Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
When The Thoroughbred Report spoke with Go Bloodstock’s Director Steve O’Connor, there was a clear sense of accomplishment and pride as Transatlantic claimed his deserved first Group 1, and resident mare Gust Of Wind, famously the last horse to beat the incomparable Winx, produced her first elite-level winner.
“It was fantastic, the horse really deserved it after running a couple of seconds at stakes level at his last two starts." O'Connor commented.
“He (Transatlantic) really deserved it, and so did the mare. It was a fantastic result for Sir Owen Glenn.”
The story behind picking up Gust Of Wind
Go Bloodstock acquired Gust Of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) as a 4-year-old mare, after she had already won two minor races and the G1 Australian Oaks as a 3-year-old filly for her trainer John Sargent.
The Go Bloodstock team are always on the lookout for high-level prospects both for the track and the broodmare band, especially at that time, as Glenn was building a portfolio to support his soon-to-retire stallion, Criterion.
She was famously the last horse to beat the superstar Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), defeating her by two and a half lengths in the 2015 G1 Australian Oaks.
While Gust Of Wind’s form as a 4-year-old mare and beyond was mixed, she proved her class and stamina with a fourth placing behind Mongolian Khan (NZ) in the 2015 G1 Caulfield Cup, and a meritorious sixth in the G1 Melbourne Cup behind Prince Of Penzance (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), running on strongly after settling with only a couple of runners behind her.
Gust Of Wind | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“She was a well-performed filly and Sir Owen was attempting to build some quality mares to visit Criterion, and we really liked her as a prospect,” O’Connor said.
“She was an Oaks winner, and probably not really like a typical Darci Brahma type, but she leaned more towards the Sadler’s Wells style, even though she’s a big, imposing mare.
“We have mated her accordingly, and with the help of Peter O’Brien and the Segenhoe team, they have done a great job as she hasn't always been easy.
“Unfortunately, she never got the foal we wanted with Criterion as it didn’t work out with him, but she has left some lovely foals, and hopefully there is more to come.”
Steve O’Connor | Image courtesy of Inglis
Gust Of Wind’s impressive breeding record
Despite some challenges, Gust Of Wind has made a good start to her broodmare career, leaving three winners from three to race, including a Group 1 winner, and a seven-figure yearling sale.
Her first foal, Sirroco Gale (Snitzel), was a winner over 1400 metres before his premature death. Then came Transatlantic (Snitzel), now a seven-time winner, including at the elite level, with the promise of more to come.
Her next foal, Sensational Wind (I Am Invincible), was sold to Katsumi Yoshida for $1.1 million from the Segenhoe Draft at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sensational Wind as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She was left empty the following season, then foaled a Stay Inside colt, now a 2-year-old who was sold for $220,000 to Irwin Racing at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is catalogued to sell at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on Thursday - perfect timing following Transatlantic’s success.
She now has a Dundeel (NZ) yearling filly and unfortunately, she missed to the late Wootton Bassett (GB) last spring.
“Her foals have all been beautiful - she definitely leaves a type,” O’Connor explained.
“Sirroco Gale was a really good-looking colt; if we put him through a sale ring, I’m sure he would have made well into seven figures.
“Transatlantic needed a bit of time and was a touch immature, but still sold for $360,000 to John Foote and partners, which was a good price.
“Sensational Wind was a beautiful yearling; we got $1.1 million for her, and she went to Katsumi Yoshida, who is obviously a great judge.
“It was a commercial call to sell her, and she (Sensational Wind) has won a race and will make a lovely broodmare in time.”
Another colt was next, after the mare was sent to Golden Slipper winner Stay Inside which resulted in a solid result at the yearling sales.
Stay Inside x Gust Of Wind colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
“The Stay Inside colt was nice, he had size and scope for the sire, and the timing is right for him heading to the Inglis sale (on Thursday) for his new connections."
Now comes a difficult decision for the Go Bloodstock team, as she foaled another filly, after they sold the first one in a commercial decision and were rewarded handsomely.
“We have a Dundeel yearling filly, and she’s nice. I’m not sure yet whether we will retain her or sell; we’ll make a call around that.
“Unfortunately, she was in foal to Wootton Bassett last year but lost it at around 40 days, which is a pity, especially with Wootton Bassett sadly passing away. She has now been served by Too Darn Hot, so hopefully she is in foal to him - that’s an exciting mating.”
Love and respect for Snitzel
Transatlantic became the 25th Group 1 winner for Arrowfield Stud’s champion sire Snitzel when he took out the G1 Toorak Handicap. Overall, Snitzel has sired 161 stakes winners and has been Champion Sire of Australia in four individual seasons.
The late Snitzel | Image courtesy of Arrowfield Stud
When asked about the mating of Snitzel with Gust Of Wind, O’Connor replied, “We love Snitzel and always have, he’s been a very good horse to us. We’ve also linked with Newgate on horses like Wild Ruler, In The Congo and Russian Revolution, so he’s a stallion we have the utmost respect for.
“When breeding Transatlantic, we already had the colt Sirroco Gale, who was a great type, so that gave us confidence the mating had worked type-wise.
“To have bred a Group 1 winner by Snitzel in the year he sadly passed - we’re very proud of that.”
