Since 2000, this race has been won by some top class future stallions with the honour roll including Exceed and Excel, Charge Forward, Written Tycoon, Smart Missile, Pierro and more recently Golden Slipper winner and budding sire Vancouver.
Kitchwin Hills is one stud with a particular interest in the race this year as they have a share in the ownership of race favourite Time to Reign and stood his ill-fated sire Time for War, who died after just two seasons at stud.
A half-brother to Golden Slipper winner She Will Reign, Time to Reign has already won the Group II ATC Silver Slipper assuring himself of a place on the Kitchwin Hills Stud roster, but will face stern opposition this week, ironically from two colts that carry the Kitchwin Hills brand.
The Aquis colours will be carried by exciting Not a Single Doubt colt Dubious, who won the Group III ATC Breeders Plate on debut and was second in the Magic Millions 2YO Classic in January.
Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, Dubious was a $350,000 Magic Millions purchase from the Kitchwin Hills draft and has already banked close to $500,000 in prizemoney.
Purchased from the same draft at the Gold Coast by Darren Weir Racing/John Foote Bloodstock for $200,000 was talented Rubick colt Yes Yesy Yes, who won two of three starts in Melbourne in December and is now prepared by Chris Waller.
He trialled brilliantly in Sydney last week and will be looking to force his way into Golden Slipper contention with a good performance in the Todman.
The team at Kitchwin Hills are not unfamiliar with the ups and downs of racing and breeding given the fortunes of Time for War and his brilliant son Time to Reign with a new twist in the tale to be revealed on Saturday.
