Redoute's Choice 3YOs assemble for spring classics

Much is expected of the current crop of 3YOs by champion sire Redoute’s Choice and, seven weeks into the new season, they are beginning to deliver on the promise of their pedigrees and physiques.

Redoute’s Choice has had twelve individual 3YO winners in Australia since 1 August – more than any other stallion – and they signal that his 2007 crop is set to play a big part in this season’s black type racing. Remember, 72% of Redoute’s Choice’s 18 Group 1 winners to date won Group 1 races at three; and 39% of them won at 2000 metres or beyond.

The latest 3YO winner from Redoute’s Choice’s Class of 2007 is Slater, pictured above, a colt from three-time Group 1 winner Special Harmony (by Spinning World). A debut winner at two, he made short work of the opening event over 1100 metres at Rosehill on Saturday, winning in class record time and cutting out the final 600m in 33.36s.

At Caulfield, Altius (ex Circles of Gold by Marscay) came home strongly for second over 1700 metres, and in the MRC Caulfield Guineas Prelude 1400m G3 Rekindled Interest (ex Rekindled Affair by Quest for Fame) produced yet another powerhouse finish to claim fifth. He is Guineas-bound, but looks as if he’ll be suited by a Derby distance too.

Dariana confirmed her Cups campaign is on track with an excellent second to stablemate So You Think in the MRC Underwood S. 1800m G1, and she is now the favourite for the Caulfield Cup on 16 October.

Then there’s the glorious crop of 2YOs waiting in the wings. Three of them gave a hint of what’s to come with good showings at yesterday’s Randwick 2YO trials. John Camilleri’s lovely homebred filly Florentina won her heat, while the colt Just the Tonic (half-brother to G3 Carnegie House, ex Platonic by Nassipour) and filly Offer (ex G2 Media by Gilded Time) ran second in their respective trials. Florentina has an especially interesting pedigree, as her second dam Twyla is a 3/4 sister to Redoute’s Choice.

Keep up with Redoute’s Choice’s latest Progeny Results here – click the Race Results tab for free daily results from Australia & around the world.

SPRING WATCH 2010: Redoute’s Choice 3YOs

ACHIEVEMENTS – Bay Colt ex Rubitoff by Rubiton (Century)

Breeders: Peter & Wendy Moran

Owners: Peter & Wendy Moran

Trainer: Gerald Ryan

Lovely colt bred & raced by the Morans of Mossman, Tickets & Duporth fame. Was a first-up Sandown winner on 4 August and then unlucky when favourite in the MVRC Mitchell McKenzie S. LR; has recently joined the Gerald Ryan stable.

ALTIUS – Bay Colt ex Circles Of Gold by Marscay (Biscay)

Breeders: Arch of Gold Pty Ltd, Meduri Bloodstock, Moffitt Breeding & Racing

Owners: Arch of Gold Pty Ltd, Frank & Marie Meduri and Garry & Leone Moffitt

Trainer: Tony Vasil

Debut winner at 2; first-up winner at 3, Geelong, 20 August; fast-finishing 2nd, VRC Henry Bucks S. LR, 4 September and then again 2nd over 1700m at Caulfield 18 September. A ? brother to Elvstroem and half brother to Haradasun, he looks an outstanding staying prospect.

BEST CHOICE – Bay Colt ex Jade Tiara by Bureaucracy (Bletchingly)

Breeder: Mr M King

Owners: Mr W Ng

Trainer: Clarry Conners

Clarry Conners says, “I think he is a pretty special horse, I’ve got a really, really big opinion of him.” And he’s mentioning multiple G1 winner Mouawad in the same breath. Impressive debut winner at Canterbury, 8 September.

LIGHT BRIGADE – Bay Colt ex Winning Belle by Zabeel (Sir Tristram)

Breeders: Phillip Esplin, D & M Esplin Pty Ltd

Owners: Wynyarra Stud & Bob & Rosemary Scarborough

Trainer: Gai Waterhouse

Smart Warwick Farm winner following up from his debut win at Wyong on 3 September. A magnificent type, he cost $1.4 million as a yearling and has now won twice very impressively after a number of trial wins. Heading for the VRC Derby G1.

MARAASEEM – Bay Filly ex Warm Smytzer by Zabeel (Sir Tristram)

Breeder: Emily Krstina (Aust) Pty Ltd

Owner: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd

Trainer: David Hayes

Won at Geelong, 18 August & Sandown, 8 September.

Assistant trainer Tom Dabernig says of Maraaseem: “She’s got a great temperament and constitution and is lovely and sound so we’ll push on from here and keep raising the bar.” Entered for the Bill Stutt Stakes G2 at Moonee Valley, 24 September, en route to The Thousand Guineas G1.

MARGIELA – Brown Filly ex Sarah Vee by End Sweep (Forty Niner)

Breeders: Consolidated Bloodstock Ltd

Owners: Pinecliff Racing & Partners

Trainer: David Hayes

Impressive winner at Geelong, 10 September over 1300m. Out of the Soliloquy Stakes LR winner Sarah Vee who was also 2nd in the NZ 2000 Guineas G1.

MUKARRAR – Bay or Brown Colt ex Back Pass by Quest For Fame (Rainbow Quest)

Breeders: Glenlogan Park Pty Ltd & Munz Custodians Pty Ltd

Owners: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd

Trainer: David Hayes

Won second-up at 3 over 1900m by 10 lengths, Geelong, 7 September. One of the most dominant maiden winners seen out so far this season, everything about him indicates he will be Derby-bound. Connections are said to be toying with the idea of the AJC Spring Champion Stakes G1 along the way.

MULTAHEM – Bay Colt ex Earthsea by Machiavellian (Mr. Prospector)

Breeders: Widden Stud and Robert & Deborah Anderson

Owners: Shadwell Stud Australasia Ltd

Trainer: David Hayes

Brilliant debut winner at Sandown, 15 September – coming from last to first in the straight, and breaking 34s for the last 600m.

David Hayes says, “He’s still in the [Caulfield] Guineas, but I think we’ll just go through our classes for the moment. He’s still an untapped horse.”

PONTIANA – Bay Filly ex Liberty Rose by Royal Academy (Nijinsky II)

Breeders: Fairway Thoroughbreds

Owners: Messrs L P & N J Maxsted, Simon Tuxen, Greg Ingham, Greg Hayes & Peter Allen

Trainer: John, Wayne & Michael Hawkes

Debut winner at Kembla Grange, 21 August; stepped up to win again at Rosehill, 11 September. Connections purchased the full brother for $700,000 at this year’s Easter Yearling Sale. Michael Hawkes says, “She’s done everything right and we’ll probably step her up in grade next and look to go through her classes rather than just throw her in the deep end. She’s going to keep improving and she’s really an autumn filly, that’s where we are heading.”

REKINDLED INTEREST – Bay Gelding ex Rekindled Affair by Rainbow Quest (Blushing Groom)

Breeders: