With just 24 hours before the running of the $3,500,000 Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens, Written By’s trainer Grahame Begg must be reflecting on how his life has come full-circle since one of his darkest days thirteen years ago.
That came when all the horses he trained for the embattled Written Bloodstock Syndicate left his Randwick stables.
Among them was Written Tycoon, who Begg had purchased for $50,000 on behalf of the syndicate at the 2005 Magic Millions Yearling Sale on the Gold Coast.
When the Written Bloodstock Syndicate went into liquidation, it was Ferrier Hodgson as Manager Under Mortgage and Sims Partners as Receiver And Manager of The Written Bloodstock that consigned 30 racehorses to the Inglis Christmas Thoroughbred Yearling Sale.
The sale-topper was the South African Group I winner and the then Australian Group I and II placed Perfect Promise (SAF) who was knocked down to Shaun Buckley for $725,000.
But Written Tycoon was not at the sale. He had been purchased by Iskander Racing for a reported $2.25million.
Bred by Jan Clark’s Daandine Pastoral Company in Queensland, Written Tycoon broke his maiden at Randwick at the first time of asking for Begg.
After finishing second at his next start to the top-class filly Fashion Afield, with subsequent Golden Slipper winner Stratum back in fifth, Written Tycoon defeated Domesday and Flying Pegasus in the Group II Todman Stakes at Rosehill.
After finishing down the track from a wide barrier in the Golden Slipper, Written Tycoon rounded out his juvenile year with an eighth in the Group 1 Champagne Stakes at Randwick.
He was to have just two more starts for Begg.
He resumed with a second in the Group II San Domenico Stakes at Randwick, which was won by Media with subsequent Oakleigh Plate winner and champion stallion Snitzel in third.
Following an unplaced effort in the Ascot Vale Stakes at Flemington and with the drama surrounding the Written Bloodstock Syndicate, Written Tycoon was off the scene for five months and when he reappeared in the Listed Canterbury Classic in February 2006 he was running in new colours under the care of John O’Shea.
He finished second to Crimson Reign that day and it was another eight months before he reappeared in the Group III The Shorts at Randwick where he was beaten out of a place by Bentley Biscuit Magnus and Spark Of Life.
Written Tycoon had two more unplaced runs before time was called on his career.
He retired with two wins and three seconds in 11 starts for earnings of $289,325.
A striking, lengthy chestnut Written Tycoon began his stud career Eliza Park, Victoria in 2007. He stood his first two seasons at a fee of $8250, which was reduced to $6,600 for the 2009 and 2010 seasons.
Then his first crop showed they could get up and run early.
He was Champion Australian First Season Sire in 2010-11 and has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
In the last two years, the price of his yearlings has gone through the roof, due in no small part, to the win of his son Capitalist in the 2016 Golden Slipper.
When the Stud Book released the list of coverings for 2017 it was the first season sire Capitalist who led the way with 229 mares covered for a fee of $55,000 while Written Tycoon served 166 mares at a fee of $88,000 having covered 226 mares at a fee of $49,500 the previous year.
Five years ago, Woodside Park purchased Written Tycoon off Eliza Park and Woodside has already indicated that his fee will be over $100,000 in 2018.
The son of Iglesia has forged a reputation for upgrading his mares and there would be few better examples than Written By’s dam Yau Chin.
Purchased at the Scone Yearling Sales for $3,000 by Neville Begg, Yau Chin had her share of ability on the track although she retired with just one win from nine starts.
The daughter of former Darley shuttler Tobougg (IRL) had three minor winners from as many foals before Written By ramped the pedigree page up a bit with his four wins including the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes.
Passed in short of his $200,000 reserve at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Written By (pictured as a yearling) is the first stakes-winner in five generations from the family descending from Segenhoe Stud’s wonderful broodmare Humour.
The Begg family is among the most respected in the industry and we will be giving Written By an extra push along at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.
