Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday November 30

After two encouraging barrier trials, the Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy makes his highly anticipated debut in Saturday's Kia Ora Prague Hcp (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Storm Boy will be on trial for the $3,000,000 Magic Millions 2yo Classic at the Gold Coast in January following his purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing/Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $460,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the Gold Coast earlier this year.

Storm Boy a $460,000 Magic Millions yearling

The bold-striding son of Justify (USA) is the first foal of the Fastnet Rock mare Pelican.

A $450,000 Kraka yearling, Pelican looked quite promising early on, winning two of her first three starts at Morphettville and Moonee Valley and was sixth in the Group II Blue Diamond Prelude behind the subsequent Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner, Lyre.

Advertisement

Pelican lost all form at three and a second at Murray Bridge, the highlight of six further starts.

Pelican is a daughter of racing royalty, the NZ Horse of the Year in 2006-07 and 2007-08, Seachange.

Dick Karreman's champion daughter of Cape Cross (IRE) numbered seven Group 1s among her 16 wins.

An infrequent visitor to Australia, Seachange won the Group III Mannerism Stakes at Caulfield and was runner-up in the Group 1 Myer Classic and Group 1 Futurity stakes separating Aqua d'Amore and El Segundo.

Seachange and the champion Hong Kong Miler, Able One, were the catalysts for Darley Stud to stand Cape Cross in the Hunter Valley after four seasons at Cambridge Stud.

The son of Danzig left a tremendous legacy in both hemispheres through the likes of Sea The Stars, Golden Horn, and Ouija Board.

He had five Group 1 winners and 15 stakes-winners from about 300 foals from his time in NZ and did not sire a stakes-winner from the 140 foals he left in two seasons in Australia. Make of that what you will.

Seachange is not the only Group 1 winner from the Broad Reach mare Just Cruising.

Her half-sister Keepa Cruisin (Keeper) won the Group 1 LevRC Levin Classic, and her brother Korau Road finished second in the Group 1 Easter Classic just ahead of La Sizeranne, who headed to Australia to claim the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm.

Just Cruising is a sister to the Group II STC Pago Pago Stakes winner Yachtie, who became a more than useful sire in New Zealand, with his best being the remarkable Happyanunoit.

The winner of the Group 1 MwtuRC Manawatu Sires Produce Stakes at two for Michael Moroney, Happyanunoit was exported to the United States where she won the Matriarch Stakes, Beverly Hills Handicap and Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap, all at the elite level for Bobby Frankel.

Seachange had seven foals before she was pensioned after missing to Almanzor last spring.

She did not set the world on fire at Stud, her best of four winners from six starters being the Group III Bendigo Cup runner-up Devan (Zabeel).  

She has four daughters to continue the legacy, and Pelican can start the right way with Storm Boy on Saturday.

Coolmore will offer a Pierro colt from Pelican at the Magic Millions in January (lot 33).

At Karaka, Hallmark Stud consigns a Bivouac colt out of the stakes-winning High Chaparral mare Espresso Martini, a daughter of Seachange's Group 1 winning half-sister Keepa Cruisin (lot 49), and The Oaks Stud offers a Darci Brahma colt out of Keepa Cruisin's stakes-winning granddaughter Seven Seas (lot 386).

Justify (USA)

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Thursday October 2
Here is the full list of 29 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Storm Boy Headed to Ireland
Coolmore have today announced via Twitter that top class Justify (USA) colt Storm Boy will be continuing his racing career in Ireland in 2025 under the care of Aidan O’Brien.
Juvenile Trial Watch – Caulfield
Three barrier trials at Caulfield on Thursday morning produced heat winners for first season sires Wild Ruler and Profiteer with the quickest winner being Free Flying, the half-sister by Snitzel to brilliant Group winning mare Learning to Fly.
Melody Belle Daughter Set for Long Awaited Debut
It will be a full-circle moment for Te Akau Racing at The Valley on Friday night when Lyrics ‘N’ Song, a daughter of their former multiple Group One winner Melody Belle, makes her debut.
Milan Park Experience Highs and Lows
Tony Rider experienced the extreme highs and lows of breeding thoroughbreds within a matter of hours on Wednesday.
Blueblood Fillies From $3million Mares
Tom Magnier has been notable for his purchase of elite race fillies and broodmares in recent years to enhance the stellar Coolmore broodmare band and two of his $3million plus mare purchases have produced stunning fillies this spring.
Mine and Refine – Why Storm Boy is in the Right Stable
Last week we ran a story highlighting the remarkable sireline that has been nurtured by Coolmore through four generations of stallions to produce their Epsom Derby winning Breeders’ Cup Classic contender City of Troy and in Australia Storm Boy is flying the sireline flag and he’s in the right stable if you believe history is a good form guide.
Storm Boy Looking Good In Ireland
Coolmore Stud have released an interesting video through their social channels on Storm Boy as he builds up for a European campaign and no doubt a Royal Ascot tilt under Aidan O’Brien.
Inglis Ready2Race breeze up footage NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
Progeny of the likes of Toronado, Exceed and Excel, Harry Angel, Zoustar and Ole Kirk were amongst the standout performers from breeze up sessions conducted this week in the lead up to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale on October 16, footage of which is now available online.
NZ Derby Hero Willydoit Primed for Epsom
Last season’s New Zealand Derby hero Willydoit will step back into the spotlight on Saturday when he contests the Gr.1 Epsom Handicap (1600m) at Randwick for trainer Ciaron Maher, with jockey Tommy Berry bullish the horse is ready to make his mark over the famous mile.