That's an incredible market when we get to that. The median was US$350,000 (AU$479,500) cumulative over the two days and US$400,000 (AU$548,000) for the session alone.

"I don't think we've ever hit US$400,000 as a session or as close, cumulatively it's just short of 2019, which was a record year. As we go forward, I think it's really encouraging and sets a really good tone for Book 2.”

Fifteen horses sold for US$1 million (AU$1.37 million) or more in 2020, including one in Book 2.

West Bloodstock, agent for Mike Repole's Repole Stable and Vinnie Viola's St. Elias, led all Book 1 buyers with 13 purchases for US$6,760,000 (AU$9.26 million).

“It is strong, but it is Book 1,” Jacob West said midway through Tuesday's session. “They are really nice horses. If Book 1 is weak, we are in trouble. It seems like there is a big appetite around here for this type of horse. Two-turn dirt horses are what everybody wants. If the breeders have that, they are getting rewarded. I am happy for the breeders to get rewarded.”

Gainesway sold three million-dollar horses Tuesday and led all consignors in Book 1 with a gross of US$12,465,000 (AU$17.08 million) on 23 horses sold.

“I thought it was a little spotty in Book 1,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves.

“It was feast or famine and we were really lucky that clients gave us horses that broke through. I really feel fortunate to have come out that way. I am kind of expecting the market to really open up once we get into horses bringing US$300,000. I think it is going to be a feeding frenzy.”

Stonestreet yearlings in demand

Barbara Banke's Stonestreet, which was responsible for the US$2 million (AU$2.74 million) 2020 September topper, was represented by a pair of seven-figure yearlings within the space of an hour at Keeneland Tuesday.

West Point Thoroughbreds and Woodford Racing went to a Sale-topping US$1.6 million (AU$2.19 million) to acquire a son of Quality Road, Hip 300, midway through the session.

Out of Catch The Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}), the yearling is a half-brother to G1 Haskell Invitational winner Girvin (USA) (Tale Of Ekati {USA}) and multiple Grade 1-placed Midnight Bourbon (USA) (Tiznow {USA}). He was consigned by Eaton Sales on behalf of Stonestreet, which will also stay in as a partner on the colt.

“The plan is to gather a partnership together with Woodford Racing, West Point and a few others and Barbara Banke,” Woodford Racing and Lane's End's Bill Farish said after signing the ticket on the colt out back alongside West Point's Terry Finley. “He will go to (First Captain's trainer) Shug McGaughey.”

Of the colt, Farish added, “This guy is a little immature right now. He's a little high behind and I think he will grow quite a bit. He's got a fabulous pedigree and a lot of current things going on in the family, so we're very excited to get him.”

Lane's End was busy selling during Book 1 and Farish said the market has been competitive in the early stages of the September Sale.

“The market is strong,” Farish said. “For horses like this, it's been very, very hard to buy, as you can tell by that price. It's competitive. That's how we hoped it would be.”

Banke's Stonestreet purchased Catch The Moon for US$240,000 (AU$328,800) at the 2015 Keeneland November Sale. The mare is also the dam of G3 Iroquois S. winner Cocked And Loaded (USA) (Colonel John {USA}) and G3 Salvator Mile winner Pirate's Punch (USA) (Shanghai Bobby {USA}).

“He is fabulous looking and, of course, the mare has had some great foals by some lesser stallions,” Banke said after watching the US$1.6-million (AU$2.19 million) yearling go through the ring.

“I am hoping this one takes it all the way. I think I will be back in for (a piece) of him. I am excited about that. He was on my list of favourites. We need sire power; we need another sire.”

Magnier secures Curlin colt

Just some 30 hips later, Stonestreet was represented by another seven-figure yearling when Coolmore's M.V. Magnier outlasted trainer Todd Pletcher to secure a colt by Curlin (USA) (Hip 333) for US$1.3 million (AU$1.78 million) from the Gainesway consignment. The bay colt is out of Dashing Debby (USA) (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1-placed Dawn The Destroyer (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).

“(Gainesway's) Brian Graves thought we would like the horse,” Magnier said after signing the ticket. “And all of our guys liked him as well. Barbara Banke has bred some incredible horses the last couple of years and Curlin has been doing very well.”

