Turf Monthly May 2024

turf monthly

May 2024

THIS MONTH GOLDEN SLIPPER EDITION LADY OF CAMELOT COLEMAN

Editor’s Letter As you are probably aware, we actually have a few things to do to get the magazine ready for publication.

It means that our deadline is surprisingly early, but in terms of what we are trying to achieve, a couple of weeks is of little concern. We might sometimes appear to be a little slow with stories, and one great example is that we did not have a chance this month to reflect on the performance of Pride Of Jenni in winning the Queen Elizabeth Stakes. It was certainly a spectacular race, and the type of performance that has non-racing goers suddenly taking an interest in racing. While it looked amazing, there certainly needs to be some comment on the tactics by other riders in the race. Times are always of use, and what we actually see is that Pride Of Jenni ran the race in a smart 2.02.02. Second in the race was the hot favourite, the imported Via Sisstina. She had won her last start over the same distance at Rosehill in 2.04.49 when the track was also rated a Good 4, having been placed sixth at the 400m mark. Clearly, she was a lot closer in the Ranvet and it was clear to everyone by the 400m that the jockeys had all missed the boat.

The fourth horse home in the gallant old Cascadian had beaten Pride Of Jenni over the same distance at their last start in the 2000m Australian Cup at Flemington in a time of 2.00.05, almost two seconds quicker than they went on Saturday. This figure is probably the most telling of all for the losing jockeys.

Craig Williams can probably escape a lot of criticism on Mr Brightside. As we mentioned last month, he has never won past 1600m, and he would certainly not have been a chance of even finishing third had he been forced to try and take the field up to the tearaway leader. At the end of the day it was a wonderful spectacle, and Pride Of Jenni was certainly a worthy winner and arguably our best middle distance horse at this point in time. We will have a look at her outstanding family next month.

CONTENTS 4

Lady Of Camelot

10

Istidaad

12

Beldale Ball

15

Ben Brush

19

Coleman

25

Golden Fleece

29

So You Think

33

Golden Slipper Wrap Up

COVER PHOTO HAYASUGI winner of the 2024 Blue Diamond Stakes

Until then

Ross Prowd

Turf Monthly ABN 64 892 144 940 Phone 0412 712 181

Email editor@turfmonthly.com.au 2 Swan Street PARKSIDE Q 4825

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LADY OF CAMELOT GOLDEN SLIPPER WINNER

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ady Of Camelot joined a prestigious group of fillies by winning the 2024 Golden Slipper. It is fair to say that the result was something of an upset with the filly narrowly pipping Coleman who started at long odds. The short-priced favourite Storm Boy was a close third after perhaps being on the worst part of the track on a day that seemed to favour those away from the fence. But nothing can take away from the victory of Lady Of Camelot who now becomes an incredibly valuable breeding proposition.

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he filly is a daughter of champion stallion, Written Tycoon out of the Fastnet Rock mare, Miss Debutante. She was the third foal of the mare, and interestingly her two older siblings both started in stakes races at Moonee Valley on Golden Slipper day. The 4yo Queen Of The Ball by I Am Invincible ran tenth in the William Reid having already won the Widden Stakes, Black Opal Stakes, Scarborough Stakes and VRC Furphy Sprint. The 3yo filly Platinum Jubilee by Zoustar was eleventh in the Typhoon Tracy and she was the winner of the 2022 Gimcrack Stakes. Clearly these three have been quality two-year olds, and there are two younger siblings in the wings, with a 2022 colt by Flying Artie and a 2023 filly by I Am Invincible who are now worth huge money in the sales ring.

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ady Of Camelot impressed at her first hit out in a barrier trial on the Kensington in September 2023, winning untouched by four lengths. She then went to the Gimcrack where she started favourite, but she was trapped wide and fought on gallantly after hitting the front at the 300m to finish fourth but beaten only a half-length. A spell saw her return to win two trials in Sydney before winning the Widden Stakes at Rosehill over 1100m. Lady Of Camelot was heavily backed to start at $1.60 but this time drew the inside barrier and led easily. She kicked clear in the straight and was unchallenged to win by almost three lengths from Manaal who had won their previous meeting in the Gimcrack. Connections then took the filly to Melbourne where she lined up in the Group 1 Blue Diamond Stakes. She drew well and sat behind Spywire who worked hard to get across from barrier 18. Lady Of Camelot hit the lead on the turn and looked the winner inside the 100m before another filly in Hayasugi finished too well to win by a long neck. It was then on to the Golden Slipper where the filly again drew well and sat just behind the leaders, bursting through in the final 100m to overhaul Coleman to win by a head. Hayasugi who had beaten the filly in the Blue Diamond may have been the unlucky runner having almost dislodged her rider at the start and then hitting the running rail to effectively take no part in the race.

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ady Of Camelot is a daughter of champion stallion Written Tycoon, who previously sired a Golden Slipper winner in Capitalist who won the 2016 edition.

He has gone on to become a quality stallion, and his son, Holmes A Court was also a runner in the Golden Slipper this year, finishing ninth. Capitalist has also produced Captivant who himself is making a career a stud. Written Tycoon is the sire of other Group 1 winners Booker, Coolangatta, Despatch, Luna Rossa, Music Magnate, Odeum, Ole Kirk, Pippie, Southport Tycoon, Tycoon Tara, Tyzone, Velocious, and

Ole Kirk - Caulfield Guineas HR racing photos

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Written By who also is at stud an had the sixth placegetter, Straight Charge run in the Slipper. Written Tycoon is a little unusual for a top stallion in that his only stakes win came in the Group 2 Todman. His sire, Iglesia, was a good sire in Qld, and himself had won the Group 2 Silver Slipper and Group 3 Standish Handicap.

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s we mentioned, Lady Of Camelot is the daughter of the Fastnet Rock mare, Miss Debutante. She was also trained by Gai Waterhouse and won four of her eight race starts, with her best result being a victory in the Listed Denise’s Joy at Scone. In turn she was a daughter of More Than Real by More Than Ready. She was bred in the US and won the Grade 2 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies on Turf. The filly’s third dam was Miss Seffens by Dehere. She was to win eleven times including five at Listed level. It is interesting to note that both More Than Ready and Dehere both shuttled to Australia where they had significant success.

