Two superlative Group 1 performances on the first day of The Championships at Royal Randwick have shot Redoute’s Choice to the top of the Australian General Sires’ list with $8.7 million, ahead of his brilliant son Snitzel on $8.2 million.
The world’s top-ranked sprinter Lankan Rupee (ex Estelle Collection by Stravinsky) staked his claim to Horse of the Year honours with a powerhouse victory in the $2.5 million ATC T.J. Smith S. 1200m G1, his first start in Sydney. He is Redoute’s Choice’s third winner of the race, after Melito (2010) and Master of Design (2012).
Lankan Rupee jumped well from barrier 1 and jockey Craig Newitt sent him forward to take the lead, with Buffering sitting almost a length away in second. That was as close as any of his rivals got to Lankan Rupee who sprinted clear at the 400-metre mark and won by two lengths from Rebel Dane, with Buffering a short half-head away in third place.
It was Lankan Rupee’s sixth straight win and his third consecutive victory at Group 1 level following his successes in the Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield and the Newmarket Handicap at Flemington. He has now won nine of his 16 starts and prizemoney of $2.8 million for owner-breeder Muzaffar Yaseen’s Teeley Assets and trainer Mick Price.
That combination also produced stakeswinner number 112 for Redoute’s Choice at Morphettville on Saturday when 3YO filly Tango’s Daughter (ex Tango Fire by Anabaa) won the SAJC H.C. Nitschke S. LR 1400m LR.
Tango’s Daughter and Lankan Rupee were both foaled and reared at Arrowfield which will present the Teeley Dispersal, including Estelle Collection in foal to Redoute’s Choice, at the Magic Millions National Sale, 25 May-5 June. Click here for the Teeley Dispersal Catalogue Preview.
Redoute’s Choice’s final contribution to the inaugural Day 1 of The Championships was made in the $3 million ATC Doncaster Mile 1600m G1, won for the second consecutive year by Sacred Falls (ex Iguazu’s Girl by Redoute’s Choice), from Gerry Harvey’s high-class 4YO mare Royal Descent (ex Mulan Princess by Kaapstad).
Snitzel, who had occupied top spot on the Sires’ Premiership since last October, added more than $300,000 to his season earnings on Saturday, thanks largely to 2YO colt Scratch Me Lucky, a very game runner-up to Peggy Jean in the $1 million ATC Sires’ Produce S. G1. Arrowfield graduate Time For War, also by Snitzel, was fourth in that race, and another 2YO colt Klammer chimed in with a third placing in the ATC Kindergarten S. G3.
Bred by Stuart Ramsey & Laurel Oak Bloodstock from the stakes-placed city winner Radiant Star (by Success Express), Scratch Me Lucky is the 7th Group 1 performer for Snitzel.
