Bob Scarborough-Bred Colt Wins Final Group 1 of the British Flat season

Mark Smith - Sunday October 28

Bob Scarborough may have sold his showpiece Wood Nook Farm in Nagambie but the former Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman is still making his presence felt in the breeding world.

At Doncaster on Saturday the Wood Nook Farm bred colt Magna Grecia won the final Group 1 of the British Flat season, the Vertem Futurity Trophy (formerly the Racing Post Trophy).

Advertisement

The Aidan O'Brien-trained son of Invincible Spirit was making his third start having won a maiden at Naas by three and a half lengths before finishing second to the promising Kingman colt Persian King in the Group III Autumn Stakes over a mile at Newmarket on October 13. (photo Sporting Life).


Scarborough sold Magna Grecia through the Norelands Stud draft for 340,000gns at the 2016 Tattersalls December Foal Sale to MV Magnier, Peter and Ross Doyle and Mayfair Speculators.

He had purchased Magna Grecia's dam Cabaret for 600,000gns at the 2011 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.

A daughter of Galileo, Cabaret won the Group III Silver Flash Stakes over seven furlongs as a juvenile.

Cabaret is catalogued in the Norelands draft for the upcoming Tattersalls December Mares Sale but Noreland's Harry McCalmont told The Racing Post he hopes Scarborough changes his mind on selling.

"It's a lovely problem for Bob to have but you know what this game is like, it brings you up and it crashes you down. At the moment though, it's onwards and upwards," McCalmont said.

"I think he's got to sleep on this decision, but I hope he will maybe pull her and keep breeding from her now that she's bred a Group 1 winner."

Aidan O'Brien was celebrating his ninth win in the race.

"I'm delighted with him, he's still a bit babyish but he's coming forward lovely," O'Brien said

"We think a mile will be his thing next year."

Advertisment
More Reading...
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Merchant Navy 3YO Primed for Spring Stakes Campaign
Cody Cole is happy to play a waiting game with Landlock before confirming the three-year-old’s main goals for the season.
Mission Accomplished - Invincible Spirit Blue Blood Captures Centaurea Stakes
Trainer Archie Alexander was given a brief to earn some black-type in three starts with the imported mare Clearly (GB) and both came through with flying colours when the daughter of Invincible Spirit finished best in Saturday's Listed Centaurea Stakes (2040m) at Morphettville.
First Stakes Success For Cafe Millenium
While having just turned 5, former Sydneysider Cafe Millenium (Not A Single Doubt), who now calls Lindsay Park home, broke through for his first black type victory on Saturday, winning the Listed SAJC Leon Macdonald Stakes (1400m) at Morphettville in impressive fashion.
Inglis Ready2Race Sale Now Online
The strongest collection of sire power ever assembled for an Australian 2YO Sale will be offered at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale, for which the catalogue is now available online.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
The Bob Scarborough-bred Magna Grecia Romps in the 2000 Guineas
At Newmarket on Saturday, Bob Scarborough, the former Moonee Valley Racing Club chairman and master of Wood Nook Farm, joined fellow Victorian David Hains on the honour roll as breeders of  winners of the Group 1 2000 Guineas.
Top Filly Beats Top Colt in G1 Prix Morny
The Group I Prix Morny (1200m) at Deauville overnight produced a mightly clash between unbeaten Starspangled banner colt Gstaad and unbeaten filly Venetian Sun with the filly prevailing, although Starspangledbanner got some consolation with a new G3 winning 2YO at Goodwood.