Starry too speedy at Newcastle

Exceed and Excel filly Starry produced a polished display of speed over Newcastle’s 900m scamper to defeat the older horses in great style.

Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, Starry showed bright speed to sit up with the pace from barrier 1, and showed great tenacity in the closing stages to record a comfortable win.

An Inglis Easter graduate, Starry boasts an impressive pedigree, being a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner Zululand and out of USA Grade 2 winner Dream Play.

Congratulations to her owner and great supporter Belinda Bateman.

A Green and Gold Saturday

This past Saturday at Kembla saw James Harron Bloodstock head home with two victories, as I Am Invincible colt Spin broke his maiden in emphatic style, while progressive Star Witness colt Navigator was a brave winner against older horses later on the card.

Spin (pictured above) has well established Group form as a 2YO, including when a very close second in the Group 2 Skyline Stakes, and proved far too good for his opposition under a cool Mitchell Bell steer, running some very smart late sectionals. This well-bred son of I Am Invincible will now head to the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes over 1300m at Randwick on 18th August.

Navigator is a lovely colt, still learning his craft and followed up his maiden victory a fortnight ago with a brave win in the 1400m Class 1 handicap against the older horses. Hitting the front a long way from home, Navigator bravely fended off several challengers under a power-packed Christian Reith, and looks a most progressive sort, especially when he steps up to 1600m.

Thanks as ever go to the Snowden stable for presenting these colts in super order, and congratulations to all of the owners.

Helaku dominant against older horses

A long time in the planning, Written Tycoon gelding Helaku was purchased at the 2016 Magic Millions National Weanling sale and this past weekend repaid the faith with a dominant victory at Muswellbrook for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.

Sent off a warm favourite, Helaku quickly found a forward position under pilot Mitchell Bell and bounded clear in the straight for an emphatic victory.

Congratulations to owners, Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Phil & Glenda Mehrten and Stonestreet Stables.

Star JHB colt Pariah retired to Arrowfield Stud for 2018

James Harron Bloodstock and Arrowfield are delighted to announce that star Redoute’s Choice colt Pariah will stand his debut season at stud in 2018, alongside his legendary sire, for a fee of $22,000 inc GST.

Pariah was an impressive winner of the Group 3 Canonbury Stakes on debut in race record time, following the path laid by another son of Redoute’s Choice, Not a Single Doubt, who took out the 2003 edition of this important race. On just his first racing preparation Pariah followed this up with an arguably unlucky second in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at Caulfield, bursting clear of the field on the home turn after racing wide throughout and caught by star filly Catchy in the shadows of the post. He finished the season as Timeform’s second top-rated 2YO of the year.

Pariah again ran a very slick time when successful in the Group 3 San Domenico Stakes on his three-year-old return, powering clear of a class field.

Of his retirement James Harron said, ““Our mission at the yearling sales is find stallions of the future, and Pariah’s profile was impeccable. Physically he was a truly outstanding yearling, by the pre-eminent sire of sires in Redoute’s Choice and from an exceptional colonial speed family. He fits all of our criteria as a hugely exciting stallion prospect and we will be supporting him heavily at stud with top-class mares.”

His co-trainer Peter Snowden was equally complementary, adding, “From his first gallop Pariah was just the most natural 2YO – to win a Group 3 on debut and to go so close to winning a Blue Diamond on his first preparation marks him as an exceptional juvenile. I know from his work at home that we never got to see the best of him – he was a top-class horse I have no doubt.”

With star mares such as Shamal Wind, Petits Filous, Scarlet Rain and Real Stolle already committed to Pariah in 2018, he will be heavily supported by his strong shareholder group with numerous high-class mares.

Arrowfield’s John Messara summed him up, “Snitzel, Not A Single Doubt, Stratum and Beneteau – all by Redoute’s Choice, all outstanding 2YOs and all outstanding sires. Pariah is in the same mould. He has a very committed syndicate and will start life as a stallion with a better book of mares than Snitzel, Beneteau and Not A Single Doubt!

