IT’S the time of year when the first crop sires’ table starts to become very interesting in the lead up to the Blue Diamond and Golden Slipper. At the top of the list on January 31 was Coolmore Stud’s high profile dual Gr.1 winner Pride of Dubai (Street Cry (IRE)-Al Anood by Danehill (USA)), who leads from ill-fated Spill The Beans and Night of Thunder (IRE).
The top 10 is completed by Headwater, Vancouver, Jabali, Bull Point, Criterion, I’m All The Talk and Press Statement. Pride of Dubai’s two local winners include the Listed MRC Debutant Stakes winner Tanker and city winner Sense of Honour and the ATC Sires’ Produce-Gr.1/Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 winner also has NZ winner Platinum Dubai and stakes placed Dubai Star and Bella Nipotina. He has 124 first crop foals, conceived off a $55,000 fee and in 2019 covered 176 mares ($38,500).
Night of Thunder, a first crop sire sensation in Europe has two winners, led by Gr.3 winner A Beautiful Night, while Gr.2 winner Spill The Beans (Snitzel-Miss Dodwell by Falbrav (IRE)), who stood at Aquis and covered 116 mares this season before his death on November 1, has four winners including Cosmic Gossip and Java Sparrow and leads the table by winners.
Press Statement
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VINERY’S dual Gr.1 winner Press Statement (Hinchinbrook-Kaaptive Empress by Kaaptive Edition), a half-brother to Gr.1 winner and short-lived sire Pressday (Domesday) had his first winner on the final day of January when the Chris Waller-trained Spokesman (ex Calaluna by Mujahid) held out Thermosphere (Exosphere) and $2.3m colt Setanta (Fastnet Rock) by a long neck and a nose over 1250m. He was third at Canterbury on debut in mid-January after a strong trial win at Rosehill.
Spokesman’s second dam It’s Not On (Tierce-Protective by Opera Prince) is a half-sister to dual Gr.1 winner Victory Vein. He was a $270,000 Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock buy from the Fairview Park draft at the Inglis Classic and has a half-sister by Your Song in the 2020 sale. Spokesman has Danzig 5mx3m, Storm Bird 5fx5m and his sire has a double of Nijinsky (all sons of Northern Dancer). He is also 6mx6m to Sir Ivor and 6mx6f to noted broodmare Crimson Saint via Royal Academy and Terlingua.
Press Statement has 105 first crop foals conceived when his fee was $27,500 and covered his biggest book in 2019 when he looked after 161 mares at $16,500. His six runners to January 31 also included the placegetter Press Start (Testa Rossa).
He has five lots at the Inglis Premier (March 1-3) and two catalogued for the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale (March 10-11).
Press Statement was unbeaten in three starts at two when his major win came in the J.J. Atkins-Gr.1 (1600m) and his three wins the following season were the Caulfield Guineas-Gr.1, Hobartville-Gr.2 and Stan Fox-Gr.2. He was also runner-up in the Randwick Guineas-Gr.1 and third in the George Ryder-Gr.1 behind Winx and Kermadec. His sire Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock), a Gr.3 winner and multiple Gr.1 placegetter and three-quarter brother to champion sire Snitzel, has his final yearlings to the sales this season with 88 live foals from 2018 (2017 fee $44,000).
He died in July 2018 after just seven seasons at stud.
Outreach
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OUTREACH, who was runner-up in the Canonbury Stakes-Gr.3 to subsequent Golden Slipper-Gr.1 winner Vancouver at his only start, had his first winner in late January when Pee Dee (ex Hot ‘n’ Dreamin by Nothin’ Leica Dane) was successful over 900m at Scone. Bred and retained to race by David Parker, the gelding is out of a sister to dual Gr.1 winner Hot Danish, winner of 16 races and $2.3m.
Sadly Hot Danish, also bred by Parker and from a family he has had for many years, died before going to stud, but Hot ‘n’ Dreamin (ex Hot ‘n’ Breezy by Zephyr Zip), a half-sister to stakes winner Manaya (Hinchinbrook), has produced six named foals (four winners) including the talented Hulk Henry (Henrythenavigator (USA)) and winning filly Hot Zephyr (Choisir), along with a 2018 colt by Outreach and 2019 colt by Churchill (IRE), before visiting Outreach again that year.
