Turf Monthly February 2024 by turfmonthly

turf monthly

February 2024

T THIS MONTH FAUX TIRAGE FAIRWAY GOLD AND BLACK KENSEI

Editor’s Letter We have just seen the Magic Millions completed with the promising Storm Boy winning convincingly. Second placed Highness had a dream run throughout but could only finish 2.5 lengths behind the winner. Third was Spywire who was 4.8 lengths behind Storm Boy with Erno’s Cube a further 0.1 lengths back. Fifth was Arabian Summer who was beaten by 5.2 lengths and it was a further two lengths to the rest of the field. I think this shows that the quality of the race was disappointing. If we add to this the fact that the emergency, Spirited, made the field with $15,750 prizemoney from running third at Doomben at her only start, it only supports the contention. Spirited by the way was to run 13th. The lack of substance in the field does not detract from the winning performance and Storm Boy is likely the benchmark for 2yo’s in Australia at least at this point in time. Magic Millions winners do not have a great record in the Golden Slipper, but who knows what March could bring. Storm Boy is by the outstanding Justify and is that stallion’s first Magic Millions winner. What is interesting is that the only sires who had runners in the race and had already sired a Millions winner were Snitzel (Highness 2nd), Exceed And Excel (Wolfgang 15th) and Shalaa (Vianarra 11th). In the history of the Magic Millions only three stallions have sired multiple winners of the 2yo Classic. These were Snitzel, More Than Ready and Zoffany who have all sired two winners. For interest, Storm Boy was purchased for $460,000, Highness $900,000 and Spywire $520,000 and all were sold through the January sale. Storm Boy with earnings of a little over $2 million is the only one to have recouped his purchase price, let alone the expenses that go along with racing and preparation. I will leave that fact sit there without comment.

CONTENTS 4

Faux Tirage

Fairway

Gold And Black

Pajol

Kensei

First Season Stallions at the Sales 2024

COVER PHOTO North Pacific courtesy of Turf Stars and Newgate Farm

Until next month

Ross Prowd

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au 2 Swan Street PARKSIDE Q 4825

TURF MONTHLY 3

FAUX TIRAGE

A CONTINUING INFLUENCE

Fair Trial

ast month we started to look at Faux Tirage who was a son of Big Game out of Commotion by Mieuxce from Riot by Colorado. Riot was a daughter of Lady Juror and a half-sister to the renowned stallion Fair Trial who we are also investigating shortly. We have already mentioned Froth and some of NZ stakes winners, so it is time to look at his influence in Australia. In all, Faux Tirage was to sire 43 individual stakes winners across Australia and New Zealand.

is stakes winners represent an interesting mix in performances. Akatarawa, for example, a gelding who was a descendant of the top broodmare Eulogy who had been imported into NZ around the time of WW1, had set a track record at Canterbury over six furlongs before later being tried as a stayer where he won the 1800m (9 fulong) Frank Underwood Cup at Rosehill. What is interesting here is that this has been often repeated in the careers of the progeny of Faux Tirage. If we look at Brigade for example, he was to win the 1967 Canterbury Cup over 9 furlongs (1800m). He was trained by Jack Green for AJC Committee member, Brian Crowley up until around a month before the race when he was transferred to the stable of TJ Smith. Smith then proceeded to try Brigade as a stayer, and he was to win three races straight over longer distances culminating in his Cup win where he took 1.3 seconds off the race record and was within 0.3 seconds of the track record.

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manullah had run third in the December Stakes at Rosehill in what was one of the oddest races conducted at the venue. It was run in a torrential hailstorm. The rain was so bad that the starting gates could not be used, and it was reported that horses were standing up to their fetlocks in water. They could not use the starting gates and returned to a flag start that was not visible to the crowd or even the racecaller. Most on course were unaware that the race was even underway until the field was around 300m from the winning post. Even then, the race caller apologised that he could not make out the colours. For the record, Clan Stewart beat Malvern Hall and Amanullah on Boxing Day, 1955. The gelding’s finest moment came in 1959 when he started as the 9/1 outsider in a field of five to win the George Main Stakes when ridden by Neville Selwood to beat In Love. Amanullah was also to win the Tatts Tramway Stakes and Newcastle Newmarket Handicap.

nother of Faux Tirage’s stakes winners was the 1969 Canberra Cup. A story of his victory appeared in the Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), on Monday 17 March 1969, page 16.

Arc-En-Ciel wins first cup by JOHN HOURIGAN Arc-En-Ciel ran one of the best races of his career on Saturday to beat a capacity field in a thrilling finish to the 1969 Canberra Cup. Ridden out hands and heels by Wagga jockey Norm Dickens, Arc-En-Ciel fought on gamely to hold off the fast - finishing Darylus by a half head with Formidable 1 ½ lengths away third. Arc-En-Ciel started at the good odds of 16/1 after opening at 12/1 and drifting to 20/1 before firming. The unplaced equal favourites at 5/1 were the two Sydney gallopers New Tiki and Ulysses. Raced in partnership by Mr Clem Lees and Mr Jack Kelly and trained at Queenbeyan by Alec Mackenzie, Arc-En-Ciel is a New Zealand - bred nine -year - old gelding by Faux Tirage from Our Love.

Arc En Ciel wins the Warwick Farm Spring Handicap

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Arc-En-Ciel was having his 187th start in a race, and fulfilled his owners' wish that he would win a Cup before he was retired. Jockey Dickens after the race said that every opening he wanted came at the right time and Arc-En-Ciel responded gamely to his task. Arc-En-Ciel dropped out passing the winning post the first time but settled down well as there was no pace on in the early stages. He began to wend his way through the field from the three furlongs and reached the lead with a half furlong to travel. Sydney apprentice Mario Caltabiano said his mount Darylus was badly hampered at the turn out of the straight and lost considerable ground. Darylus was racing outside two horses approaching the turn but when the field bunched, he was forced right out to the centre of the track. Caltabiano balanced him quickly and he was gathering in the leader with every stride but the post was too close. New Tiki was among the tail-enders to the top of the straight but unlike Arc-En-Ciel was blocked for a run until 50 yards from the post. Norm Munsie pushed him through an opening at this point and he finished brilliantly to gather in six or seven horses and lake fourth prizemoney. Jockey Norm Dickens rode brilliantly throughout the afternoon and completed a treble. His other winners were Arc-En-Ciel's stablemate Lowland Chief in the Flying and the Vin O'Neill trained Royal Rebel in the Improvers'.

eau Tirage was another good winner for his sire. He was to win the Lord Mayor’s Cup at Rosehill in both 1962 and 1963. Like many horses, he had an interesting story, and part of this was told following his final start by the Canberra Times (ACT : 1926 - 1995), Tuesday 4 August 1964, on page 15.