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he female family traces back to a mare called Ella Crump who is one of the oldest thoroughbred lines in the US. It has been responsible for numerous Kentucky Derby winners including Riley (1890), Azra (1892), Ben Brush (1896), Regret (1915), Exterminator (1918), and Gato Del Sol (1892). Regret holds a special place

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in history as the first filly to ever win the Kentucky Derby. Ben Brush was the most significant of these ancestors, and we will discuss him at some length a little further.

Gato Del Sol holds a special place in history as he was the first Kentucky Derby winner that was actually raced by the legendary Hancock family in the US. The Hancock family had been breeding top class horses since the 1800’s, and Gato Del Sol was owned by Arthur B Hancock III, a son of the famed Arthur “Bull” Hancock Jr who himself was born at Claiborne Stud and stood the likes of Nasrullah, Round Table and Princequillo. Bull Hancock also became the first working horseman to be elected to the board of the Jockey Club. Gato Del Sol was something of an upset winner of the 1982 Kentucky Derby starting at 20/1. He bypassed the Preakness but was runner up in the Belmont Stakes, although a distant second to Conquistador Cielo. The stallion retired with seven wins from 39 races and earnings of $1,340,107.

He stood originally at Hancock’s Stone Farm, but was sold in 1992 to stand in Germany, but returned in 1999. As a stallion, Gato Del Sol sired just two stakes winners and eight stakes-placed runners. Gato Del Sol was out of Peacefully, by Jacinto, who produced French champion Tersa. She was to produce Rock Hard Ten who won both the Malibu Stakes and Santa Anita Handicap and ran second in the

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2004 Preakness Stakes. One of the most important descendants in the family was Nodouble, a son of the Australian stallion Noholme who raced in the US. We have talked about Nodouble at length in previous magazines, but he was to sire Canadian Broodmare of the Year in No Class who produced six stakes winners, and a line that is still highly important through the likes of Sky Classic, Regal Classic, and star stallion, Smart Strike. In Australia, Nodouble’s son, Semipalatinsk stood for many years at Eureka Stud in Queensland producing twenty-three stakes winners.

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uite surprisingly, this direct female line which is described as the US A1 line by Bruce Lowe, has had little influence in Australia. Very few descendants have made it to our shores, but a half-sister to Rock Hard Ten in Milva by Strawberry Road was to win twice in the US before coming to Australia where she produced Group 1 winner, All American who won the Group 1 Emirates at Flemington over 1600m beating So You Think. He went to stud in 2010 and to date has produced five stakes winners including Group 1 winners, Dark Dream (2018 Qld Derby) and Yankee Rose (2016 ATC Sires Produce and Spring Champion Stakes). Yankee Rose was sent to Japan when she retired from racing and has produced Liberty Island, a triple Group 1 winner with successes in the Yushun Himba (Oaks) Shuka Sho, and Hanshin Juvenile Fillies. Two more overseas members of the family came to Australia to make their name in Istidaad and Beldale Ball.

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ISTIDAAD

SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S FINEST

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stidaad was a son of Chief ’s Crown out of Mazzei Mood by Roberto. He started his career in 1994, running second at all of his three starts as a 2yo. He returned at three to run second before winning a Maiden at Newmarket over 2400m. He then ran second in the Listed Predominat Stakes at Goodwood, a race won by Pentire.

He then finished fifth behind that same horse in the Group 2 King Edward VII at Ascot, which was followed by a second in the Group 2 Prince Of Wales Stakes at Newmarket. After a third in the Group 3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood, Istidaad scored his second win over 2322m. He then finished third in the Group 1 St Leger at Doncaster over 2919m before he was sent to the stable of Peter Hayes in Adelaide.

Here he resumed after a six-month break to finish second at Morphettville over a mile. After another break he was unplaced over 1300m before heading to Melbourne to run second in an 1800m open handicap. A fourth in the Coongy Handicap over 2000m behind Circles of Gold and Filante followed. Istidaad then won the Moonee Valley Cup beating Protara’s Bay and Cheviot before finishing thirteenth in the 1996 Melbourne Cup behind Saintly. The Autumn saw him resume with third placings behind Zucherino in both the Manifold Stakes and Blamey Stakes. He then won the Group 2 St George Stakes over 1800m at Caulfield before running fourth in the Group 1 Australian Cup behind Octagonal.

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aken to Sydney, the stallion then ran third in the Group 1 Mercedes again behind Octagonal before finishing fourth behind Linesman in the Sydney Cup. The following Spring saw Istidaad resume with a fourth in the 1400m Liston before running third in the Craiglee behind Marble Halls, and second in the Underwood behind Always Aloof. He finished just behind the placegetters in the Turnbull Stakes and Caulfield Cup behind Might And Power. He returned to the spelling paddock with an injury after a second to Ebony Grosve in the Mackinnon Stakes. The stallion

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did not return to the track until the following Spring which was cut short after three poor runs. He returned to form the following Autumn by running third in the Group 1 CF Orr behind Grand Archway. The stallion then beat Intergaze in the Group 2 St George Stakes at Caulfield before he won his first Group 1 by again defeating Intergaze in the Australian Cup over 2000m at Flemington. Sent to Sydney, he ran fifth behind Tie The Knot in the Group 1 Mercedes Classic, and then was second to Intergaze in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes. Istidaad then went to Brisbane for the Winter, running second in the Listed Labour Day Stakes at Doomben behind Joss Sticks before failing in the Hollindale and Doomben Cups. He returned to the track in the Spring, but was retired after three poor runs with his final appearance a fifth of six runners behind Northern Drake in the Group 1 Yalumba Stakes over 2000m at Caulfield. Istidaad went to stud in NZ and had moderate success, siring some ten stakes winners including Ginga Dude and Justa Tad.