Warranty too good at Kensington

A James Harron Bloodstock purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the beautifully-bred All Too Hard filly Warranty did a great job in her first racing preparation last Spring, when twice a winner, including at Saturday level at Randwick, and culminating in a most-unlucky third at Listed level during the Flemington carnival.

She has returned to the races in great heart, and despite the distance of 1100m being well short of her best, produced a devastating turn of foot to win on Wednesday at Kensington, the only horse of the entire to dip under 33 seconds for her final 600m, running 32.83s.

This kind of finishing speed will stand her in great stead as she heads to the Group 3 Hawkesbury Guineas, over a much more suitable 1400m Saturday 28th March.

Big congratulations to John and Deb Camilleri’s Fairway Thoroughbreds.

James Harron Bloodstock Announces Quality Inglis Chairman's Sale (Racing Prospects) Draft

After offering Group 2 Todman Stakes winner Gunnison for a sale-topping $1.4 million in 2017, James Harron Bloodstock will offer a quality draft of three colts at the upcoming Inglis Chairman’s Sale of Racing Prospects, highlighted by high-class 3YO colt Siege of Quebec on behalf of Coolmore Stud and partners, alongside city-winning colts from the JHB Colt Group, Hypnotist and Almighty. James Harron said, “the Inglis Chairman’s Sale has revolutionised the sale of racing prospects, giving buyers and vendors the transparency offered by public auction, and I am delighted to present three lightly-raced and physically outstanding colts, each by an Australian Champion Sire.”

A $1.2 milllion Inglis Easter yearling from one of Australia’s very best families, Siege of Quebec has twice placed at stakes level, including when second to Kementari in the Group 3 Eskimo Prince Stakes. A son of Champion sire Fastnet Rock, Siege of Quebec has untapped potential going forward, and as a confirmed Hong Kong special replacement (rating HK85), he has great appeal both to Asian and domestic markets.

Winner of his first three starts, including at metropolitan level at Canterbury, Snitzel colt Hypnotist has also performed with great credit at stakes level, including a fourth in the Group 3 Spring Stakes and is qualified as a Hong Kong PP import with a HK75 rating.

Another with untapped potential is city winning Exceed and Excel colt and $700,000 yearling Almighty, an all-the-way winner at Sandown in November. He is also qualified for a Hong Kong PP import at HK70 and, along with Hypnotist, Almighty will trial at Randwick on Monday 26th March ahead of the sale on Thursday 5th April.

Of the draft, James Harron said, “We are honoured that Coolmore and their partners have entrusted Siege of Quebec in our draft, alongside two quality metropolitan gallopers from our colt group in Hypnotist and Almighty, all lightly-raced and with a huge amount of future upside.”

The James Harron Bloodstock draft will be available for inspection at Inglis Riverside from Monday 2nd April, please get in touch with Jim Clarke on 0400 848 577 or jim@jamesharronbloodstock.com for any further information.

Redzel Wins the Everest

A fascinating week in Sydney ahead of the inaugural The Everest came to it’s conclusion this weekend and the result was a superb win for Redzel, who raced in the James Harron Bloodstock slot after a partnership was formed with Triple Crown for the race.

Since the announcement of the race and since JHB secured a slot we have had a very close eye on Redzel, who returned this preparation with impressive wins in lightning-quick times in both the Group 2 The Shorts and the Group 2 Premiere Stakes under the expert tutelage of Peter and Paul Snowden. Once it became clear that there wasn’t going to be a JHB horse for the slot we moved quickly to attempt to secure Redzel.

The event itself was a textbook display of tactical sustained speed from Redzel under an inspired Kerrin McEvoy, travelling in front and kicking clear in the straight for an impressive victory against one of the very best fields of sprinters ever assembled in Australia.

In a wider sense The Everest was a sensational day. The crowd was enormous, and very pleasingly there was a huge number of young people getting a great first experience of the races. The lead up to the day was, quite literally, the talk of the town, and all anybody wanted to talk about was The Everest which speaks volumes for the success of the project. There was great camaraderie between slot holders and everyone in the industry in the lead up, which really added to the whole experience.

