Criterion could make Slipper history in Cup
VICTORY by Criterion in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup
VICTORY by Criterion in Tuesday's Melbourne Cup, or even a second or third placing, would make Golden Slipper history.This flows from the fact that, despite the huge achievement of Slipper winners as sires since Todman won the inaugural running of this juvenile jewel in 1957, none of them have managed to supply a Melbourne Cup placegetter.
One of the most fancied prospects for Cup glory on Tuesday, Criterion was foaled in New Zealand, but in breeding is very much a Hunter Valley product as his sire, Sebring, was bred at nearby Dunedoo by George Altomonte's Corumbene Stud and is in the stallion yards at the Widden stud, and his dam, Mica's Pride, is a locally bred 1000m-1250m winning daughter of American Group 2 juvenile winner Bite The Bullet. A speed influence, Bite The Bullet stood all his stud career in the Hunter Valley.
As Criterion's sire Sebring is a More Than Ready Golden Slipper winner from a mare produced on a sire cross of Slipper winners, Flying Spur and Luskin Star, his immediate breeding does not add up to a Melbourne Cup winner. He has already out run it, however, as his efforts include a win in the Derby (2400m) at Randwick (favourite) and a fourth of 16 in the Victoria Derby (2500m).
Heading to the Cup with a second behind Winx in the Cox Plate, Criterion overall has proved an outstanding middle distance performer. In earning over $6.7million, he has included in Group1 efforts wins in the Caulfield Stakes (2000m, October 10), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Randwick, 2000m) and Rosehill Guineas (2000m, 3.5 lengths), seconds in the 2014 Caulfield Stakes and also in the Australian Guineas (Flemington,1600m), Champion Stakes (Randwick, 2000m) and George Ryder (Rosehill,1500m).
He is one of a number of offspring of Sebring, himself a winner besides the Slipper of the Sires (1400m) at Randwick and runner up at the same track in the Champagne (1600m) that have stayed middle distance. Others include Scratchy Bottom (dam by Danehill, placed in Adelaide in the Derby and Australasian Oaks), bring something (Naturalism, winner at 2400m Caulfield twice and in Bendigo Cup). His 2015 Australian Horse of the Year Dissident (dam by Anabaa) included Group1 wins at 1600m at Flemington and Randwick among his performances.
The key to Criterion staying the Melbourne Cup journey could be his third dam Adarling being by two-times Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Alleged and from a Canadian Oaks winner and the fact that he is trained by David Hayes (with nephew Tom Dabernig). David won the 1994 Melbourne Cup with Jeune and assisted his father, the now deceased Colin Hayes, when he won with At Talaq in 1986 and Beldale Ball in 1980.
Following the shock withdrawal of Tasmanian bred Caulfield Cup winner Mongolian Khan owing to a colic attack, Criterion, Preferment (by Zabeel), Who Shot The Barman (Yammin Vital), Gust of Wind (Darci Brama), Prince of Penzance (Pentire) and rank outsider Sertorius (Victorian bred son of shuttled Galileo) are the only candidates left Tuesday's Cup who can halt the recent domination of northern hemisphere bred performers. They have won the last five.
This year's Melbourne Cup is likely to be contested by 18 runners bred in the northern hemisphere, horses bred in England, Ireland, Germany, France, America or Japan. At least ten of the northern hemisphere bred horses learnt their trade in Europe, but are now owned and trained in Australia.
Also ten of the overseas horses are by European sires used in Australia or New Zealand. Between them, they have supplied over 1600 foals, many who appeal as possible stayers if prepared on European methods, but there are only two major long distance races in Australia, the Melbourne Cup and Sydney Cup.
Storming Derby winner more Patrick Hogan magic
TWO striking examples of the athletic prowess of products of the shaky isle, New Zealand, were the powerhouse wins on Saturday of Tarzino in the $1.5million Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington and the All Blacks over the Wallabies in the final of the Rugby World Cup at Twickenham in England - early hours of Sunday our time.
In the context of this report, it is the victory of Tarzino that is reviewed. It was the biggest highlight of a world class afternoon's racing and was one that could be the launching pad for another golden era for Patrick Hogan's Cambridge Stud, following on the history making epochs of Sir Tristram and then his son Zabeel.
Produced under the names of Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan, Tarzino is a bay colt in the second crop of the Cambridge Stud located Tavistock, one recognised in Australia as Lord Tavistock, and is from Zarzino, a home bred mare by Zabeel who did not win.
Bought by his trainer, Mick Price, Caulfield, out of the Yarraman Park draft at the Magic Millions National Yearling sale at the Gold Coast for $60,000, Tarzino was a short priced favourite for the Derby despite earning only $96,050 from five starts. They were a debut third on July 5, wins at Ballarat (1400m) and Caulfield (1600m), an unlucky seventh in the Caulfield Guineas and a solid third in the Moonee Valley Vase-G2 (2040m).
