Half siblings to Private Harry and Orchid Sky highlight Rheinwood Pastoral's Classic offerings

Routinely the consignors of small drafts with big results, Rheinwood Pastoral have been enjoying another exciting season, highlighted by the G1 Winterbottom Stakes victory of Libertad (Russian Revolution) during the Perth racing carnival. They return to the same venue where they have sold the likes of Libertad, G1 Galaxy Handicap winner Private Harry (Harry Angel), and G3 Vain Stakes fourth Sonofkirk (Ole Kirk) with a handpicked draft of eight packed with promise.

Stud Manager Deirdre Foster is looking forward to presenting the draft, saying, “I have really enjoyed preparing them and seeing how they have progressed. We have a nice mix of horses - there is something in the draft for everyone.”

Lot 56 - Zousain x Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}), colt

The first yearling through the ring for Rheinwood starts the draft off with a bang, being a half-brother to Group 1 winner and $2 million earner Private Harry amongst three multiple winners from four to race out of the mare.

“He’s a very attractive colt,” said Foster. “He’s a beautiful mover, he floats across the ground and I think he is very forward for a November foal. He’s scopey and has a lot of natural muscle.”

Speed is a major feature of the page, with all of Happy Pilgrim’s (Congrats {USA}) winners striking over sprint trips, and G1 Blue Diamond Stakes runner-up Don Corleone and G1 JJ Atkins Plate-placed The Drinks Cart close at hand. Close relations R. Listed Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Paradoxium (Extreme Choice) and Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic victress Hot And High (Too Darn Hot) have provided exciting updates since the catalogue went to print.

Lot 126 - Written By x Lakotadreamcatcher (USA) (Fort Prado {USA}), colt

The second Rheinwood yearling through the ring maintains the momentum, being out of Listed Illinois Debutant Stakes winner Lakotadreamcatcher (USA) (Fort Prado {USA}) - one of the first juvenile stakes races of the season in the States - who has already produced two winners from three to the track. This colt is also closely related to smart American sprinter Mo ‘Em Down (USA) (Caracaro {USA}, a winner last season at two before running second in the GIII Sorrento Stakes in October.

“He’s very athletic and a great mover,” Foster said. “Another good-looking colt. His biggest attribute is his fantastic walk.”

Written By has a 71.4% strike rate with Sadler’s Wells (USA) line mares from limited opportunities, and he shares a strong affinity for her second damsire Nijinksy (USA), with 83.3% of his stakes winners bred on the cross. Four of his six stakes winners are colts, including G2 Silver Slipper Stakes winner Straight Charge and G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes winner The Novelist.

Lot 235 - Peltzer x Nana Jenn (Star Witness), colt

This colt is an August-born son of winning Star Witness mare Nana Jenn, a full sister to versatile Listed winner Lycurgus (Star Witness), as well as a half-sister to G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) and G3 South Australia Fillies Classic victress Litzdeel (Dundeel {NZ}).

“He’s a nice, strong colt,” Foster said. “Very easy going. He's been brilliant for the parades, nothing has been difficult. I would say he’s a very trainable horse, he has a great head on him.”

Peltzer sprung onto the scene last season with his stakes-winning son Buccleuch and multiple Group-performed Thanks Gorgeous continued to fly his flag this spring. His sire So You Think (NZ) has produced two winners from just three runners out of Star Witness mares, including juvenile winner and Listed Bendigo Guineas fourth Lethal Thoughts.

Lot 247 - Farnan x New Summer Night (Manhattan Rain), filly

This quality filly has been bred with the power of the Rasmussen Factor in mind, with the breed-shaping Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad) appearing twice within five generations courtesy of damsire Manhattan Rain and Redoute’s Choice above Farnan. In addition, New Summer Night (Manhattan Rain) has been bred to her own female line, with her second dam Salamore (Vain) being Farnan’s fourth dam. Champions such as Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), Danehill (USA), and Justify (USA) have all been bred utilising the Rasmussen Factor.

“She is a very smart filly,” said Foster. “She loves to get the job done, and is very switched on.”

Farnan has already sired four individual Group winners from his first crop, at a rate of 5.6% Group winners to runners, including recent G3 Vo Rogue Plate victor Ninja.

