Cover image courtesy of Rich Hill Stud

Off the back of another outstanding 12 months, New Zealand’s reigning Champion Sire Proisir will stand at a fee of NZ$80,000 (plus GST) at Rich Hill Stud in 2024.

The son of Choisir heads a roster of five stallions for the Waikato-based farm, joining Japanese Group 1 winner Satono Aladdin (Jpn), who comes back to New Zealand at a fee of NZ$65,000 (plus GST), Victoria Derby winner Ace High at NZ$15,000 (plus GST), Melbourne Cup hero Shocking at NZ$12,500 and the Group 1-producing sire Vadamos (Fr), who is at NZ$9000 (plus GST) in 2024.

Rich Hill’s John Thompson said the farm had enjoyed a memorable run over the last couple of years, headed by Proisir winning the New Zealand Sire Premiership last season, but also with the other four doing a very good job for breeders as well.

Shocking, Ace High and Vadamos have all sired Group 1 winners in the past 12 months, while Satono Aladdin’s reputation has been enhanced further, despite not having any New Zealand-conceived 2-year-olds this season, having missed a year during Covid.

Thompson said with Proisir’s best bred crops yet to come, Satono Aladdin’s eye-popping strike rate and Ace High producing a number of promising types in his first crop, there’s much for the Walton-based farm to look forward to.

“It’s been quite phenomenal really, but you know what it’s like, you just have to take it all in and get on with life,” Thompson said.

“You can’t rest on your laurels in our industry.”

Commercial success now accompanying Proisir’s racetrack results

Proisir’s fee rises after he covered a full book at NZ$70,000 (plus GST) last year. Rich Hill will restrict his book to 150 mares in 2024.

His tally of Group 1 winners now numbers six, with Waitak (NZ) becoming the latest with his Railway Stakes win earlier this year, while Legarto (NZ) added another Group 1 win to her scorecard this year.

Thompson said being crowned Champion New Zealand Sire last season was a milestone for Proisir and the fact he has backed it up by being second to Savabeel this season cements his place at the top-end of New Zealand stallions.

The big change in the last 12 to 18 months though has been the way his progeny are being received in the market place.

“A lot of his stock are now being sold into Australia. The Australian market has really taken to the horse and his best stock are coming through now,” Thompson said.

“The books of mares he’s had the last couple of years are a huge step up, so you get the feeling there’s only one way he can continue to go and that’s upwards.”

Proisir’s progeny grossed more than NZ$7million at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Premier Yearling Sale this year at an average of NZ$333,000, highlighted by a Karaka record-breaking NZ$1.6 million filly. That was off the back of the same sale 12 months earlier where his progeny also averaged better than NZ$300,000.

His four yearlings sold at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale this year averaged $282,500.

Rich Hill’s foundation stallion and long-time flagbearer Pentire (GB) also built his way up through the ranks, but Thompson said Proisir’s rise has been more pronounced.

“When Pentire come out he had a bigger profile and started with about a NZ$15,000 service fee, which at the time was a reasonable service fee for a first season stallion,” Thompson recalls. “But he wasn’t a syndicated horse and he was our first stallion, so in some ways he had to do it the hard way, which he did and sired 16 Group 1 winners.

“Proisir has been a phenomenon really. To start at seven grand and basically all of these Group 1 winners he’s sired have been out of mares– and I’m sure the people who bred them will admit – that weren’t Group 1 quality mares.

“He really didn’t have Book 1 quality mares in his first few seasons at NZ$7000, but the syndicate supported him really well – and the syndicate has bred a lot of his good horses, so he’s been a dream horse for them.

“Last year he had about 30 Book 1 mares and they (the yearlings) were only Book 1 because they were by Proisir. In future you will see progeny from more commercial mares and that’s really exciting for him.”

Proisir’s emergence is underlined by the fact he was standing at just NZ$17,500 two years ago.

“That was a pretty big jump at the time (up to NZ$70,000 last year), but … commercially wise he’s just gone to a different stratosphere.”