Pee Dee, trained by Pat Farrell, led all the way at Scone to win by a length from Tudor Music (Your Song) and Very Sharp (Bull Point). He is among eight runners by Outreach, the others including the placed filly Outreach Belle (Lion Heart) among 88 first crop foals. Outreach (Exceed and Excel-Bahia by Snippets), a brother to Golden Slipper-Gr.1 winner Overreach, stands at Widden Stud ($7700) and covered 110 mares last spring. His dam won four races and is a half-sister to Blue Diamond-Gr.1 winner and Chatswood Stud sire Reward For Effort (ex Miss Prospect by Rory’s Jester), fee $16,500, who is also by champion sire and dual Gr.1 winner Exceed and Excel (Danehill (USA)-Patrona (USA) by Lomond), who stands at Darley NSW ($88,000).
Overreach, who is in the broodmare band of her breeder George Altomonte (Corumbene Stud), has a two year-old Snitzel colt named Talbragar in work with Mark Newnham for a Corumbene Stud syndicate and foaled a colt by the same sire in 2019 before again visiting Snitzel. Her first foal was a 2016 colt by Sepoy who died.
Vancouver
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The $400,000 Magic Millions buy Vangelic (ex Angel Bee by Pins) became the first winner for champion two year-old Vancouver when she scored over 1100m at Randwick’s Kensington track on January 1 on debut. In the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable (Gai trained her sire) Vangelic had 1.5 lengths to spare over Parakeet (Kermadec) and with a further three-quarters of a length to Jemss (Exosphere), the placegetters also by first crop sires.
Purchased out of the Segenhoe draft, Vangelic is the third winner for stakes placed Angel Bee (NZ), a daughter of Gr.3 winner Zabeel’s Angel. Golden Slipper-Gr.1 winner Vancouver (Medaglia d’Oro (USA)-Skates by Danehill (USA)), who was unbeaten in four starts at two, stands at Coolmore, Jerrys Plains. His 2019 fee was $44,000 and he covered 138 mares. Vangelic is among 133 first crop foals, conceived on a fee of $55,000 and her five-generation pedigree shows 5mx5m inbreeding to Northern Dancer and 5mx5f to Sir Ivor.
From just 11 runners Vancouver also has the stakes placed Postcode (Westerner), runner-up in the Breeders’ Plate-Gr.3, Ticket to Ride (Street Cry), third in the Gimcrack-Gr.3, and Listed third Canadian Spice (General Nediym), along with placegetter Stagecoach Mary (Choisir).
Night of Thunder
A Beautiful Night (ex Lindyhop by Gonski) became the first Australian winner for one-season Darley shuttler Night of Thunder (IRE) when she defeated Bombay Rocket in the New Year Sprint (1000m) at Flemington. Second behind Award Winner (Exceed and Excel) on debut at Bendigo in mid-December, the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace-trained filly was squeezed between Bombay Rocket (Snitzel) and third-placed Stormborn (Headwater) in the straight and showed fight to score by a nose.
She showed that win was no fluke with an all-the-way romp in the Blue Diamond Preview-Gr.3 (1000m) on January 25, beating Fresh and Unstoppable.
She is raced by a syndicate that includes her breeder Mr O. Mustafa and is among 58 live foals (fee $16,500) for English 2000 Guineas-Gr.1 and Lockinge Stakes-Gr.1 winner Night of Thunder (Dubawi (IRE)-Forest Storm by Galileo (IRE), the champion first crop sire of Europe in 2019 (29 winners, 8SW).
A Beautiful Night is the second and final foal of Lindyhop who died in 2017. Her dam Lindleywood Lass is a daughter of Kenmare (FR) and the Gr.2 winner Twirled (Turf Ruler-Pirouette by Planet Kingdom), whose second dam is stakes winner Gypsy Moss (IRE), dam of Gypsy Kingdom and Our Planet and who traces to Chelandry. Night of Thunder has had five runners in Australia (to January 30) including the winner Riverina Storm (Royal Academy), Merson Cooper Stakes-LR third River Night (Helmet) and placed Reite den Blitz (Green Desert). A Beautiful Night has Northern Dancer 5mx5m.
Bull Point
WHEN two year-old Very Sharp (ex Shamtastic by Shamardal (USA)) won an open age maiden over 900m on debut at Scone in mid-January, she provided the first Australian winner for Gr.3 winner Bull Point who stands at Kingstar Farm, Denman. The $12,000 Scone yearling sale buy led all the way to win by a short half-head for trainer Rod Northam.
