Each year as we approach the running of the Gr.1 VRC Derby, we ask ‘which of these horses have the best 2500m pedigrees?’
Which of the mostly lightly raced group of up-and-comers are going to reach the Classic heights early in their three-year-old careers?
It takes a combination of maturity, class and stamina to win this historic race, one which predates the Melbourne Cup by six years and it is always interesting to take a look at the backgrounds of its runners…
1 OBSERVER
Ghaiyyath – Smooth (Lonhro)
Hails from the first Australian crop off the great Dubawi’s multiple Gr.1 winning son Ghaiyyath who excelled over middle distances with two of his major victories coming over the 2400m of the Grosser Preis von Baden in Germany and the Coronation Cup at Newmarket; a race in which he outstayed Anthony Van Dyck and Stradivarius.
It is still early days for him as a stallion but amongst his first eight stakes winners who have been successful over 2100m.
Observer has Classic performance in his family with his dam’s half-sister Ambience runner-up in the ATC and Queensland Oaks whilst his grandam’s half-brother Laverock won at Gr.1 level in Europe over 2400m. Ancestress of this family is the Irish Oaks winner Djebellica – interestingly also ancestress of Via Sistina.
And if we go further back, just for fun’s sake, to the 1851 born mare Glengowrie… she is the grandam of the 1878 VRC Derby winner Wellington.
Observer is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Sadler’s Wells, a known source of stamina whilst also boasting duplications of Shirley Heights (English and Irish Derby winner) and the champion Mill Reef, winner of the 2400m Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe.
Meanwhile Lonhro is dam sire of the Western Australian Derby winner Gatting.
2 HIGHVOL
Microphone – Aspenet (Hussonet)
When thinking of the Exceed And Excel sire line many immediate think of speed, which is certainly the case with this fellow’s sire Microphone who won his Gr.1 over 1400m.
But Exceed And Excel is also the grandsire of the Melbourne Cup champ Gold Trip as well as the dual Dubai World Cup (2000m) winner Thunder Snow so his descendants can not be dismissed in middle distance/staying features.
Highvol’s family is however one of predominately sprinters and his pedigree patterns also lean that way with crosses of the speed influences Danzig and Bluebird.
He is amongst the 34 stakes winning descendants of the classy broodmare Audrey Joan, a Listed winning sprinter whose influence has been mainly felt in shorter races though So Si Bon ran a nice fourth in the 2016 VRC Derby.
Five of the 27 Gr.1 winners to have Hussonet as their dam sire have won over 2400m.
3 AUTUMN MYSTERY
The Autumn Sun – Stop Making Sense (Sebring)
The Autumn Sun was retired before being tried over a Classic trip but his finale taking out the Gr.1 Rosehill Guineas over 2000m on heavy going was a gritty effort and at stud he has been throwing to the stamina in his pedigree, his dam sire being the great Galileo.
Amongst his first 11 stakes winners are the Classic winners Autumn Angel (ATC Oaks) and Coco Sun (South Australian Derby) and it seems just a matter of time for one of his sons to win a big one.
Autumn Mystery has a dual Derby contender amongst his relations, Strike The Stars just behind the placegetters in the ATC and South Australian versions whilst Best Case was third in the latter.
Also from this family is the Gr.3 2400m winner Savy Yong Blonk, the VRC Oaks placegetter Placement and the Queensland Oaks runner-up Another Dollar.
Autumn Mystery’s pedigree brings together the 3/4 brothers Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev and amongst the 1447 stakes winners bred that way are some very nice staying types – such as Verry Elleegant, Dundeel and Gold Trip as well as a couple of VRC Derby winners – Johnny Get Angry and Manzoice.
4 MIEWA
Maurice – Lady Cumquat (Duke Of Marmalade)
Maurice was at his brilliant best over 2000m but has already sired a VRC Derby horse; the 2021 winner Hitotsu, also winner of the ATC version.
Miewa’s dual Gr.3 winning dam Lady Cumquat was twice tried over 2500m, city placed on both occasion. And she is a half-sister to the ATC and New Zealand Oaks winner Bonneval from the family of the New Zealand Derby winner St Reims, the New Zealand Derby placegetter Frontman, the AJC Oaks and Melbourne Cup runner-up Champagne and the New Zealand Oaks placegetters Charmont and Sursum Corda.
Miewa boasts a cross of the high class broodmare Derna via her Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning daughter Detroit whose son Carnegie – Maurice’s dam sire – won that same 2400m race. Derna is the third dam of Lady Cumquat’s dam sire Zabeel, another well known force for stamina.
Also bred this way is the South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire (NZ) 2008 and the Queensland Oaks winner Gondokoro.
