breednet.com.au

Derby Goal for Americain 3YO

Tara Madgwick - Wednesday February 27
Melbourne Cup winner Americain (USA) has brought an injection of stamina to a classy Aussie speed family to produce promising staying three year-old Costello, a strong winner over 1800 metres at Rosehill on Wednesday.

Costello as a yearlingAstute trainer David Payne resisted the temptation of chasing a Derby start for Costello back in the spring when he cast off maiden status with an impressive win at Hawkesbury and that decision may now reap the right rewards.

A last start winner at Warwick Farm over 1600 metres, he upped the ante in this Benchmark 74 event to score a handsome victory with David Payne indicating his future path would be towards the Group I Australian Derby.

Bred and sold by Adam Sangster's Swettenham Stud, Costello was a $40,000 Inglis Premier purchase for his trainer and runs for a syndicate that includes Wilf Mula (Aston Bloodstock) and Paul Whelan (Luskin Park). The same connections had success with his half-sister French Fern, who won the Group II ATC Reisling Stakes in 2016.

Costello is one of four winners from stakes-winning Strategic mare La Famelia, who comes from the family of champion sprinter Schillaci and Group I winners Forina, Russeting and more recently Voodoo Lad.

La Famelia was covered last spring by Swettenham Stud's promising shuttle sire Toronado (IRE).

Advertisment
More Reading...
$1.35m Easter Purchase Chicama Wins Warwick Farm Opener
A half-brother to Champion 3YO Filly Shoals (Fastnet Rock), Written Tycoon colt Chicama appreciated not only the step up to 1400m for the first time to break his maiden, but a change to the Joe Pride yard appears to have also done the trick.
First SW for Sword of State - Torture Wins Debutant
Trainers Ben, Will and JD Hayes have unleashed another promising juvenile when two-year-old filly Torture proved too good for her rivals on debut in the Listed Debutant Stakes (1000m) at Caulfield providing a dream result for Cambridge Stud based first season sire Sword of State.
First Stakes-Winner for Americain
Swettenham Stud’s Melbourne Cup hero Americain (USA) has sired his first stakes-winner with four year-old mare Causeforcommotion winning the Possibly Perfect Stakes at Santa Anita on the weekend.
Wednesday Winning Double for Americain
They may have been galloping 2,344km away from each other in distance, including a short 432km paddle across the Bass Straight, but Aristocat up in Ipswich and Toricain down in Launceston combined to give Melbourne Cup hero Americain (USA) his first Aussie double.
Melbourne Cup Dream Hangs in Balance for Sharp 'n' Smart
Sharp ‘N’ Smart’s Gr.1 Melbourne Cup (3200m) campaign hangs in the balance, with his performance in Saturday’s Gr.1 Livamol Classic (2040m) at Ellerslie dictating whether he continues on that path.
One to Watch – Warwick Farm
There was a heavily backed favourite in the $100,000 3YO Super Maiden (1200m) at Warwick Farm on Wednesday and while punters were tearing up their tickets with a furlong to run, something miraculous happened in the last 50m.
Shamus Award Mare Quintessa Shooting for Another G1
Te Akau has been forced to take an unconventional path to Ellerslie with Quintessa and are confident the high-class mare will strip in the best possible order, given the circumstances.
From Cup Hero To Stud Success
The decision to stand a Melbourne Cup winner is not one taken lightly, but a warm initial response from breeders, followed by encouraging yearling sale results and now winners on the track have made Swettenham stud’s gamble on Americain (USA) look like a good one.
New Vendors Step into NZB Ready to Run Sale Spotlight
The horsemen and women who prepare two-year-olds for the NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka every November are internationally renowned as some of the very best in the world at what they do, and a new generation will join them next month as first-time vendors.
Facile Victory By Ole Kirk’s Regal Award At Caulfield
Breaking his maiden in style two starts back over 1300m at Sandown, the Phillip Stokes trained Ole Kirk gelding Regal Award appreciated the 1600m on Wednesday at Caulfield, pulling clear to win the MRC Foundation Pin & Win Handicap by seven and a half lengths.