Issue 22, August 21
Predatory Pricer, on the inside in blinkers, holds off Whobegotyou to win the Group 2 Liston Stakes at Caulfield. (SLICKPIX)
The Pricer is just right One of the joys of spring racing is to stand at mounting yard and watch the parade of magnificent thoroughbreds strut by. Such was the case at Caulfield last Saturday when the Group 2 Liston Stakes (WFA 1400m) was the headline act over a support card that featured some of Melbourne’s best young talent in the Listed Vain and Quezette Stakes. I hadn’t seen the NSWtrained Predatory Pricer (ch h 2005, Street Cry–Shady Stream, by Archregent) before, so I was keen to cast my eye over the chestnut half-brother to champion sprinter Takeover Target (b g 1999, by Celtic Swing). All I can say is that I doubt I have seen a more awesome, powerful individual since the great mare Sunline bullied her way into the parade ring at Caulfield in 1999 before finishing second behind Rose
O’War in the Group 2 Angus Armanasco Stakes. Predatory Pricer and Takeover Target are nothing alike, but they have one thing in common – unmistakeable quality. Takeover Target is a short-coupled, heavily muscled sprinter, whereas Predatory Pricer has not only length, rein and scope, but also powerful quarters and a masculine stallion’s head. He’s built like a classic “miler” to 2000m horse, and the fact that he was able to finish runner-up behind Roman Emperor in the Group 1 Australian Derby (2400m) at Randwick in the autumn is testimony to his class rather than his staying prowess. Predatory Pricer has inherited a lot of his bone and strength from his sire Street Cry (by Machavellian), who when he stood at Darley Northwood Park at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) was a hard sell for even the best Darley sales pitch. I thought
Young trainer Jarrod McLean has found himself a spring contender in the 3YO Testa Rossa gelding, Nicastro, who resumes at Moonee Valley on Saturday in the Listed Essendon Nissan Stakes (1200m). Nicastro (b g 2006, ex-Kinky, by St. Jovite (USA)) is unbeaten in three provincial starts for the Warrnambool-based McLean. While this Listed race is a major step up from Stawell (1100m), Mildura (1200m) and Swan Hill (1300m), McLean has a high opinion of the gelding, and he expects him to find his best form when he gets to around 1600m. Nicastro was an ecumenical purchase by McLean. The youngster cost $45,000 to the bid of fellow Warrnambool trainer Matthew Williams, who proved he was acting in McLean’s best interests. Nicastro is yet another smart horse by the improving Testa Rossa, who now commands a service fee of $38,500 (inc. GST) at Vinery, Scone – not far short of Williams’ purchase price. Nicastro will get his stamina from his dam-sire, the former high-class North American-bred stallion St Jovite (by Pleasant Colony), who was trained in Europe to win the 1992 Group 1 Irish Derby (2400m) at The Curragh and the 1992 Group 1 King George V1 and Queen Elizabeth Stakes (2400m) at Royal Ascot. Kinky is only one of four foals born in Australia by St. Jovite, who has been a moderately successful stallion in Kentucky (1993-2006), leaving only nine Stakes winners.
WORDS BY DANNY POWER
Golden times for unheralded sire
It was only a few weeks ago that I looked up the pedigree of an impressive 3YO, Lago Azzurro, who I had spotted finishing a luckless sixth behind Starspangledbanner at Caulfield on August 1, only to be surprised that he is not, as his name suggests, a son of Encosta De Lago or one of his sire-sons, but a gelding by the little known Golden Lake, an unraced son of Danzero. Blow me down, two weeks later, another son of Golden Lake, also competing against Starspangledbanner, finishes a tremendous third at his debut in the Listed Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield. Djatala (ex-Lanema, by Mustin Lake), who had easily won a trial at St. Arnaud, showed speed and courage to hold on to third in a crack field of colts and geldings. It certainly made me take a bit more notice of Golden Lake, who is advertised at a very modest fee of $2200 (inc. GST) in 2009. Until this week, Golden Lake was without a home, but it was yesterday announced the son of Danzero will stand at Lakewood Stud, Wellington, South Australia. Senior part-owner McLean Whittaker said Golden Lake stood his first three seasons at Finale Stud, Murray Bridge, but an illness to the studmaster forced the horse to a stand at part-owner Wayne Francis’ property at Strathalbyn last season. “Wayne’s farm is not really equipped to stand a stallion, so he received only six mares last year. The phone has been ringing, but until now we couldn’t tell anyone where he is standing,” he said. Golden Lake has only 10 named foals (five have raced) – Lago Azzurro (g ex-Sarablue, by Sarajaavo) is his sole winner
The unraced stallion Golden Lake is making an impact. (Atkins Photography).