George Moore Front Page March 1959 TURF MONTHLY 6

Beau Tirage given away Gelding stays with Moore SYDNEY, Monday. - Following Beau Tirage's impressive win in the Bank Holiday Handicap at Randwick today, the owners presented the gelding to jockey George Moore. Starting an equal favourite at 5/2 Beau Tirage. brilliantly ridden by Moore, finished fast to beat Jaxo 6/1 by three-quarters of a length with Plantation 7/1 a neck away third. After Beau Tirage had scored at Rosehill on Saturday, the owners, Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Porter told Moore they would give him the gelding to be used as a station hack on his country property, Yarram Park Stud, at Scone. Today Moore returned to the enclosure smiling broadly and he said to Mr. Porter, "That's it, Boss, is he mine now?" Mr. Porter replied, "George, you earned him after that ride." Beau Tirage has been a great money winner for his owners, and in all has won 14 races during his career. Mr. Porter was told by a blood stock agent that if he wished to sell the gelding, he had a buyer willing to pay £2,000 guineas. Mr. Porter declined the offer and said, "I am more interested in making sure Beau Tirage has a good home for the remainder of his days." Considering his form. Beau Tirage started at a surprisingly good price as he had won in most convincing style against much stronger opposition over the same distance at Rosehill last Saturday.

aux Tirage was to produce the 1973 VRC Oaks winner, Bonnybel. Owned by Mr W Harvey and Mr D O’Flynn, the filly drifted from 9/1 to 40/1 in that race, but led all of the way to win impressively in a time that was a full five seconds quicker than champion 3yo Taj Rossi had run in winning the Derby the previous Saturday. Bonnybel was also to win the Queensland Oaks, beating Grey Haze and Lorne, later in the season. Sadly though Bonnybel was to fail as a broodmare, and in fact it is doubtful if any of her descendants remain in the Stud Book. Humber Hawk was to win the 1958 Moonee Valley Cup, and Ma Cherie won the 1960 Epsom Handicap. Woambra was another quality son of Faux Tirage who won the 1962 George Adams. He was to have a resurgence later in his career when he was given over to Colin Hayes, under whose care he won the Tatts Cup, Centenary Cup and City of Adelaide Stakes in South Australia. Princess Tirage won three stakes races as a 2yo with the Cinderella and Dequetteville Stakes in Adelaide, and the Debutante Stakes in Melbourne. Another stakes winning 2yo was Bulganna who won the First Hopeful Stakes and Hopeful Stakes in Brisbane.

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Knave

ne of the best sons of Faux Tirage was Knave who was trained in Sydney by Maurice McCarten. He was a quality 2yo winning the Flemington Stakes when carrying 9.3 (58.5kg) by a margin of ten lengths from Philstar. Knave was owned by Tom Lowry who owned Faux Tirage and was the star of the Melbourne Spring winning three of his four starts. In the Autumn Knave was to win both the VRC and AJC Sires’ Produce Stakes. In 1956, as a three-year-old, Knave was to win the Civic Stakes in Sydney as well as the Epsom Handicap. He then went to Brisbane to win the Stradbroke. The colt was sold to the US where he won a number of races including the Longfellow Handicap. Knave was to stand at stud in the US but had little success. He was owned by Mr F Rand Jnr who also race the Australian colt, Prince Morvi in the US. He also was the owner of Clem, the best son of Australian champion Shannon.

s is the case with most stallions, their legacy remains predominantly through their daughters, and this is where we are most likely to find Faux Tirage in modern pedigrees. Perhaps his most notable daughter was a mare called Pins who won four races over shorter journeys in NZ. She was to prove a valuable broodmare, producing 13 foals of which 12 were winners. Her two most notable sons were Manawapoi by Battle Waggon and Red Nose by Reindeer. Interestingly we see that the two half-siblings were different in their distance aptitude. Manawapoi was to win thirteen races in total, including the Group 1 QTC Stradbroke Handicap as well as the AJC Hobartville Stakes and the Newmarket and Cameron Stakes at Newcastle. He was also to run second in the AJC Doncaster, George Main Stakes, All-Aged Stakes and STC Canterbury Guineas. Red Nose won five races in total including the Group 1 Canterbury Guineas and the Group 2 Apollo Stakes. He was to run second in the AJC Metroplitan, Chipping Norton, HE Tancred and Rawson Stakes. Red Nose was also to run third in the 1979 Melbourne Cup behind Hyperno

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Courtalista finishing second to Research in the AJC Oaks

and Salamander, in the race that saw tragedy strike the champion 3yo Dulcify. This family was later to produce the quality filly Courtalista who was to win six races including the Group 2 Auckland Lidauer Stakes. She may have been considered an unlucky filly as she raced against the superstar 3yo filly, Research to whom she was runner up in the 1989 AJC Oaks and the Storm Queen Stakes. She was later to run third behind Magnolia Hall in the 1990 Summer Cup at Rosehill. Courtalista produced the stakes winning colt Command Post who won the MVRC Leslie Frogatt Plate and VRC Totally Wild Stakes. He was to become a moderate stallion. Courtalista was to also become the granddam of We Can Say It Now, winner of the Group 1 Levin Classic and Captain Cook Stakes in NZ.

nother galloper who traces back to a daughter of Faux Tirage is Hit It Benny. The son of Baguette won the Group 1 Rothman’s 100,000 at Doomben, a brief iteration of the Doomben 10,000, as well as the Group 2 Galaxy, and the listed The Shorts and Tatt’s WJ Healy Stakes. Broad Reach is another galloper tracing to a daughter of Faux Tirage who also win the Rothman’s 100,000, a feat he achieved in 1987. Broad Reach also won the Moonee Valley Stakes, BATC Tourist Ministers Cup, AJC Up And Coming Stakes and SAJC Walter A Brown Stakes. He was sent to stud with limited success but did produce the good 2yo Yachtie who won the Blue Diamond Prelude and Pago Pago Stakes. Broad Reach was to appear as the damsire of the champion NZ mare, Seachange.

