Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Friday August 25

For the first time in twenty years, three of the top four leading first-season sires were bred overseas, with Justify (USA) earning top honour over Harry Angel (IRE).

Tom Kitten mows then down in the Fernhill (image Staeve Hart)

Dual Group 1 winning sprinter Harry Angel (IRE) also clocked in second behind Brave Smash (JPN) for individual winners.

Tom Kitten was one of three stakes winners for Harry Angel (IRE), the others being  Listed SAJC Dequetteville Stakes winner Stretan Angel and Harry Angels’ top earner, Arkansaw Kid, who won the $500,000 Inglis Banner on debut and finished third in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.

Advertisement

The Godolphin homebred Tom Kitten played his part in winning the Listed ATC Fernhill Hcp and finishing fourth in the Group 1 ATC Champagne Stakes.

The powerfully made colt resumes in Saturday’s Group III Up And Coming Stakes (1300m) at Rosehill. His stakes victory means he will concede at least 4kgs to the field.

The James Cumming-trained colt is the fourth winner and second stakes winner for the talented Street Cry (IRE) mare Transfers, which won four and placed in four of her 18 starts.

Her first foal is the Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel), which banked $267,415.

Transfers’ dam Movin’ Out (Encota de Lago) is a winning half-sister to Group III SAJC Breeders' Stakes winner Murjana (Giant’s Causeway), whose daughter Isstoora (High Chaparral) is the dam of the high-class Desert Lightning. The son of pride Of Dubai was up with the best three-year-olds in New Zealand last season, winning the Group II Avondale Guineas (2100m), second in the Group 1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas (1600m), third in the Group III Manawatu Classic and Karaka Million 3YO Classic (1600m).

Movin’ Out’s sister Mithila is the dam of Group III Tibbie Stakes winner Madam Legend and another half-sister River Song is the dam of Group II STC ATC Ajax Stakes winner Niagara.

But the most influential of Mithila’s siblings is the  Peintre Celebre (USA) mare Celebria, dam of Group 1 winner Gathering, Group III winner Florentina and Listed winner California Turbo.

Florentina (Redoute’s Choice) is the dam of US Turf sensation, the Fairway Thoroughbreds-bred, multiple Grade 1 winner, In Italian.

A descendent of the hugely influential import Dancing Show (USA), Transfers has a yearling colt by Brazen Beau and was covered by Kingman’s 5-time Group 1 winning son Palace Pier (GB) last spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
G3 JRA Plate Goes To Willaidow
Having been a great money earner for connections, the Marc and Mitchell Conners trained Shamus Award gelding Willaidow recorded consecutive wins in the Group 3 sprint, taking out this year’s $250,000 ATC G3 JRA Plate (1200m) at Rosehill.
Torryburn Stud Out To Continue Outstanding Classic Success
As the highest prizemoney earning Australian-bred still in training, six-time G1 winner Voyage Bubble is a graduate of the Inglis Classic yearling sale, having topped the 2020 sale when knocked down to Hong Kong trainer Ricky Yiu for $380,000m when offered by the Cornish’s Torryburn Stud. In 2026, the team presents a quaility draft of seven yearlings, four fillies and three colts.
Hidrix Breeder Speechless After $1.7mColt Wins on Debut
The $1.7m Easter colt Hidrix (Extreme Choice) surged into Golden Slipper contention with a dominant debut victory in today’s G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 31
Here is the full list of 103 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Harry Angel Colt Tom Kitten Last to First in Fernhill
Godolphin’s Harry Angel (IRE) colt Tom Kitten staged a last-to-first performance in the Listed Grainshaker Vodka Fernhill Stakes (1600m) to kick-start day two of The Championships at Randwick.
30th SW Almanzor - Manzor Blue Wins G3 Wellington Cup
Palmerton North mare Manzor Blue caused a major upset when taking out the Gr.3 NZ Campus Of Innovation & Sport Wellington Cup (3200m) at Trentham on Saturday.
Black Type for Home Affairs Blueblood Filly
The Group III MRC Chairman’s Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield on Saturday for colts and fillies produced a dominant winner in Big Sky with blueblood filly La Gitana a gallant third on debut.
Another Staying Star for St Jean?
It turns out Caufield and Melbourne Cup winner Half Yours was not the only promising stayer by the ill-fated sire St Jean (IRE) sold as part of the Halo Racing Unreserved Reduction on Inglis Digital in November 2024. 
Tom Kitten a Class Above in Champion Stakes
Tom Kitten was in a class of his own in Saturday’s $2,000,000 Group 1 Moet and Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (2000m) at Randwick to credit the Darley shuttler Harry Angel (IRE) with his first Group 1 winner.
G1 Australian Guineas Aim for Flying Artie Colt
Flying Artie always looked to have a strong three year-old crop to run for him this season and leading the charge is talented colt Sixties, who is his highest priced yearling ever sold and comes from a family very much on the up.