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BELDALE BALL

A US BRED MELBOURNE CUP WINNER

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efore Istidaad came to Australia, another family member made a big impact in Australia for Peter’s father, Hall of Fame trainer, Colin Hayes. Beldale Ball was to become Colin Hayes’ first Melbourne Cup winner when he carried only 49.5kg to beat My Blue Denim and Love Bandit in 1980. He was a son of Nashua from a Barbizon mare called San Cat and made only $42,000 in a US sale when purchased

by English trainer Michael Jarvis. One of his clients, Tom Kelly who ran a company called Beldale Homes bought into the horse and so the colt was named Beldale Ball. He did little at his first two starts at Ascot, running unplaced at his first two starts as a 2yo over seven furlongs (1400m). Things improved as a 3yo, and at his second start at that age, he was third over fourteen furlongs (2800m) at Sandown.

He then won an Endurance Maiden over the same distance at Haydock, and two starts later was to win the Listed Martham Stakes at Yarmouth. Robert Sangster saw promise in the colt and purchased him for $36,000. After a sixth in the Heyshott Handicap at Goodwood on 1 August 1979, Beldale Ball was sent to the Colin Hayes stable in Adelaide. He had his first start in Australia in a 1000m Flying Handicap at Morphettville, finishing fifth of the eight runners. A sixth in a Welter Handicap at the same track over 1500m followed before the horse ran third over 1600m at Balaklava. Hayes then started Beldale Ball over the 3200m of the Listed Duke Of Norfolk Stakes, but he finished a well-beaten fourteenth behind Society Man. He then ran a promising second behind Dominator in the Normandy Handicap over 2400m at Caulfield before beating that same horse over the same journey at Moonee Valley in the Strathmore Handicap. He then finished his first Australian campaign by finishing fourteenth in the Murray Bridge Cup.

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n 17 September, Beldale Ball won first up over 1400m at Balaklava. He then finished second in a Welter at Flemington over a mile, before running a good second to Mr Independent in the Herbert Power at Caulfield over 2400m to suggest that he may well have some chance in a race like the Melbourne Cup. The stallion

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then finished fourth behind Taj Salute in the Moonee Valley Cup and then second in the Dalgety Handicap behind another of Hayes’ gallopers in Bohemian Grove to head into the Cup with a feather weight. Colin Hayes was to have four runners in the Cup in Bohemian Grove who started at 10/1, Beldale Ball and Yasmak who were next in betting at 11/1, and Gay Tribo at 25/1. John Letts had the mount on Beldale Ball who he rode forward. He was to take the stallion to the front with 2000m to run, and in a muddling affair, severe interference was suffered by many of the runners behind him. One of the worst victims was My Blue Denim who finished strongly to run second, beaten a length and a half. Beldale Ball returned in the Autumn but was to not have any further success. In eight starts that season, his best result was a fourth in the Canterbury Cup over 2000m behind Vivacite. After finishing ninth in the Murray Bridge Cup over 2400m on 13 May 1981, Beldale Ball was sold to the US where he stood at stud in Kentucky with little success. In 1988, he was sold to a stud in Switzerland, and the following year moved to Czechoslovakia.

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BEN BRUSH

GENERATIONS OF INFLUENCE

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en Brush was bred at Runnymede Stud in Kentucky for owners Catesby Woodford and Ezekiel F Clay. They purchased his dam, Roseville, while he was in-vitro from Eugene Leigh, the owner of his sire, Bramble. Leigh was to purchase the colt when he went to sale along with his trainer, Ed Brown. He won his first five starts in the mid-West before suffering three loses when transferring to New York.

He then won the Holly Handicap and was purchased for around $15,000 by Michael Dwyer who had raced the stallion, Bramble in partnership with his brothers. He finished his 2yo season with thirteen wins from sixteen starts including a win in the Champagne Stakes. Ben Brush returned as a 3yo to win the Kentucky Derby at his first start back. He was to win four of his eight starts at that age, and at four won seven of his sixteen starts that included the Suburban, Omnium and Brighton Handicaps. He was crowned champion racehorse of his year every year that he raced, and he retired with a total of 40 starts, 24 wins and $65,208 in prizemoney. Dwyer no longer had an interest in breeding and sold his champion stallion to James R Keene of Castletown Stud to replace his great racehorse Domino who had died that year after only two years at stud.

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is first two crops produced little but his third season saw him run second in the Leading Sires list in 1904 on the back of top runners, Delhi who was a champion juvenile and winner of the Belmont Stakes at three, and Broomstick who won the Juvenile Stakes at two and the Travers Stakes at three. In all he won fourteen of 39 starts and was to follow his sire to stud where he ended up at Harry Whitney’s Kentucky Stud where he died in 1931. He is buried on what was to become Gainesway Farm and in 1956 he was inducted in the US Racing Hall Of Fame. Ben Brush went on to sire stars like Sweep who was champion two and three-year old and was responsible for Ben Brush winning the Sires Title. Sweep won nine of his thirteen starts and almost $64,000 in stakes. Included in his wins were the Futurity Stakes and Belmont Stakes. He was to retire to stud at Castletown Farm in 1911 and was later sold to stand at Glen Helen Stud in Lexington where he died in 1931. Both Sweep and Broomstick were to also become leading Sires in the US.

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en Brush continues to play an important role in the modern thoroughbred.

His daughters produced the line that was to give us Bluebird, a US bred son of Storm Bird who shuttled to Australia from Ireland for much of the 1980’s. He left over 40 stakes winners that include local Group 1 winners like Azzurro (VATC One Thousand Guineas), Blue Murder (SA Derby), Flitter (Doomben 10,00 and STC Winfield Classic), and Singing The Blues (VATC Oakleigh Plate). A son of Bluebird in Dolphin Street also sees Ben Brush in his direct female line. Dolphin Street was also to shuttle to Australia with good success and we see the star galloper

Bull Hancock with Moccasin

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Flitter

Spinning Hill who won twelve stakes races including two Manikato Stakes and a Lightning Stakes among his progeny. The US bred stallion Medaglia D’Oro is yet another who owes much to the Ben Brush legacy. He was to shuttle from the US and in Australia produced the likes of stallions Astern and Vancouver, as well as the Hong Kong champion Golden Sixty. In the US, Medaglia D’Oro was to produce one of the greatest fillies to have raced in Rachael Alexander.

