It's All in the Family for Brandenburg

Mark Smith - Sunday February 23

This is what dreams are made of for breeders, purchasing an unraced daughter of the great Galileo (IRE) for a paltry $500, then watching her daughter claim a Group II Wakeful Stakes and a son tan the hides of five Group 1 winners in the Group II Hobartville Stakes just a few months before a half-sister by Fastnet Rock makes her first public appearance at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

The Galileo mare Wansesingyee was purchased at a NZ Bloodstock mixed sale in 2009 for just $500.  Brandenburg finishes best in Hobertville Stakes - images Steve Hart

To be fair, her present owners, Seymour Bloodstock, would have shelled out plenty more than that to secure Wansesingyee but what a success story she has been.

After hitting the heights with $55,000 2016 NZB Ready to Run graduate Luvaluva, trainer John Sargent will be looking to great things from her 3yo half-brother Brandenburg (Burgundy) who placed in the Group II ATC Stan Fox Stakes and Group III VRC Carbine Club Stakes last spring before emerging from his summer hibernation with a stunning performance in Saturday’s Group II Arrowfield Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.

With Rachel King in the saddle, Brandenburg was the outsider of the field and despite covering a deal of extra ground defeated the Snitzel colt Reloaded by half a length with last seasons champion 2yo Microphone (Exceed And Excel) a half-head back in third.

"When he actually learns how to really put them away he's going to be even better," King told AAP.

"John made sure I knew the horse really well. I rode him a few times in trackwork and left no stone unturned and it paid off."

Sargent said he was expecting a forward showing.Brandenburg Rachel King

I have always rated him a very good colt," Sargent said.

"We looked after him in the spring and just took him down for the Carbine Club (Stakes).

Advertisement

"He had to front up today against these serious horses and he did. It was very impressive.

"He's got a very good attitude and that's what makes the horse. He just eats and sleeps."

The son of the royally-bred Redoute’s Choice stallion Burgundy is the second stakes-winner from four to race out of Wansesingyee who was bred by Luskin Park Stud and was sold as a weanling for $50,000 before making $86,000 as a yearling at Karaka and $500 just a year later.

Wansesingyee is a three-quarter sister to the Listed STC WJ McKell Cup winner Luvuleo (Galileo) from the family of stakes-winners Secret Flyer, Almazyoon, El Maze and Little Current.

The daughter of Galileo has a Fastnet Rock filly (lot 280) in the Newhaven Park Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She missed to the same stallion in 2018 and was covered by the Coolmore champion again last spring.

Brandenburg becomes the fourth stakes-winner for the Redoute’s Choice stallion Burgundy who was put down at Cambridge Stud in November at the age of 11 due to laminitis.  

Advertisment

Race Result - Arrowfield Hobartville Stakes Gr2 1400m

Rosehill Track: Soft(7) Time: 1:25.30
1
Brandenburg
- 3c Burgundy (NZ) x Wansesingyee (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: J G Sargent Rdr: Rachel King 56.5
2
0.5
Reloaded
- 3c Snitzel (AUS) x Hollow Bullet (AUS) (Tayasu Tsuyoshi (JPN))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: J B Mc Donald 56.5
3
0.6
Microphone
- 3c Exceed And Excel (AUS) x Sung (AUS) (Anabaa (USA))
Tnr: James Cummings Rdr: J Bowman 56.5
4
1.9
Pancho
- 3g Dissident (AUS) x Novel Dancer (AUS) (Written Tycoon (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: R Dolan 56.5
5
3.1
Shadow Hero
- 3g Pierro (AUS) x Sookie (AUS) (Casino Prince (AUS))
Tnr: Mark Newnham Rdr: J Parr 56.5
6
3.2
Castelvecchio
- 3c Dundeel (NZ) x St. Therese (AUS) (Dehere (USA))
Tnr: Richard Litt Rdr: K Mc Evoy 56.5
7
4.5
Warning
- 3g Declaration Of War (USA) x Livia (AUS) (Galileo (IRE))
Tnr: Anthony Freedman Rdr: Tommy Berry 56.5
8
5.5
Kubrick
- 3c Shooting To Win (AUS) x Alcatraz (AUS) (Fastnet Rock (AUS))
Tnr: C J Waller Rdr: B Avdulla 56.5
9
5.6
Fortress Command
- 3c Sebring (AUS) x Prairie Star (NZ) (High Chaparral (IRE))
Tnr: G A Ryan Rdr: J R Collett 56.5
10
6.4
The Holy One
- 3c Tavistock (NZ) x Entirely Saintly (NZ) (Pentire (GB))
Tnr: T Busuttin & N Young Rdr: J Ford 56.5
11
6.6
Prince Fawaz
- 3c Fastnet Rock (AUS) x Lady Paget (AUS) (Testa Rossa (AUS))
Tnr: A J Cummings Rdr: Jean Van Overmeire 56.5
More Reading...
Birchley Back to NZ for More Millions
Queensland trainer Liam Birchley is no stranger to success in the richest two-year-old race in New Zealand, the $1million TAB Karaka Millions 2YO (1200m), and he is hoping to replicate the winning feeling next weekend as he prepares to line-up a pair of quality fillies in the Ellerslie dash for cash.
Ones to Watch – Rosehill
In years to come when racing trivia nights are held, a question will be - what was the horse champion jockey Jett Newman rode in her first metropolitan race win?  And the answer is our One to Watch.
Torque To Be Sure Survives Protest For 3YO Guineas Win
Torque To Be Sure survived a protest in the stewards’ room to shrug his maiden tag on the biggest stage with a win in the $3 million Gold Coast Magic Millions 3YO Guineas (1400m) on Saturday.
King of Roseau Brings Full Circle Moment for Capitalist and Snowden
A decade after Peter Snowden won the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with Capitalist, the champion trainer saddled up the stallion’s son King Of Roseau to win the $2 million Magic Millions Cup (1400m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Geese That Lay Golden Eggs – What’s in the Future?
The 2026 Magic Millions Yearling Sale was highlighted by 15 yearlings that sold for $1million or more which was two more than last year when just 13 hit the magic mark, but still considerably down on 2024 which saw 23 millionaires sold following on from 20 in 2023.
2026 NZB KARAKA YEARLING SALE PREVIEW – Sky Thoroughbred Central this Monday
Caroline Searcy’s extensive preview of the Centenary New Zealand National Sale will premiere on Sky Thoroughbred Central Monday night at 7.30pm AEDST. This is a must watch chance to see over ten percent of the Book 1 catalogue and a some select Book 2 yearlings as well, ahead of sale ground inspections this week and the Sale’s commencement on Sunday January 25.
Sires With Winners - Saturday January 17
Here is the full list of 111 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Hawker Hall Wins Last on Magic Day
James McDonald made the most of a late pick-up ride on Hawker Hall when he let the gelding rip from a wide barrier to run his rivals ragged in the $250,000 Magic Millions Class 6 Plate (1200m) at the Gold Coast on Saturday.
Via Sistina Retired - Dubawi Her First Mating
Chris Waller has announced the retirement of Champion mare Via Sistina after returning for her autumn campaign not “her normal highly energetic self”.
Mulcaster Finds First Winner for Portland Sky
A Group I winning son of champion sire Deep Field, Widden Stud’s Portland Sky put his first winner on the board at Ascot on Saturday with a dominant debut victory for talented filly Daryte, who was purchased by Guy Mulcaster.