Satono Aladdin building outstanding strike rate

Deep Impact’s Group 1-winning son Satono Aladdin was also in the headlines at Karaka in January as the marketplace comes to recognise his potent ability to sire a Group horse in these parts.

From less than 80 individual runners in Australia and New Zealand, he’s sired eight Group winners, headed by the New Zealand and ATC Oaks winner Pennyweka (NZ).

That tally won’t rise with the current 2-year-old crop, because he missed that year, but he’s been popular the last few years and Thompson is excited about what is to come.

“His oldest are four now, but he’s running at something like 10.6 per cent not just stakes winners, but Group winners, to runners,” Thompson said.

“The last two seasons he’s been in New Zealand he’s been extremely popular. He covered 168 mares two years ago and 162 last year.

“Two years ago his fee was only NZ$12,500. We upped his fee to NZ$45,000 last year and he’s continued to kick on. At Karaka this year there was huge demand for his yearlings. His top priced filly made $900,000 and went into the Chris Waller stable so he has really given breeders a massive return on service fee.

“He throws a beautiful type and is a beautiful horse himself.

“He’s heading in the direction of being a real asset to the New Zealand industry.”

Satono Aladdin’s emergence on the Rich Hill roster traces back to the Thompson family’s relationship with Shadai, through the feats of Pentire.

“When Pentire passed away they came back to me and asked if I wanted another stallion," Thompson said.

“I said ‘as long as it’s a Group 1-winning son of Deep Impact!’ A little bit tongue in cheek, but they came to the party with this horse.

“It was interesting when he first came out. There had been a couple of sons of Deep Impact in Australia that had been a bit disappointing and he didn’t get massive numbers in his first few crops and he missed a year because of Covid, but he’s established himself as one of the up-and-coming sires in Australasia.”

Ace High going in the right direction

With his oldest progeny just 3-year-olds, Ace High has made a solid start and his fee of NZ$15,000 (plus GST) might look cheap if things go to plan during the Queensland racing carnival.

Ace High’s headliner to this point is Molly Bloom (NZ), already a Group 1 winner of the NZ 1000 Guineas and chasing more classic heading to the Group 1 Queensland Oaks.

“He’s made a great start. He has a lot of promising young horses around and could well prove a bargain this time next year,” Thompson said.

“Molly Bloom is on her way to Queensland and he has a really nice horse running (on Thursday at Pakenham) called Angland (NZ), who won his first start at Pakenham by 7.5 lengths. And there’s another nice filly who won a stakes race here called Drakaina (NZ) and she’s been sold to Bob Peters and is off to Perth.

“There’s quite a few other promising horses there as well.”

Thompson noted one of Ace High’s feature wins on the track came in a race the farm is very familiar with.

“I know he won the Victoria Derby, but he also won the (G1) Spring Champion Stakes, which is turning into a good sire’s race – you’ve got Dundeel, Proisir ran second in it and of course Savabeel,” he said.

“He’s got a beautiful pedigree Ace High. He’s by High Chapparal out of a Redoute’s Choice mare, out of a Sunday Silence mare. Pedigree wise you don’t see much better than him.”

Cup winner on fire this Autumn

Shocking and Vadamos round out the Rich Hill quintet for 2024, with both having enjoyed recent success with their progeny.

Shocking showcased his versatility as a sire in recent weeks when Mark Twain (NZ) took out the Listed Roy Higgins Quality (2600 metres) to qualify himself for the Melbourne Cup, before Here To Shock (NZ) ran away with the G3 Victoria Handicap (1400 metres) a week later.

Earlier in the season, El Vencedor (NZ) became his fourth individual Group 1 winner when downing Legarto in the New Zealand Stakes (2000 metres).

“We’ve possibly underrated him,” Thompson said. “It’s interesting with stallions. He’s always got a good horse and he’s an ideal stallion for a young mare if people want to go to a proven stallion for what’s probably a very affordable service fee.”