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halt Not is a local stakes winner that traces to a daughter of Ben Brush. She won the 1999 Doomben Slipper. Her daughter, Amelia’s Dream won the 2008 Silver Slipper Stakes. A grandson of Shalt Not is Young Werther who has won almost $2 million in prizemoney despite never winning a stakes race to date. He was place in both the VRC and AJC Derbies, twice been placed in the Group 1 Turnbull Stakes behind Incentivise, and Smokin’ Romans, and the Mackinnon Stakes behind Atishu. Admiralty who interestingly is a son of Strawberry Road like Milva, is another stallion to have come to Australia. While his success was limited, he stood in Queensland and was the sire of numerous winners including the stakes winning Adavale Hornet, Mr Hornblower and Vietnam. Much of the influence of Ben Brush remains overseas, and we saw the likes of Henrythenavigator and Speightstown become successful racehorses and stallions.

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COLEMAN OH SO CLOSE

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oleman surprised plenty of onlookers with a strong second in the Golden Slipper. Had things fallen slightly differently for him, we could easily be hailing him as our newest 2yo star. It was perhaps quite fitting that he ran so well in the Golden Slipper, as the racing world learned of the death of one his most famous relatives, the grand old Queensland stallion, Rothesay in the week leading up to the race.

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he colt had his first race start in the Listed Debutante Stakes at Caulfield on 18 October 2023. He won over the 1000m trip by 1.25 lengths from Arabian Summer and Aardvark when a short-priced favourite. Coleman was then sent for a spell and returned to win the Group 3 Chairman’s Stakes over the same course and distance in February. He was well in the market when he lined up next, rather ambitiously in the Group 1 Blue Diamond. The step up in grade might have been a little much as he finished thirteenth behind Hayasugi and Lady Of Camelot, but he was not disgraced running within four lengths of the winner. Connections then took his to Sydney where he ran third in the Pago Pago behind Dublin Down running on strongly from towards the rear of the field. Next up it was the Golden Slipper, and Coleman drew well, but found plenty of youngsters with more speed, leaving him to settle midfield and a little wide for the run. He came down the middle of the track and hit the lead around the 200m. Coleman likely just peaked on his run a little with Lady Of Camelot coming through on the inside to grab him in the final stages of the race.

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he colt is a son of first season stallion Pierata who stands at Yulong Stud for a fee of $44,000 that will likely go up next season on the basis of Coleman’s performances. Pierata is a son of Pierro, the champion son of Lonhro, and to date the only son of that stallion at stud. No doubt plenty of breeders and racing fans will be hoping that he continues this great line of sires that traces back to Octagonal, Zabeel and Sir Tristram. Pierata won five stakes races including the Group 1 AllAged Stakes in 2019. Coleman’s dam is Sboog, a daughter of the great Redoute’s Choice. Sboog was to have eight race starts but was only ever placed once, at her first start in a 2yo Maiden at Wyong. Coleman is the seventh live foal of the mare, who has also produced Liwa by Mulaazem who won the Sir E Lee-Steere Classic

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Pierata courtesy of Yulong Stud

and Supremacy Stakes in Perth. Sboog is a half-sister to two stakes winners in Sensei by Dream Ahead who won two stakes races in NZ and is now at stud for a moderate fee, and the great Rothesay. Rothesay was by Fastnet Rock and had only nine starts in a brief career. He won his first start, as a late 2yo in July 2009, beating Stryker on a Heavy 10 at Rosehill over 1100m. His second start was over 1200m in a 3yo colts and geldings 0-81 and he again duly saluted, this time as an odds-on favourite. Rothesay finished his first campaign with a fourth in the Group 2 Roman Consul over 1200m at Randwick behind Shellscrape. He resumed in the Autumn by running third behind Latin News in the Gosford Guineas. A second in a 3yo handicap at Rosehill followed before he went to Brisbane for the Winter. Here he won both starts, beating Our Lukas and Hadaaf in the Group 3 Lord Mayors’ Cup over 1600m at Doomben, and then the Group 2 Queensland Guineas beating Launay and Fifteen Carat over the same distance at Eagle Farm. After a break, he returned in the Spring to run second to More Joyous in the Group 2 Theo Marks

Rothesay

over 1400m at Rosehill with Drumbeats, who would later also stand at Lyndhurst Stud on the Darling Downs, in third. Six weeks later he would have his last start in a 1400m handicap at Rosehill where he bled and was subsequently retired to stud.

Rothesay stood initially at Glenlogan Park at Beaudesert where he had good success.

He was to have three stakes winners in his first crop of 2012 with Havasay, In His Stride and Too Good To Refuse. Interestingly these did not win stakes races until they were at least four years old with Too Good To Refuse winning the Keith Noud Classic in November 2016. In His Stride won the Ascot Handicap in April 2018 and Havasay won back to back Ramornie Classics in 2018 and 2019. However, it was the Robert Heathcote trained Rothesay that was to really cement the stallion’s reputation. He was to win seven of his first eight starts and these included the Group 2 Champagne Classic and Group 1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm, as well as the Group 2 Run To Rose at Rosehill beating Ole Kirk. He was later to win the Group 2 McEwen Stakes at Moonee Valley and ran third behind Alligator Blood in the Stradbroke in 2022, and second behind Think It Over in that race in 2023. To date, Rothesay has won ten races and over $3 million in prizemoney.

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hile Rothesay is clearly an important relative of Coleman, it is more significant that his third dam is the great Canny Lass, the full sister to the equally outstanding Canny Lad. Canny Lass won six stakes races including three Group 1 races in the VATC Marlboro Cup (now the Sir Rupert Clarke), the Elders Mile (now the Toorak Handicap) and the William Reid Stakes. Her more famous brother, Canny Lad won eight stakes races, although only two of these were at Group 1 level and these were the 1990 VRC Sires’ Produce and Golden Slipper Stakes. The son of Bletchingly went to stud where he excelled, siring over 50 stakes winners including horses like Accomplice (1997 Doomben 10,000 and AJC Galaxy), Allez Suez (1999 Epsom), Ancient Song (VRC Salinger), Dodge (1988 Epsom, Qld Derby), Elite Belle (2014 WATC Railway), He’s No Pie Eater (2007 Rosehill Guineas, Chipping Norton), Preserve (2000 VRC Sires’ Produce), Republic Lass (2002 AJC Oaks, 2003 Ranvet), and Small Minds (2010 SAJC Schweppes Oaks).

