2017/2018 Classic winners (clockwise from top left) Pinot (VRC Oaks), Ace High (VRC Derby), Unforgotten (ATC Oaks) & Leicester (SA Derby)
“遍寻我所到过的国家，从未有一个节日庆典能够被全民所热爱，能够将全民凝聚在一起。墨尔本杯就是有这种魅力，它使我震惊不已。”
While few would question the depth of talent in Australia’s sprinting ranks – both domestically and overseas – the seeming dearth of Australian-bred stayers is a constant refrain.
This past racing season though might be a seminal one for the staying breed in Australia.
While the 2017 Melbourne Cup fell to an international raider, the Caulfield Cup went the way of Lindsay Park’s Western Australian bred Boom Time, and, of course, Hunter Valley bred Winx won her third straight Cox Plate.
Across the three-year-old classic staying races – Derby and Oaks races – it has been absolute Australian-bred domination.
Of the seven Group One Classics run thus far in 2017/18 (with only the Queensland Derby on 9 June remaining), Australian-breds have made a clean sweep, capturing the Derby in Victoria (Ace High), NSW (Levendi) and South Australia (Leicester), while Youngstar’s Queensland Oaks victory on Saturday was preceded by Pinot (Victoria), Unforgotten (Sydney) and Sopressa (Adelaide).
Particularly encouraging for buyers is that, of the super seven, six were offered at Australian sales:
Ace High
Purchased for $130,000 at the Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale – won $1,853,075
Pinot
$200,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale – won $733,275
Levendi
$140,000 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale – won $1,653,950
Leicester
$10,000 Inglis Easter Weanling Sale – won $535,730
Sopressa
$70,000 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale – won $433,420
Youngstar
$200,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale – won $478,562
