The Redoute’s Choice influence endures

Legendary Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice departed this Earth 40 days ago, but his influence is far from gone.

Since his death on 26 March, his record has increased by three stakeswinners: Dark Choice (WA Oaks G3 for Bob & Sandra Peters), Danceteria (a Listed win in France for Clive Washbourn) & on Saturday, the Haras du Mezeray-bred Enbihaar won the Goodwood Daisy Warwick Fillies S. LR for Sheikh Hamdan. 

A day later, 9YO marvel Rock Magic has returned after a 12-month break necessitated by injury to claim his 9th stakes victory in the $150,000 Northam S. 1100m G3 in Western Australia.

Already one of Redoute’s Choice’s 17 million-dollar earners, Rock Magic overcame a wide run to defeat Electric Light and stablemate Durendal to take his earnings close to $1.4 million. His record now stands at 16 wins, 12 placings and three fourths in Melbourne Group 1 sprints from 49 starts across 7 seasons. 

Bred by the Arrowfield & Planette Thoroughbred partnership – like Saturday’s 2YO stakeswinner Stronger – Rock Magic is the second of only three foals left by New Zealand Group 1 winner Rockabubble (now happily retired as a nanny mare at Arrowfield) and was passed in at the 2011 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. 

Trained by Paul Messara to win four of his first 11 starts in NSW city & country company, Rock Magic was sold as a late 4YO to Gangemi Thoroughbreds which races him with a large group of stable clients. 

A post on Gangemi Racing’s Facebook page described the thrill of Rock Magic’s triumphant return to racing:

What a special day for all!!! #therockstar #thedream

Redoute’s Choice now has 11 winners of 17 stakes races worldwide for the 2018/19 season, most notably, of course, his spectacular 3YO son The Autumn Sun. A 5-time Group 1 winner at two & three, The Autumn Sun has retired with prizemoney of $3.4 million and joins the Arrowfield roster for the upcoming breeding season.

Sire sons such as The Autumn Sun, his illustrious barn-mates Snitzel and Not A Single Doubt and young guns Scissor Kick & Pariah will ensure that Redoute’s Choice continues to figure in stakes-winning pedigrees for many years yet. 

Ditto his daughters whose progeny, among them Arrowfield graduates San Fermin & Everyday Lady, have added 8 Group & Listed wins to his record as a damsire  since 26 March. Although pressed by his old rival Encosta de Lago, Redoute’s Choice has a strong chance of winning his first Australian Broodmare Sires’ title with 19 stakeswinners and $18.1 million prizemoney enough to hold the No. 1 spot so far.

Breeders have a number of opportunities to purchase Redoute’s Choice mares and progeny from his 2017 and 2018 crops at the Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale, NZB Karaka May Sale and the Magic Millions National Weanling & Yearling Sale.