With Turangga principal Stuart Ramsey away at his beef grazing operation in western Queensland, Bluebloods spoke to Stu’s son John Ramsey about the Magic Millions draft and caught up with him at the well-appointed Segenhoe Valley farm just outside Scone
What appeals to you most about the MM sales and race series?
“It’s about 2YO’s and 3YO’s and speed horses generally. The prizemoney is second to none.”
How would you sum up your farm?
“Turangga is known as one of the best farms in the Segenhoe Valley. Our neighbours are Arrowfield, Vinery, Kia Ora, and Segenhoe. The results speak for themselves.”
How would you summarise your draft this year?
“We are taking only a select small draft this year, but one with plenty of quality. Our approach is always quality over quantity.”
How do you feel about putting pineapple on pizza?
“Ha! Pineapple should not be on pizza. It’s just wrong!”
If you could add a single option to your car, what would you add?
“Simple: an indestructible bullbar.”
If animals could talk, which animal would be the most annoying?
“I reckon goats. Have a couple and they are cheeky enough as it is. Great characters.”
Here is a rundown of the Turangga draft with comments from John.
Lot 316 brown colt by Pierro from Forty Winks (by Kheleyf):
Pierro is on fire with the recent Railway Stakes-Gr.1, 1600m winner Regal Power his sixth Group One winner. This fellow’s imported winning dam is a daughter of the local dual Group Two winning Rubiton mare Dilly Dally who was third to Spark Of Life in the Manikato Stakes-Gr.1, 1200m. Dilly Dally’s dam is the terrific broodmare Faricca, also dam of the Group Three winner Li Lo Lill (Group One placed on two occasions; third in the VRC Oaks,2500m and 1000 Guineas,1600m won by Magical Miss) and the Listed winner Linga Longa Lucy. Like this year’s Spring Champion Stakes-Gr.1, 2000m winner Shadow Hero he is a Pierro boasting three strains of the legendary Mill Reef. “Grandam Dilly Dally won the TJ Smith before it became a Group One and was an extremely fast mare from a winning family, and by a sire that is flying. A very neat horse – the perfect trainer’s horse.”
Lot 481 bay colt by Exosphere from Lonely Hour (by Fastnet Rock):
Half-brother to the three times winner Smoodge out of a daughter of the Emirates Stakes-Gr.1, 1600m winner Sky Cuddle (winner also of the Spring Stakes-Gr.3, 1200m and the Rose Of Kingston Stakes-Gr.3, 1410m), dam of the terrific mare Champagne Cuddles; a four times Group One placed two times Group winner still racing in great heart. Hails from a reliably classy family, one which has also produced the Group winners Violate, Sky Love, Highly Recommended, Fast Clip, and Adamantium. Boasts interesting pedigree patterns with his dam bred on the same Danehill/Marscay cross as his promising Golden Rose-Gr.1, 1400m winning young sire. “By a young sire that hails from an exciting sire line and from a family that Stuart has bred up himself. The black type continues to flow. This is a family that is moving forward, and keeps throwing winners. A very well-balanced colt, an excellent mover and a pleasure to do anything with.”
Lot 525 bay colt by Fastnet Rock from Mezulla (by Shamardal):
Bred on the opposite cross (the Fastnet Rock/Shamardal combination) as the multiple Group One winning sprinter Santa Ana Lane, he is out of a multiple city winner (in Melbourne and Perth) whose dam is the Group Two placed Vamperalla from the family of Kelt Capital Stakes-Gr.1, 2040m winner Just Call Me Sir and the South Australian Oaks-Gr.1, 2500m heroine Lady Liberty. Like Fastnet Rock’s Group One winners Awesome Rock, Foxwedge and Irish Lights, he carries a cross (4mx6f) of the wonderful mare Crimson Saint, dam of Royal Academy and grandam of Storm Cat. “His sire speaks for himself. And out of a Shamardal mare – everyone knows how good Shamardal mares are in Australasia let alone the rest of the world. A nice strong colt and typical of the breed.”
Lot 839 bay filly by Pierro from Syrian Bride (by Golan):
Half-sister to the smart Hong Kong galloper My Darling out of a sister to Kibbutz who out-stayed his rivals including Littorio and Marching in the VRC Derby-Gr.1, 2500m. Her five times Group One winning sire has done a good job when Sir Tristram (5mx4m) is duplicated; siring the Group One winners Pinot and Pierata with this cross, as well as the Group Three winners Bellevue Hill and Rock. This filly also boasts a 4mx4m cross of the famed matriarch Eight Carat via Octagonal and Kaapstad; noting that Pierro’s Gimcrack Stakes-Listed, 1000m winner Satin Slipper is bred in the same way. “The stallion is flying and he gets both fillies and colts.
Her dam has 2 to race for 2 winners and she is a full sister to Kibbutz. Will make a very nice 3YO. Extremely well put together filly with a beautiful temperament – all pointing to a lovely future racehorse.”
Be sure to inspect Turangga Farm’s quality draft at the Gold Coast in January.