Vadamos’ top-ranked daughter La Crique (NZ) added another Group 1 to her scorecard in February, flying the flag for a stallion who will stand for NZ$9000 (plus GST) this year.

“He’s a Group 1 sire, throws a lovely type and is top 15 on New Zealand premiership,” Thompson said.

“We have lowered his fee to open him up to a new market. There’s a lot of people in New Zealand who will only have $NZ10,000 to spend on a service fee and he will fit the bill nicely.”

Table: Rich Hill Stud's stallion fees for the 2024 breeding season

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Madame Pommery, a daughter of No Nay Never (USA) will be offered as part of the Chris Waller Racing draft and joins dual Group 1-winning stablemate Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) – who was desperately unlucky not to add a third in last Saturday’s Queen of the Turf S. – heading to the Gold Coast sale.

Madame Pommery was a close second to triple Group 1-winning stablemate Zougotcha (Zoustar) in the 2022 Tea Rose S. and from that point on, took on pretty much the best gallopers in the land each time she went to the races.

“To win a Group 1 with our first filly for our Ladies group was wonderful,” said Sophie Baker. “Part of my job with Chris Waller is to look after the owners at the races, and along with the Magic Millions Racing Women’s Bonus, led to a conversation with Chris about putting together a syndicate for Ladies only.

“I knew it would be heaps of fun and with the leading horse trainer training them and the leading bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster selecting them, I figured what could go wrong.

“What Madame Pommery has achieved has been nothing short of unbelievable. There are no words.”

Her career highlight came when triumphant in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield that same spring and she went on to place in the G2 Millie Fox as a four-year-old this season.

Her quality was underlined by the fact she had a multitude of Group 1 winners in her wake during her career, including Fireburn (Rebel Dane), Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard), Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel) and Startantes (Star Turn), Going Global (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) and She’s Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}).

Madame Pommery was a $150,000 purchase at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Waller, Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock and Sophie Baker for an all-female ownership group and went on to win more than $850,000 in prizemoney.

Waller described Madame Pommery as a strong mare who was “straight forward” to train.

“She has a great temperament and she always coped well in training,” Waller said.

“As well as her good looks, great strength and impressive race record, she is by an international stallion and possesses a great pedigree.”

Madame Pommery is from the winning Exceed And Excel mare Candel, who in turn is a sister to the Blue Diamond winner and Golden Slipper runner-up Earthquake.

It’s a family that has been synonymous with Darley and Godolphin since sheikh Mohammed acquired the Ingham Bloodstock empire, with stakes winners including El Cambio (Commands), Complicate (Commands), Pandemic (Sepoy) and Palomares (Commands).

No Nay Never was a Group 1 winner himself and at stud is the sire of 59 stakes winners, of which seven have won Group 1 races.

No Nay Never has only had a handful of runners as a broodmare sire, but it’s a field that his own sire Scat Daddy (USA) has had plentiful success in, with 50 stakes winners headed by 10 Group winners.

Madame Pommery joins a growing list of star mares headed to the Gold Coast in May, following earlier confirmation of fellow Group 1 winners Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun), Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and the aforementioned Atishu.

Zoustar’s Group 3-winning daughter Platinum Jubilee is another headline act on the Coast, being a half-sister to this year’s Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon).

“Prospective buyers will be impressed with the quality of stock catalogued for the 2024 National Brodmare Sale,” Magic Millions Managing Director Barry Bowditch said. “There will be incredible opportunities at all levels of the market.”

The online catalogue for the sale is set to go live in the coming days.

And as for Baker’s Ladies Only syndicates – they now have four other fillies.

“I went with the champagne theme for the colours and the syndicates have continued that with the names. Collerette (Zousain) is a 2-year-old filly who ran second on debut, while She’s Got Veuve (Merchant Navy) broke her maiden and ran second last start. If she goes well next time, she might head to down an Oaks path. The other two fillies are currently unraced.”

