‘This result has helped us a lot from a commercial angle’: Good Vibes only for Qatar Bloodstock

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

David Redvers’ decision to buy Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence {USA}) for 390,000gns (AU$783,000) at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale is proving to be genius.

The 2019 G3 Cornwallis S. victress is a perfect one from one as a broodmare, after talented 2-year-old colt Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) scored an impressive victory in Saturday’s R. Listed Inglis Nursery at Randwick.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Odinson - a $320,000 buy for Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the Widden Stud consignment at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - looks destined for greater honours and may well be aimed towards the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill in March.

Good Vibes’ second foal, a colt by super sire Zoustar, will be offered by Widden Stud as Lot 722 at January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, so the timing couldn’t be better.

“She was a very fast, precocious filly in the UK, and it’s good to see she’s passed that on Down Under,” Redvers told TTR AusNZ.

“It was a bit of a risk covering a mare to Southern Hemisphere time and sending her out, but it’s one that has certainly paid off this time.

“I had some nice messages from Will Bourne (from Ciaron Maher Racing) and Antony Thompson (from Widden Stud); they were both chuffed to bits.

“Odinson looks a progressive horse, so hopefully we will see him scoop some more dollars before the Magic Millions Sale.

“This result has helped us a lot from a commercial angle.”

A well-executed plan

From the Catterick maiden winner Satsuma (GB) (Compton Place {GB}), Good Vibes was bred by Whitsbury Manor Stud. She was purchased by Kevin Ross Bloodstock for £35,000 (AU$67,000) at the 2018 Goffs Premier Yearling Sale. Good Vibes commenced her career with David Evans before becoming the first horse Qatar Racing sent to Michael Dods.

Good Vibes had one start in Sheikh Fahad’s silks, failing to fire in a Listed race at Haydock in June 2020.

According to Redvers, Good Vibes was purchased with a specific plan in mind.

Redvers explained: “We’ve done a bit of it (covering to Southern Hemisphere time). Those things tend to happen because they’re forced on you slightly; you either have a mare that’s missed getting in foal or you’ve bought a maiden at the wrong time of year, but she is one we had a specific plan for because of her precocity and the fact that we thought she would suit Australia.

“It doesn’t always work out, but it’s worked out this time.”

Redvers said Night Of Thunder (Ire) - a Group 1-winning son of the great Dubawi (Ire) - was one of three stallions that fitted the profile of what they were looking for when formulating a mating plan for Good Vibes.

“We were looking at which stallions work Down Under well; there are three that are extremely popular to go down there - Frankel, Siyouni and Night Of Thunder, and we just felt it was a good cross for her and would help get her up and running down there as well,” said Redvers.

“The plan was to send her down to maximise her value and maximise our chances of having some success.

“We’re always looking for mares that suit Zoustar, as we know how he loves those early, precocious types, so she fitted that bill nicely.”

Good Vibes foaled another Zoustar colt in October and the mare was covered by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) on October 24.

At the 2019 Tattersalls December Mares Sale, Qatar Racing also acquired Mabs Cross (GB) (Dutch Art {GB}) - the 2018 G1 Prix de l’Abbaye heroine, after she was initially passed in. She has a Zoustar filly and a Wootton Bassett (GB) colt on the ground.

Sure to be popular

The Zoustar-Good Vibes colt, who was bred by Qatar Bloodstock, is certain to attract plenty of attention, especially following Odinson’s win on Saturday.

In addition to Odinson’s maiden triumph, Good Vibes’ half-brother, the Ryo Terashima-trained, Godolphin-raced Yakushima (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}), won the Listed Crocus S. at Tokyo in January.

The colt’s page also features the Group 3 scorer Age Of Chivalry (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), as well as the nine-time winner and Group 2 placegetter Astrophysics (GB) (Paco Boy {Ire}).

“He’s going there with all of the credentials to be popular, for sure,” said Redvers.

“I last saw him in May and he’s a very nice colt.”

Zoustar, the sire of this year’s G1 Coolmore Stud S. hero Ozzmosis and G1 Thousand Guineas victress Joliestar, among others, will remain in Australia in 2024 after the decision was made not to reverse shuttle him to Tweenhills Stud in the UK for the Northern Hemisphere breeding season.

Zoustar has shuttled to Tweenhills every year since 2019, with his Northern Hemisphere progeny spearheaded by the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Lezoo (GB), who recently made 2.2 million gns (AU$4,420,100) at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

Zoustar is set to return to shuttle duties as normal in 2025.

Redvers spoke glowingly of Zoustar, himself a two-time Group scorer, who now has seven individual elite-level winners on his CV.

“He’s on a real roll now,” he said.

“The quality of mares that he had come to him after his initial successes, their progeny are now all hitting the racetracks, and you can really see the depth of quality.

“It is particularly gratifying seeing him banging out really promising colts like the Rosemont colt (Schwarz, who won the Listed The Amanda Elliott at Flemington on Champions Day) and Ozzmosis.

“He’s really now right at the top of the pyramid and he looks set to have another stellar year.

“He's kicking goals up north as well, but it’s down south where his stock seem to flourish and he’s well-established now.”