There is a taste of spring on Saturday with the Group II Missile Stakes and Listed The Rosebud at Randwick and the Group III Aurie's Star Handicap at Flemington.
The Aurie's Star (1200m) shapes as particularly competitive with a field of fifteen down the Flemington straight.
Banquo is hardly the punter's friend, but he gets his chance to return to the winner's circle for the first time in 90 weeks and kickstart the season for the newly crowned Champion Sire, Written Tycoon.
The Danny O'Brien-trained 5yo has not tasted success since the Listed Springtime Stakes (1400m) at Flemington as a 3yo back in November 2019.
He has a smattering of useful performances since, including a second to Microphone in the Group II Autumn Stakes; fifth in the Group 1 Newmarket handicap won by Bivouac from Loving Gaby and Gytrash; and split Zoutori and Tofane in the Group II Bobbie Lewis Stakes.
Most recently, he was runner-up to one of his main rivals on Saturday, The Astrologist (Zoustar), in the Listed Vic Sprint Series Final at Flemington.
Purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for $600,000 from the Mill Park draft at the 2018 Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Banquo is a brother to Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate winner Booker.
He is the third foal of the Flying Spur Noondie, purchased as a yearling by Belmont Bloodstock Agency for $50,000 at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Bill Mitchell purchased Noondie for $600,000 at the 2019 Inglis Chairman's Sale carrying a full-brother to Booker and Banquo.
She subsequently foaled a colt that IRON / George Moore Bloodstock bought for $620,000 from the Yarraman Park draft 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale
The previous year, Noondie's Capitalist colt was a $380,000 Magic Millions purchase by Tom Magnier.
A half-sister to stakes-winner Tranquillity (Redoute's Choice), Noondie is out of the Listed WATC Belmont Guineas winner Creatix, a three-quarter sister to the two-time Group 1 Toorak Handicap winner Umrum.
The great granddam of Creatix, Delta Bronze (Coronation Boy), did not distinguish herself on the racetrack, finishing tailed off last in her two starts.
However, she could boast of being a half-sister to one of the legends of the turf, the magnificent Tobin Bronze, and the South Australian Oaks heroine Persian Bronze.
By the time he left these shores to the United States, Tobing Bronze had acquired two Cox Plates, two Blamey Stakes, AJC Doncaster Handicap, All-Aged Stakes, Caulfield Cup, Turnbull Stakes, Craiglee Stakes, Victoria Derby, CF Orr Stakes, LKS Mackinnon Stakes, etc. etc. etc.
Only Tulloch was ahead of him on earnings.
Tobin Bronze finished third behind a pair of all-time greats in Fort Marcy and Damascus in the Washington DC Invitational at Laurel Race Course at his American debut.
At years end, Damascus was honoured as the Horse Of The Year and Fort Marcy as the Champion Grass Horse.
Tobin Bronze made sixteen starts in his adopted homeland, winning four and placing in five, but he failed to acclimatize.
The son of Arctic Explorer out of the Masthead mare Aamarco retired to Gainseway Farm in Kentucky in 1968 at a fee of $3,500. An acknowledgment of a little known pedigree and less than stellar performances at the end of his career.
Tobin Bronze did quite well, considering the quality of mares he covered. In 1976 he was moved to California, where he lived out his days standing alongside his highest-earning son Noble Bronze, winner of the Hollywood Juvenile Championship and California Derby.
A group of breeders in Australia offered to repatriate the then 21yo Tobin Bronze, but the champion was in failing health, and it was not in the best interest of the horse to make the journey back home.