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Pride Of Jenni’s (Pride Of Dubai) Queen Elizabeth S. rout on Saturday continued a dominant trend for fillies and mares, who are upstaging their male rivals in feature races far more than their representation says they should.

Of 17 Group 1 weight-for-age and Handicap Group 1 races run so far in 2024, mares have won seven of them, despite having a fraction of that percentage competing.

Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) accounts for two of them, while Lady Laguna (Overshare), Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), Zapateo (Brazen Beau), Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) and Pride Of Jenni have won one each. Jenni also took care of the boys in The All Star Mile.

Gallery: Horse of the Year contenders for the 2023-24 season

Additionally, fillies have won each of the three Group 1 2-year-old races run so far this season via Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}), Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and Manaal (Tassort).

When you add on the late Victorian spring carnival feats of Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) and Magic Time (Hellbent) adding to Imperatriz and Pride Of Jenni's tallies, the girls have been well and truly bashing up on the boys over the past six months.

Of course, this is not a new phenomenon and many theories have been put forward as to why modern female racehorses achieve considerably more success than they did a few decades earlier, but statistically, it’s an interesting phenomenon.

Horse of the Year dominance

If either Pride Of Jenni or Imperatriz are named Horse of the Year, it will make it 16 of the last 25 for mares.

Let’s Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}) (1991-92) was the only female to win Australian Racehorse of the Year between 1990 and 2000.

Since then the girls have totally dominated.

Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) kicked it off with her treble to start the century, then Makybe Diva (GB) (Desert King {Ire}) won a couple. The other multiple winners of the award this century are also mares – Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) won it three times, before Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) four-peat from 2016 to 2019.

Miss Andretti (Ihtiram {Ire}), Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) are the other females to win since 2000.

While it is true those four multiple winners might have skewed Horse of the Year results in favour of the girls, it also highlights how the four most notable thoroughbreds to race in Australia of the past two decades were all mares.

Some will argue mares have an advantage because the best colts are shipped off to stud early and of course changes to permitted medications on geldings have also had an affect.

But in a sport where the girls still enjoy an allowance in the weights over the boys, their results tend to make a mockery of that.

Punching above their weight

If we extrapolate just the last five years, the numbers show how both fillies and mares out-perform their male counterparts in Australian Group 1 races on a runner-for-runner basis.

Geldings win the most Group 1 races, but they have by far the most runners. Conversely, fillies and mares have a number of Group 1 races run within Australia each season that are restricted to filles and mares only, so a true study needs to remove those races.

In total, 13 Australian Group 1 races are restricted to fillies or fillies & mares only, each season.

Once we remove those, we get amore complete picture of how the fairer sex goes against the boys.

The below table illustrates that their strike rate in Group 1 races clearly outpoints the males.

Both fillies and mares have a strike rate of around 10 per cent in those 61 remaining Group 1 races, eligible for both sexes.

Whereas all males competing in those races strike at just a tick over 7 per cent.

That’s a telling statistic of the superiority they’ve held over the five years we’ve examined here.

Table: Australian Group 1 winners by sex over last 5 yrs

Note, in 2019-20 the number of Group 1 races was reduced due to Covid-19. In 2020-21 and 2022-23, 75 winners owes to one dead-heat within each season. For the 2023-24 season, there are still 14 Group 1s to be run.

Under-represented, over-achieving

The next table compares the percentage of runners for each category, versus the percentage of Group 1s each of them have won.

Again, the fillies and mares shoot above par and the boys, as a result, have negative outcomes.

Fillies win almost 6.5 per cent of these Group 1 races with just 4.86 per cent of the runners.

The over-performance of mares is even more exaggerated, winning 20 per cent of Group 1 races with only a little more than 15 per cent participation.

The performance of geldings mirrors the opposite way – almost 50 per cent of runners, but only supplying 45 per cent of the winners.

Table: Australian Group 1 winners by sex over last 5 yrs, excluding sex-restricted Group 1s

2023-24 – an exaggerated season

As we highlighted from the outset, 2023-24 has been a bumper one for fillies and mares, but it’s even more striking when we examine it on a per runner basis.