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Manawapoi runs second in the 1977 Doncaster

ittle Tattle was another daughter of Faux Tirage who came to note with the performances of her grandson, The Filbert by Souvran. He was bred in NZ by John Goodman and trained by Don Couchman The Filbert won 11 races and $878,570 in stakes. His first stakes win came in the Listed Grey Smith Stakes at Flemington over 2000m. It was rather oddly to be the gelding’s only stakes win outside of NZ. At home, he won six stakes races including the 1985 Air NZ Stakes at Group 1 level. Later he was to win both the Waikato Gold Cup and Japan-NZ Gold Cup at Group 2. One of his finest moments was to come when he ran third in the 1985 Japan Cup behind two local horses in Symboli Rudolf defeating Rocky Tiger. The gelding suffered from colic while in Japan but he was able to recover and put in a wonderful performance in a field that included Australia’s Rose Of Kingston, and international horses Nassipour and Gold And Ivory who were both to stand at stud in NZ. In 1986, The Filbert was to run third in the Cox Plate behind the champions Bonecrusher and Our Waverley Star in one of the most talked about races in history. He was then scratched rather sensationally from the 1986 Melbourne Cup after pulling a shoe and showing signs of lameness. He returned to NZ to win the Waikato Gold Cup in record time, carrying 58kg. In addition to his stakes wins, The Filbert was also to run second behind a star mare who traces to Faux Tirage in Horlicks in the Tim Rogers Stakes, and behind Bonecrusher in the Mason Stakes. His half-brother, Red Hawk by War Hawk won the G3 Benson And Hedges Gold Cup and Canterbury Gold Cup. Another descendant of this family was Bramble Rose who won the 2003 NZ Oaks. At stud, she produced Maules Creek by Redoute’s Choice who won the 2012 Randwick City Stakes and Tangled by Snitzel who won the 2017 BRC Champagne Classic.

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ow Now, Colin Hayes’ champion mare from the 1970’s was also a daughter of a Faux Tirage mare in Fair Diana. She was a sensation in 1976 winning the AJC Oaks, Caulfield Cup, Caulfield, Underwood, Craiglee and Kewney Stakes that year. She produced Brave Salute, a colt by Without Fear who went on to win the Caulfield Guineas, Eclipse Stakes and Carbine Club Stakes. He stood only four seasons at stud in Australia before being sold to Thailand. He produced two local stakes winners in Brave Expectations who won the Onkaparinga Cup and Murray Bridge Cup in SA, and Sedately who won the Hardy Brothers Prelude and Hardy Brothers Classic at Flemington. A daughter of Brave Salute in Piave Girl was mated with Scenic to produce Piavonic who won the Group 1 2001 Manikato Stakes as well as the Norman Carlyon Stakes and Dairy Farmers Milk Stakes. She was to produce a son by Encosta De Lago named Von Costa de Hero who won the 2008 VRC Sires Produce. Despite good support in his early seasons, and a lot of media hype as the market was desperately looking for a son of Encosta De Lago, he fell short of expectations producing to date only two stakes winners in Lord Von Costa (Victorian Sprint Final and AR Creswick Stakes) and Von Costa Glass (Murray Bridge Gold Cup). The stallion was retired from stud duties at the start of 2023. How Now also produced How Bright by Bright Finish. Her line has produced a number of stakes winners including Youths Edge by Jeune (SAJC Rain Lover Plate), True Steel also by Jeune (G1 Fruit ‘n’ Veg Stakes, G3 Strickland Stakes, Listed Winter Cup and Ascot Gold Cup), and Satsang by Show A Heart (QTC Rankins Handicap). The best from this line though would seem to be Racer’s Edge by Rory’s Jester who won eight stakes races including the Group 1 CF Orr Stakes as well as the Group 2 Ascot Vale Stakes, St George Stakes and Blamey Stakes. He was to become a solid sire until his retirement at the start of the 2013 season. In all he produced ten stakes winners including Changing Lanes who won four stakes races in WA, and Hobart Cup and Bendigo Cup winner, True Courser.

lengowan was another galloper of the 70’s who was out of a Faux Tirage mare called Bewitch. This time it was Glengowan by Arragon who was to win the Hawkes Bay Cup in NZ in 1972, and the inaugural Captain Cook Stakes in 1973. The tough galloper was then sent to Australia for a tilt at the Spring races and won the Caulfield Stakes narrowly from All Shot seeing the gelding well supported for the Melbourne Cup. He then was to run a moderate race in the unsuitable Cox Plate when finishing fourth behind champion Taj Rossi. Glengowan was to finish a close second to Australasia in the Mackinnon Stakes which saw him start as a short-priced favourite in the Cup. He looked the winner with an 18yo Noel Harris on board but the lightly weighted Gala Supreme was to get a late gap on his inside to win by a long head. Glengowan was to return to NZ where he continued to perform at the top level winning a further two stakes races.

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FAIRWAY

AJC DERBY WINNER

n 10 February 1999, a field of 2yo’s lined up over 1100m on a heavy track at Warwick Farm in a No-Metro-Win race. It was to prove a remarkable race in terms of quality with the winner being Marechal who was to go on to win the Listed Heritage Stakes. Second in the race was Easy Rocking who was later to win Both were to go on to good careers at stud. Fifth in the race was Aquiver who was to run second to eventual Golden Slipper winner, Catbird in the Black Opal, and then placing twice in stakes races in the Winter Carnival in Brisbane. Later in his career he was to run third in the Group 1 Futurity Stakes at Caulfield as well as placings in the Eclipse Stakes at Sandown and the Seymour, Werribee and Easter Cups. He was also to win the 2001 Ballarat Cup. But it was a horse that finished some 13 lengths from the winner in seventh place that was to prove the best of them all. His name was Fairway, and like the winner, Marechal, he was a son of the champion 2yo Danzero. Fairway was out of the Cocky Golfer mare, Our Caddy and traced to a mare by Faux Tirage in Net.