One of Danehill’s stouter high class sons, Duke Of Marmalade is the dam sire of a number of quality staying types.
5 OPTIONS
Impending – Alternatively (New Approach)
By a sprinting son of Lonhro (sire of the 2018 VRC Oaks winner Aristia), Options is out of a granddaughter of the Blue Diamond Stakes winner Danelagh who, despite her precocious speed, did a good job producing horses at their best over longer.
Such as the star Hong Kong galloper Vengeance Of Rain, twice a Gr.1 winner at 2400m, and Dizelle, winner of the ATC Oaks and in turn dam of the VRC Oaks winner Pinot. Meanwhile Danelagh’s dam Palatious won the Perth Cup over 3200m and the C.B Cox Stakes over 2400m.
We can dig further into history here and discover that Options’ German bred ancestress White And Blue also has amongst her descendants the VRC Derby winners Preferment (2014), Frances Tressady (1923), Carlita (1914) and Craftsman (1963).
Options’ pedigree brings together the full brothers Fairy King and Sadler’s Wells. There are 133 stakes winners bred this way and amongst the 21 Gr.1 winners is the VRC Oaks and ATC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment, the South Australian Derby winner Coco Sun and this year’s Queensland Oaks victor You Wahng.
An Epsom Derby winning son of Galileo, Options’ dam sire New Approach is the broodmare sire of quality horses over a variety of distances.
6 PROVIDENCE
Wootton Bassett – Southbank (Fastnet Rock)
The sire of two French Derby winners and grandsire of the 2022 VRC Derby winner Manzoice, the late Wootton Bassett has his 2400m Gr.1 winner as favourite for the Melbourne Cup. And his son Tennessee Stud is a last start winner of a the Gr.2 Prix Chaudenay contested over 3000m at Longchamp… so the breed can run a trip.
Providence’s dam is by Fastnet Rock who has two Gr.1 horses who’ve won over 2400m amongst his impressive broodmare sire tally of 17 Gr.1 winners.
Providence is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Rezoned, winner of the Gr.3 South Australian Oaks over 2500m and full sister to the 2014 VRC Derby hero Preferment.
7 AZAZEL
Shocking – Alagant Angel (Tavistock)
Bred on the same Street Cry/Al Akbar cross as the Queensland Oaks winner Winx (yes, she won a few other races too!), Azazel is by a Melbourne Cup winner who has been successfully passing on his stamina with the New Zealand Oaks and Adelaide Cup winner Fanatic amongst his 26 stakes winners – as are a number of other classy staying types including the Melbourne Cup contender Mark Twain.
The sire of five different Derby winners including the VRC Derby winners Tarzino and Johnny Get Angry, Azazel’s dam sire Tavistock has a couple of stayers amongst the ten stakes winners produced by his daughters.
Azazel’s dual Group winning grandam Alagant Satin is a granddaughter of the New Zealand Oaks winner Brown Satin whose son Be Noble won the South African Derby.
8 ARCORA
Justify – Casuarina Forest (Fastnet Rock)
The US Triple Crown hero Justify sired last year’s Epsom Derby winner City Of Troy whilst his once Melbourne Cup bound son Scandinavia has won Gr.1 staying events in the UK at his last two starts.
Arcora’s immediate family is one of sprinter with his dam being a full sister to the William Reid Stakes winner Foxwedge.
But further back there is stamina with Arcora being a descendant of the classy race mare Escutcheon – also ancestress of fellow Derby runner Miewa, as well as of the Classic winners St Reims, Pleascach, Great Heavens and Bonneval.
Arcora is bred on the successful Justify/Fastnet Rock cross, one responsible for six stakes winners though all of those have been sprinter or milers.
9 O’SHEAMUS
Shamus Award – O’Reilly’s Angel (O’Reilly)
Whilst never tried over a staying trip, Shamus Award has sired his share of nice horses who can get over a bit of ground including the Queensland Derby winner Mr Quickie, the ATC Oaks winner El Patroness (also out of an O’Reilly mare) and the Queensland Oaks winner Duais… as well as the very classy Incentivise.
O’Sheamus’ family is mainly one of sprinters and milers with a couple of smart stayers such as Duanette’s Girl and Zabuan.
His dam sire O’Reilly was a miler who was able to sire Derby horses and he is dam sire of the AJC Oaks winner Daffodil, the New Zealand Derby winner Orchestral, the ATC Derby winners Major Beel and Jon Snow, the New Zealand Oaks winners Savaria and Amarelinha and the Queensland Oaks winner Provocative.
10 AMAZAKE
Maurice – Diminish (Fastnet Rock)
A second runner for Maurice, he has a star sprinter as a close relation, his dam being a half-sister to Buffering.