Attendance on the day at Randwick was well over 30,000, which is a record since the course underwent redevelopment, with the all-important betting turnover also exceptional, the highest TAB betting turnover in NSW on any day outside Melbourne Cup day and the highest turnover on a single race ever outside of the Melbourne Cup. When you consider that this is comparing a race first run in 1861 vs the first running of a new race those are extraordinary figures. Also impressive was how all this translated to the all-important and intangible quality of ‘atmosphere’ and a great roar when the gates opened!

Big thanks and congratulations on that front have to go to Racing NSW’s Peter V’Landys, who has done great things for Sydney racing, and having a spearhead like that as the driving force behind The Everest, alongside Australian Turf Club CEO Darren Pearce, Chairman Lauri Macri and their fantastic team led to a spectacular event.

The final and most important congratulations goes to the great group of owners who got behind this project and put their faith and investment in the JHB Everest slot – Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond and Danny & Pauline Saab.

2YO Stakes Races - Breeding Success for JHB Clients

The racing season for juveniles is just weeks old, but JHB clients have already made their presence felt, with two stakes winners from the first three stakes races coming from mares under JHB management.

First came the thrilling win of Satin Slipper in the time-honoured Listed Gimcrack Stakes for her owner-breeder Belinda Bateman and trained by Peter and Paul Snowden. A daughter of G1 Golden Slipper winner Pierro and G2 Silver Slipper winner Satin Shoes, Satin Slipper is a filly who will come into her own once she gets the chance to run over further than the 1000m Gimcrack distance, so to see her a stakes winner so early is exceptionally exciting for her future. Belinda Bateman was also the breeder of two other runners, Galina, a half-sister to G1 winning sprinter Russian Revolution and Impetuoso, out of stakes-winning Fastnet Rock mare Impetuous.

The story of Satin Slipper begins with the purchase of her dam Satin Shoes by James Harron Bloodstock as a yearling at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in 2010. A brilliant race filly, she was unbeaten in her first three starts as a 2YO, taking out the Listed Widden Stakes along with the G2 Silver Slipper. She would go on to further stakes success as a three and four-year-old in the Quezette and Ortensia stakes respectively, while also gaining a Group 1 placing when third to behind Sepoy and fellow JHB yearling purchase Foxwedge in the Coolmore Stud Stakes. Satin Slipper is her first foal, she also has a Medaglia d’Oro yearling filly, a Written Tycoon filly foal on the ground and visits Capitalist in 2017.

Mrs Bateman’s breeding portfolio is relatively young with some hugely exciting stock coming through over the next years. Along with the Gimcrack runner producing trio of Satin Shoes, Impetuous and Ballet d’Amour the broodmare band also includes the likes of English G2 winning sprinter Astrophysical Jet, G2 winning 2YO Scarlet Rain, Group winning sprinter Petits Filous.

Next into the plate came the very courageous win of Nomothaj, trained by the Lindsay Park team in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial, bred by Donna and Rob Love of Love Racing. Like the Bateman family, the Loves have built up an impressive broodmare band, including the likes of G1 winning sprinter Shamal Wind and Belle Couture, a half-sister to the immortal Black Caviar. Their first broodmare purchase with JHB was for Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Real Stolle at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2013 for $325,000.

A stunning physical, with all of the attributes of a fast, early 2YO, Real Stolle has been producing quality stock – Nomothaj was sold to Angus Gold of Shadwell for $420,000 as a yearling and is the second foal out of Real Stolle. The mare has an Exceed and Excel colt heading to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale this year, a Snitzel filly on the ground and will visit Capitalist in 2017. Here’s hoping Nomothaj can emulate her dam in the Group 3 Maribyrnong Plate at Flemington next month!

Redzel to climb Everest

Triple Crown Syndications and James Harron Bloodstock have teamed up to target the inaugural running of The Everest with Group 1 winning sprinter Redzel.
 