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fter another ordinary run, Fairway was a different horse when he returned from a break. He returned to run second in July as a very late 2yo on a heavy 10 at Randwick in a 2yo handicap. Fairway was to then start a six-run winning streak that saw him go through the Spring of his 3yo season undefeated. His first start as a 3yo was in the 1600m Gosford Classic where he started a short-priced favourite beating Eau D’Scay. He then beat Akhenaton in the Peter Pan Stakes at Rosehill over 1500m before leading all of the way to win the Gloaming Stakes over 1900m at the same track. Fairway then rounded off his Spring by again leading all the way, this time to win the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes by beating Shogun Lodge and Liberty Hall. After a spell, Fairway returned over the unsuitable distance of the 1200m Royal Sovereign, finishing ninth behind Hire and Easy Rocking. He then caused something of an upset by winning the Group 2 Hobartville on a heavy track over 1400m beating Over. Stepping up to the 1900m of the Canterbury Guineas, Fairway again led all of the way to notch up another Group 1 victory. He then failed in the Rosehill Guineas, finishing almost five lengths behind Diatribe and Freemason. The gelding was then sent out at 12/1 in the AJC Derby but again led his rivals a merry dance, winning by two lengths from Shogun Lodge. Fairway was then taken to Brisbane for the Winter where he finished second behind Magnifier in the 1600m Qld Guineas. He then finished third, beaten less than two lengths when finishing third in the 2200m Grand Prix Stakes won by Make Mine Magic with Freemason second. Surprisingly Fairway did not lead in the Qld Derby, but settled sixth and was to finish fourth just under three lengths behind Freemason.

airway had only a 12-week break before kicking off his 4yo season in the 1350m Tramway at Rosehill where he finished ninth behind Mr Innocent. Unplaced runs in the Shannon Stakes at Rosehill behind Al Mansour and George Main at Randwick behind Adam, saw Fairway head to Melbourne. He beat the great mare Sunline in the 2000m Turnbull Stakes again leading all of the way. Fairway then ran third behind Diatribe in the Caulfield Cup when ridden incidentally for the only time by Damien Oliver who has recently retired after a remarkable career. It was to be over a year before Fairway reappeared on the racetrack, and he was to have only one start when he again went amiss in the Apollo Stakes at Randwick in February 2002. In all, Fairway was retired after winning 10 of his 23 starts, and over $2.6 million in prizemoney.

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GOLD AND BLACK A MELBOURNE CUP WINNER

old And Black was another of the star NZ stayers of the 1970’s. He was a son of In The Purple, a French bred stallion who stood in NZ with great success. He had earned black type over 3100m in France, and was a son of Right Royal by Owen Tudor out of the stakes winning mare, La Mirambule who had placed second in the Arc De Triomphe and the English One Thousand Guineas. In The Purple sired twenty-six stakes winners including Caulfield Cup winner, How Now and Brisbane and Adelaide Cup winner, Amarant.

t is interesting that Gold And Black who holds an important place in Australia’s racing history, has a mixed history with punters and the weather Gods of Melbourne. The gelding was trained by the legendary Bart Cummings and was to become that trainer’s sixth Melbourne Cup winner, a feat that still has not been matched by any other trainer, and a long way short of his final tally. Gold And Black though was likely to have added his name to the Honour Roll of the Cup in 1976 had it not been for the weather. That was the year that the rain came to such an extent that it looked like the race was going to be postponed on the day for the first time in

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history. The other occasions that the race was delayed saw the decision made prior to race day. Gold And Black had won the Mackinnon Stakes on the Saturday in a field that included How Now, another from a Faux Tirage mare, and Better Draw. Better Draw looked to have the race won until the 40/1 outsider Gold And Black produced a grandstand finish to win narrowly. He went into the Cup with seven kilograms under weight for age and was rolled in to favourite for Tuesday. The rain though was to see Van Der Hum backed to favouritism at 9/2 with Gold And Black on the second line of betting at 5/1. By 9am on the morning of the race, Flemington had received an inch of rain but eased off enough to see a crowd of over 80,000 still attend. It was around 2.15pm though that things changed as a large storm delivered torrential rain to the track. The famed Flemington Lawn turned into a swimming pool and by 2.25, the rain was still so ferocious that an announcement was made that the starting time of the Cup would be delayed. The rain almost immediately started to ease, and the Stewards decided on a new start time of 2.45pm. Although the track was safe for racing, the amount of mud that was thrown up by the field made it almost impossible for anyone to identify the runners. In the end, Van Der Hum won comfortably from the stoutly finishing Gold And Black.

fter the Cup, Gold And Black raced in Sydney in the Autumn, finishing second to Balmerino in the Autumn Stakes and second to Reckless in the Sydney Cup. Reckless of course was trained by Tommy Woodcock who had been associated with the legendary Phar Lap and was to become a crowd favourite. His legend was further enhanced when he was to win the Adelaide Cup and Brisbane Cup that year. It was this adulation that saw Gold And Black become arguably the most unpopular winning favourite in the Cup the following Spring. In 1977, Cummings set Gold And Black a very different campaign to the year before. He had been allocated 57kg in the race despite not having won a race since the Mackinnon Stakes the year prior. Gold And Black started his Spring by finishing last over 1000m at Victoria Park in SA. He then went to Melbourne to run sixth of eight runners in the Memsie Stakes. Another last placing followed in the Craiglee Stakes over 1600m in a race that was won by his stablemate Ming Dynasty. Gold And Black then finished fifth behind Denise’s Joy in the Underwood Stakes before an eighth of eleven runners in the Caulfield Stakes. Gold And Black then finished solidly for a good fifth behind Ming Dynasty in the Caulfield Cup. Next it was the Melbourne Cup, and Gold And Black started favourite at 7/2 but the sheer weight of public support saw Reckless the 11/2 second favourite. Gold And Black though proved that he was the class horse in the race, and that Cummings was indeed the Cups King. He won by a length from Reckless who again tried valiantly. The crowd was subdued as Governor General Sir John Kerr gave a controversial speech when in reported “high spirits” not that long after his role in the sacking of the Labor government. While on the day, these factors all detracted from the win of Gold And Black, history holds a much more important place for the gelding who was to retire with only four wins from 41 starts.

