Ole Kirk was certainly the best colt of his generation and he’s a son of Written Tycoon who has taken all before him,” said Vinery General Manager Peter Orton on Ole Kirk’s initial stud season.
“He’s going to match so many mares and he’s going to get the best of opportunities. Such an exciting horse and as a stallion prospect Ole Kirk is ideal because he will upgrade his mares.”
In having a 116 World Thoroughbred Rating at three years, Ole Kirk took out the principal Group 1 stallion making races of the Golden Rose Stakes of 1400m and Caulfield Guineas at 1600m.
Competing in a year of top three-year-old’s, Ole Kirk defeated future sires North Pacific and King’s Legacy in the Golden Rose, having run second in both the Run to The Rose and The Rosebud.
Next up, it was half length victory over Aysar and Alistair Clark winner Grandslam in the $2m Caulfield Guineas, ridden by William Pike, followed by a third in the Inglis Sprint at Royal Randwick.
In scoring a first-start 2yo victory in the Talindert Stakes of 1100m, Ole Kirk stepped up to 14000m at his next start, to run third to Lunar Fox and Larimer Street in the VRC Sires’ Produce Stakes.
Returning to Royal Randwick he first ran fourth to King’s Legacy in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes and at his next start was third in the Champagne Stakes, to King’s Legacy and Glenfiddich.
Described as a ‘sensational looking yearling’ and completely free of Danehill, he was a $675,000 graduate of Gilgai Farm, Nagambie at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in 2019.
In being Written Tycoon’s principal Group 1 winner this season, who is certainly future Champion Australian Sire, he is the family of champion’s Black Caviar and All Too Hard plus Magnus.
The first foal of the unraced Bel Esprit mare Naturale, who is a full-sister to the three times Horse of The Year in Black Caviar and half-sister to Vinery’s own Champion 3YO Colt in All Too Hard.
Vinery Stud continues to have an excellent season, and it’s their Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Exceedance who’s going into his second season, with his first foals due in August.
Powerful sprinter Star Turn has delivered, and is second leading Australian Sire of First Crop Winners with 17 winners from 40 runners, just behind Capitalist on 19 winners from 59 starters.
In being fifth as Champion First Season Sire, it’s Miss Hipstar whose won four races include the Dalrello Stakes, and with Astrologer, Stellar Magic and Pegasi being stakes placed winners.
Star Turn’s first yearlings sold up to $550,000, $300,000 at auction, and now his metropolitan winners include Startantes, Beads, Sonnet Star and Galaxy Cat, plus Cordyceps Six in Hong Kong.
Headwater heads the season as leading Australian Second Crop Sire with Jamaea winning Percy Sykes Stakes and stakes placed, Mileva the Manihi Classic plus Starlight the Singapore 3YO Classic.
Wisdom of Water, Aquagirl, Heavenly Waters and Karacasu are stakes placegetters, and from 101 runners he has 43 winners with earnings of $3.47m, with yearlings selling up to $280,000.
Press Statement is eight as Australian Second Crop Sire on 37 winners with Equation winning the Canberra Guineas, Incredulous Dream the HC Nitschke Stakes and Baby Wong stakes placed.
In All Too Hard now siring 300 winner he’s Leading Fifth Crop Sire and tenth as Australian Champion Sire with Behemoth winning the Memsie Stakes, Rupert Clark Stakes and over $1.75m in stakes.
Forbidden Love took out the Surround Stakes and Wellington the Chairman’s Special Sprint, having sired 133 winners and $9.69m in stakes in Australia, with yearling’s selling up to $240,000.
In reaching 100 wins for the eight consecutive season Casino Prince sired the stakes winners Bandersnatch and Sweet Deal, with Casino Seventeen and Star of Yui Cheung stakes placed.