Manhattan Street (pic. Race Images)
The stocks of Australian-bred horses on the international stage have never been higher with some remarkable results thus far in 2016.
Chautauqua, Chairman’s Sprint Prize winner in Hong Kong; an Al Quoz Sprint for Buffering on the Dubai World Cup program; Sun Jewellery, Hong Kong’s Champion Miler; Power Alert – Australia’s only runner in North America – and a multiple Group winner; The Conglomerate and Mac de Lago, both Group One winners in South Africa; Laughing Spirit (Queen Elizabeth II) and Zac Spirit (Lion City Cup) in Singapore, Macau Derby hero, Turquoise Power; and, of course, Derby winner, Rangipo and Group One winning 2YO, Heroic Valour, are poised to snare championship status in their respective categories at Sunday’s New Zealand Horse of the Year awards.
Indeed, it’s been another remarkable season for Australian-bred 2YOs across the Tasman with the unbeaten Manhattan Street capturing the Listed Ryder Stakes at Otaki on Saturday, breaking free of his rain sodden rivals to win by six lengths.
Bred by Teeley Assets, which – somewhat fittingly – has also bred Manhattan Street’s sire, Manhattan Rain, the Lisa Latta trained youngster was purchased for $130,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
“Manhattan Street is shaping as a genuine 2000 Guineas prospect,” enthused Jon Freyer, Bloodstock Manager for Arrowfield Stud, which stands Manhattan Rain. “The success of Manhattan Rain has crept up on us. After an initial flurry of stakes winners in his first crop, his current bunch of 2YOs includes two extremely promising colts (Tango Fire and Manhattan Street) who have impressed late in the season.”
The connections of another exciting 2YO in Mystic Master were equally impressed with the fighting win of their Snippetson sprinter in Sunday evening’s Group Three Juvenile Championship in Singapore, with English jockey, Alan Munro, declaring post race: “he’s killed them”.
Trained by Alwin Tan, who purchased his latest stakes winner for $70,000 from the draft of breeder, Raheen Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs in Training Sale, Mystic Master had been incredibly consistent – four seconds – before breaking through in the Juvenile Championship.
However, if any ‘global’ awards are to be handed out for the weekend’s racing, we need to shift our gaze to South Africa where Elnaad and Macduff brought up a black type double on Sunday night, while Zodiac Ruler can consider himself unlucky a Group One isn’t in the bag as well.
Somewhat fittingly, Enaad’s Group Two Elan Gold Cup victory at Greyville was over the 3200m – the same distance as the Melbourne Cup – and while Australian-bred sprinters need little introduction from Tooboorac to Timbuktu, it just goes to show that Australia can breed quality stayers too.
“Enaad is a beautifully bred horse by High Chaparral,” trainer Mike de Kock enthused post race. “His brother (Pride of Dubai) is very expensive and stands at stud in Australia.
“He (Enaad) had to do well in the Gold Vase to get in and is improving all the time. Well done to Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum for breeding him.”
Joey Ramsden’s Macduff brought up the stakes double for Australia in taking out the 1600m Darley Arabian, which – in many ways – was a timely reminder as to the impact of the now deceased Darley stallion, Street Cry, whom earlier in the night, took out the crown as Champion Australian Sire for 2015-16.
Bred by the Esplin family, Macduff is out of the Group Two winning mare, Dancing, and was consigned to the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Newhaven Park, where he was snapped up by Rasmden for $140,000.
Zodiac Ruler, who was bred by Fowler Thoroughbreds and sold for just $17,000 by Glenelg Park at the 2014 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, can consider himself most unfortunate not to have added Group glory after finishing second in the Premiers Champion Stakes, missing the start and finding more than his share of trouble in running.
With a new Australian season dawning and five months of 2016 still to play out, Australian-breds are bound to continue making their presence felt throughout the world. We’ll keep you posted!