It has been announced tonight that an agreement was reached today to take Triple Crown’s son of Snitzel to the $10,000,000 feature event on October 14 at Royal Randwick.

Triple Crown’s Chris Ward said, “Redzel has had a meteoric rise over the last 12 months. This has seen him record a Group 1 win in the Doomben 10,000 in May before returning with an emphatic win first up in the Concorde Stakes, producing the highest Timeform rating for that race in the past 20 years. Trainers Peter and Paul Snowden told us early on he had stepped up to another level again this preparation and it’s an honour to have one of the very best sprinters in the land. It’s a great fit to team up with JHB and we look forward to climbing Everest with them.”
 
James Harron said, “On behalf of my owners in the JHB Everest slot we are hugely excited to team up with Triple Crown, Team Snowden and Redzel. He’s a fantastically brilliant and consistent sprinter who has won or been second in 11 of his last 13 starts and was scintillating under 60kg in the Concorde last time. With the Peter and Paul Snowden training, along with Kerrin riding there’s a superb team behind Redzel for The Everest.”

Faeger gets his city win at Canterbury

Choisir colt Faeger got his metropolitan win this week at Canterbury and got it in some style, breaking the class record for 1100m with top weight of 59kgs.

As befitting a $560,000 yearling, Faeger is a hugely impressive specimen and the addition of blinkers gave him the race focus to run his rivals down here, showing good speed straight out of the gates and a great attitude under pressure.

A son of Choisir, like JHB’s dual Group winner Defcon who stands this season at Eureka Stud, Faeger is the third city winner from his speedy dam Fairchild, a daughter of top-class speed influence General Nediym. He comes from a family of quality sprinters, notably Hong Kong G3 winner Sichuan Success and Yellow Diamond, runner-up in the G1 Hong Kong Centenary Sprint.

Pariah powers away with the San Domenico Stakes

One of the star 2YOs of last year, when a winner of the G3 Canonbury Stakes in a class record time and a narrow 2nd in the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes, after which Arrowfield Stud bought in to him, Pariah returned this weekend when a dominant winner of the G3 San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.

Settled towards the rear from a potentially tricky outside barrier, Pariah showed powerful acceleration when the gaps came under a confident Blake Shinn ride to quickly overpower his field and record a slick 1:03.20 for the 1100m journey. Plaudits also go to team Snowden, who had Pariah in superb shape for his first up run of the preparation.

Pariah became the second JHB winner of the San Domenico after Foxwedge who took out the 2011 edition, en route to later G1 success in the William Reid Stakes. Pariah now heads to the G2 Run to the Rose Stakes at Rosehill on September 9th ahead of the G1 Golden Rose Stakes on 23rd September, also at Rosehill.

He is a son of the evergreen Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice and from a hugely impressive and productive family. His dam is a half-sister to multiple G1 winner Melito, who is also by Redoute’s Choice, making Pariah a three-quarter brother to that top-class galloper. There are a number of other young and proven stallions on the page, notably G1 winning sprinter Zeditave.

Congratulations go to owners Belinda Bateman, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Steve & Louise Gillard, Arthur & Charlotte Inglis, Jonathan Munz and Arrowfield Stud.

Dracarys scorches the Randwick Turf

In well over 100 years of racing at Randwick no horse has ever run the 1300m distance faster than that achieved by Snitzel colt Dracarys this past Saturday, stopping the clock in 1:14.76, the first horse ever to break 1:15 for the distance. He did this in the Group 3 Up and Coming Stakes, despite the early pace being significantly slower than that of the older mares in a Group 3 later on the card, and as such stamped himself as an elite three-year-old.

A $1,000,000 yearling purchase for James Harron Bloodstock at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale, Dracarys has been a horse who has improved with each race and this first stakes win puts him on the path towards the Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes at Rosehill in September. He is now one of four stakes winners from the second crop of the JHB Colts, each of whom races in the green and gold silks, the others being Pariah, Gunnison and Khan.

