Saturday provided a slew of fascinating new stakes horses with intriguing pedigrees including a three year-old winner of the world’s best sprint, a stayer on track for the Melbourne Cup, some classic contenders and a unique stakes-winner, who is the very first for a champion sire as a broodmare sire.
Group I MRC Caulfield Cup (2400m) won by Lanwades Stud bred stayer Durston (GB), read about him here. They’ve already bred the Arc winner Alpinista this year so why not the Melbourne Cup winner too.
He’s the second G1 winner among 25 SW’s for German Derby winner Sea the Moon, whose dam is by Monsun and we all know what a good influence he’s been in terms of Melbourne Cup! Female family features plenty of staying blood and third dam Key Change was the Champion Irish 3YO Stayer of 1996.
$15million The Everest (1200m) was the ultimate spectacle with unbeaten Giga Kick keeping the perfect record with a narrow win, read about him here.
He is the best of only two stakes-winners by Scissor Kick, a blue-blooded son of Redoute’s Choice, who has apparently ended up in Tunisia… the only thing I know about Tunisia is that the original Star Wars movies were shot there to make use of its desert landscape, that didn’t look like horse country to me!
Giga Kick has a double up of one stallion in his first four generations and it’s Arc winner Rainbow Quest, so he might not just be about straight speed as his career unfolds.
Group I Livamol Classic (2040m) in New Zealand provided a first Group I winner for Vanbrugh with Mustang Valley successful, read about her here.
Yet another sire son of Encosta de Lago to taste success, Vanbrugh won the G1 Spring Champion Stakes, so was not the typical speed type son we are used to. Third dam Buenos Aires a half-sister to champion racehorse Might and Power, so Mustang Valley not short on stamina or class and is the best of two stakes-winners for her sire. She also has a double up of Might and Power's dam Benediction 5 x 4 and blue hen Fairy Bridge through her champion sire sons Sadler's Wells and Fairy King, it's an interesting pedigree on a lot of levels.
Group II MRC Caulfield Sprint (1000m) was an interesting one as the winner Asfoora is a new stakes-winner for Flying Artie, but more importantly is the first stakes-winner for I Am Invincible as a broodmare sire, read about her here.
Flying Artie has had four stakes-winners and each of them is from the daughter of a champion sire – Artorius (Redoute’s Choice), Flying Crazy (Encosta de Lago) and Giannis (Fastnet Rock).
Group III Caulfield Classic (2000m) was another strong win for Victoria Derby favourite Mr Maestro (NZ), read about him here.
By Savabeel from a half-brother to Victoria Derby winner Lion Tamer everything about the pedigree and the horse screams Derby.
Group III MRC Ethereal Stakes (2000m) was won by an up and coming filly Renaissance Woman (NZ), whose pedigree combines classic stamina and high class Australian speed, read about her here.
She’s the 20th stakes-winner for quality classic sire Reliable Man, who has already left two Oaks winners and her dam sire Fastnet Rock has also sired his share of Oaks winners, but the tail female line is very much speed and that would raise a little flag of doubt about a tough 2500m.
