STIMULI scoring a strong win at Warwick Farm

I put in a lot of research into the first season sires and love backing my judgement at the sales.  More often than not the best book of mares a sire covers is his first crop.  In any season we have about 50 new sires on the block and they would attract on average about 2,500 mares.  Often very good mares go to these horses because their owners have an interest in the sire and most stallions will get an above average runner from this initial crop.

The studs standing these new horses work overtime to get the best mares they can to their horse.  Only a small percentage will go on to have successful careers at stud and it is vitally important the progeny show they can run, the earlier the better in Australia.

I was very taken with Hinchinbrook from the first time I inspected him at Yarraman Park as a foal.  He is out of Snippets Lass the best credentialed mare Bill Mitchell trained while I was in partnership with him.  Snippets Lass has been an outstanding broodmare which isn’t surprising if you look closely at her pedigree. 

When Press Statement went past the post in first place in the JJ Atkins Stakes on Saturday I was thrilled as the win has almost certainly clinched the Australian First Season Sires Title for Hinchinbrook, a stallion I have supported from the start.  In fact I syndicated the first two Hinchinbrook’s to be offered in Australia.  This year I purchased a further three fillies by the sire.

These fillies have all got nice pedigrees and should be potentially very good breeding prospects once their racing careers are over.

I know that the Mitchell’s from Yarraman Park and over the moon with the results of not only Hinchinbrook but also Champion First Season Sire of 2013/14 season in I Am Invincible. 

CAULFIELD CUP DAY - HOBART

On Caulfield Cup Day Prime Thoroughbreds along with a select group of our associated companies are sponsoring the day’s racing at UBET Park in Hobart, previously known as Tattersall’s Park. This is very exciting and I am putting together a tempting program.  How does this look:

Thursday 16 October – Arrive in Hobart cocktail party

Friday 17 October – Golf at Royal Hobart or visit MONA

Saturday 18 October – Salamanca Market and race day

Sunday 19 October – Lunch at Peppermint Bay

Monday – Retreat back home hopefully not too battered and bruised.

I will be putting out more information as we get closer but we do have a very special guest for the race day with the Tasmanian Racing Club working very hard to lift the profile of the club to where it should be.  I’m certain we can make this an annual event and my aim is for it to be the best day on the Tasmanian Racing Calendar.

THE WEEK AHEAD

We certainly have plenty happening over the next 10 days.  Tomorrow Maraska heads to Doomben and on Thursday Sanosuke resumes at Wyong and I expect him to acquit himself well.  On Saturday Husson Eagle is set to run at Flemington and looks well placed.  Makeadane and Stimuli are nominated at Rosehill and Faith’n’Courage steps out at Ipswich.  Unique will resume in the Cessnock Cup on Tuesday and Naranja looks like going to Muswellbrook on Sunday week.  The following Saturday sees Awasita and Savoureux running at Randwick.  We have a number of other runners not far off racing.

Stimuli’s happy group of owners at Warwick Farm

ROBERT THOMPSON OAM

I highlighted Robert Thomson’s achievements recently when he was indicted into the Australian Racing Hall Of Fame.  I have a very high regard for him both as a person and jockey with the records he has set being unlikely to be surpassed for some time, if ever.

He was awarded an OAM in the Queen’s Honours List and thoroughly deserves the recognition he is receiving.  Our industry has taken a few hits recently and Robert is a shining light and the type of person we want in racing.

Once again well done to him for the way he conducts himself and congratulations on being awarded the OAM.  

RECENT YEARLING PURCHASES

Written Tycoon colt out of Miss Fascination 2013

$10,000 per 10% share (5% @ $5,000)

Darren Weir to train

The picture tells a story here.  This colt is all quality and I can’t remember getting so many compliments after purchasing a yearling.  He is a loose walking colt with a great head and wonderful hindquarter.  He has a deep girth and great legs.  I love him.  He is at Darren’s Ballarat property and he will be going to the breakers in three weeks.

Written Tycoon was a very good racehorse but he has been a better sire.  He won the Todman Slipper Trial and was Australia’s Leading First Season Sire in 2010/11.  This was a remarkable effort.  I really started to take notice of him a couple of years ago but have struggled to find the ‘right’ yearling by him.  I think this is the one. 

Last Tycoon is the grandsire of Written Tycoon and he was one of the very best sires to have stood in Australia.  This colt has a lot of his characteristics.  Last Tycoon’s progeny were very athletic horses with not too much bone.  He complimented the Australian thoroughbred and was a major influence in helping to tidy up the breed. 

Miss Fascination is by the broodmare sensation Redoute’s Choice. One of his daughters when crossed with Written Tycoon produced Masthead the winner of $969,000.  Only two Redoute’s Choice mares have had foals race by Written Tycoon.   

This is Miss Fascination’s first foal.  I love first foals.  The second and third dams are stakes winners.  The colt is Super VOBIS eligible and I have decided to send him to Darren Weir.

I’m thrilled to be able to offer him to my clients and can’t wait for him to race.  

Smart Missile filly out of Pride Of Pine 2013

Kris Lees to train

10% shares @ $12,500 (5% @ $6,250)

This filly is possibly the best credentialed filly I have purchased being a ¾ sister to the SAJC Gr 1 Goodwood Handicap Winner Lone Rock.  Lone Rock was also the Joint Top Filly on the Australasian 3YO Classification in 2010/11.  As well as winning the Goodwood she won VRC Gr 3 Bobby Lewis Handicap and MRC Gr 3 Champagne Stakes.  Importantly, Lone Rock is by Smart Missile’s sire Fastnet Rock so the cross really works well.

I am a big fan of Smart Missile.  Like Hinchinbrook he is by Fastnet Rock but more to the point both Hinchinbrook and Smart Missile were fast two year olds and not heavy horses that characterises many of the Fastnet Rock colts.  They were both athletic and come from good female lines.  I am expecting Smart Missile to be the leading First Season Sire in Australia in the coming season.  This is the 3rd Smart Missile filly I have purchased this year.

Kris Lees trained another sister Lucia Bella who he said had very good ability but had issues and never reached her potential. A big advantage this filly has is that there are plenty of well-bred fillies high up on the pedigree page.

The filly is from the immediate family of Procastinate, Laisserfaire, A Time For Julia, Time Thief and Foreplay.  The filly heads to Kris Lees.

Commands Already filly 2013

John Thompson to train

10% shares at $13,000 (5% shares @ $6,500)

I was the under bidder on a grey filly by Not a Single Doubt out of Already which races as The Grey Flash.  She has gone on to win the SAJC Gp 3 Sires Produce Stakes. 

In my opinion this Commands filly is superior to The Grey Flash as a type and represents a great cross with Commands going over a More Than Ready mare.  The page is great with the 2nd dam by Unbridled Song throwing Group 2 winner Brightexpectations.  The 3rd dam is by Danehill and 4th dam the mother of the outstanding two year old Brilliance.

The filly will go to John Thompson and is a great addition to our team.

Brenton Avdulla after riding Stimuli