Dracarys is the first foal of the very good racemare Nocturnelle, twice a winner at Listed level in the Tibbie Stakes at Newcastle and the Angst Stakes at Rosehill. She is in turn out of another very fast mare, Group 3 winner Dama de Noche, a daughter of the great stallion Snippets.

Congratulations go to his owners Belinda Bateman, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Steve & Louise Gillard and Danny & Pauline Saab. Once again the whole team at Snowden Racing have done a superb job in bringing this impressive colt closer to his peak and plaudits also very much belong with young apprentice Andrew Adkins who gave Dracarys an outstanding ride to bring home the win.

Six Quality broodmares for James Harron Bloodstock at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale

After an exceptionally strong yearling series, it was no surprise to see intense competition for the choice lots on offer at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, yet another indication of the tremendous health of the Australian racing and breeding industries.

There were some exceptional race fillies on offer, and we were delighted to secure two tremendous fast and talented examples to join Belinda Bateman’s broodmare band. Lot 1660 was the Group 2 Sweet Embrace Stakes winner Scarlet Rain, secured for $950,000. She was a top-class two-year-old, who was unbeaten in her first three starts. With outstanding looks to go with her talent, Scarlet Rain is an superb broodmare prospect and just the type of mare to produce the top-class juvenile talent so in demand from the Australian industry.

Lot 1687, Petits Filous, was also secured for Belinda Bateman for $1,150,000. She was a devastatingly fast filly, winner of the Group 3 Quezette Stakes as well as the Listed Cap d’Antibes Stakes down the famous Flemington straight. She too is a top-class physical to go with her ability and speed – another who looks an outstanding broodmare prospect.

Two broodmares were also secured for Donna and Rob Love. They were lot 910, the stakes winner Encosta de Lago mare Strawberry Field, secured for $420,000 and her daughter, the unraced More Than Ready mare Aunt Mimi, secured for $135,000. A stakes-winning racemare, Strawberry Field has already proven to be a high-class commercial broodmare, with her offspring selling for up to $700,000, and she was sold carrying an early service to Champion stallion Exceed and Excel. With Encosta de Lago making huge strides as a broodmare stallion, she is a lovely addition to Donna and Rob’s select broodmare band. Her daughter, Aunt Mimi is by another leading broodmare stallion in More Than Ready, and was sold carrying to young stallion Shamus Award.

On behalf of Kia Ora Stud, lot 1384, Life Changing, was secured for $300,000. A winning daughter of Ferocity, she comes from one of Australia’s most prolific juvenile families. She is out of Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner Bold Promise, who is the dam of G1 Golden Slipper winner Merlene and G1 Newmarket Handicap winner Miss Pennymoney. This is also the family of JHB purchase Capitalist, last season’s Champion 2YO and G1 Golden Slipper winner – Life Changing was sold in foal to Written Tycoon, and as such she is carrying a three-parts sibling to Capitalist.

The final purchase of the sale was Lot 1393, Maritimo, secured for $575,000 on behalf of Fergus and Delia Doyle. Martimo was the second-leading 2YO filly of her generation in New Zealand, and sold carrying to New Zealand Champion Sire Tavistock. She is out of the Group placed mare Miracle Miss and closely related to the promising 3YO filly Date Night. Free of Danehill blood, Maritimo is a valuable outcross mare for the majority of the leading Australian stallions.

Gunnison to sell at inaugural Inglis Chairman's Sale

On behalf of his owners, we are delighted to offer unbeaten Group 2 Todman Stakes winner Gunnison in this Thursday’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale of Elite Racing Prospects.

Gunnison was purchased as part of a group of colts with the aim of producing stallions, and as a gelding he does not fit into our program, but looks certain to go on and give his new owners a huge amount of enjoyment as a top-class racing prospect. Selling horses both domestically and to overseas markets is a big part of our strategy with the James Harron Bloodstock colts – to Hong Kong we have sold city-placed Decorated Soldier, now named Star of Joy and a very close third at Sha Tin recently on only his second Hong Kong start, while stakes winner and Group 2 placed Detective is another recent arrival in Hong Kong. We have also sold several subsequent winners to Domestic and Singapore-based purchasers, including multiple winner Shadow of War.

