breednet.com.au

Military Zone Continues Epaulette's Hot Run

Mark Smith - Saturday August 4

The first crop sires of 2017/18 may not have started the season with the same high expectations as some of the boom stallions of recent years however no less than eight sired stakes-winners - a total that has rarely been matched in modern times.

One of those stallions was Darley Stud's Epaulette. The striking son of Commands had a pair of Group III winners in Australia, the Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Khulaasa and the B.J. McLachlan Stakes winner Beryl. He topped off a highly successful first season when Soqrat captured the Group I Premiers Champion Stakes at Greyville in South Africa.

Advertisement

Epaulette has continued that fine run in the first week of the new season.


The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Military Zone came with a barnstorming finish to edge out the favourite Danawi in a benchmark 70 over 1200 metres at Randwick.

A last start winner over 1200 metres at Newcastle, Military Zone was settled back last by Kerrin McEvoy.

Sticking close to the rails he had only passed a couple when making the turn for home then had nowhere to go when running on to heels.

Switched out to find some clear air, the Triple Crown colour-bearer set out after the brave Danawi who was showing no signs of stopping.

Military Zone defeated Danawi (Exceed And Excel) by a nose with Onthetake (Krupt) a length back in third. (photos Steve Hart)

"That was a nice win," McEvoy said.

"We ended up getting a nice suck along. He showed a really nice turn of foot and is on the improve, that's for sure."

Purchased by Paul Willets for $140,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Military Zone made the same amount when Triple Crown Syndications sourced him out of the Three Bridges draft at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Bred by Two Bays Farm, Military Zone is a three-quarter brother to Happy Forever, a stakes-winner in Macau.

He is the second foal of the Street Sense (USA) mare Loading Zone who is a half-sister to the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet winner Super Lacuna (Grand Lodge) and to Randwick winner Double Ranga the dam of Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlett Rain (Manhattan Rain).

Loading Zone has a yearling colt by Kermadec and was covered by Manhattan Rain last spring.

After covering 95 mares at a fee of $22,000 last season, Epaulette has earned an increase to $27,500 at Darley Stud this spring.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Electrifying Perth Stakes Romp for Castle Road
Safeguard gelding Castle Road created a big impression when he commenced his career at Ascot back in December with a pair of devastating victories over 1000m, winning both races by several lengths. 
Sires With Winners - Saturday April 12
Here is the full list of 128 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
G3 Gimcrack Thriller - The Talk of Ascot!
The sudden passing in 2022 of Darling View stallion I'm All The Talk shocked the WA breeding industry, and his absence was highlighted once again yesterday at Ascot, when his two year old daughter Talkanco piloted by Brad Parnham won the G3 Gimcrack Stakes in an exciting finish to announce herself as a serious Karrakatta Plate contender and become the third stakes winner for her sire.
Hong Kong Winners for Brave Smash and Hellbent
Brave Smash (Jpn) has a very nice horse in Hong Kong in the shape of four year-old gelding Divano, who scored his fifth win on Sunday when stepping up to Class 1 company for the first time.
G1 Winner Amelia's Jewel Added to Inglis Chairman's
Superstar mare Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni), a G1 winner of over $4.1m in prizemoney, will join what is already a stellar cast for the Inglis Chairman’s Sale to be held at Riverside Stables in Sydney on May 8.
First G1 Winner for Admire Mars
Arrowfield Stud’s handsome Japanese shuttle sire Admire Mars (Jpn) is on the board with his first Group I winner after classy three year-old filly Embroidery captured the Group I Oka Sho (Japanese 1000 Guineas( (160m) at Hanshin on Sunday.
Pedigree Watch – Euro France 3YO – Aga Khan Breds on Fire
French Classic trials at Longchamp overnight produced a couple of exciting prospects by Churchill and Siyouni that are both bred and raced by Aga Khan Studs.
Wandjina's Infancy Wins G2 Sapphire Stakes
Wandjina’s quality sprinting daughter Infancy produced a career best on day two of The Championships at Randwick when resuming off a break to win the Group II Sapphire Stakes (1200m).
Sires With Winners - Sunday April 13
Here is the full list of 56 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Debut HK 2YO Winner for Brutal and a G1 Favourite
With his oldest progeny just three year-olds, Newgate Farm’s Doncaster Mile winning sire Brutal has been ticking along nicely, but it’s a couple of two year-olds from his second crop that have him in the news on Sunday with a debut winner at Sha Tin and a super talented colt that is now a clear favourite for next week’s $1million Group I ATC Champagne Stakes (1600m) at Randwick.