Prague Stays Perfect in Canonbury Stakes

Mark Smith - Saturday February 1

A big result for Aquis Farm in Saturday’s Group III  Iron Jack Canonbury Stakes (1100m) at Randwick with the stud’s colours carried by the winner, the $1,600,000 Redoute’s Choice colt Prague and the runner-up, the Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and Tom Marquand show rolled on as a Marquand positioned Prague outside of the frontrunning Nitrous who he quickly dropped off turning for home.Prague makes it two for two in Canonbury Stakes - images Steve Hart

The More Than Ready colt Global Quest tracked Prague in the run but with 3kgs worse of at the weights and a bumping dual with third placed Fastnet Rock colt Return With Honour, Global Quest could get no closer than two and a quarter lengths from the winner.

“I had a bit of a feeling about him today with the shades on and how he had come on in his coat from his first up run, there is a bit of timing about him,” Maher said.

“Again, a great job by the team. Tom Marquand is riding up a storm. He’s a very strong rider and had to feel a bit for him there because he got a bit lost when he hit the front.

“They are a great team of owner. Aquis, Mr Fong, put a lot into racing and there are a few other owners in this colt whose old man Redoute’s (Choice) passed away so hopefully this is the colt to fill the void.    

“He’s a very relaxed customer and I think he still has a lot of improvement in him. He’ll take a lot from that today he actually pricked his ears and started to work out what it’s all about.

“He is a lovely physical and has a very bright future. He’s a natural with a beautiful temperament so he ticks all the boxes so it’s pretty exciting.

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“He might need a bit more money (to make the Golden Slipper) and a bit more experience.”Prague a $1.6 million yearling

A first-up winner at Canterbury on January 17, Prague becomes the 171st stakes-winner for the deceased Redoute’s Choice.

Bred by G S A Bloodstock, Prague was purchased by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and Aquis Farms for $1,600,000 out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

A half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and young Widden Stud stallion Stratum Star, Prague is the sixth foal of the lightly race Pins mare Purely Spectacular who was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $300,000 on behalf of Jonathan Munz at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

Also the dam of the multiple stakes-placed winner Serenade (Star Witness), Purely Spectacular is a sister to the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes runner-up Raid and is a great granddaughter of the champion Emancipation.

Purely Spectacular slipped in two seasons following Prague and was covered by Snitzel last spring.

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Race Result - Iron Jack Canonbury Stakes Gr3 1100m

Randwick Track: Good(4) Time: 1:03.94
1
Prague
- 2c Redoute's Choice (AUS) x Purely Spectacular (NZ) (Pins (AUS))
Tnr: C Maher & D Eustace Rdr: T Marquand 54.5
2
1.8
Global Quest
- 2c More Than Ready (USA) x Global Dream (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J Bowman 57.5
More Than Ready
3
2.1
Return With Honour
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Irish Nova (NZ) (O'Reilly (NZ))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: G Schofield 54.5
Fastnet Rock
4
5.7
Nitrous
- 2c Deep Field (AUS) x Flamboyant Lass (AUS) (Stratum (AUS))
Tnr: P & P Snowden Rdr: Tommy Berry 56
5
6.1
Gravina
- 2c Sebring (AUS) x Metastasio (AUS) (Street Cry (IRE))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: Rachel King 54.5
6
11.7
Gorshin
- 2c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Cryptic Miss (AUS) (Snippets (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: C Reith 54.5
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