Written By Jessica Owers
Cover Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
A series of jump-outs at Cranbourne on Tuesday morning drew special attention to one of the best-bred colts in Australia right now, the 2-year-old Maximillius (Written Tycoon) for owner-breeder Robert Crabtree.
Bred at Crabtree’s Dorrington Farm in Victoria, the young colt is the latest addition to a very significant family in the modern Australian Stud Book.
He is a son of the regally bred Scandiva (Fastnet Rock), who was a Group winner but, more significantly, a daughter of the blue hen mare Scandinavia (Snippets).
Scandinavia | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
During a brilliant career, Scandinavia produced the stakes winners Arctic Flight (Flying Spur), the sire Magnus, Wilander (Exceed And Excel) and Scandiva. However, she was also the dam of Helsinge (Desert Sun {GB}), who in turn foaled Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) and All Too Hard.
This stout pedigree makes 2-year-old Maximillius a three-quarter brother to the Vinery resident All Too Hard and, if luck lines up, he could be a priceless prospect for stud.
Blueblood colt
Maximillius carried jockey Jamie Kah in his jump-out on Tuesday morning. Over the 800-metre turf course, he won with plenty in hand ahead of Counttheheadlights (I Am Invincible) and Bonheur (I Am Invincible). The time was 47.06s.
“He could have won the trial quite easily,” said Crabtree, speaking to TDN AusNZ. “Jamie held him, and then she asked him for a little effort and he gave it. She said afterwards to me that he knows he’s good. He’s a superb animal, just a beautiful-looking horse.”
The jump-out was the second in Maximillius’ short career. His first was in late December when he won over the same track and distance and, trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr, he hasn't put a foot wrong.
“Our plan is to run in mid-January with him at Flemington,” Crabtree said. “If he’s good enough to win first-up, that will set him on a Blue Diamond path.”
“Our plan is to run in mid-January with him (Maximillius) at Flemington. If he’s good enough to win first-up, that will set him on a Blue Diamond path.” - Robert Crabtree
Crabtree added that the valuable colt has never failed to impress him.
“He’s got a superb girth and he stands over a lot of ground,” the breeder said. “He’s got a very strong hindquarter and he’s quite big. He stands close to 16.0hh and he’s an athletic horse with it.”
Crabtree added that even though Maximillius emerges as one of the most significant of blue-bred colts going around, he was keeping his feet on the ground, all the same.
Robert Crabtree | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He would be one of the more valuable colts, but then they’ve got to do it on the track, don’t they?” he said. “We certainly have high hopes for him but we’ll see. Without exception, this is an exciting horse. He’s the sort of horse that breeders always hope to produce and occasionally we do.”
Stallion sights
The Scandinavia family has run deep through Crabtree’s operation for a long time, but equally he can put his name behind Gallica (Redoute’s Choice), Mizzy (Zoustar), Catchy (Fastnet Rock) and Light Fantastic (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
When it came to breeding Maximillius, it was a case of what works best.
“Scandinavia was an early 2-year-old winner herself, and we set out to produce something in this family that could, in time, stand as a stallion,” Crabtree said. “This colt is so beautifully built, a strong, long-striding colt who still has a precocity about him, that we think with a bit of luck he could fit that bill this season.”
“... we set out to produce something in this family that could, in time, stand as a stallion. This colt (Maximillius) is so beautifully built, a strong, long-striding colt who still has a precocity about him, that we think with a bit of luck he could fit that bill this season.” - Robert Crabtree
Maximillius wasn’t offered at a yearling sale. He was initially entered into the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but he was withdrawn, retained by Crabtree before heading to Price and Kent Jnr.
At Dorrington Farm, 11-year-old Scandiva has a full brother to Maximillius at foot and, this spring, she returned to Written Tycoon once again.
Scandinavia when racing | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“The full brother will be offered for sale next year, and hopefully Max can do the job for us in the meantime,” Crabtree said. “You don’t need good luck in this game. You just don’t need bad luck.”
Jameka’s first foal appears
Maximillius was joined in his Cranbourne trial by Sir Bailey (Impending), a 2-year-old colt and the first foal from the triple Group 1 winner Jameka (Myboycharlie {Ire}). The colt was fifth.
During her career, the brilliant Jameka, who was bred by Gilgai Farm, won the G1 VRC Oaks, G1 Caulfield Cup and G1 The BMW, and she was a sharp-enough juvenile to land the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S.
Sir Bailey (Impending x Jameka) as a weanling | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
In 2014, Jameka was a $130,000 yearling, sold by Gilgai to Ciaron Maher Racing. Four years later, she was onsold as a broodmare prospect for $2.6 million, topping proceedings at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
She went to Colin and Janice McKenna of Halo Racing Services, who bought out the remaining owners.
Sir Bailey was not offere as a yearling, and the unraced 2-year-old appeared at Cranbourne on Tuesday in the familiar blue and green silks of his famous dam.
