We could probably write a book on the success of South Australia’s Mill Park Stud, who went to a new level at Flemington on Saturday when they topped the win of their Carbine Club winning graduate Dalasan with the $2 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) hero Warning.
In these days when million-dollar yearling are common place, it’s sobering to see that $145,000 would have purchased both millionaires.
Proving himself the best staying in trying conditions, Warning kept up a relentless gallop under Damien Oliver to defeat the honest Puissance de Lune (IRE) colt Southern Moon by three and a quarter lengths with the Shamus Award colt Soul Patch a length back in third.
The Anthony Freedman trained son of Declaration of War (USA), advances his record to 2 wins, 1 second 1 third from 7 starts with earnings of $1,387,900.
A $65,000 Magic Millions Adelaide purchase from the draft of Mill Park Stud for Sam Freedman and De Burgh Equine, Warning announced himself as a Victoria Derby contender with a strong finishing win in the Listed VRC Super Impose Stakes before finishing second to Thought Of That in the Group III Caulfield Classic.
Bred by the Toorak Breeding Partnership, Warning is the second winner from Livia, a winning Galileo mare that won at Mornington and Sandown in a 19-start career for David Hayes.
Her first foal was the useful Adelaide performer Galaxy Gazer (Astronomer Royal) the winner of six races.
From the prolific ‘Lemon’ family nurtured by Arundel Stud Farm, Livia is a daughter of the Group II VRC AV Kewney Stakes third Flying Spice (Flying Spur) who is a half-sister to Chattanooga and to the dam’s of Real Stolle and Tindal.
Livia did not have a live foal after Warning before foaling a Free Eagle (IRE) colt a fortnight back.
Warning is one of 24 stakes-winners for Declaration of War, a former, two season Coolmore shuttler by War Front that has already sired a Group I winner here in Australia with Winning Ways landing the Queensland Oaks last season.