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Canny Lad winning the Golden Slipper

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he family of Coleman arrived in New Zealand from the UK in the 1870’s through a mare called Aurifera by Diophantus, who was a son of Orlando and had won the 1861 Two Thousand Guineas. The mare was to produce Golden Crest by the imported French stallion, Apremont. She was to prove an outstanding broodmare producing three stakes winners in Golden Fleece (NZ), Golden Vein (NZ) and Goldleaf (NZ) 1894. It was Golden Fleece who was to end up in Adelaide and we take up her story shortly thanks to the newspapers of the day.

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oldleaf was to produce one stakes winner in Autumnus who won six stakes races in NZ including the Champagne Stakes and two CJC Challenge Stakes.

It was interesting that Goldleaf had won an Oaks, yet Autumnus was to win only up to seven furlongs (1400m). This trend to be able to produce both sprinters and middle-distance horses is a trait that seems to still exist in the family, at least up until the progeny of Canny Lad who produced runners over a surprising range of distances for a Golden Slipper winner. Autumnus was to go to stud where he produced eleven stakes winners which was a great result for a stallion of his time.

Among them were two Derby winners in Winning Hit and Royal Stag, and an Oaks winner in Starmist.

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utumnus’ daughters had their share of success, and we can see many lines of his daughters that remain active to this day. One of the most notable was a mare called Flitter who won six stakes races including the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 and STC Winfield Classic (now the Coolmore Classic). What is interesting is that she is a daughter of Bluebird who traces back to a mare by Ben Brush who hails from the family that gave us the Golden Slipper winner, Lady Of Camelot.

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utumnus was owned by Sir George Clifford who retained the best son of the stallion in Winning Hit. The colt won six stakes races in all from six to twelve furlongs (1200-2400m). These were the Champagne Stakes, G.G. Stead Memorial Gold Cup, New Zealand Derby Stakes, Dunedin Guineas, ARC Great Northern Derby and the Hazlett Memorial Plate. He was to set an Australasian record for the ten furlongs while winning the GG Stead of 2 minutes, 3.2 seconds. Winning

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Hit was to go on to become a quality stallion in his own right siring eight stakes winners including Trench Fight who won two CJC Jockey Club Handicaps and the Thorndon Handicap. Trench Fight was also to stand at stud, and his daughters have left their own legacy. One of the most impressive of late has been the top mare, Inaflury who won seven stakes races including the Group 1 One Thousand Guineas at Caulfield. This however does not match the lasting influence of the daughters of Winning Hit who have gone on to produce some outstanding racehorses. Among them are Glamour Puss by Tale Of The Cat who won, fittingly, the Goodwood Stakes in Adelaide and the VRC Salinger at Group 1 level, Vision And Power who won the AJC Doncaster Handicap and STC George Ryder, Flotilla who won QTC Castlemaine Stakes and Sires’ Produce, the VRC Australian Guineas and the AJC Chipping Norton, Black Piranha winner of two Stradbroke Handicaps, and Sound Action who won the SA Australasian Oaks and Ranvet Stakes. But no matter how good these runners were, arguably none were better than the NZ Hall of Fame galloper So You Think who also traces to a daughter of Winning Hit. So You Think is certainly worth a closer look and you can see more on him in another section this month. But of the daughters of Gold Crest, it was Golden Fleece who was to leave the most direct lasting legacy.

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GOLDEN FLEECE SOUTH AUSTRALIA’S FINEST

Mail (Adelaide, SA : 1912 - 1954), Saturday 22 October 1927, page 7 BACK TO GOLDEN FLEECE Hallmark of Productivity REMARKABLE FAMILY HISTORY Textile, the Caulfield Cup winner, descends from a mare which, while not a great success on the turf, was worth her weight in gold as a stud matron. This was Golden Fleece.

Bred in New Zealand in 1891, she soon proved to the late A. Nicholson that he had a mare of worth. Carlyon was available at Richmond Park, and her first alliance with the son of Chester was responsible for First Fleece, which did remarkably well for Mr. J. H. Flannagan. That sportsman can vividly recall the day when he thought he had the Goodwood Handicap up his sleeve with Clarion, but First Fleece, in the hands of another trainer, unexpectedly came to light and paid a dividend of £83 1/.

Another bitter pill for Mr. Flannagan was the day that First Fleece was beaten in the Hills Railway at Oakbank. First Fleece, in due course, went to the stud, and, mated with Pistol, she produced First Shot, one of the smartest five furlong sprinters the State ever knew. It is doubtful if anything could approach her for quickness at the barrier. First Shot, in turn, was put to the stud, and her first progeny to St. Anton died. But she kept the family traditions up by getting Sighter, Tremble, Baillee Guard, Milong, and Flying Jean. First Shot is now an inmate of Mr. A. P. Wade's stud in New South Wales.

Textile winning the Caulield Cup

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RACED AFTER RETIREMENT Bradford Lass was also out of First Fleece. This mare had the unique distinction of having been retired, and then brought back to the turf. Bradford Lass was by Pistol, and when acquired by Mr. W. H. Schlink she signalised her matronly duties by giving Sealer to Green Seal. She slipped once and missed on another occasion to Green Seal. Like Textile, Sealer was raced by Mr. S. Knapman, and he did well for that owner. So satisfied was he that he was alert for the next of Bradford Lass produce to Green Seal. This proved to be the Caulfield Cup winner, which cost Mr. Knapman but 190 gs. Textile more than paid for himself. His stake winnings have aggregated £10,000. The latest representative for Bradford Lass is Green Baize, which showed some ability by running second in the Dequetteville Stakes to Mistral.