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hile many of the NZ stayers of the time were bred from unfashionable pedigrees, Gold And Black did not fall into this category. He traced to a mare called Sugar Kandy by Colombo who was imported to NZ towards the end of WWII. Sugar Kandy proved to be an important broodmare producing two stakes winning daughters both who remarkably won the Oaks and Derby double in Sweet Nymph and Sweet Spray both by Neptune. It was Sweet Nymph who was mated with Faux Tirage to give us the line that was to produce Gold And Black. Interestingly, another daughter of Sweet Nymph in the stakes winning Pique by Summertime was to produce a line that gave us the sensational, albeit tragic, champion in Dulcify. Pique was to come to Australia where she won the Adrian Knox Stakes and Chelmsford Stakes. The family more importantly traced to the Bruce Lowe number three family and in particular to Cinna by Polymelus out of Baroness La Fleche. Cinna was to win the One Thousand Guineas and the Coronation Stakes and to run second in the Oaks. She was a hugely important broodmare producing Beau Pere who despite only winning two relatively minor stakes races in the Chesterfield and Swaffham Plates over fourteen furlongs (2800m), was to become a critically acclaimed stallion both in Australia and internationally. The stallion was imported to NZ and with his first crop led was leading 2yo sire in the country. He topped the Australian sires title from 1939 to 1941 and was represented by runners like Beau Vite and Beaulivre. US media mogul Louis B. Mayer purchased the stallion and sent him to California. With continued success he was later transferred to the famous Spendthrift Farm near Lexington, Kentucky. He was the sire of US stars like Bridal Flower and Honeymoon and was the broodmare sire of Kentucky Derby champion Swaps. Cinna also produced another outstanding sire son in Balloch who produced over 30 stakes winners including the 1952 Melbourne Cup winner, Dalray. If that was not enough to ensure her legacy, Cinna also produced Mr Standfast by Buchan who stood as a sire in Australia with good success producing over 20 stakes winners including the star filly Tea Rose.

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PAJOL

BLOODLINES THAT MISSED THE MARK Courier-Mail (Brisbane, Qld. : 1933 - 1954), Monday 28 March 1949, page 6

to 1948 he sired 36 winners of 103 races in France. He is half-brother to Dean Swift and Dickens, who, between them, won 26 races.

Devout is a son of the English bred Parth, who won £22,000, including the Arc de Triomphe, and was third in the English Derby of 1923 to Papyrus and Pharos. Parth was by Polymelus, from Willia, halfPAJOL, bred in France, son of Devout, holder of the sister by William the Third (son of St. Simon) to French one mile record and winner of the French Cylgad, sure of the dam of Heroic. Devout's dam is Two Thousand Guineas, has been purchased by Mr. C. Dieuze, winner of five races, by Go to Bed (son of Mullins and Miss Janet Palmer for their Tathra Stud, Perth), from Media Luna, by Northeast, winner of Cambooya. the Grand Prix de Paris. Media Luna, was a half-sister In addition to bringing lines of blood new to to the grand dam of Canot, sire of the great French Queensland bloodstock, through his sire, Pajol is filly Imprudence, who, in 1947, won the English 1000 a product of one of the greatest maternal lines for Guineas and Oaks. Parth, who is in Devout's pedigree, production of sires in Australia and New Zealand in was one of the greatest sires of his time in France and the past 20 years. Pajol's grand dam, Belle Mere, is a Alcantara II, his son, sired winners of thirteen million sister to Beau Pere (imp.) whose progeny in England, francs. South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, and America, among them Beau Livre and Beau Vite, have won nearly £500,000 in prize money. His dam, Pheore, by Buchan, sire of Mr. Standfast (imp.) and of the dam TATHRA STUD of the English Derby and St. Leger winner, Airborne, is half-sister to Sugar Kandy, dam of Sweet Nymph, PAJOL stood at a fee of £110 but Tathra Stud, at Camwinner of the N.Z. Derby and Oaks. Belle Mere is by booya, about thirteen miles south of Toowoomba, Son-in-Law from Cinna, and the latter's other great was sold within a year to Mr JR Allen for £20,000. Mr sire sons include Mr. Standfast (imp). an outstanding Allen owned the good colt Mr Sunray by St Constant success in New Zealand and at the Alma Vale Stud, and intended to stand him alongside Pajol and other Greenmount, and Balloch (imp.), whose progeny in imported stallions Cinque Ports and Phaleron Bay. By New Zealand in two seasons of racing have created a July 1952, the stud was again on the market, although furore. after an offer of only £10,000, the owners dispersed Racing interrupted the bloodstock separately with Pajol being purchased by DT Henderson from Goondiwindi for 450 guineas, Pajol was a first-class performer in France. Foaled in 1941 he did little early racing because of the war years, when his oldest were yearlings. Like many stallions of the time, little can be found of his career after the sale, but in his later career he won five races and was 13 and most likely he was used as a station stallion. He times placed. His last win was in May last year. He made something of a splash early when Davout Hua won from six furlongs to a mile and three furlongs, won a division of the 2yo handicap at Doomben. He and two of his last wins were with 9.13 and 10.5 was owned and trained by his breeder, Jack Griffiths respectively. Pajol's sire, Devout, also because of the and proved a consistent galloper in Brisbane over a war, got limited opportunities but from seasons 1943 number of seasons. Arguably Pajol’s best progeny was Lavade who was among the favourites for the Qld Oaks. By CHARLES McQUILLAN

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KENSEI

MELBOURNE CUP WINNER

he popular stayer of the mid-1980’s was another racehorse that traced back to a mare by Faux Tirage. This time it was a daughter called Punihau who was from a rather moderate line of the famed number 2 family of Bruce Lowe that traced back to mares including the famed Eulogy. In this case, the direct female line of Kensei had not produced a stakes winner since a horse called Eton by Castor out of the Musket mare, Lady Walmsley had won the Auckland Racing Club’s Railway Handicap over six furlongs (1200m) in 1897. Kensei by the imported American horse, Blarney Kiss was purchase by one of the first great racehorse syndicators in Australia in Harry Lawton for $15000. The horse was sold into six shares which was the maximum allowable even that recently and were bought by a mix of racing lovers including Keith Mitchell, Richard Mann, Tom McDonell, Tim Strickland, Tony Curtis and Russ Lazarus. The colt had been sent to the Waikato sales in early 1984, but had failed to meet his reserve. Lawnton negotiated to purchase the horse privately. Interestingly, Snowy Lupton who had trained Kiwi also by Blarney Kiss to win the 1983 Melbourne Cup was an underbidder on Kensei. Arriving in Australia straight out of a NZ paddock, the horse had a deep winter coat and Lawton struggled to get people interested in the horse. He was originally sent to Neville Voigt and had two starts in March of his 2yo season, running third and fifth at Canterbury over 1200m.

