Yes, 2021 is the year of Spendthrift Australia in linking with MyRacehorse, purchasing the $1.2m Written Tycoon yearling colt, and now standing Dirty Work, the Schillaci Stakes winner.
“I said it when we bought him as a yearling, you have to buy the best-looking sons of the best stallions, and we are sitting here now thinking, happy days,” said Garry Cuddy of Spendthrift Australia.
“We have a Group 2 win on the board and the horse is a 10 out of 10 physically,” with Spendthrift boasting that Dirt Work is the best son of Written Tycoon standing in Victoria.
In winning the Schillaci Stakes of 1100m at Caulfield, Dirty Work ran the last 600m in 32.93sec, and then finished a close third to multi Gr1 winners Hey Doc and Trekking in the Manikato Stakes.
Also as a 4yo he ran third to Nature Strip and Gytrash in the Concorde Stakes, fourth in both The Galaxy and The Goodwood and fifth in the Oakleigh Plate, beaten a half-length by Zoutori.
Having been placed third from two starts at two, Dirty Work began his 3yo season in running third in the Vain Stakes at Caulfield, followed by three wins over 1100m on the Randwick Kensington track.
His maiden victory made him the Kensington track record holder of 1:01.74sec for 1100m in carrying 57kg, Dirty Work ran the fastest ever time by a colt at Randwick, being the inside track.
Dirty Work next took out the Ortensia Stakes of 1100m at Rosehill, he then ran third in the Manikato Stakes in the fastest ever 1200m on the Moonee Valley, and previously fourth in The Shorts.
Described by co-trainer Wayne Hawkes as ‘a belting looking horse with a beautiful, beautiful attitude,’ Dirty Work was a $800,000 buy at the Australian Easter Yearling Sale from Sledmere Stud.
In being the family of West Point and Charming City, Dirty Work is from the winning Ad Valorem mare Maidel, who is a half-sister to group performers Gamay and Meidung, the dam of Banish.
It’s the Breeders’ Cup Classic hero Vino Rosso who returns to Spendthrift Farm, who in winning $4.8m in stakes took out the $6m Breeders’ Cup Classic of 1m2f in the time of 2-02.8min.
Described by breeder John D Gunther, a 2018 Eclipse Breeding Award recipient, ‘as spectacular looking and about as well-bred a horse as there is, he and Justify were our best yearlings in 2016.’
His Hall of Fame trainer Todd Pletcher stated ‘I think he’s got a big future. He’s a very good-looking horse and was able to win at 2, 3 and 4 years,’ and is by the great sire-of-sires in Curlin.
‘He’s a classy type of horse which is what the people are looking for. He has a great disposition, he’s healthy and sound and has all the attributes you look for in a stallion.’
Also returning to Spendthrift for his second season is War Front’s triple Gr 1 winning 3yo Omaha Beach who was second in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile, having won the Arkansas Derby.
In also winning the Santa Anita Sprint Championship, Malibu Stakes and Rebel Stakes at three, he was 4/1 favourite for the Kentucky Derby, but was withdrawn and missed all three classic races.
In having ‘the rare ability to mix brilliant sprinter speed with stamina and toughness’ Omaha Beach is also described in possessing ‘elite sire power, tremendous physical makeup and mental disposition.’
‘An exciting stallion prospect by superstar stallion War Front, a son of Danzig,’ who in Australia his son Declaration of War sired the Melbourne Cup winner Vow and Declare.
Already with 2yo winners in this his first season, the Gr1 placed Ming Dynasty Handicap winner Spear, is by the legendary Redoute’s Choice from the Champion NZ 2YO Crossyourheart.
Having their first yearlings in 2021-22, stand the Sebring’s Stan Fox Stakes winner Gold Standard, and Overshare, the Zedative Stakes winner, by I Am Invincible from a group Redoute’s Choice mare.
However, in linking with MyRacehorse Australia, Spendthrift purchased the $1.2m Written Tycoon colt at the Magic Million Yearlings, being described as ‘an X-factor colt and ready-made stallion.’
‘Spendthrift have purchased great yearlings, with elite pedigrees. MyRacehorse has these horses with the top Australian trainers and to be ridden by the best jockeys, aiming for the best results.’