Mares have truly been in a league of their own this season.

They account for less than 17 per cent of the runners in the 51 eligible races, yet have collectively won almost 30 per cent of them.

Table: Representation per gender category of Australian Group 1 winners over the last 5 seasons

Fillies have also over-achieved, winning almost 6 per cent from a representation of only 3 per cent.

That leaves the colts, geldings and stallions (or ‘horses’ as the racebook prefers to label them) floundering so far this term.

It will be interesting to monitor if the trend continues over the remaining 10 Group 1 races open to both sexes over the next two months.

Table: Representation per gender category of Australian Group 1 winners to date, in 2023-24

Cover image courtesy of Yulong

The good run being enjoyed by Yulong's well-credentialled first season stallion Pierata continued at Doomben on Wednesday with the Chris Munce-trained Carravilla recording an impressive debut victory.

Double figure odds off a Doomben trial fourth, the promising filly was a little green but still strong to the line saluting by 1.25l.

Carravilla - who was sold by Goodwood Farm to Munce Racing for $130,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale - is one of the 115 live foals in Pierata's first crop.

She is his 17th runner and fifth winner for the G1 All Aged S. winner who has been represented by five stakes performers including the G3 Chairman's S.-winning, G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Coleman and the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Tobeornottobe.

Chris Munce was taken by the style of Pierata's yearlings and was happy to put his hand up for this filly who he said, “had a good walk and a nice look about her.”

“I liked the Pieratas, they are all good types and Carravilla is a very nice filly.”

“She is going to get stronger as she matures but she is just naturally talented and she picked up everything very quickly - she is very exciting.”

“I am not sure where she goes to from here,” he continued - “whether we pick out a race for her over the carnival or put her in the paddock, I will see how she comes through this run.”

One of the bidders on Carravilla at the sales was Laurel Oak's Louis Mihalyka who, along with Goodwood Farm, Rhiannon Bloodstock and D and C Jeffery, bred the filly out of their mare Tinto Fino (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Liking her enough to buy her back, Mihalyka did however underestimate her sales ring value - dropping out as she surpassed the six-figure mark with the thought that on type and pedigree she would take a while to make it to the track.

But here she is as an April 2-year-old not only racing, but winning - “a pleasant surprise!” said Mihalyka who had missed the race whilst in transit - figuring out that something good had happened as his phone began to ping.

With Pierata's best form coming at three and beyond, Mihalyka did not send a mare to him in the hope of producing an early type - noting that Tinto Fino hails from “a family of slow-maturers.”

“It is a good mating but physically I thought this filly would take a decent amount of time,” he said - happy to be proven wrong as reports from the stable suggested that “she was ahead of schedule.”

Mihalyka had cause to be very excited about Carravilla's dam Tinto Fino who he purchased for $110,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

A member of the Chris Waller stable, she was also expected to need time but she too debuted as an April 2-year-old though sadly without the same luck.

“I was in India at the time so I remember exactly where I was when watching that race,” Mihalyka said, the memory sticking as the run contained so much promise.

Finishing off strongly having raced wide in an 1100-metre maiden at Echuca, Tinto Fino had her owners excited with talk of Queensland winter carnival races in store.

But that joy quickly turned to dismay as Tinto Fino was found to be sore after the race - the first text Mihalyka receiving in India alerting him to a possible fracture in the knee, the second a few hours later even more serious.

“She had shattered her knee and saving her life was the only possibility, there was no chance of her ever racing again.”

Twelve months of rehabilitation followed; Tinto Fino at times a bit sore and sorry but fast-forward to now and she is sound and well - and making a lovely contribution.

Although Mihalyka admits that there was concern that nothing much was really happening for her; Tinto Fino due to be listed for sale with her 2022-born North Pacific filly had to be put down just last week.