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onnections had high hopes for the gelding in his three year old season, and he resumed in the Spring for a second placing at Warwick Farm over 1200m behind Periscope, and a third at Randwick over 1400m. He then won the Penrith Welter over 1900m at Canterbury before failing over the same distance at Rosehill on a heavy track. Back over a mile at Randwick, Kensei again ran second behind Periscope who was to go on to win the Phar Lap Stakes, Tulloch Stakes and Coongy Handicap the following year. At his last run in the Spring, Kensei won over 2000m at Randwick. The Autumn proved to be a major disappointment for connections as the gelding suffered from recurring injuries. He had five starts, all in black type races but never finished higher than eighth. Kensei was then transferred to the stable of Les Bridge.

hile it was to be one of Les Bridge’s ambitions to win a Melbourne Cup, he had never had a runner in the race until 1987 and he was represented by both Kensei and The Brotherhood who had won the Newcastle Gold Cup. As a 4yo, Kensei raced consistently, winning three races at Randwick and Rosehill over 2000m before running fourth in the Christmas Cup. When he ran third in the Summer Cup on Boxing Day, and third in the Tattersall’s Cup on New Years Day, both times behind Limitless who was to win the following year’s Brisbane Cup, Kensei was sent to the paddock with connections still uncertain as to where his future was to lay. The gelding had three unplaced runs in the Autumn before running second behind Sasha Bijou in the Winter Cup over 2000m at Randwick. He was taken to Brisbane for the Winter and duly won the Castlemaine Gold Cup (now the Tatt’s Cup) over 2200m at Eagle Farm. Kensei was then ridden by Larry Olsen for the first time when he finished fourth over 2020m at Doomben in the Chairman’s Handicap behind Greatness. Kensei then went to Grafton to win the Grafton Cup with Olsen firmly entrenched on the horse. The connection between Olsen who had returned to riding after well documented weight problems has become an integral story of the Melbourne Cup win but that was in the future. Olsen returned to the saddle in January 1987 as Les Bridge’s stable jockey having shed almost a third of his body weight.

o doubt though, the trip to Brisbane had been a crucial moment in Kensei’s career, and the gelding had only a month break before lining up in Sydney as a 5yo to run second over 1900m at Rosehill behind Son Of Bijou who carried 8.5 kilos less than Kensei in that race. He then won a Welter at Randwick carrying 61.5kg before running second to Bridge’s other runner, The Brotherhood in the Newcastle Gold Cup. Ten days later, Kensei ran sixth behind Campaign King in the 1600m George Main Stakes before running a good second to Balciano in the Metropolitan. It was this performance that convinced Les Bridge that he had a genuine Melbourne Cup horse as he had no luck in running, and was storming home to beat all but the winner. Olsen apologised for his ride, but told Bridge that he would win the Cup. Considering that Kensei was already rock hard fit following his long campaign, it was decided not to run him again until the Mackinnon Stakes on the Saturday before the Cup.

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Larry Olsen

he Mackinnon was won by the Cox Plate victor in Rubiton but all of the Melbourne Cup hopes that ran put in good trials including Kensei who finished seventh. Kensei drew barrier four in the Cup, and Bridge and Olsen decided that they would ride the gelding patiently in the race, and Olsen rode to perfection, never going outside another horse. He followed the giant mare Empire Rose throughout the race, and took a run inside of the gallant mare inside the 200m, winning by a half-length. While connections celebrated their win, Larry Olsen was subdued as he was involved in a steward’s enquiry into his handling of Sound Horizon in another race on Cup Day. On the Friday, stewards reconvened the hearing and Olsen was given a twelve month suspension for not allowing the horse to run on its merits, a claim he strenuously denied. Late in November, Olsen’s appeal was upheld and he finally got to celebrate Kensei’s victory.

fter a good break, Kensei returned in the Autumn for an unplaced run at Rosehill over 1200 in April. The gelding was again showing signs of injury and it was another month before his next run, again an unplaced one over 1200m at the same track. He then ventured to Brisbane for two runs, with his best result being a fourth in the Tatts Cup. Back in Sydney Kensei had another unplaced run in August behind Flotilla in the Warwick Stakes and then ran third at 100/1 in the Chelmsford Stakes behind Sky Chase over 1600m at Randwick. He failed again behind Eye Of The Sky in the Winfield Gold Cup at Newcastle. Kensei then went to Melbourne to run fourth in the Turnbull Stakes at Flemington behind the great Vo Rogue. Unplaced runs in the Caulfield Stakes, Moonee Valley Cup and Mackinnon Stakes before he was to run tenth, eight lengths behind Empire Rose in the 1988 Melbourne Cup. A spell saw Kensei returned with a third at 250/1 in the 1500m George Ryder at Rosehill won by Wong. He had only one more start that season, an unplaced run behind Card Shark in the All-Aged Stakes before injuries again curtailed his career. It was almost a year later that Kensei returned to racing. He was to have eight runs as a 7yo but was unplaced in each run. His final race was at Randwick on 12 May 1990. Kensei retired with nine wins and thirteen placings from 61 starts and earnings of over $1.1 million.