It is appropriate that D. Dobbin should have this filly in hand, for he had charge of several others of the clan, including her dam, Bradford Lass. In her second mating The Englishman was selected for Golden Fleece, and Yelk was the result. Yelk was only moderate, but she proved to be the dam of Arya (by Aryan), which brought off the Fulham Park Plate, Dequetteville Stakes, Morphettville Plate, and Marino Handicap. Yelk had other foals, such as Early Hours and Prince Robert but they were not much good. Mr. Nicholson resolved to put his mare back to Carlyon, and the move was an excellent one as Glauce came along. She won a couple of twoyear-old events, and also scored among the sprinters later on. Nothing was heard subsequently of Glauce in the breeding line. Mr. Nicholson raced her himself.

PROMISING CAREER CUT SHORT Rexer (by Light Artillery) followed Glauce, and while he did not leave the racecourse a maiden, he was only moderrate. Another change of blood was sought with Golden Fleece, and she next visited Tapioca, the result of that union having been Rusk. This turned out to be a clinker, but he had a short-lived career. After winning a juvenile race at Morphettville in great style, and the Gang Forward Stakes at Victoria Park, he was stricken by an illness and died. Dobbin maintained that this was one of the best two-year-olds he had ever had through his hands. Sir Vincent was one of the best in the State as a two-year-old, but he had the misfortune to bump against Arya.

Sir Vincent, however, won a couple of two year-old races, also the Hills Railway.

Fleestol, another of the band, was not much good, though she won. Hamburg, which also carried Mr. Flannagan's colors, was out of First Fleece, and he did well in Jumpers' Flats in the West. Then there was Yellow Slave, which is now well known as the dam of Flying Slave and Golden Slave. Mated with St. Vincent, Golden Fleece was responsible for Lady Vincent, and the last named gained fame as the dam of the Goodwood and Christmas Handicap winner, Triangle. It will be seen, therefore, that

First Fleece winning the 1905 Goodwood

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Golden Fleece set a solid foundation in South Australian bloodstock. Her record at the stud can be set out as follows: — GOLDEN FLEECE, bred 1891

By Stonyhurst from Golden Crest, by Apremont from Aurifera, by Diophantus.

1900— First Fleece (by Carlyon).

1901— Yelk (by The Englishman).

1902 ----------No return.

1903— Glauce (by Canyon).

1904— Rexer (by Light Artillery).

1905— Rusk (by Tapioca).

1906— Fleestol (by Pistol).

1907 —Yellow Slave (by Pistol).

1908— Sir Vincent (by St. Vincent).

1909— Lady Vincent (by St. Vincent).

1910— Fleecetta (by Sir Robert).

1911— Colt (by Sir Robert.

1912 — Super Fleece (by Sir Robert).

1913— By Sir Robert.

Evening Star (Boulder, WA : 1898 - 1921), Thursday 6 October 1910, page 4 A GRAND OLD MARE INTERESTING PARTICULARS ABOUT GOLDEN FLEECE The South Australian writer "Mosyn" gives the following interesting account of that wonderful old brood mare Golden Fleece, Who recently produced a filly foal to Sir Robert. He says: When Mr. Warden, of Blair Athol, had the mare submitted to him along with Yelk, the point that finally decided him to purchase the pair was the fact that the old mare was in foal to his own horse Sir Robert. He felt that a good sort of youngster with that breeding would not only sell well, but would, perhaps, assist materially to quickly make a name for the young Collar horse as a sire. Golden Fleece has certainly had a variety of consorts, and her record at the stud is such a remarkable one on paper that it is well worth giving:GOLDEN FLEECE The true story of Golden Fleece's career in South 'Oss has never yet been told, and, although she must have put something like 6000 sovs. into the pocket of

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Mr. Nicholson, it would seem that she simply stuck to him through force of circumstances. In the old days of bookmaking Mr. Nicholson, who was a fielder, paid special attention to selling races. He had a useful sort in Kase, and the Neckersgat gelding did not often fail his party. On one occasion however, when he was particularly well, Mr. Nicholson was astonished to see Golden Fleece beat him in a race. Without more ado he made up his mind to secure the little chestnut filly. He paid £85 for her but should have got her for half that amount. Scobie, who trained her, had a horse engaged in the next race, and left a friend to buy her in at £40. If needs be, he could go little further, but not a cent, more the moment the popular Ballarat trainer raised his hat. Those were the instructions. Scobie forgot all about the auction, and, sauntering back when the bidding was above the 80 mark, he could hardly get to Golden Fleece quickly enough and raise his hat for fear he would again have her on his hands, FORCE OF CIRCUMSTANCES

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Mr. Nicholson considered that he had made a capital bargain but looked down his nose when he heard that Kase had been unlucky to lose, as his bridle had slipped off. To make matters worse, a few days later Golden Reece struck herself, and Jack Perry, who had her under his care announced that her racing days were over. Mr Nicholson offered her to the late Mr. Elworthy for £50 for the Morphettville stud, but was told that she was not good enough, and he was so disgusted that he straightway offered her in the Tattersall's Club rooms for £25.

No one thought she was worth even that sum. Realising that the mare had come to stay, it was decided to mate her with Port Admiral. When she was a few days overdue Mr. Nicholson asked a stud groom when the mare would foal, and after inspection he replied inside of a week. She was brought near the homestead, and specially cared for, but to the surprise of all a day or two later she was in season.

Mr. Nicholson immediately sent her to the trainer Dally, and inside of five, weeks Golden Fleece won a mile race at Morphettville, This she followed up with four more victories, and on one occasion bowled over a hot favourite of Scobie's. The mare afterwards was passed on to another trainer to prepare for hurdle racing.

Just as he was going to treat her seriously, he imparted the astonishing news that she was in foal. She sent to Mr. Nicholson's farm, but it was again a mistake.