“I'd say we will have a change of heart now,” he said, noting that not only is Carravilla promising, but so is Tinto Fino's 3-year-old Edited By (Written By) - that Michael Freedman-trained colt winning his last two starts at Newcastle.

Scratched from a couple of recent black-type assignments after drawing wide gates, Edited By was also a good sales result for Laurel Oak; fetching $280,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Whilst not in the ownership of Carravilla, she is a gift that will keep on giving to her breeders who were persuaded by Aquis - then home to Pierata - to pay a bit extra for a lifetime breeding right rather than just securing one nomination.

“That looks to be a valuable asset now,” Mihalyka said, happy to have used that right in a very good way - Tinto Fino last spring foaling a colt by Pierata whilst the 2021 nomination was used with Mull Over (So You Think {NZ}).

Her 2-year-old by Rebel Dane had not raced at that stage but we all now know her as Fireburn who has made her way to Japan on the back of her big-race successes in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires Produce S.

Mull Over produced a handsome colt by Pierata, one bought-back by Laurel Oak for $460,000 at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

A half-sister to the multiple city winner Monasterio (NZ) (Savabeel), Tinto Fino hails from the family of the outstanding race and broodmare Triscay (Marscay) - meaning that Carravilla can boast amongst her relations the Group 1 winners La Baraka (Euclase), Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern, as well as the tough Group 1 campaigners Demerger (Saithor {USA}) and Defier (Dehere {USA}).

Rich Dottie another smart juvenile for Written Tycoon

Yulong's good day continued at Caulfield where one of the four debutants contesting the juvenile contest showed not only talent but heart getting up along the rails to put her nose out where it counted.

That horse is Rich Dottie whose Champion Sire Written Tycoon is a Yulong resident - and she races in the stud's bottle green and white colours.

Bred by Evergreen Rich, she was sold by them to Yulong for $260,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

The Grahame Begg-trained filly was sent out favourite on the back of good Cranbourne jump-out form and she did a great job from barrier one with jockey Michael Dee noting that, “the inside barrier can be a bad recipe for a first starter.”

“But she was very professional - she jumped super clean and travelled nicely. When the gap opened up she was a little bit hesitant at first, being close to the fence with a horse on the outside she was quite green - but once she got her head through she was very strong over that last 100 metres.”

“She is only going to improve,” he continued - “she has got a lot of talent.”

Begg was pleased with Dee's ride, noting that “he didn't rush her, he just let her find her feet and she relaxed well enough for her first start. I am sure she will take great benefit from this run and I think that there are betting things in store for her.”

Rich Dottie is the first foal produced by the Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm winner Dorothy Of Oz (Redoute's Choice) who was also bred by Evergreen.

And also an Evergreen resident is Dorothy Of Oz's dam, the terrific mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) who was purchased by the stud for $3 million at the 2009 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The winner of twelve races - four of those at Group 1-level, Princess Coup earned the titles of New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, New Zealand Champion Older Female and Stayer and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year.

A highly successful broodmare with eight winners from nine to race, Princess Coup is the dam of the Hong Kong-based Group 3 winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice) and the dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}) as well as the dams of the Listed winners Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) and Stonecoat (Pierro).

Missing last year to Extreme Choice, Princess Coup has an Exceed And Excel filly who Evergreen's Tony Bott is excited about.

“Princess Coup always does a great job and she is typical of what she produces - she is going to mature into a really lovely filly.”

With a policy of taking most of their horses to the sales - happy to let the market decide which ones they should keep (such as the exciting I Am Invincible juvenile Anode who was passed in at last year's Magic Millions) - Princess Coup's daughter may be one of the exceptions.

“Our only change to the policy of taking horses to the sale is a filly like her,” Bott said - in other words, keeping a daughter of a champion stallion and an older, much cherished, high-performing mare.

Bott is happy with how Princess Coup's daughters have been faring at stud and is hopeful of good things in store for Dorothy Of Oz with her good start.

