Stallions

Bold stakes debut by Redoute's Choice 2YO

Redoute’s Choice gained a fresh weapon for his attack upon the major Australian 2YO races this autumn when his son Shelford ran a bold debut second in today’s ATC Canonbury S. 1100m LR at Warwick Farm.

Pictured: Shelford, left, responds gamely to Blake Shinn’s urging as he gains black type status at Warwick Farm today. (PHOTO: Sportpix)

The John O’Shea-trained colt pushed the favourite Raceway (from a Flying Spur mare) to a long head and a class record time of 1.03.93, with 1.5 lengths back to third-placed Narcissus.

Shelford was bred by Raffles Dancers (NZ) Pty Ltd from the Group 2-winning mare Taimana, a daughter of Woodman and great-grand-daughter of Eight Carat whose fabulous tribe includes Octagonal, Mouawad, Kaapstad, Commands & Danewin.

A $NZ460,000 O’Shea purchase from the Curraghmore Stud draft at the 2011 New Zealand Premier Sale, Shelford is raced by Arrowfield in partnership with Ron Finemore, John Leaver, the Raffles Thoroughbred Racing Syndicate, Sedgewyn Syndicate, M. Gold & the Rosemont Syndicate.

Redoute’s Choice is the sire of three debut 2YO winners this season, all targeting major autumn prizes: his 26th juvenile stakeswinner Mama’s Choice, Magic Millions runner-up No Looking Back and Don’t Blink (also trained by John O’Shea).

Four fillies and a colt by Redoute’s Choice will be offered at the upcoming Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, among them fillies from Tango Fire and Bianca (NZ) in the Bellerive Stud draft .