While the former Darley shuttler Dubai Destination (USA) failed to gain traction in five Australian seasons before his eventual sale to Saudi Arabia, daughters of the son of Kingmambo are proving their worth, leaving the likes of 4-time Group 1 winner Postponed (Dubawi), Helmet’s dual Dubai World Cup hero Thunder Snow, the imperious Golden Horn (Cape Cross) whose four Group 1 wins included the Derby at Epsom and the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Italian Group 1 winner God Given (Nathaniel) and the Group 1 William Reid Stakes heroine Silent Sedition (War Chant).
On what we saw at Rosehill on Saturday we may well be adding two more names to that list in the not too distant future, the Chris Waller-trained import Imaging (GB) and Hawkes Racings Master Of Wine (GER).
Imaging (IRE) carried the support of the stable when backed into favouritism at his Australian debut in the Group III Liverpool City Cup at Randwick but he ran into plenty of trouble and pulled up lame, thankfully it was a much easier watch in Saturday’s Group II Hyland Race Colours Ajax Stakes at Rosehill.
With steady rain downgrading the track to heavy, Imaging (GB) turned back the challenge of stablemate Yulong Prince (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight) by a neck with Imaging’s old antagonist Cascadian (GB) (New Approach) another two lengths third.
"We are one step closer to the Doncaster," Waller said.
The $3 million Doncaster Mile will be run at Randwick on April 4.
A son of Juddmonte Farm’s hugely successful Green Desert stallion Oasis Dream, Imaging (GB) was purchased by Waller for 260,000 guineas out of the Juddmonte draft at last year’s Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
He has a Group III at Naas and a pair of Listed wins to his credit. His half brother Super Titus is a Flemington winner for Lindsay Park.
They are out of the well-performed Dubai Destination (USA) mare Mirror Lake whose four wins included Listed stakes at Doncaster and Goodwood where she was runner-up in the Group II Select Stakes.
Master Of Wine (GER) may have been even more impressive in his three and a half length romp in the Group III Sky High Stakes (2000m) and his turn at Group 1 glory may come as soon as next week in the Ranvet Stakes.
The son of Monsun’s Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and Prix d'Ispahan winner Maxios made it four wins on the trot and nothing has come close to him in any of them.
"He may back up next week in the Ranvet," co-trainer Wayne Hawkes said.
"We will see how we go. As always, we will let the horse decide but he is going the right way.
"He is pretty special. I have to give credit to Tommy Berry, he gave him a really nice ride and got the job done.
“He's turning into a very serious horse."
Master Of Wine’s dam Magma (Dubai Destination) remained a maiden but she is a half-sister to dual Group III winner Matchwinner from the very well respected family of Insight, Saffron Walden and former shuttler Dolphin Street.
