After five jump-outs dating back to last October, the wraps come off the Written Tycoon colt First Settler in Saturday’s Sportsbet Photo Finish Refund Hcp (1000m) at Caulfield.
Trained by Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr for a group of heavy hitters including Yulong, Rupert Legh, Noel Greenhalgh, and his breeder Gerry Harvey, First Settler looked set to contest the early 2-year-old races with three jump-outs at Cranbourne last October, beginning with a defeat of Hayasugi.
He won all three but earned the ire of the stewards for being fractious in the barriers and was required to pass a vet examination. The next time the chestnut was sighted was when finishing third in a Cranbourne jump-out on June 3. A fortnight later, on the same track, the son of Written Tycoon was asked to get serious for an impressive win.
A $750,000 buy for Yu Long Investments /Mick Price Racing & Breeding from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, First Settler is a half-brother to the Listed MRC Twilight Glow Stakes and $1,000,000 Silver Eagle winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel).
He is the third foal from Graciousness, a winning half-sister by Street Cry (IRE), to Group I winner and successful stallion Casino Prince, as well as Group III winner Tagus and stakes-winners Lord of the Land and Metallurgical.
Graciousness is also a half-sister to the dams of Oaklands Stud’s Group I JJ Atkins Stakes winner Prince Fawaz (Fastnet Rock) and young Coolmore stallion Best of Bordeaux (Snitzel), the winner of the Group II ATC Silver Slipper and Group II Roman Consul Stakes, second in the Group 1 Golden Slipper and third in the Group 1 Manikato Stakes.
Graciousness has a yearling brother to Vienna Princess, who failed to make his $250,000 reserve at the National Yearling Sale.
The daughter of Street Cry (IRE) foaled a Zoustar colt last September and was covered by Snitzel.
Yulong’s flagship stallion, Written Tycoon, is on the verge of claiming Champion 2yo Sire honours in Australia and New Zealand.
