Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday February 27

For the first time in six years, Sydney faces a Winx-less Chipping Norton Stakes day after the then 3-year-old filly finished fifth in the 2015 Group II Surround Stakes on the Chipping Norton Stakes undercard before the great daughter of Street Cry (IRE) won the feature for four consecutive years.

 The Chipping Norton now shares top billing with the Surround Stakes, which was upgraded to Group 1 status in 2018.

There are also two important lead-ups to the Golden Slipper at Randwick on Saturday with fillies in the $200,000 Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes and the colts and geldings in the $200,000 Group II Skyline Stakes.

Aquis Farm went on an unprecedented blitz at the yearling sales in 2019. On their own or in partnership, Aquis splashed out on 72 yearlings for a spend of over $28 million.

Prague wins the Canonbury Stakes images Steve Hart

It was a long way from quantity over quality.

The top-price of $2.3 million was paid for the Fastnet Rock x Legally Bay colt Setanta who is out spelling after a career debut third at Canterbury behind Star Thoroughbreds promising Press Statement colt Spokesman.

At his first start, Spokesman was third to another expensive Aquis purchase, Prague, who then went on to defeat Aquis Farm’s Breeders’ Plate winner Global Quest in the Group III Canonbury Stakes at Randwick.

A $1.6 million purchase out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Prague puts his undefeated record on the line in the Skyline Stakes.

But he is not the most expensive colt in the race. He is not even the most expensive Aquis purchase. That honour belongs to the Exceed And Excel x Written Dash colt Osamu who was plucked out of the Tyreel Stud draft for $1.7 million at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Advertisement

Osamu will be out to break his maiden on Saturday after two starts.Prague Tom Marquand

Prague was purchased in association with Phoenix Thoroughbreds.

Bred by Jonathon Munz’s G S A Bloodstock, Prague has plenty riding on his next few starts as he is an exciting stallion prospect.

The son of Redoute’s Choice is a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner and young Widden Stud stallion Stratum Star, out of the lightly raced Pins mare Purely Spectacular who was purchased by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock for $300,000 on behalf of 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 who won a Chipping Norton Stakes in 1984 when it carried Group II status.

By champion sire Bletchingly out of the Gunsynd mare Ammo Girl, Emancipation won 19 races from 1000 to 1750 metres including six at Group I level.

Purely Spectacular slipped in two seasons following Prague and was covered by Snitzel last spring.Prague a $1.6 million son of Redoute's Choice

The Skyline shapes as a fascinating race.

The Star Witness colt Aim looked something out of the box at his first two starts but seems to have lost some gloss with his midfield finish in the Magic Millions 2yo Classic.

Postcode looks a very progressive son of Vancouver, Sun Stud’s royally-bred, Redoute’s Choice x Yosei colt Mission River, like Postcode, has been runner-up at his first two starts, while the first starters are represented by the $900,000 Written Tycoon colt Argenteus and the Wandjina colt Mamaragan who have both trialled impressively.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Was it that Unusual? Who is the Oldest?
There was a lot of attention in the media regarding the age of Australian Horse of the Year elect Via Sistina (IRE) when she returned to racing for a new campaign at Randwick last Saturday, but was it really that uncommon to see an eight year-old G1 winner?
Commemorative Retired to Stud
Watching the progress of Godolphin horses as they start stepping our for their new trainers has been interesting to say the least and will get more so this weekend when we see Tom Kitten go around in the Group I MRC Memsie Stakes at Caulfield, but one horse we won’t be seeing again is Commemorative.
First Southern Hemisphere foals for Paddington
A four-time Group I winner by champion French sire Siyouni, European superstar, PADDINGTON, has had his first Southern Hemisphere foals arrive on the ground at Windsor Park.
Narrow Miss for Hellbent Gelding in G2 Foxbridge
Lhasa proved he is more than a synthetic track specialist when he nearly caused an upset when finishing runner-up in Saturday’s Gr.2 Foxbridge Plate (1200m) at Te Rapa.
Well Bred Zousain Debut Winner
A full sister to Zousain’s Group III winning filly Drifting, Cheeky Contiki made a winning debut at Pakenham on Monday for the Lindsay Park Racing team.
Spring Trial Watch – Hawkesbury
There was an interesting set of trials at Hawkesbury on Monday that featured heat winners including Golden Slipper winner Marhoona, Randwick Guineas winner Linebacker as well as the Waterhouse Bott stable Cups contenders Sir Delius (GB) and Vauban (FR), plus we may have seen an Everest horse.
Finding the Perfect Match for Your Mare
Now that the first foals of the season have hit the ground at farms across the country, breeders are finalising stallion bookings and searching for the perfect match for their mares.
Spring Plans for El Vencedor
New Zealand’s top-rated performer El Vencedor will contest all three legs of the spring Triple Crown series.
Coolmore Stallion Parade – A to Z-Catch Up on What You Might Have Missed!
The annual Coolmore Australia stallion parade is one you just can’t miss and if you didn’t make it this year, do read on as you will feel like you were there after all!
Sires With Winners - Sunday August 24
Here is the full list of 67 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.