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FIRST SEASON STALLIONS CAN WE PREDICT THE STARS?

f you want an idea of the state of Australian thoroughbred breeding, a simple look at the first season stallions who have offerings at the major yearling sales is a good place to start. At the recently completed Magic Millions sales, we saw that there are an incredible 22 stallions who first went to stud in the 2021 season represented. As a background, in 2021 there were 20283 mares covered in the Australian breeding season. These mares produced 13050 live foals. The first season stallions at Magic Millions covered a total of 3028 mares, or around 14.93% of the total mares covered for the season. They produced a total of 2050 live foals, or 15.71% of the total foals in Australia in that season. These lots represent 25.89% of the total offerings at the 2024 January Magic Millions sales. I made comment in the January editorial that I thought that the quality of recent Magic Millions races looked to be declining. The simple fact that such a large percentage of the offerings are by unproven stallions means that it has a major impact on the racing performances of the yearlings on offer. We know that the percentage of stallions that are successful is very small. Even if we were to suggest that only half of all stallions are commercially viable, the base figures suggest that over 10% of the stock on offer at Magic Millions have almost no chance of performing at even a moderate level on the racetrack. The difficulty is not in this assessment, but in the fact that the industry readily accepts such a high rate of failure.

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Russian Camelot

Lots Admire Mars (JPN) – Daiwa Major 9 Anders – Not A Single Doubt 26 Bivouac – Exceed And Excel 38 Cool Aza Beel (NZ) - Savabeel 19 Dirty Work – Written Tycoon 11 Doubtland – Not A Single Doubt 3 Earthlight (IRE) - Shamardal 5 Farnan – Not A Single Doubt 39 Ghaiyyath (IRE) - Dubawi 3 Graff – Star Witness 11 Hanseatic – Street Boss 10 King's Legacy – Redoute’s Choice 43 North Pacific – Brazen Beau 33 Ole Kirk – Written Tycoon 39 Peltzer – So You Think 7 Prague – Redoute’s Choice 14 Prince Fawaz – Fastnet Rock 4 Russian Camelot (IRE) - Camelot 5 Sandbar - Snitzel 2 Tagaloa – Lord Kanaloa 15 Time To Reign – Time For War 5 Wootton Bassett (GB) - Iffraaj 39 Totals 380 TURF MONTHLY 26

Mares Live foals Fertility Fee 2021 103 61 67.7% $22,000 184 122 79.0% $16,500 157 120 83.1% $66,000 114 83 85.0% $16,500 155 111 82.4% $19,800 142 98 85.3% $16,500 109 63 74.3% $22,000 192 121 74.7% $55,000 103 72 83.0% $27,500 120 86 88.0% $13,200 195 135 82.5% 17,600 213 131 73.8% $33,000 202 125 72.4% $22,000 170 120 79.4% $55,000 83 65 87.3% $16,500 95 64 76.4% $16,500 62 40 91.5% $11,000 136 94 86.1% $22,000 60 41 87.8% $8,800 148 110 81.3% $33,000 95 61 79.8% $9,900 190 127 77.1% $71,500 3028 2050

2017/18 Season- First Season Sires 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Zoustar - Northern Meteor 184 Spirit of Boom - Sequalo 154 Sizzling - Snitzel 176 Epaulette - Commands 170 Fighting Sun - Northern Meteor 147 Dawn Approach - New Approach 115 Playing God - Blackfriars 49 Akeed Mofeed - Dubawi 66 Shamus Award - Snitzel 165 Dundeel - High Chaparral 132

134 121 108 119 92 74 37 60 100 108

82.6% $44,000 84.8% $11,000 68.8% $16,500 81.0% $27,500 72.3% $13,200 79.6% $27,500 85.1% $6,600 96.9% $16,500 74.7% $27,500 84.0% $27,500

ne of the stallions though will obviously become our champion first season sire unless something outstanding occurs with the progeny of one of the other new stallions who have not had yearlings accepted into the sale. History though will tell us that this is almost impossible. So what can the history of our past Champion First Season sires tell us about what sires may be successful this year. The first observation to make is that money matters, and that comes in the form of service fees. In the last few years, the Champion First Year sire has been among the most expensive Freshman stallion of his season. Stallions like Justify ($66k), Russian Revolution ($55k), Pride Of Dubai ($55k), Zoustar ($44k) and Extreme Choice ($38.5k) were all among the highest priced of their respective seasons. The one outlier in recent years was Sidestep ($11k). Arguably it was not the strongest season we have seen on paper, and the most expensive of his cohorts was Brazen Beau at $44k. Brazen Beau was to finish fifth in his Freshman season in what proved to be quite a strong crop that included Deep Field, Better Than Ready, Toronado and Rubick.

2018/19 Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Sidestep - Exceed and Excel 134 Better Than Ready - More Than Ready 138 Rubick - Encosta de Lago 214 Deep Field - Northern Meteor 257 Brazen Beau - I Am Invincible 139 Toronado - High Chaparral 175 Safeguard - Exceed and Excel 60 Shooting to Win - Northern Meteor 155 Time for War - Snitzel 74 Wandjina - Snitzel 153

86 106 159 191 87 133 31 119 54 106

84.0% $11,000 95.3% $9,900 81.3% $17,600 85.2% $22,000 72.9% $44,000 83.8% $22,000 75.0% $8,800 86.7% $38,500 90.8% $12,100 77.9% $33,000

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2019/20 Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Pride of Dubai - Street Cry 177 Spill the Beans - Snitzel 202 Night of Thunder - Dubawi 96 Headwater - Exceed and Excel 168 Vancouver - Medaglia d'Oro 200 I'm All the Talk - Stratum 71 Rich Enuff - Written Tycoon 124 Press Statement - Hinchinbrook 135 Super One - I Am Invincible 150 Exosphere - Lonhro 136

124 144 58 119 133 53 91 105 107 95

81.3% $55,000 85.1% $11,000 74.2% $16,500 80.7% $16,500 73.1% $55,000 80.9% $5,500 81.7% $13,750 89.6% $27,500 80.1% $11,000 79.2% $27,500

n terms of this season, the highest priced stallions are Wootton Bassett, Bivouac, Farnan and Ole Kirk. All four have a remarkably similar number of live foals between 120 and 127. In the Magic Millions sale, all are represented by either 38 or 39 lots. Coolmore and Newgate Farm have both had great success with their stallions in recent years and it is Wootton Bassett that is the only stallion represented by these studs this year. That would seem to give Wootton Bassett a head start in the First Season sires race. Bivouac stands at Darley and this should be a benefit, although they have historically stood stallions with more of a stamina orientation in the past. As a son of Exceed And Excel, Bivouac certainly should be able to produce some early 2yo’s. It is rather ironic that Wootton Bassett is a son of Iffraaj and could be considered more in