She joins Matamata 1200m debut winner Yourpoint (ex Dollhouse by Snitzel), a $100,000 Karaka buy from the family of Gr.1 winner Rockabubble, on the honour roll of her young sire who also has the Inglis Nursey-RL runner-up and Inglis Banner-RL fourth Encountabull (ex Countess Delago by Encosta de Lago) among just four first crop runners to late January.
Bull Point (Fastnet Rock-Rose of Cimmaron by Bite the Bullet (USA)), who covered his biggest book of 104 in 2019 ($7700), won four races including the Manfred Stakes-Gr.3 (1200m) at Caulfield, was runner-up twice at Gr.2 level and third in the Golden Rose-Gr.1 and MRC Invitation Stakes-Gr.1 and fourth in the Futurity Stakes-Gr.1.
His dam is a sister to Gr.3 winner Mica’s Pride, dam of Criterion, Varenna Miss and Silently.Very Sharp was bred by Rodney and Rachel Northam and her second dam Choral Chimes (JPN) is a daughter of Sunday Silence and Polent (Polish Precedent). Very Sharp’s fourth dam Awaasif (Snow Night) won the Yorkshire Oaks-Gr.1 and produced the English Oaks-Gr.1 winner Snow Bride (Blushing Groom), dam of unbeaten Arc, Derby and King George winner and sire Lammtarra (Nijinsky).
Headwater
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VINERY’S brilliant Silver Slipper-Gr.2 winner Headwater opened his account as a sire in style when his handsome son Wisdom of Water (ex Regal Tier by Royal Academy (USA)), a $70,000 MM yearling, blitzed a quality field in the $125,000 Gold Nugget (1100m) at the Gold Coast in early January. The Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained colt had three-quarters of a length on $625,000 buy Conceited (Brazen Beau) on the line with $2000 buy The Drink’s Cart (Unencumbered) third. He was subsequently fourth behind Away Game (Snitzel) in the MM Gold Coast 2YO Classic-RL.
Headwater’s second winner came just a few days later when Milvea (ex Lady Einstein by Magic Albert) lead all the way over 1000m at Murray Bridge on debut, beating Lyoti (Akeed Mofeed) and Barakoni (Nicconi). The winner cost $42,000 at the 2019 Adelaide Magic Millions Sale when offered in the draft of Little Plains Pastoral. Her dam, a winner twice to 1300m and a half-sister to Gr.2 winner Second Effort, has a Nicconi colt, her second foal, in the Erinvale Pastoral draft for Melbourne Premier.
Headwater (Exceed and Excel-River Dove by Hurricane Sky), whose dam won the Oakleigh Plate-Gr.1 and dam sire won the Blue Diamond-Gr.1 and whose sire Exceed and Excel, a champion sire son of Danehill, also won the Newmarket-Gr.1 and Invitation Gr.1, has a pure speed pedigree. Headwater won three races at 1100m including the Silver Slipper and looked after 125 mares ($16,500) in 2019. He has 119 live foals in his first crop and his 11 runners to January 31 also include the placegetters Stormborn (Shamardal), Leeside (Sebring) and Aquagirl (Dehere).
Super One
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WITH an easy trial win giving a pointer to her ability, debutante Superbellaa (ex Imananabaa by Anabaa (USA)) made every post a winner at Canberra in late January to land a 1000m juvenile event and become the first winner for her sire Super One who stands
at Newgate Farm. The fast son of I Am Invincible-Tails Wins (Tale of the Cat (USA)) was unbeaten in four starts, two Listed, in Singapore for Michael Freedman before coming to Australia to land the SAJC D.C. McKay Stakes-Gr.3 (1100m) at Morphettville.
From a very good international family, Super One’s fourth dam Dame Sybil (Elocutionist), dam of Gr.2 winner Alannan and second dam of July Cup-Gr.1/Golden Jubilee-Gr.1 winner Les Arcs, is from 1999 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year Anne Campbell (Never Bend), dam of Desert Wine, Menifee and Arsaan and an RF to Scapa Flow (5mx5m).
