Redoute's Choice leads on stakes wins

With just over two weeks left of 2014/15, Redoute’s Choice is Australia’s leading sire by Southern Hemisphere stakes wins for the season.

5YO gelding Rock Magic took the champion sire’s current season tally of stakes wins to 25 with a brilliant performance in Saturday’s WATC Beaufine S. 1000m LR for a large group of owners including John, Michael & trainer Chris Gangemi.

It was Rock Magic’s ninth success and second Listed stakes win this term in a 21-start, $356,000 career that began two years ago with Paul Messara, who trained him for his breeders Arrowfield & John Leaver.

Paul says, “It’s great to see Chris, his family & fellow owners achieving success with Rock Magic who always showed ability and won his first three starts for us, including two in Sydney. He’s thrived in Perth and has boosted the record of his Group 1-winning dam who’s booked to Olympic Glory this Spring.”

Rock Magic is the second foal of Rockabubble (by Bubble Gum Fellow), winner of six races including the Te Aroha JC New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. G1.

Redoute’s Choice has been represented this season by 15 individual stakeswinners (9 colts & geldings, 6 fillies & mares) from his 2008-2012 crops. Ten of them have succeeded in Group company, with five (Lankan Rupee, Majmu, Bonaria, Hampton Court and Wylie Hall) winning 7 Group 1 races. That makes it his best Group 1 season since 2006/07 when five of his progeny won 8 races at that level.

Bonaria, Hampton Court & Wylie Hall have retired to stud, but champion sprinter Lankan Rupee and talented Group 3-winning colts Panzer Division & Scissor Kick remain in training and there’s plenty of serious new talent ready to light up the new season. 

Thewizardofoz has already lit up Hong Kong racing and won the Champion Griffin title after three dominant wins in May and June. His progression through the ratings is comparable to two-time Horse of the Year Silent Witness at the same stage.

Among Redoute’s Choice’s rising 3YOs, King’s Troop, a three-quarter brother to Snitzel, could not have been more impressive when winning a trial at Rosehill by 7 lengths last week. Sydney winners Counterattack & Raphael’s Cat and the fillies Reemah & Regatta Rebel (in Australia) and Shaama & Zappy Choice (in South Africa) also look capable of making their mark next season.