Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Double Market was having just her second start when asked to take a giant step up in grade from her maiden win at Ballarat over 1400 metres earlier this month.
The 3-year-old was thrown in the deep end by the Lindsay Park team but looked the ultimate professional, blending into the race on the home bend before driving clear under the urgings of Michael Dee for a comfortable win, becoming Castelvecchio’s third individual stakes winner in as many weeks.
The dominant victory had co-trainer Ben Hayes excited of what was to come.
“She’s a horse we bought from the Magic Millions, and we loved her, but she took a lot of time and was very immature and this is the first prep she’s actually held her condition, so to win a Group 2 on Cox Plate Day and get that really good black type is so important. Well done to all the connections!” Hayes said.
“They way she won today, yes, it wasn’t the strongest race, but she won well and was strong through the line so if she pulls up well, we will definitely look at a race like the Thousand Guineas.
“It was only her second start and there is good improvement to come.”
... if she (Double Market) pulls up well, we will definitely look at a race like the Thousand Guineas. It was only her second start and there is good improvement to come.” - Ben Hayes
As a result, Double Market has shortened onto the second line of betting for the G1 Thousand Guineas (1600 metres) at Caulfield on November 16.
Double Market was offered through the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and purchased by Lindsay Park Racing for $100,000. An excellent result for all involved with Saturday’s victory taking the filly’s earnings to over $200,000 with her whole career still ahead of her.
Bred by GSA Bloodstock, Double Market continued an incredible run of success for Jonathan Munz’s breeding operation which has bred the winners of well over 30 stakes races and five at Group 1 level since inception. This season the breeding operation has already tasted stakes success three times with Right to Party (Zoustar) winning the G2 Gilgai S. and G3 Aurie’s Star H.
Double Market as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
While a little light on first inspection, Double Market’s pedigree has some real depth when taking a closer look.
She is out of winning Redoute’s Choice mare First Tier, whose dam Racing Nadine (Bernardini {USA}) is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner He’s No Pie Eater (Canny Lad) who was victorious in back-to-back Group 1s as a 3-year-old in 2007. He defeated champion Desert War (Desert King {Ire}) to win the G1 Chipping Norton S. (1600 metres) before going on to claim G1 Rosehill Guineas (2000 metres) at his next start.
Delving deeper into Double Market’s pedigree, you find Show Lady (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}), dam of influential broodmare Dancing Show (USA) (Nijinsky II {Can}); the dam of Group I winners Umatilla (NZ) (Miswaki {USA}), Hurricane Sky (Star Watch) and blue hen Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad).
Connections of Double Market after winning the G2 Crystal Mile at Moonee Valley | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Full brother on offer at the NZB Ready to Run Sale
Kilgravin Lodge will offer a full brother to Double Market at the upcoming New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale. Being offered as Lot 369, the gelding breezed earlier this week galloping out a furlong in 10.38s.
Purchased for a modest $10,000 from the 2023 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, respected bloodstock consultant Paul Willetts is hoping he can take full advantage of the timely pedigree upgrade and also the recent flood of success for Castelvecchio.
“He breezed up really well, so I’m really pleased for the clients I bought him for,” Willetts said.
“He was one of the better ones in the draft from all reports and what happened yesterday has been the icing on the cake, hopefully.
“He (Lot 369) breezed up really well and was one of the better ones in the draft from all reports...” - Paul Willetts
“I’ve always quite liked Castelvecchio. I’ve bought three or four of them. He was just bred to produce later developing horses and in Australia they quite often drop off stallions if they haven’t done something immediately in their first crop so; that’s why we targeted him. As I said, I’ve bought three or four them this year and all for not a lot of money.
“He’s now gone to another level which these types of stallions can do.
“A bit similar to The Autumn Sun, eight or nine months ago no one wanted one but now he’s proven to be a really good stallion and you might just see the same with Castelvecchio.”
Paul Willetts | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The 2024 edition of the NZB Ready to Run Sale will take place at the Karaka Sales Centre from 11am (NZT) on November 20 - 21.
Castelvecchio has now produced four stakes performers within a matter of weeks, headlined by his tenacious Group 1-winning son El Castello and exciting filly Double Market.
Castelvecchio stands at Arrowfield Stud at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
