Despite limited support from breeders, the royally-bred Redoute's Choice stallion Barbados has carved out a niche in the South Australian market.
Barbados has had a credible 48 winners from his 68 runners. His flagship has been the Gordon Richards-trained Garner, who was favoured to add Mondays Listed Matrice Stakes to his win in the Listed Redelva Plate.
While Garner disappointed, all was not lost for Barbados at Morphettville. His 3yo son Struck By stepped up to the plate to make it three wins on the bounce in the Listed SAJC Morphettville Guineas and credit his sire with his second stakes-winner.
Ridden by Paul Gatt, Struck By travelled on the outside of Milton Park, and that pair kicked four lengths clear of the field in the middle stages. The two-horse war all the way to the line.
Struck By defeated the Written Tycoon gelding Milton Park by a long-neck with a length back to the Teofilo filly Angelic Scent in third.
It was a career highlight for young trainer Travis Doudle.
"We have known for a long time he has been a good horse and today he has shown everybody what he can do," Doudle said.
"We know how tough he is and Gatty gave him an absolute peach. He was aggressive early to get across and sit outside the leader.
"In the early days, I had him written up on the whiteboard as going to the Sandown Guineas. That didn't pan out, but we are happy with today. So, we have always known he has had the ability and we are pretty excited about him.
"This is really special. We had a stakes-placegetter earlier today (Roxy Blue 2nd in the Cinderella Stakes), so that was great for the filly to get some black-type and this is just sensational.
"Today was his grand final. I will have to speak with the owner. I will see how he pulls up, but he will be in the paddock tomorrow and have a few days out. Whether he races again or if that's it, I'm not too sure.
"We are just thrilled. He is the most beautiful horse to have in the team.
Purchased by his trainer for $26,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Struck By advances his record to four wins a second and a third from seven starts with earnings of $210,400.
Bred by the Toole family, he is the second winner from as many to race out of the General Nediym mare, Cheers Rihanna.
The first was Struck By's talented brother Tropical Lightning, also trained by Travis Doudle, who finished fourth in the Group 1 SA Derby in 2019.
Cheers Rihanna has had only one live foal after Struck By. He is a colt foal by the Street Cry (IRE) stallion Hualalai, a half-brother to Libertini, out of the ATC Coolmore Classic heroine Aloha.
Ducatoon Park's lightly used Barbados is a son of Redoute's Choice out of the dual Group 1 winner Virage De Fortune (Anabaa).
Barbados broke his pelvis as a yearling.
The grey made just one start at two, separating the future Group III Newcastle Newmarket winner Bello and future Group I Champion Stakes winner Doctor Doom over 1100 metres at Warwick Farm.
Barbados broke his maiden over 1100 metres when making his seasonal bow at Canterbury.
After three unplaced runs, time was called on his career due to muscle wastage resulting from his accident.
Darley Stud purchased his dam Virage de Fortune (Anabaa) for $3.4 million following a stellar career on the racetrack with her eight wins highlighted by the Group I MVRC Australia Stakes and Group I QTC Sires' Produce Stakes.
Barbados had just nine live foals in 2019 and 16 in 2020. He covered 44 mares at Ducatoon Park last spring at a fee of $4,400.