But this is a family capable of producing a variety of good horses with one of its members being last year’s Irish Oaks winner You Got To Me.
Amazake’s sire and dam are bred on the same Danzig/His Majesty/Riverman cross and they are all horses who can impart some stamina on to their descendants.
11 ENGINE OF WAR
Circus Maximus – Prove Your Worth (Lonhro)
A high class miler son of Galileo, Circus Maximus (who ran sixth to Anthony Van Dyck in the Epsom Derby) is in the early days of his stud career with his first stakes winner being a 1400m horse.
Engine Of War is out of an unraced mare whose stakes winning dam Kiss From A Rose by Encosta de Lago won her feature over 1200m whilst her Gr.1 winning granddaughter Palaisipan is also a sprinter.
Speedy stallions Northern Meteor and Smart Missile also hail from this family which has plenty of Classic blood in the background – Engine Of War being a descendant of the influential matriarch Dalmary as is Sadler’s Wells – grandsire of Circus Maximus.
Even further back in this horse’s female line is the 1809 born mare Shepherdess, also ancestress of the 1866 VRC Derby winner Sea Gull who also won the Oaks that week.
There is plenty of those genes in this horse who also carries strains of Nureyev and Fairy King; 3/4 and full brother to Sadler’s Wells.
12 MATSUDA
Maurice – Courtesan (Mastercraftsman)
A third runner for his sire, Matsuda has VRC Derby form in his sire line and his family with his dam being a half-sister to the 2009 winner Monaco Consul.
Also from this family is the dual Derby placegetter Military Plume as well as another horse who proved he could run a trip at Flemington – the 2000 Melbourne Cup winner Brew.
Matsuda’s dam sire Mastercraftsman brings in even more VRC Derby form as dam sire of the 2022 winner Manzoice.
And if we again delve deep into history, Matsuda is a descendant of the 1865 born mare Thrift, ancestress of the VRC Derby winners Warning (2019), Silver Sharpe (1970) and Poseidon (1906).
13 ONE STEP CLOSER
Castelvecchio – Get Closer (Wild Rush)
Castelvecchio may not have seen out a Derby trip but his first crop daughter Aeliana made up for that when beating the boys in this year’s ATC Derby.
His sire Dundeel also won that race, going on to sire two South Australian Derby winners; Femminile and Dunkel whilst Dundeel’s Epsom Derby winning sire High Chaparral sired two VRC Derby winners – Monaco Consul in 2009 and Ace High in 2017.
One Step Closer hails from a Japanese family of horses with good middle distance form and further back he has a relation the Kentucky Derby winner Alysheba (though the US version is run over 2000m).
One Step Closer is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of the Gr.1 miler Deputy Minister, a horse who appears duplicated in the pedigrees of 19 Gr.1 winners who have performed over a variety of distances.
Get Closer’s sire Wild Rush won his Gr.1 over 1400m but could get over a bit longer and he has a few middle distance horses amongst his runners as a broodmare sire.
14 SAVISANTA
Savabeel – Not Santa (Makfi)
A game second to Plastered in the 2004 VRC Derby, Savabeel has proven a worthy successor to his superstar sire Zabeel who was twice represented by winners of this race – Efficient in 2006 and Preferment in 2014.
The sire of the 2011 VRC Derby winner Sangster, Savabeel has also had winners of the New Zealand Oaks (three times), a New Zealand Derby, a Queensland Oaks and a Queensland Derby.
Sprinter/milers are Savisanta’s closest relations but his second dam sire Carnegie is another to have sired a winner of this race – Amalfi in 2001 – and further back in this family there are Classic performers such as the Queensland Derby winner Shootoff, the Queensland Derby placegetter Vilanova, the AJC Derby and New Zealand Derby runner-up Sir Clive, the New Zealand Oaks placegetters Positivity and Savvy Dreams.
As well as several more than handy stayers such as Rizon and Ready To Lift.
Savisanta’s dam sire Makfi by Dubawi sired the ATC Oaks winners Bonneval and Sofia Rosa and he is dam sire of the Queensland Derby winner Kovalica.
Like Miewa, Savisanta is line-bred to Derna, also boasting a cross of the great mare Special via Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells.
15 MCWOODY
Alabama Express – Queen Ouija (Street Cry)
The regally bred Alabama Express (by Redoute’s Choice from that great stallion’s family) raced only up to a mile but has already proven that he can sire a Classic horse with his last start W.S Cox Plate placed daughter Treasurethe Moment taking out last year’s VRC Oaks and this year’s ATC Oaks.
McWoody’s half-brother Dunwoody won the VRC St Leger over 3000m whilst his dam Queen Ouija won up to 2400m. He is a descendant of the Yorkshire Oaks winner Attica Meli from a traditionally stout family, one which also produced the Epsom Derby winner Crepello.
