25th Group 1 winner for Redoute’s Choice
John & Trish Muir’s Milburn Creek Thoroughbred Stud added a new Group 1 winner to their record and that of champion sire Redoute’s Choice when Hampton Court stormed past his rivals at the end of the record-setting $400,000 ATC Spring Champion S. G1 over 2000 metres at Randwick.
The scorching early pace and the final course record time of 2:00.30 was largely the work of the other Redoute’s Choice colt in the race, Panzer Division, sent to the front by jockey Tye Angland and asked to cover the first 1400 metres in 1:22.9. Trainer Paul Messara advised after the race that he would be aimed at shorter distances next preparation.
However, all the plaudits were justly earned by Hampton Court, who came from the tail of the field to break Dignity Dancer’s 16 year-old record and drove through the line so strongly ahead of favourite First Seal and Sweynesse that trainer Gai Waterhouse immediately confirmed his trip to Melbourne for the Victoria Derby G1. He is now the $5 TAB fixed odds favourite for the $1.5 million Flemington classic.
Jockey Josh Parr said of the colt’s finish at Randwick, “His turn of foot when he got balanced up and let rip was incredible.”
Hampton Court is the first foal of Canadian stakeswinner Roses ‘N’ Wine (by Broken Vow), from the family of champion Makybe Diva and Group 2 winner Musket (also by Redoute’s Choice).
Purchased for $500,000 by John Warren Bloodstock from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale, he is raced by a group of owners that includes the Muirs, James Packer and Sydney broadcaster Alan Jones.
Hampton Court won his third start as a 2YO, ran fourth in Bachman’s Schweppervescence H. G3 and progressed steadily to his first black type success in last weekend’s ATC Dulcify Quality H. LR. His record now reads three wins and more than $360,000 from 9 starts.
Hampton Court is the fourth Group 1 winner bred by Milburn Creek, after Redoute’s Dancer (also by Redoute’s Choice), Sizzling (by Snitzel) and Once Were Wild (by Johannesburg). The Muirs also enjoyed Group 1 success as owners of the grand mare Secret Admirer (2010 ATC Flight S. G1 & 2011 ATC Epsom H. G1).
Roses ‘N’ Wine has a yearling colt by Snitzel and is foaling again to him this Spring.
A week after he became the 119th stakeswinner for Redoute’s Choice, Hampton Court is the 25th Group 1 winner for the three-time champion sire, whose current season earnings now stand at $2.1 million.
