Saturday Stakes Show Australia’s Depth

King’s Legacy became the 41st 2YO to capture both the Inglis Sires’ / Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes double (Steve Hart Photographics)

マーク・トエインが、見たのは、多彩で長い歴史を誇るオーストラリアの競馬の一瞬でしかありませんでしたが、あれから、オーストラリアの競馬は、国の主要産業となり、さらに人々の情熱を掻き立てる娯楽となっています。オーストラアリアの競馬は多くの詩人に謳われ、皇室がパトロンとなり、国家の伝統として高く評価をされ続けてきました。、

What a day! If the 11 stakes races from coast to coast and the ‘rich’ Showdown program at Caulfield on Saturday illustrated any one thing, it has to be the core strength of the Australian thoroughbred industry.

King’s Legacy would become the 41st 2YO to capture both the Inglis Sires’ / Moet & Chandon Champagne Stakes double and, while his $1.4 million asking price at the 2019 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale placed him beyond the reach of most, the weekend announcement that Coolmore Australia has purchased a majority share places the colt’s worth at many, many times the original price.

The only son of Redoute’s Choice to win multiple Group Ones at two, the well-related King’s Legacy is yet another example of the value of Australia’s leading colts compared to all other racing regions throughout the world.

Whereas a survey of the top 50 colts by purchase price shows Australia to be at a distinct advantage over Europe and the USA, the service fees of our freshman stallions exceed those of the USA, UK, Ireland and France.

Pierata, meanwhile, only failed by a whisker to make it back to back victories in the Group One All Aged Stakes at Royal Randwick, but he too has been assured every chance to succeed at stud with the Pierro entire now heading to the Aquis Farm stallion barn.

The winner of nine races from 26 starts and over $5.8 million in stakes, Pierata was sold for $160,000 at the 2016 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Apart from the two Group Ones, other highlights at Royal Randwick included the sixth win on the trot for Prime Thoroughbreds’ Rubisaki in the Group Three Mostyn Copper JHB Carr Stakes (purchased for $85,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and now winner of over $1.1 million in prizemoney) and Group Three Hall Mark success story Greyworm, snapped up for $110,000 from 2018 Inglis Digital Monthly Sale and winner of nearly $500,000.

Trainer Gordon Richards would rule in Adelaide with Group One Lightning winner, Gytrash – a $40,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier buy – capturing his third stakes race in the Group Three Furphy RN Irwin Stakes (and taking his tally to $1.1 million plus), while Richards’ 3YO, Garner became the first stakes winner for Ducatoon Park’s stallion, Barbados, in the Listed Winning Edge Presentations Redelva Stakes.

Perth might have only staged the single black type race but it was memorable, to say the least, for leading WA nursery, Mungrup Stud.

The Steve Wolfe trained, Watch Me Dance becomes the first stakes winner for Mungrup’s Group winning first season sire, I’m All The Talk, after her bold display in the Group Two Amelia Park WA Sires’ Produce Stakes at Ascot, with Mungrup also breeding and selling the filly to Noel Carter’s Commercial Bloodstock for $34,000 at the 2019 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale. Commercial alright! Watch Me Dance has won $361,100 from her six starts to date.

As for Caulfield, it too had just the one black type race, but had a great deal to ‘show’ for the $2.2 million, 9 race program.

Only in its second year and exclusive to 2YOs by VOBIS eligible sires, the $855,000 The Showdown at Caulfield was the richest race in Australia on Saturday and was won by Matt Cumani’s $50,000 yearling purchase Khoekhoe, while the inaugural $430,000 VOBIS Sires’ Guineas went the way of Tony Noonan’s Fiorente filly, Florent. Again a massive return on investment with Florent sold for $22,000 at the 2018 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.

The Power of Passion

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