Like Treasurethe Moment, McWoody is out of a mare bred on a Street Cry/Sadler’s Wells cross, adding further strength to his pedigree.
16 DEAL DONE FAST
Dundeel – Fast Susan (Fastnet Rock)
A member of a sire line which has enjoyed nice VRC Derby influence, Deal Done Fast is out of an unraced mare whose dual Group winning dam Sharp Susan won up to 1800m – producing the multiple Gr.1 winning 1800m/2000m horse Oh Susanna as well as the Gr.3 sprinters Signore Fox and Marksman Queen.
There are also stayers in this family, such as the Gr.1 Metropolitan Handicap winner Foundry and Deal Done Fast boasts a 4 X 6 cross of Sir Tristram, one of the best sources of stamina in this part of the world.
Deal Done Fast is another one with historic VRC Derby links, being a descendant of the 1845 born mare Maid Of Masham, ancestress of the 1961 winner New Statesman and the 1997 winner Second Coming.
His sire Dundeel has fared well with Fastnet Rock mares; five stakes winners including this year’s South Australian Derby winner Femminile.
17 ARABIAN PRINCE
Ghaiyyath – Princess Regina (Zabeel)
A second runner for Ghaiyyath, he is out of a Zabeel mare who has already produced a stakes winning horse, the Listed Galilee Series Final winner Royal Crown – as well as the city winning 2500m horse Oncidium Ruler who ran second in that same race.
This is an old fashioned New Zealand staying pedigree with Arabian Prince’s dam being out of a mare by Noble Bijou with Oncidium and Mellay his next two dam sires.
And it is a family which has produced some very nice staying horses, such as Arabian Prince’s two time New Zealand Cup (3200m) winning fourth dam Princess Mellay, The Bandette, De Montfort, Prince Majestic, Roger That, Loftys Gift, Parthesia and Blood Brotha.
Further back, Arabian Prince’s ancestress – the 1846 born mare Midia – has two VRC Derby winning descendants; Biplane (1917) and Hua (1937).
Arabian Prince is another Derby candidate line-bred to Special via Sadler’s Wells and Nureyev and he attempts to become the third VRC Derby winner (Tarzino and Johnny Get Angry) out of a Zabeel mare.
18 FREDDIE BASSETT
Wootton Bassett – Dargana (Dundeel)
A second runner for his sire who died only recently, Freddie Bassett is out of a mare by Dundeel who already has three stakes winners as a broodmare sire – including the 2137m Listed winner Noah ‘N’ A Deel.
Freddie Bassett’s pedigree is a bit light on for black-type close up but his Listed winning third dam Darkara won twice over 3000m and her French Derby winning grandson Almanzor sired the 2022 VRC Derby winner Manzoice.
There are other nice stayers in this family and Freddie Bassett is yet another one line-bred to Special via Nureyev and Sadler’s Wells.
19 CRACK A DEEL
Dundeel – Mother’s Mercy (Redoute’s Choice)
A second runner for his ATC Derby winning sire, his dam is a five time winning sprinter/miler whose Gr.3 winning dam Angel’s Mercy raced over those sort of trips as well whilst her two stakes winners are quite different… this year’s Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel and last year’s ATC Oaks winner Autumn Angel.
The Gr.1 sprinter/miler Divine Madonna also hails from this versatile family as do the stakes winning speedsters Live To Tell, Blessum and Maternal.
Redoute’s Choice may be know best as a speed influence but he sired five different Derby winners as well as 11 Oaks fillies including the VRC Oaks winners Miss Finland and Samantha Miss.
And he is dam sire of three VRC Derby winners – Ace High in 2017, and Extra Brut in 2018 and Hitotsu in 2021.
20 SUPER PARADISE
Street Boss – Whelk (Fastnet Rock)
One of five Derby runners out of mares by Fastnet Rock who sired last weekend’s W.S Cox Plate quinella, Super Paradise, Super Paradise is by Street Cry’s dual Gr.1 winning sprinting son Street Boss.
He attempts to become that horse’s first Classic winner with Street Boss better known as a sire of sprinters with a few nice 2000m type horses like Anamoe in the mix.
Super Paradise’s dam won over 1400m and she is out of a Zabeel mare whose dam Palia won at Gr.3 level over 1600, producing the Gr.1 juvenile Onemorenomore.
This is mostly a family of sprinters but there is some staying form with the stakes winners Swords Drawn and Lord Of The Land.
And for a last time we go deep into history, noting that his ancestress – the 1818 born mare Wagtail – has amongst her descendants the VRC Derby winners Star Of The Realm (1991) and The Australian Peer (1887).