Super One covered his biggest book (168 mares at $11,000) in 2019 and Superbellaa, a $25,000 Inglis Classic buy for trainer Lee Curtis, is among 107 foals from his first crop. She is among many good fillies to trace to the grey Miss Holborn (Holborn (IRE)),
her fourth dam. Her dam Imananabaa won the ARC Railway Handicap-Gr.1 and Superbella is her seventh live foal and fifth winner. She foaled an Extreme Choice colt in 2019 and was covered by Hellbent, a William Reid Stakes-Gr.1 winner who stands alongside his sire I Am Invincible at the Mitchell family’s Yarraman Park Stud, Scone. Hellbent (ex Volkspray by Volksraad (GB)), a horse inbred 3mx3m to Green Desert, covered 156 mares in his second season after looking after 182 in 2018 ($27,500), while Goodwood-Gr.1 runner-up I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit (IRE)-Cannarelle by Canny Lad), whose five wins also included the McKay Stakes-Gr.3, covered 204 mares at $247,500 after beginning his stud life in 2010 on just $11,000 (133 mares). I Am Invincible is at the top of this season’s general sires’ list by earnings (January 31) with 110 winners (6SW) of $9.1m, ahead of Pierro (75 winners, 7SW, $8.8m) and Snitzel (92 winners, 9SW, of $8.2m).
I’m All The Talk
MUNGRUP Stud looks to have another terrific sire prospect in I’m All The Talk (Stratum-Weekend Gossip by Hussonet (USA)) who won a Skyline Stakes-Gr.3 at Warwick Farm for Gary Portelli at two and then ran second to Terravista in The Shorts-Gr.2 the following season before a throat infection put paid to his racing career. His first crop youngsters include Watch Me Dance and Madam Torio, who ran one-two over 1016m at Bunbury in late January, and Mr Have a Chat, fifth in the Blue Diamond Preview-LR at Caulfield.
Watch Me Dance, a daughter of stakes placed Ascot winner Coventry to Rio by Oratorio (AUS), was a $34,000 Perth MM yearling buy for Commercial Bloodstock’s Noel Carter and the filly is prepared by Steve Wolfe, while Madam Torio, whose dam is also by Mungrup Stud’s Oratorio (AUS) (Stravinsky (USA)), cost just $9000, both offered by Mungrup. Coventry to Rio, whose second dam Torment (Vengeance (USA)-Lacewing (GB) by Double Jump) produced Gr.3 winner West End, has a colt (Lot 329) by I’m All The Talk catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions.
I’m All The Talk, is a son of Golden Slipper winner Stratum (dam sire Luskin Star also won the Slipper) and a grandson of Redoute’s Choice. He is a brother to dual Listed winner Straturbo. His second dam Synaesthesia (USA) (Quiet American-Specialization
by Princely Native) is the dam of triple Gr.1 winner Mentality (Flying Spur). I’m All The Talk has 53 first crop foals ($5500) and covered just 16 mares in 2019 after books of 63 (2017) and 30 (2018) in his second and third seasons.
Rock Hero
WHEN the three year-old filly Bellx (ex Aythreeeighty by Scenic (IRE)) won over 1500m at Mornington on New Year’s Day she became the first winner for Listed winner and Gr.2 runner-up Rock Hero (Fastnet Rock-Gallant Tess by Galileo (IRE)) who stands
at Chris Bakker’s Lauriston Park Euroa on $4950. Inbred 4mx3m to Sadler’s Wells, the filly was having just her third start and subsequently finished fourth over 1600m at Sandown.
By champion sire Fastnet Rock (Danehill (USA)), second crop sire Rock Hero is from crowd favourite Gallant Tess whose five wins included the Chelmsford Stakes-Gr.2. She was also placed in a George Main, Chipping Norton, Epsom, Champagne Stakes and Coolmore Classic, all Gr.1. Her fourth dam Rivaz (Nearco-Mumtaz Begum by Blenheim) is a sister to Nasrullah.
Bellx is among just 35 first crop foals by her sire whose six runners also include the placegetters Bachelor Baron (Testa Rossa), Sentry Rock (Duke of Marmalade, inbred 3fx3f to Galileo) and Angel Rock (Hussonet), fourth in the Listed Cinderella Stakes. Bellx is among four winners for her dam, a granddaughter of Gr.2 winner Villandry (Lyphard’s Wish-Valhalla by New Chapter), a sister to Gr.2 winner Vertige. n