2020/21 Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

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Extreme Choice - Not a Single Doubt 118 Capitalist - Written Tycoon 229 Flying Artie - Artie Schiller 187 Shalaa - Invincible Spirit 155 Star Turn - Star Witness 158 Frosted - Tapit 103 Maurice - Screen Hero 121 Rommel - Commands 56 Winning Rupert - Written Tycoon 147 Cable Bay - Invincible Spirit 100

48 165 144 113 115 65 83 41 96 63

46.6% $38,500 82.1% $55,000 83.5% $38,500 78.8% $33,000 83.7% $22,000 75.0% $38,500 81.6% $33,000 87.0% $5,500 71.5% $22,000 69.7% $19,800

2021/22 Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Russian Revolution - Snitzel 226 Gold Standard - Sebring 53 The Mission - Choisir 104 Hellbent - I Am Invincible 182 Heroic Valour - Fastnet Rock 116 Pariah - Redoute's Choice 143 Impending - Lonhro 186 Invader - Snitzel 156 Overshare - I Am Invincible 80 Merchant Navy - Fastnet Rock 247

157 42 64 118 85 99 119 82 55 134

78.7% $55,000 93.5% $5,500 84.3% $13,200 72.2% $27,500 92.6% $7,700 73.2% $22,000 73.3% $22,000 63.5% $27,500 84.3% $11,000 65.9% $55,000

the mould of past Darley stamina sires. Wootton Bassett is a little out of kilter in a first season list as he is a well credentialled overseas stallion who is standing his first season in Australia. It is questionable really whether he should be eligible for the title in my view. Ole Kirk is a son of Written Tycoon who stands at Vinery Stud. It has been a few years since Vinery have had a new top line stallion, and Ole Kirk could be the stallion to take over from the wonderful All Too Hard. Farnan is by Not A Single Doubt and stands at Kia Ora Stud. That stud has a remarkable history in Australian racing, but it has been many years since they have been a source of leading stallions. Farnan, as a Golden Slipper winner, certainly has the background to be among the top stallions especially in his early career, but time will tell if the stud can consistently attract the right broodmares. I think there is little doubt that Wootton Bassett will get his share of top quality horses locally, but the big question is whether he can get 2yo’s. While he as a champion 2yo himself, the average winning distance of his progeny is a little over 9 furlongs which is interesting given that his sire Iffraaj, has an AWD of his progeny of a little over 8 furlongs. Based on the numbers though, there seems little between the four stallions and it will all come down to their ability to produce a handful of good 2yo’s.

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2022/23 Season 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Justify - Scat Daddy 149 Encryption - Lonhro 135 Harry Angel - Dark Angel 129 Brave Smash - Tosen Phantom 122 Trapeze Artist - Snitzel 180 The Autumn Sun - Redoute's Choice 167 Written By - Written Tycoon 148 Sioux Nation - Scat Daddy 54 Grunt - O'Reilly 178 Showtime - Snitzel 129

96 89 91 75 129 103 106 39 146 90

70.4% $66,000 76.0% $13,200 84.2% $22,000 67.0% $22,000 82.0% $88,000 73.0% $77,000 85.9% $24,750 88.5% $17,600 89.8% $13,750 81.5% $11,000

King’s Legacy

Following are some final comments we made on this season’s freshman stallions in our annual features on the new boys. We will see how accurate they are.

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WOOTTON BASSETT - It may be a little unfair to include such a well-performed stallion as Wootten Bassett with our first season stallions, but it adds a new dimension to the list. He is clearly going to face a new challenge under Australian conditions, but he has a pedigree that looks like it will complement a wide range of our strongest bloodlines. The biggest query is perhaps whether his progeny will be the type that can figure in a Magic Millions or whether they may take a little more time to mature.

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BIVOUAC - It seems likely that we are most likely going to see the stallion have his best success with mares that are free of Danehill lines which reduces the broodmare pool for him. One advantage that he does have is that he stands at Darley, his breeders, who have imported some wonderful influences over the years that have complemented Danehill lines. Street Cry, Street Boss, Shamardal and Dubawi are just some of the stallions who have shuttled, and these lines look to be the ones that will make or break the stallion. When we include other non-Danehill lines like Octagonal and Lonhro, Darley look to have a stallion that may appeal to many of their past clients. It is not all Darley-centric though, and the lesson of Sepoy is one that needs to be explored. Elusive Quality was a good racehorse and sire, but his performances in Australia did not match his US results. The US lines that we have seen over the years are likely to play a role if Bivouac is to succeed in Australia. If we add to that additional UK lines like High Chaparral, we see a mix of mares that could take advantage of the obvious quality of the stallion and his bloodlines. The big question is whether the narrower broodmare band that will suit will enable him to achieve long term success. We can though rest assured that Darley will have a host of quality mares to give him every chance.

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OLE KIRK - Being by Written Tycoon, there seems little doubt that Ole Kirk will be able to impart speed into his progeny, even if he was not a front running style himself. It may be important at times to introduce some stamina lines into a mating as he should be able to produce some runners who extend a little further than many modern stallions. High Chaparral is always one stallion who we see as a stamina influence, and in many cases his daughters, and those of his sons will be attractive matings for the stallion. Although these may not always produce a sales topping yearling, this type of mating has the potential to see runners being strong contenders in the classic 3yo races. Although his fee is among the highest of our new stallions this season, Ole Kirk looks to have a lot going for him. He should suit a wide range of Hunter Valley mares and he certainly offers a good prospect for many Danehill line mares. Given that he is well supported, it would not surprise to see his name high up on the leading first season sires list.

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FARNAN - Overall, it is likely that we can expect Farnan to produce many that will be similar in type to himself, and he should produce more than his fair share of early 2yo’s. While there are obvious challenges to be faced by breeders in his pedigree, there seem to be a lot of viable bloodlines that will suit and give the market what they crave in early speed. There should however be plenty of caution taken and it would be good to see breeders err on the side of caution when considering close inbreeding with the stallion in the early stages of his career. We know that it only takes one or two good 2yo’s to establish the career of a stallion, and Farnan looks ideally placed to be able to get some promising types.

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