He is the fourth good classic performer Tavistock has had in two crops of 3-year-olds, being preceded by Volkstok'N'Barrell (won Rosehill Guineas, Ellerslie Great Northern Guineas, second New Zealand Derby, third Randwick Australian Derby), Werther (dam by Zabeel, won Eagle Farm Cup, Ellerslie Championship Stakes, second South Australian Derby and Queensland Derby) and Imperial Lass (Zabeel, won Moonee Valley, third Queensland Oaks).
Another of his 3-year-olds, Hasselhoof (Zabeel), excited attention when he ran new record time in winning a 1600m event at Ruakaka NZ by eleven lengths.
Endorsed as the champion New Zealand sprinter at four for 2009-10, a year he won two Group1s at 1400m in New Zealand, finished second in another,1600m, and also won the Group 2 Blamey over 1600m at Flemington, Tavistock is bred on a sire cross of Derby winners used in both hemispheres.
He is by former New Zealand visitor Montjeu, a Sadler's Wells winner of the Irish Derby, French Derby and Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, and from Upstage, a non-winner by English Derby winner Quest for Fame.The Inghams had Quest for Fame at Woodlands stud in the Hunter Valley.
Other sons of Montjeu have included Roman Emperor (NZ) (won Australian Derby at Randwick, second Caulfield Cup; stands at the late Bart Cummings' Princes Farm stud), Fame and Glory (won Irish Derby), Camelot (won English Derby, Irish Derby), Authorized (won English Derby), Motivator (won English Derby), Nom de Jeu (NZ) (won Australian Derby), Pour Moi (won English Derby), Green Moon (Ire) (won Melbourne Cup) and The Offer (Ire) (won Sydney Cup). Authorized visited Australia four times, 2009 -12, leaving over foals.
The Gai Waterhouse trained The Offer is in the Melbourne Cup field, one which also includes Hartnell (GB), an England foaled son of Authorized who has been a good winner in Europe and Australia. A Godolphin performer, Hartnell is trained here by John O'Shea.
Tarzino has strong maternal breeding, including her dam being a sister to Respect (won Perth Cup, AJC Australia Day Cup, Queensland Cup) and Kind Return (won NZ, second Zabeel Classic, City of Auckland Cup, fourth Auckland Cup) and half-sister to Kindacross (a Cape Cross leading NZ 2-year-old 2004-05).They are from Kindness, an unraced sister by Star Way to triple Group1 winner Sky Chase, sire of the Bart Cummings bred, owned and trained 1996 Melbourne Cup winner Saintly.
The third dam, Vice Reine, also did not win, but was a sister to Vice Regal, a winner of 21 races, including the Ellerslie Sires' Produce Stakes, New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas, Auckland GN Guineas, MVRC John Feehan Stakes and SAJC St Leger.
Valencia, a Group1 winning sister, is ancestress of Ethiopia, winner of the Australian Derby at Randwick and fourth in the Cox Plate.
Tarzino's bottom line goes back eight generations to celebrate Cinna, an English One Thousand Guineas winner who became one of the most remarkable broodmares in history. She produced nine ordinary winners, but three of her offspring imported to New Zealand, Beau Pere, Balloch and Mr Standfast, all became outstanding sires.
Principal modern day descendants include Sunday Silence, deceased giant of Japanese breeding, and Show a Heart, five times champion Queensland sire. Sunday Silence's seventh dam, Belle Mere, was a sister to Beau Pere, and Show a Heart, a resident at the Glenlogan Park stud, traces six to Celebrity, a half-sister.
The only representative of the Cinna family among the 176 in the 2015 edition of the national thorough bible Stallions, Show a Heart boasts a rare inbreeding to it as his dam is by Regal Advice, a son of Tarzino's relation Vice Regal.
Hunter Valley bred big time winners in three countries
IN A SPACE 48 hours, October 23-25, performers bred in the Hunter Valley recorded devastating wins in major races in three different countries, Australia, Singapore and Hong Kong.This showing of Hunter Valley thoroughbred excellence kicked off with a Group1 double at Moonee Valley.
On the Friday night Chautauqua (by Encosta de Lago) suggested he is the best sprinter in the world when he came with porche like acceleration to win the Manikato and then, at their Saturday afternoon meeting, the Street Cry mare Winx, one raised on Coolmore, thrashed a world class field in the Cox Plate. Chautaugua was bred by the Throsbys at their Woodbury Farm in the Lower Hunter and Winx came off Coolmore.