Also Tuesday, Magnier purchased a Stonestreet-bred daughter of Justify (USA) (Hip 272) for US$750,000 (AU$1.028 million). The yearling is a half-sister to sprint champion Runhappy (USA) (Super Saver {USA}).

“Our broodmare band is getting better all the time,” Banke said. “We had new ones to add after they race. For example Mia Mischief is in foal this year. (Multiple Group 1 winner) Lady Aurelia has a really nice Curlin colt, but I doubt he will come to the sale. He is my pet.

"We upgrade our broodmare band all the time. We retire some of them, like Lady Aurelia's mother. She has a Justify weanling that is her last. We try to keep the broodmare band current. And really fast. We raise them right.”

One of the Stonestreet-owned yearling passed in was Hip 284, the filly by Medaglia D'Oro out of Group 1 winner Bounding (Lonhro), the half-sister to Aussie Rules (USA) (Curlin {USA}), who secured US$4.1 million (AU$5.6 million) at this Sale two years, ago, She was passed in at US$485,000 (AU$664,450).

Magnier, meanwhile, purchased eight yearlings during the two Book 1 sessions for a total of US$5,775,000 (AU$7.92 million).

“It's plenty strong for the good ones,” Magnier said of the market. “Good horses are making good money, so it's good.”

Mandy Pope strikes for Tapit colt

It is not unusual to see Mandy Pope going to seven figures for a Tapit (USA) yearling, but the longtime breeder typically focuses on fillies to add to her broodmare band. So, it was a bit surprising to find Pope and advisor Todd Quast holding the US$1.3-million (AU$1.78 million) ticket for a colt by Gainesway's record-setting stallion (Hip 331).

“I love Tapit, as everyone knows,” Pope said. “We have been buying a bunch of them. This one was raised at Gainesway and I have a lot of faith in how they raise their horses. I felt like the horse had a good foundation built into him to begin with. He is level-headed unlike some of the Tapits. We are going to go on and make a stallion.”

Bred by Antony Beck's operation, Hip 331 is out of Danzatrice (USA) (Dunkirk {USA}), who is a half-sister to champion Jaywalk (USA) (Cross Traffic {USA}).

It was a banner day for the Gainesway consignment, which was responsible for three million-dollar yearlings. Just two hips after Hip 331, a Curlin colt bred by Stonestreet Stables (Hip 333) equaled his US$1.3-million price tag and earlier in the day, Eddie Woods went to US$1.2 million (AU$1.64 million) to acquire a War Front (USA) filly from the Gainesway shedrow for Seahorse Stables (Hip 223).

“It's been a record day,” said Gainesway's Brian Graves. “We thought we had the chance for the Tapit colt and the Curlin colt to sell that well. The Tapit colt was a homebred of Mr. Beck's. Mandy Pope got him and we are about as excited as we could be. A couple of hips later we got the same amount for Barbara (Banke). We are very excited."

Spendthrift continues supporting its superstar

Despite the passing of its longtime principal and visionary B. Wayne Hughes last month, Spendthrift Farm continued its commitment to the industry, and its superstar stallion Into Mischief, when picking up a US$1.25 million (AU$1.71 million) filly by the nation's top sire Tuesday. Consigned by Bluewater Sales LLC, Agent VII as Hip 356, the bay was bred by China Horse Club.

China Horse Club purchased G1 Alabama S.-winning dam Embellish The Lace (USA) (Super Saver {USA}) for US$2.4 million (AU$3.3 million) in foal to Uncle Mo (USA) at the 2016 Fasig-Tipton November Sale.

“She's just a beautiful filly, obviously by the right sire out of a Grade I winner; great depth of family,” said Spendthrift GM Ned Toffey.

“She sort of ticked all the boxes, as classy a filly as we thought there was in the Sale. We're really excited to have her.

"Sometimes you see that pedigree and you're disappointed in the physical, but there's nothing disappointing in any way about this filly. You just hope that you'll be able to afford her.”

While Spendthrift was absent from the buyer sheet during Monday's first Book 1 session, they purchased four head Tuesday for a combined US$3.125 million (AU$4.28 million).

China Horse Club's breeding program continues to succeed

China Horse Club has made a rapid ascent up the ranks of the international Thoroughbred industry. Just five years into their American racing program, they have been represented by a Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year in Justify (USA) and have campaigned the likes of champions Abel Tasman (USA) (Quality Road {USA}) and Improbable (USA) (City Zip {USA}), among others.