Subsequently Golden Fleece was mated with Carlyon and First Fleece was the result of the union. She was very small, and no one would pay even 40 gns. for her, and Mr. Nicholson decided to race her himself. She was a smart sprinter and stood her owner something like £1000 before he sold her. Glauce was another foal, and there is no doubt that she was a great galloper. A couple of days before the Fulham Park Plate she dashed off half a mile in 49.5 sec. at Victoria Park, and on that occasion, she was carrying over 9st. On the way home, she came to grief on a kerbstone, and although she won races, she never again appeared to be the smart, eager galloper that she showed herself that morning and on occasions before. Rusk was the rummiest foal I have ever seen, and over and over again Mr. Nicholson was advised by his friends to knock her on the head for the sake of the mare's reputation. He would not, and Rusk won races, and Dobbyn always hold that the Derby that year was a certainty for her. She, however, died a few days beforehand. Fleetstol has been returned a winner, but she was the only one of all Golden Fleece's produce that her breeder had no faith in. She met with trouble just after being weaned, and hovered between life and death for weeks, and never again seemed to do well. Sir Vincent is at present the apple of Mr. Nicholson's eye, and he will not hear of the suggestion that he sold the better of the two when he got 300 gns. for Arya.

SO YOU THINK AN INTERNATIONAL STAR

S

o You Think is a champion galloper who went around the world highlighting Australasian breeding and racing. It had been a long time since an Australian galloper had spent so much time overseas and took on the world’s best in conditions that were far from ideal. His results were outstanding and he returned to Australia where fittingly he has developed into a star stallion with progeny have excelled over a range of distances. So You Think is also the horse that arguably cemented the important Sadler’s Wells sire line in Australia more than any other.

T

he colt was foaled on 10 November 2006 yet surprisingly made his racetrack debut while still a 2yo on 20 May 2009. He won a 1400m No Metro Win race for 2yo’s at Rosehill with jockey Hugh Bowman aboard for trainer Bart Cummings.

He was spelled and returned for the Spring on 5 September in the Listed Ming Dynasty at Randwick, narrowly failing to run down winner More Than Great over 1400m. So You Think then won the Group 3 Gloaming Stakes beating Gathering over the 1800m at Rosehill. The colt then went to Melbourne to finish fifth behind Starspangledbanner over 1600m in the Group 1 Caulfield Guineas. He then stamped himself as an outstanding prospect by winning the Group 1 Cox Plate at only his fifth race start, beating Manhattan Rain and Zipping. Interestingly the field included Black Piranha and Vision And Power who we mentioned previously as all tracing to mares by Winning Hit. Back to the 1600m of the Emirates Stakes, So You Think completed his Spring by finishing second behind All American.

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U

nfortunately, the colt was to be off the scene for almost a year, but the Spring of 2010 was to stamp So You Think as an outstanding racehorse. He showed that he had come back in fine fettle by winning first up over 1400m in the Group 2 Memsie Stakes beating Whobegotyou and Shootout, another son of High Chaparral. Next he beat Dariana and Metal Bender in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes over 1800m still at Caulfield. So You Think then made it three in a row by winning the Group 1 Caulfield Stakes over 2000m with Alcopop and Whobegotyou filling the placings.

The stallion then joined an elite group of horses by winning his second Cox Plate beating Zipping and Whobegotyou. A win in the Mackinnon Stakes followed over Descarado and Ginga Dude but So You Think then suffered his only defeat for the Spring by running a gallant third behind Americain in the 3200m Melbourne Cup.

S

o You Think then headed overseas where he was ultimately to finish his career.

His first start was at the Curragh in the Group 3 Mooresbridge Stakes, a race he won by ten lengths. Next, he won the Group 1 Tatts Gold Cup at the same track over 2100m beating the good stayer Campanologist by 4.5 lengths. He started the $1.35 favourite at his first Ascot start in the Group 1 Prince Of Wales Stakes but was narrowly beaten by another good horse in Rewilding. The stallion then made amends by winning the Coral Eclipse Stakes at Sandown, winning the 2000m Group 1 event by a half-length from Workforce. So You Think was transferred to the stable of Aidan O’Brien and returned after a let up to win the Group 1 Irish Champion Stakes over 2000m at Leopardstown beating Snow Fairy. A trip to France saw So You Think finish fourth in the Arc de Triomphe over 2400m behind the German horse, Danedream. Back in England, he ran second to Cirrus des Angels in the Group 1 Champion Stakes before heading to the dirt tracks of the US. Here he was sixth behind Drosselmeyer in the Breeders Cup before going for a spell. First up in March 2012, So You Think again showed that he was not all that comfortable on the dirt by running a creditable fourth in the World Cup at Meydan behind Monterosso.

He returned to the UK, and it was May until he had his next start. On the turf at The Curragh, So You Think redeemed his reputation by winning the Group 1 Gold Cup beating Famous Name by six lengths. His final start was in the Prince Of Wales Stakes at Ascot, and again he prevailed, this time beating Carlton House by over two lengths. In all he retired with 14 wins from 23 starts and a little over $8.8 million in prizemoney.

S

o You Think was returned to stud in Australia where he served his first crop at Coolmore in 2012. He was to shuttle between Australia and Ireland until 2015, and his results have certainly improved since he stopped travelling. So You Think now commands his place near the pinnacle of Australian stallions, standing at a fee over almost $100,000. He has sired over 50 stakes winners, and interestingly they are able to again win from a range of distances. The stallion has Group 1 stars like Think About It who won the Stradbroke, while also producing the Sydney and Brisbane Cup winner, Knights Order from his Irish crops. Among the best runners

by So You Think is Think It Over who recently retired having won almost $7.5 million in a 42 start career that saw him win three Group 1 races in the George Ryder, Queen Elizabeth and Verry Elleegant Stakes among his nine stakes wins.

We are now seeing four sons of So You Think at stud in Inference, Quick Thinker, D’Argento and Peltzer.

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THE GOLDEN SLIPPER A WRAP-UP

Finish No.