“I was talking to Grahame Begg the other day and he mentioned how pleased he was with her, that she looks like she may be a stakes filly.”

“Dorothy Of Oz showed ability but she was not quite black type but with her breeding we think she can do the job at stud.”

And Bott has been giving her every chance to do so, Dorothy Of Oz in foal to Zoustar after foaling a Frankel (GB) filly in August.

“She is a very nice type who will most likely to go the sales, hopefully by that time her half-sister will have continued on well.”

Bott admits to have being in two minds when selling Rich Dottie, remembering that “we had an opinion of her but Written Tycoon was just on the cusp of becoming the stallion he is today - I think by his standards now she was a cheap yearling.”

Evergreen also had influence in the 2-year-old race at Canterbury, that race won in easy style by Trafalgar Square (Churchill {Ire}) whose unraced dam Amnesiac (Excellent Art {GB}) was bred by them.

Retired after just the one trial, she has been sold a few times since - most recently changing hands for just $600 online - purchased by Dr Kerby Siemsen, a Queensland-based horse enthusiast.

The dam of just two other foals (both by Inference), Amnesiac looks to have a smart one in the shape of this David Payne-trained filly who was sold firstly online for $19,000 and then again by Telemon Thoroughbreds to the stable for $110,000 in Book 2 of last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Always well-regarded by Payne, Trafalgar Square tired after working hard from a wide gate at her debut in the Golden Gift at Rosehill in November - again covering ground when resuming with a close up Gosford maiden third before tackling stakes class; fifth in the G3 Kindergarten S., won by Espionage (Zoustar).

“She has been a bit unlucky,” Payne told the media,” and I think, being by Churchill, she will be looking for the mile now.”

Payne described Trafalgar Square as a horse with “a nice future” and jockey Chad Schofield agreed.

“It was a very soft win. She jumped quickly, travelled beautifully in the box seat - came of the leader's backs and put them away in a couple of strides.”

“She had a bit of a look around but was strong through the line. She is small and petite but she doesn't feel small when you are riding her, she's got a bright future.”

Trafalgar Square had a couple of relatives sell well at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - a Snitzel filly out of Prompt (Exceed And Excel) purchased by the Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate for $400,000 whilst a Zoustar filly out of Prompt's Group 1 daughter Prompt Response (Beneteau) was secured by James Harron for $2.2 million.

Super Seth strikes in a blueblood quinella

Earlier in the day Waikato Stud's G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth was represented by his fifth first-crop winner when Super Photon (NZ) made a successful debut at Arawa Park.

It was a nice race for Waikato with a one/two finish, also breeding the runner-up Magice (NZ) (Savabeel).

Well supported having shown talent at the trials, Super Photon joined in our wide half way down the straight, racing clear to win in smart fashion.

The most expensive purchase in the field, Super Photon was sold by Waikato to Stephen Marsh Racing, Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $380,000 at last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

He is the fourth foal to race - and the fourth winner - for the Group 3-placed winner Chandelier (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose high class son Mo'Unga (NZ) (Savabeel) won the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G1 Winx S.

Paying another visit to Super Seth last spring, Chandelier foaled a Savabeel filly in August having missed to that same horse the previous year.

Waikato's Mark Chittick is hoping that Super Photon is part of a big week for Super Seth whose 2-year-olds have him excited.

“You could not have asked for a better start for him,” he enthused. “Not only are they winning but they are shaping as supreme athletes and we are all anxiously awaiting his first Group 1 runner on Saturday.”

That horse is the G1 Champagne S. favourite Linebacker (NZ) who backed up an easy Hawkesbury maiden success with a smart win in the G3 TL Baillieu H. at Rosehill in late March.

Meanwhile Chittick is all smiles with Super Photon looking to be well and truly above average.

“The stable have a high opinion of him and have a Listed race at Te Rapa on Anzac Day marked out for him.”

Chittick was impressed with the manner of Super Photon's win - “he had to come off the fence and show a bit of professionalism, a good effort for a first starter.”