China Horse Club is climbing the ranks of America's breeding industry just as quickly. The operation's first crop produced the likes of Grade 1 winners Valiance (USA) (Tapit {USA}) and Kimari (USA) (Munnings {USA}).

The group, led and founded by Teo Ah Khing, sold a seven-figure yearling for the second straight year at Keeneland September Tuesday when an Into Mischief filly summoned US$1.25 million (AU$1.71 million) from Spendthrift Farm (Hip 356).

“We have now achieved the Triple Crown of auctions with million-dollar sales in Australia, Europe and America this year,” Teo said after congratulating Spendthrift's Ned Toffey.

“Embellish always throws good quality with any stallion. We decided two years ago to send her to Into Mischief and ended up with this filly. She went back to Into Mischief and had another filly this year.

“We have cultivated about six or seven really good mares,” Teo said. “We have learned from Embellish the Lace and can reinvest in our broodmare band in America. We are reaching about 100 mares in Australia now and about 40 in Europe. In a year, we might reach over 200 (worldwide). We will be active in November.”

The Singapore resident added, “I think (a sale like this) is very encouraging. Industries here are very healthy. We have good partners and support in America. If you produce good quality, the value is there.”

With their continued success on the racetrack, China Horse Club has more and more American stallions to support. In addition to the aforementioned Eclipse winners Justify and Improbable, they campaigned new WinStar stallions Audible (USA) and Yoshida (Jpn) in partnership with Kenny Troutt's operation. China Horse Club has also purchased breeding interests in Constitution (USA) and Tiz The Law (USA). They currently campaign another stallion prospect with WinStar in Life Is Good (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}).

“In the last three or four years we have had four or five new stallions,” Teo said. “(China Horse Club COO) Michael (Wallace) will be tasked with selecting the mares. We might have other partners coming in to join us. The matings are a team effort. We have been working the formula and it is showing results. We think this year more (runners) will be coming out of our breeding program based on the feedback we have been getting from trainers of the previous foals that we have sold.”

China Horse Club is focused on a commercial breeding program, sending all of their foals to market.

“Everything is for sale,” Teo said. “With Valiance, (Eclipse and Marty Schwartz) invited us back in, so we gladly took a percentage because we believe in our formula.”

Teo was unable to be in attendance last year to watch Embellish The Lace's Tapit filly sell due to the international travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He arrived in Lexington earlier this week, marking his first trip to America in a year and a half. However, his US based agent Wallace has remained active on his behalf at all of the major auctions.

“For 18 months, I have been trying to come to America, but because of all the restrictions I was unable to come,” Teo said. “I have been meeting with a lot of partners and making a lot of business decisions that cannot be done over the Zoom. So, I am so glad I was able to come here.”

Teo is making the most of his trip, bringing in new partners from China to experience horse country at its best in the Bluegrass state.

“We are bringing some Chinese investors in Thursday as part of our continued investment in American racing,” Teo said. “I think it is good we are able to bring people in here and then I will bring them to St. Lucia.”

Teo also has another new partner in town for the Keeneland September Sale in Kuldeep Singh Rajput of Gandharvi Racing. Rajput made his first venture into American bloodstock at the Saratoga Sale, buying several yearlings in partnership with China Horse Club. The pair have teamed up on seven colts so far at Keeneland, topped by a US$750,000 (AU$1.028 million) son of Quality Road (USA) (Hip 182).

“I picked up Kuldeep because when we were selling in Australia, I noticed there was a young man buying our colt from the first crop of Russian Revolution,” Teo said.

“I Googled him and found out he lived in Singapore, so I reached out and we met. What I like about him is he is intelligent, young and has vision.”

Two days' worth of Book 2 offerings will be sold Wednesday and Thursday with sessions starting at 11.00am local. Buyers and sellers will get a chance to catch their breath with a dark day Friday, followed by seven more days of selling through next Friday.

Mornington Glory won the Bendigo Mazda Mdn Plate over 1100 metres with Luke Currie aboard, and in doing so put a spotlight on an exceptional old family for the prominent Mudgee breeders, Gooree Park.