Horse Marg(L)Bar

SP

Sire/Dam

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

LADY OF CAMELOT COLEMAN 0.14 4 STORM BOY 1.51 2 TRAFFIC WARDEN 1.98 6 MANAAL 2.33 16 STRAIGHT CHARGE 2.41 9 ENEEZA 2.71 14 SWITZERLAND 3.59 7 HOLMES A COURT 4.15 8 FULLY LIT 4.4 1 DUBLIN DOWN 4.41 12 RUE DE ROYALE 4.59 13 PROST 5.09 11 BODYGUARD 6.76 10 SHANGRI LA EXPRESS 7.04 3 HAYASUGI 18.58 15

5 $41 $2.60 $26 $41 $14 $61 $5 $101 $51 $26 $151 $31 $20 $61 $10

$6.50 Written Tycoon / Miss Debutante Pierata / Sboog Justify / Pelican Street Boss / Efficiently Tassort / Red Lodge Written By / Matryoshka Exceed And Excel / Sweet Sherry Snitzel / Ms Bad Behavior Capitalist / Menagerie Hellbent / Sunlit Exceedance / Dublin Lass Per Incanto / Urban Royal Snitzel / Samarmeteors I Am Invincible / Tumooh Alabama Express / Sent From Above Royal Meeting / China Road

14 10 1 5 15 6 16 7 11 2 9 4 12 8 3 13

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DOSAGES 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16

Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) [1.06/5.80] Coleman (Pierata) [0.69/3.24] Storm Boy (Justify) [0.75/3.00] Traffic Warden (Street Boss) [0.79/3.00] Manaal (Tassort) [1.50/19.00] Straight Charge (Written By) [1.56/31.00] Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) [1.15/4.75] Switzerland (Snitzel) [1.15/6.43] Holmes A Court (Capitalist) [1.18/6.33] Fully Lit (Hellbent) [1.30/9.00] Dublin Down (Exceedance) [1.03/4.14] Rue De Royale (Per Incanto) [0.64/2.60] Prost (Snitzel) [1.12/4.60] Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) [1.38/8.33] Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) [0.83/4.14] Hayasugi (Royal Meeting) [1.08/8.60]

[12-12-10-0-0] 4.30% [7-15-11-2-1] 11.33% [7-7-14-0-0] 3.91% [10-8-15-1-0] 3.91% [12-6-2-0-0] 0.78% [10-5-1-0-0] 2.73% [23-8-14-1-0] 8.59% [11-8-7-0-0] 10.55% [10-6-6-0-0] 7.81% [15-9-6-0-0] 8.59% [15-8-12-1-0] 9.38% [9-9-16-0-2] 7.03% [22-7-11-0-2] 5.47% [25-8-9-0-0] 10.16% [9-14-12-0-1] 12.50% [7-12-5-0-0] 7.03%

COMMENTS

On face value, the obvious point to reflect on with the finishing positions in the 2024 Golden Slipper is that barrier positions are of paramount importance. We see that the first four runners home jumped from barrier six or below. It surely cannot be a coincidence when in 2023, the first five runners home in the race all drew barrier seven or below. We have included the dosages of the field in the finishing order. There are also the dosages of the past ten winners, and while Lady Of Camelot was a little higher than most, she was certainly not far from winners like Estijaab and Capitalist in terms of dosage. The next four in the race all had dosages around 3.00 which is a range that won three of the past ten Golden Slippers. It is interesting to note that these were the runners closest to this range in the field. What is also notable is that Manaal and Straight Charge had very high dosage profiles, and this is further illustrated when we see that Manaal went on to win the Sires’ Produce where we may have expected her to struggle. Perhaps it was the wet track, or perhaps there is more to her pedigree than meet the eye. Manaal, after all, is by a first season sire so there could well be emerging influences within her pedigree that are still to be accounted for. It probably came as little surprise that the three who finished from second to fourth in the Slipper filled these same places in the Sires’ Produce although in different order. The results though tell us that there is certainly still a place for dosages in the understanding of the thoroughbred. On the subject of Manaal, we have included the six generation

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Coefficient of Inbreeding by Wright. For those unfamiliar with this, it looks at the number of individual ancestors within the pedigree accounting for those that are duplicated. A high level of inbreeding will be reflected in a high percentage. With Manaal, we see that there is only 0.78% and this reflects that the only duplication within the pedigree is a 6x6 cross of the mare, My Charmer through her sons Lomond and Seattle Slew. Lomond was placed at Group 2 level in the National Stakes in Ireland as a 2yo, and at three won the English 2000 Guineas. The son of Northern Dancer was purchased privately as a yearling for US$1.5 million. Seattle Slew by Bold Reasoning was the winner of the Grade 1 Champagne Stakes in the US at two, and at three was the 1977 Triple Crown winner and Horse of The Year.

He continued to race as a 4yo winning the Marlboro Handicap and Woodward Stakes and retired with 14 wins from 17 starts. With so little inbreeding in the pedigree of Manaal, this means that the gene pool from which she is drawn is much greater than the likes of Coleman for example, who is quite heavily inbred at 11.33% and you can view his six generation pedigree in our article on him. The underlying principle of inbreeding is to reduce the number of genes/ancestors that a mating can draw on, thereby making the resultant foal more likely to inherit the genes of its superior ancestors. It is interesting when we look at the past decade of winners that we only see one with less inbreeding than Manaal, and that was the 2009 winner Kiamichi by Sidestep. The stallion has never produced another stakes winner, and perhaps it was a unique combination of genes that led to the success of Kiamichi. While we like to think that it is the genes from the very best runners that are critical, the inherited genes can come from any source within a pedigree, and perhaps these less prominent ancestors are sometimes forgotten within the breeding framework.

Past winners 2023 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2016 2015 2014

SHINZO Snitzel [1.00/4.33] FIREBURN Rebel Dane [0.27/1.60] STAY INSIDE Extreme Choice [0.93/4.00] FARNAN Not A Single Doubt [0.89/3.22] KIAMICHI Sidestep [1.36/8.78] ESTIJAAB Snitzel [1.07/5.00] SHE WILL REIGN Manhattan Rain [0.92/3.22] CAPITALIST Written Tycoon [1.04/5.22] VANCOUVER Medaglia D’oro [0.65/3.00] MOSSFUN Mossman [1.03/4.82]

[16-11-8-1-2] 5.86% [3-6-14-1-2] 10.16% [10-8-12-0-0] 12.11% [14-6-18-0-0] 9.77% [25-11-7-1-0] 0.00% [12-8-10-0-0] 6.64% [15-6-16-1-0] 8.98% [10-9-9-0-0] 5.47% [6-16-16-2-0] 9.77% [12-10-9-1-0] 4.69%

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