Gunnison (Not A Single Doubt x Colorado Claire) has raced only twice, winning comfortably on a firm track on debut before scoring a tough victory in heavy conditions in the Group 2 Todman Stakes at Randwick three weeks ago, this victory achieved in a faster time than Golden Slipper quinella Frolic and She Will Reign ran in the Reisling Stakes on the same day.

The undefeated start to his career has seen the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Gunnison earn a Timeform Rating of 115, behind only Blue Diamond runner-up Pariah in the Australian male juvenile rankings.

Most recently Gunnison won a barrier trial last Wednesday, beating Group 2-winning sprinter Tycoon Tara by two lengths, a mare he would be giving 9.5kg to at Weight For Age.

There are a full set of Hong Kong X-Rays along with a video scope lodged in the repository and inspections are available at Snowden Racing strictly by appointment only through contacting Inglis.

Gunnison remains unbeaten in the Group 2 Todman Stakes

Since being gelded, Gunnison has not looked back, unbeaten in two trials, and now unbeaten in two races starts, bravely taking out the Group 2 Todman Stakes at Randwick this past weekend.

With racing at Randwick taking place on a very heavy track after incessant rain in Sydney, Gunnison was quickly leading his field in the Todman, and when he turned up the pressure on the home turn, his rivals were quickly out of their comfort zones. Invader emerged as the main threat in the final stage, but under a power-packed Blake Shinn ride, the determined Gunnison was too strong, holding on bravely.

Time comparisons on the day showed that this was a very solid edition of the Todman Stakes, with Gunnsion running a faster time than Frolic in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes a race earlier, and also faster than the older mares in the Group 3 Wenona Girl Quality an hour later. Team Snowden deserve huge credit once again for preparing Gunnison in tremendous order for this race, and were responsible for the quinella with Invader taking a close second and daylight to the remainder.

Gunnison, a son of Not a Single Doubt, out of Group 2 winning mare Colorado Claire, was secured from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2016 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale, the same draft and sale which has produced another 2017 JHB stakes winner – Pariah.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Gary Diamond, Steve & Louise Gillard and Arthur & Charlotte Inglis.

Brett Prebble to ride Attention in Group 1 Australian Guineas

After a superb run in the WFA Group 1 Futurity Stakes, when beaten less than a length by some of the best WFA horses in Australia, dual Group winning colt Attention will be partnered by leading Hong Kong-based jockey Brett Prebble when backing up in the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington this Saturday 4th March as retained rider Blake Shinn will be riding in Sydney.

James Harron Bloodstock and Prebble have already tasted success under similar circumstances, with Prebble coming over to partner Wandjina for Edmund and Belinda Bateman in 2015 – a union which resulted in Prebble executing a superb front-running ride, using Wandjina’s great strengths to bring home the victory.

Hopefully lightning can strike twice!

Gunnison takes out the Lightning Ridge Plate at Canberra

With an additional $50,000 Inglis Bonus to the winner, the Lightning Ridge Plate this past Sunday offered a good prize money opportunity, with a very attractive $72,100 up for grabs for an eligible horse, only fractionally less than a Sydney Saturday race. This year the green and gold colours, carried to victory in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes last year by Defcon, continued a good association with the Canberra track, with Gunnison taking out the victory

The son of Not a Single Doubt, an Inglis Easter Graduate from Arrowfield Stud, has won his latest two trials and in Sunday’s race he jumped well with jockey Mitchell Bell finding a nice spot on the rail behind the leaders. In the straight there were a few anxious moments as it looked like Gunnison would be trapped on the rails, but once extricated into clear running his response was immediate and he was running away from his rivals on the line.

Gunnison is the first foal of Sydney Group 2 winner Colorado Claire, herself out of fast 2YO Lunaspur and from the further family of emerging Hong Kong star Lucky Bubbles. He has now had a valuable look at the Canberra track ahead of potential start in the $300,000 Group 3 Black Opal Stakes there in two weeks time.