Mornington Glory is the final foal from the wonderful Danehill (USA) mare Crowned Glory, who was raced in Gooree colours and retired as a Group 3 winner and G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up for the Cojuangco family. She went on to produce two stakes winners, and they are the now Group 1-producing stallions Needs Further and Hallowed Crown.

Crowning Glory

Mornington Glory is from the first crop of foals by Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Ire). The stallion has had a very good week, with his first Group 1 winner, the Jessica Harrington-trained filly No Speak Alexander (Ire), occurring at Leopardstown last weekend.

In 2018, when Gooree sent Crowned Glory to the Shalaa, the mare was 20 years old.

Mornington Glory is one of just four of her foals that went to public auction (three of which were yearlings), and the colt appeared at the 2020 Magic Millions Gooree Stud Reduction, which occurred in July after the passing of Eduardo Cojuaungco.

Also in the Sale was the colt's half-brother by Medaglia D'Oro (USA), the gelding Significant Rule. He sold to Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock (FBAA) for $75,000.

Mornington Rule was the very last lot of 41 horses in the catalogue, and he ended up being the highest-priced. He sold to trainer Matt Laurie, in partnership with bloodstock agents Justin Bahen and Andrew Williams.

Owing to COVID, neither Laurie nor Bahen were ringside for the Sale, which left Williams to do the bidding.

“Every man and his dog was hanging around for this yearling,” Williams said. “He was a well-put together horse with a very good pedigree and from the first crop of Shalaa. He was a lovely horse that had a lot of quality about him, and Matt, Justin and I identified him pretty early.”

Williams said there was spirited bidding around Mornington Glory because there was plenty to buy.

“From a type point of view, he was popular, and from a pedigree point of view too,” he said. “From the Sale’s point of view, it was the end of the year and it was late in the Sale, and we were hoping he wasn’t going to be that obvious. I think Darby Racing was there or thereabouts, and they’re great judges so you know you’re in good company when you look across and see them.”

Esteemed siblings

Mornington Glory topped the Sale at $360,000, with Williams stating after the event that the horse was not only a first-class yearling worthy of any top sale, but he also had a stallion’s pedigree.

The colt is a half-brother to Needs Further, who won the G3 Carbine Club S. and now stands at Armidale Stud in Tasmania. Needs Further has sired five stakes winners, including the Group 1 winner Mystic Journey.

Additionally, Mornington Glory is a half-brother to Hallowed Crown, who was one of Gooree’s most brilliant horses. Now a stallion at Olly Tait’s Twin Hills Stud, the horse won the G1 Golden Rose and G1 Randwick Guineas as a 3-year-old, as well as the G2 Hobartville, G3 Run to the Rose and G3 Kindergarten S. as a juvenile.

Hallowed Crown has sired two stakes winners, among them the excellent G1 Australian Oaks-winning Godolphin filly, Colette.

Without doubt, this is one of the stoutest dam lines in the Stud Book.

“It doesn’t complicate things when you get a mare like her,” Williams said. “She obviously leaves some form of athletic type and athletic individual to be getting runners like that on the board. Fair dues to that mare, and fair dues to Matt Laurie.”

Big opinions

Wednesday’s race was the first for Mornington Glory, with the colt making an impression when third in a Cranbourne trial last month and then a strong win in a Caulfield jump-out.

At Bendigo, Mornington Glory met a field of seven horses, and he was a clear market favourite at $1.55 ahead of 4-year-old gelding Foturi (Star Witness).

From barrier six, the colt jumped away smartly and sat outside the early leader, Snappy Li’l Thing (Bel Esprit). The pace wasn’t hot, and Mornington Glory coasted alongside the leader until the straight, where Luke Currie asked the colt to get on with it.

He was tardy to pick up initially, but after a small reminder at the 100 metres he coasted away from the field. The final margins were a very good 3.75l to Foturi, who was just ahead of third-placed Spirit Of Pepin (Magnus).

The final time was 1:05.02 on a Good 4.

“We’ve had a big opinion of this horse right from the beginning, and it’s good to see him kick off in good fashion,” said Laurie, who was trackside at Bendigo.

The trainer added that the speed in the race, or lack of it, wasn’t ideal, but he praised the horse for getting the job done.