Lot 275 - Hellbent x Orchid Beach (Hinchinbrook), filly

This lovely filly hails from the strong family of Listed Phelan Ready Stakes winner Hi Barbie (I Am Invincible), recent Listed Razor Sharp Handicap winner Weeping Woman (Lonhro), and Listed Carlton Draught Classic winner Insistence (Black Hawk {GB}). Her 2-year-old half-sister Orchid Sky (Portland Sky) recently excited on debut when running fourth in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes and 3-year-old half-brother Flying Orchid (Flying Artie) was Listed-placed in the spring before running fifth in the G3 Gloaming Stakes.

“She doesn’t have any white on her, but that’s the only plain thing about her,” Foster said. “She's got an attractive head, a good eye, lovely shape, good girth, and again, a beautiful mover. I see them in the round yard as well, so I see them more than a walk, and she carries herself beautifully and is nicely balanced.”

Hellbent is a renowned producer of stakes-winning fillies, including Group 1 winners Magic Time and Benedetta, and the cross of him over Hinchinbrook has produced eight winners from 10 runners, including G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes winner Zip Lock this season.

Lot 330 - Captivant x Rakitno (Not A Single Doubt), colt

By Captivant, sire of flash pre-Christmas winner Vantorix, this colt is from the family of G3 Aurie’s Star Handicap winner Shanghai Warrior (Elvstroem) and dual Listed winner Perfect Feeling (Spinning World {USA}). His close family is getting off the starting blocks; Rakitno’s (Not A Single Doubt) first foal Kermalicious (Kermadec {NZ}) was a winner in the spring and her second foal Rockthevelio (Castelvecchio) has secured two strong placings in her first two starts.

“I think he’s a smokey,” said Foster. “He’s a good-looking colt who needs a bit of time, but I think he could still fire as a 2-year-old. He’s very easy to do everything with and he carries himself well.”

Capitalist over Not A Single Doubt line mares has been a potent cross, producing 78.9% winners to runners and over 21% stakes horses to runners from 19 starters to date, including G2 Roman Consul Stakes winner Hidden Motive (Capitalist). He has also produced 75% winners to runners with Rakitno’s damsire Encosta De Lago, including the stakes-winning juveniles Castanya and Holmes A Court.

Lot 493 - Kermadec x Talented Miss (Al Maher), colt

A colt from the direct family of G1 Australian Derby winner Quick Thinker and leading Western Australian sire Blackfriars, this lot has had an array of updates to his pedigree since the catalogue went to print. Closest to home is half-brother Midnight Dynamite (Pierata), a stakes performer who took his record to five wins and almost $340,000 in prize money with recent victories in the spring. Elsewhere in the family, Gigi (NZ) (Ghibellines) finished second in the G3 Waikato Cup and the progressive Funchal (Playing God) was beaten just one length when fourth in the Listed ATA Stakes.

“He needs a little time as well, but he should make a late 2-year-old, and he has a very good head on his shoulders,” Foster said. “He is a touch immature, but he has a beautiful shape, especially from side-on, and he has a lovely depth of girth.”

Kermadec (NZ) has thrown 9.4% stakes winners to runners with granddaughters of Danehill, including Group 1 winner and $2 million earner Tuvalu. He has had three runners bred on the same Canny Lad cross as this colt, resulting in two metropolitan winners including $365,000 earner and six-time winner Huon.

Lot 751 - Written By x Defar (Wanted), colt

Not to be missed is this half-brother to Listed Aquanita Stakes winner Upper Limits (Exosphere), who has also been placed a further four times at stakes level. Half-sister Three Wishes (Super One) has also placed on debut since the catalogue went to print and was between by less than two thirds of a length.

“I like this colt a lot, he’s very smart,” said Foster. “He’s a cracking mover, I have loved working him in the roundyard. He carries himself well, he's just insanely well balanced. I've really enjoyed prepping him and I'm looking forward to seeing how he goes.”

From a family thick with black-type - including G1 New Zealand Derby winner Hades (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic victress Nurse Kitchen (NZ) (Savabeel) - this colt is bred on the same cross of Fastnet Rock and Written By that has yielded 22.2% stakes performers to runners, including juvenile winner Buffalo (Written By) who was third in the G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes to Vinrock (I Am Invincible). From just one runner out of a mare with Montjeu (Ire) blood, Written By has produced juvenile metropolitan winner Ritualize.