Gunnison takes out the Lightning Ridge Plate at Canberra

With an additional $50,000 Inglis Bonus to the winner, the Lightning Ridge Plate this past Sunday offered a good prize money opportunity, with a very attractive $72,100 up for grabs for an eligible horse, only fractionally less than a Sydney Saturday race. This year the green and gold colours, carried to victory in the Group 3 Black Opal Stakes last year by Defcon, continued a good association with the Canberra track, with Gunnison taking out the victory

The son of Not a Single Doubt, an Inglis Easter Graduate from Arrowfield Stud, has won his latest two trials and in Sunday’s race he jumped well with jockey Mitchell Bell finding a nice spot on the rail behind the leaders. In the straight there were a few anxious moments as it looked like Gunnison would be trapped on the rails, but once extricated into clear running his response was immediate and he was running away from his rivals on the line.

Gunnison is the first foal of Sydney Group 2 winner Colorado Claire, herself out of fast 2YO Lunaspur and from the further family of emerging Hong Kong star Lucky Bubbles. He has now had a valuable look at the Canberra track ahead of potential start in the $300,000 Group 3 Black Opal Stakes there in two weeks time.

Snitzel colts Dracarys and Hypnotist take centre stage

The success story for Snitzel shows no sign of abating, with an incredible twenty-one 2YO winners already this season, with over five months left of the season. We were delighted to provide him with winners nineteen and twenty one in the shape of Dracarys and Hypnotist.

First off the rank was Dracarys, a hugely impressive winner at Warwick Farm last Wednesday. In a race run in driving rain on a heavy 8 track, Dracarys showed a great attitude to racing as well as huge ability to win with his ears pricked under Corey Brown. Interestingly, Dracarys bears close comparison with another Snitzel colt JHB purchase – Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Wandjina. Both were $1,000,000 yearlings, both raised and consigned by Arrowfield Stud and both broke their maidens in the rain at Warwick Farm! Dracarys will now head to the Group 2 Skyline Stakes at Randwick on February 25th.

Yesterday Hypnotist followed up in good style with a victory at Newcastle. A colt who will at his best once he gets over a mile, he was handled exceptionally well by Peter and Paul Snowden’s apprentice Courtney van der Werf. Courtney put him on the speed and Hypnotist was too tough for his rivals in the closing stages, strong on the line for the win and is a promising colt in the making.

Pariah sensational on debut in G3 Canonbury Stakes

The roll of honor for the Canonbury Stakes reads very well with regard to future stallions, with the likes of Sebring, Hinchinbrook, Vancouver and Not a Single Doubt among the winners. The last-named has recently developed into one of the leading stallions in the country, and a son of Redoute’s Choice – this year’s Canonbury Stakes was won by another son of Redoute’s Choice, James Harron Bloodstock yearling purchase Pariah.

Pariah was making his very first race start in the Canonbury, after a pair of promising trials. Settled beautifully by Kerrin McEvoy towards the rear of the field, Pariah showed a devastating turn of foot to power past his rivals despite a four-wide trip on the turn. The times and sectionals added further merit to his performance – this was a race record time, the final 600m was equal to that of WFA 5YO sprinter Music Magnate later in the day and the final 400m was the very fastest on a day of high-class racing.

Pariah also boasts a regal pedigree to complement his ability. He is the first foal of the city winning Hussonet mare Secluded, making him a three-quarter brother to one of Redoute’s Choice’s very best runners – multiple Group 1 winner Melito.

Pariah will now head south to Melbourne for the Group 3 Blue Diamond Prelude at Caulfield on February 11th ahead of an intended outing in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes at the same track on February 25th – the race which, coincidentally, was Redoute’s Choice’s first Group 1 win, here’s hoping Pariah can emulate his sire.

Congratulations to owners Belinda Bateman, Fergus & Delia Doyle, Donna & Rob Love, John & Fran Ingham, Phil & Glenda Mehrten, Steve & Louise Gillard, Gary Diamond and Arthur & Charlotte Inglis.