“He’s only going to be better when there’s horses going quicker in front, something for him to settle off,” Laurie said. “A couple of taps with the stick and he really put it together late, and he’ll improve a hell of a lot from today.”

Laurie added that the horse was still a bit inexperienced, which was evident in the straight.

“We haven’t really gotten at him in his trackwork,” he said. “It’s not our style, but he’s always travelled really well and he’ll take heaps out of today.”

The obvious targets for Mornington Glory are the bigger tickets in the spring, which are coming up quickly.

"I’d like to run him in the Danehill and then, depending how he goes in that, maybe the Coolmore," Laurie said

The G2 Danehill S. will be run at Flemington on October 2, with the G1 Coolmore Stud S. three weeks later on October 30.

This week’s episode

Week of September 13, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on first-season stallion Graff at Kitchwin Hills and a look at his barn mate Sooboog after a great first year of runners on the track.

Caroline also runs through a G1 Goldmine analysis of Sooboog's sire Snitzel and his sire sons throws up some fascinating Group 1 nicks!

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features photographer Bronwen Healy and a photogenic great of the early 80's that fuelled her passion for photographing current champions of the turf.

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 17 (Season 2)

Earlier episodes

Week of September 6, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) expecting her Seventh foal as her daughter Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible) heads for stakes company.

Caroline also speaks to Mick Sharkie about Fierce Impact (Jpn), a three-time Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact (Jpn) at Victoria's Leneva Park.

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features Randwick Bloodstock's Brett Howard.

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 16 (Season 2)

Week of August 30, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on Yulong Farm's first Group 1 winner, the statuesque son of Lope De Vega (Ire), Lucky Vega (Ire).

Caroline also speaks to Matthew Ennis who explains the statistics behind G1 Goldmine's analysis of stallion matches and breeding influences.

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features Widden Victoria's Phil Marshall with a son of the great Dancing Brave (USA).

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 15 (Season 2)

Week of August 23, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on Kingstar Farm's new sire Time To Reign, a Silver Slipper-winning grandson of Snitzel and half-brother to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain).

Caroline also speaks to Widden Stud's Phil Marshall about the new Victorian base with Russian Camelot (Ire) and Doubtland new in 2021.

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features Leneva Park's Mick Sharkie with a great story about Mahogany (Last Tycoon {Ire}).

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 14 (Season 2)

Week of August 16, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on Widden Stud's Not A Single Doubt speed machine, Anders. Antony Thompson gives an update on Zousain who is expecting his first foals and also Trapeze Artist and Written By whose yearlings will be set for sale in 2022.

Caroline also speaks to Swettenham Stud's, Adam Sangster about Rubick, the sire of The Everest winner Yes Yes Yes, who also gives an insight on I Am Immortal whose first foals arrive this season.

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features Darby Racing's Scott Darby with a great Golden Slipper tale.

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 13 (Season 2)

Week of August 9, 2021

This week's episode of Bred To Win presents a profile on Caulfield Guineas and Golden Rose winner Ole Kirk at Vinery Stud which also includes his barn mates, All Too Hard with three Group 1 winners Exceedance, Headwater and Star Turn.

Caroline also speaks to Rosemont Stud’s, Anthony Mithen as he welcomes star 2-year-old Hanseatic and he also provides an update on Shamus Award, Strasbourg, Nostradamus and Starcraft (NZ).

Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features G1 Goldmine’s Matthew Ennis, and how a share in a racehorse led to a career in the breeding industry.

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 12 (Season 2)

Week of August 2, 2021

Bred To Win returns for the Australasian spring season in 2021!

This week's episode of Bred To Win features Aushorse 'news of the week' which includes the final major sires' lists for the 2020/21 season.

Caroline speaks to Coolmore Stud's Tom Moore about their new dual Group 1-winning 2-year-old by Redoute's Choice, King's Legacy along with a G1 Goldmine analysis of the top nicks that have worked with his Champion sire.

Caroline also speaks to Yulong Farm's Troy Stephens on their Blue Diamond winner, Tagaloa, as he joins their burgeoning roster that includes Champion Australian Sire Written Tycoon. Arrowfield Stud's 'the horse who made you love racing' features Vinery Stud's Adam White and a great personal story about one of the all-time greats.

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BRED TO WIN EPISODE 11 (Season 2)