These performances were followed on the Sunday by wins in features by Hunter Valley produced horses in Singapore (Stepitup) and Hong Kong (Able Friend and Contentment). Bred at the Arrowfield Stud using Hussonet, a Mr. Prospector sire, and the Nothin' Leica Dane mare Ain't Seen Nothin, Stepitup was recording his fifteenth win in 33 starts in Singapore when he pounced for a 'stupendous' victory in the Group1 Raffles Cup (1800m). Fastnet Dragon, a Hunter Valley product by Fastnet Rock, finished second.
The win by Stepitup makes him highly fancied to become the first winner of the Singapore Triple Crown. He has won the first two legs and is booked to contest the third, the Singapore Gold Cup, on November 15.
Available this year at Cornerstone Stud, South Australia, the sire Hussonet is also responsible for Contentment, the Arrowfield produced winner in Hong Kong on the Sunday of the Group 2 Sha Tin Trophy over 1600m.The only Australian in the 14 runner Trophy Field, Complacent (dam by Commands), has run 11 times in the past twelve months for eight wins.
Third top highweight in the World Rankings and Hong Kong Horse of the Year 2014 racing and in line for similar recognition at the end of 2015, the Turangga Stud Scone bred Shamardal 6-year-old gelding Able Friend was again awesome in taking the Group 2 Premier Bowl over 1200m on the October 25 Hong Kong program.
"He just obliterated our better horses today," was his trainer John Moore's reported comment on Able Friend, now winner 13 of 20 starts and earner Aust$8.5million.
22yo western NSW grazier put great sire on the map
LAST Saturday's Cox Plate field, one which included northern hemisphere visitors, was considered one of the best ever assembled for this Australian weight-for-age championship, but the quality appears inferior to that went round sixty years ago,1955.
There were only eight runners that year, but they included two performers subsequently inducted into the Australian Thoroughbred Hall of Fame, Rising Fast (6yo) and Redcraze (5yo), and three 3-year olds, Kingster, Caranna and Sailor's Guide, whose career records suggest they should be on the short list for this honour.
On this occasion the glory went to the 3-year-olds with two NSW country owned runners, Kingster (the winner by a half neck) and Caranna, fighting out the finish two lengths ahead of third placed Sailor's Guide.The latter later crossed to America and was awarded the Washington DC International after the first over the line, Tudor Era, was disqualified.
The success of Kingster in that 1955 Cox Plate is recalled following the death the day after this year's race of his owner, Les Gibson, a lifelong grazier and grain grower and stalwart of racing who for all his 87 years was headquartered at Compton on Macquarie river country at Narromine western NSW.
Only 22-years-old when Kingster won the Cox Plate, Les Gibson was probably the youngest sole owner of the winner in the history of the race. He also had the honour of being the owner of the horse, Kingster, who put sire of the century Star Kingdom on the map.
Flush with the big wool cheques of the times, he went to the 1954 William Inglis Easter yearling sale in Sydney and, in consultation with prominent trainer Jack Green, splashed 1000 guineas ($2100) on the colt that was to race as Kingster.The price was in the upper level as the bulk of the lots sold under 1000 guineas and the highest price was 6500 guineas.
Kingster was from the first crop of Star Kingdom and from an imported mare Canvas Back, a handy filly in England. He repaid the wisdom of Les Gibson by succeeding in 14 races, headed by the Cox Plate, VRC Newmarket, AJC Breeders' Plate, George Main Stakes, All-Aged Stakes, Sires' Produce, QTC Stradbroke, second placings in the AJC Champagne Stakes (1200m), Hobartville Stakes, STC Rosehill Guineas, Hill Stakes and VRC Lightning, a third in the Caulfield Futurity and fourths in the Caulfield Guineas and AJC Doncaster.
Australian Champion at two and a leading sprinter-miler at three, four and five, Kingster was Star Kingdom's first runner and winner, easily winning the Breeders' Plate at Randwick at two.
Traditionally the first juvenile races of the racing year in Sydney, the Breeders Plate and Gimcrack Stakes for fillies that year were both won by first crop runners by Star Kingdom. His son Kingster took the Breeders' Plate on the Saturday and a daughter, Ultrablue, succeeded in the Gimcrack on the Monday.
Retired from racing after his campaign at five, Kingster was installed as a sire at a stud established by Les Gibson on Compton, but died prematurely, leaving only two foals. One home bred runner, King's Choice, won a Gosford juvenile event by six lengths.
The Gibsons went on to stand sires commercially and to be prominent marketers of yearlings at Sydney sales. All importations and handy sires, they included Ballymacad (GB (a speed bred winner in England of the Ascot New Stakes), Rocky Thumb (USA) (Nasrullah American stakes winner) and London Cry (GB) (Pardal winner in England of the historic Cambridgeshire handicap).
Survived by his wife Ruth and three sons, Les Gibson raced quite a few home bred horses over the years and was a prominent country owner and racing administrator. He had a bit of fun in the last couple of seasons with horses purchased in Sydney
Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service
