Arrowfield dominates Champion 2YO category
The 2020 Golden Slipper showcased some of Arrowfield's best work, from left to right: Away Game, 2nd (black cap; by Snitzel), the winner Farnan (orange & white cap; by Not A Single Doubt), subsequent dual G1 winner King's Legacy (green cap; by Redoute's Choice) & at the extreme right, Blue Diamond G1-winning graduate Tagaloa, 4th (blue & yellow quartered cap; by Lord Kanaloa). (PHOTO: Sportpix)
Four of the five finalists in the Champion 2YO category of the 2019/20 Australian Racehorse of the Year awards are either Arrowfield-sired or Arrowfield-bred.
They are the filly Away Game (by Snitzel), and the colts Farnan (by Not A Single Doubt), King’s Legacy (by Redoute’s Choice) and graduate Tagaloa (by Lord Kanaloa).
Collectively this quartet won 14 of their 29 starts last season, including four Group 1 events, and earned $7.3 million. The fifth finalist is the J.J. Atkins G1 winner Rothfire.
Five Arrowfield graduates have previously won the Champion 2YO title: Catbird (1998/99), Fashions Afield (2004/05), Miss Finland (2005/06), Meurice (2006/07) & Estijaab (2017/18).
This year’s Arrowfield-connected contenders are:
AWAY GAME
Snitzel-Elusive Wonder (by Elusive Quality)
Superb in the Magic Millions Classic and an outstanding runner-up in the Golden Slipper, the gloriously fast Away Game never gave less than her best from November to May.
Breeders: Mill Park Stud & Mills Thoroughbred Breeding Partnership
Owners: Miss H Mathiesen, Mrs D Q House, Ms N Carroll, Mrs K M Mathiesen, Miss P Mathiesen, Mrs K L Mathiesen, Miss M K Mathiesen
& Mrs L Fung
Trainers: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast, $425,000, Mill Park Stud/Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock
WON ATC Percy Sykes S., G2
WON ATC Widden S., G3
WON BRC Calaway Gal S., LR
WON GCTC Magic Millions 2YO Classic, RL
2d ATC Golden Slipper S., G1
Prizemoney: $2,729,400
FARNAN
Not A Single Doubt-Tallow (by Street Cry)
Farnan swept with real authority through his Autumn campaign and gave Not A Single Doubt his first Golden Slipper success with a decisive victory at Rosehill. He is the best of four Group winners from 20 runners by Redoute’s Choice sons from Street Cry mares.
Breeder: Phoenix Thoroughbred (11) Ltd
Owners: Aquis Farm & Phoenix Thoroughbred
Trainers: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast, $550,000, Vinery Stud/Phoenix & Aquis
WON ATC Golden Slipper S., G1
WON ATC Silver Slipper S., G2
WON ATC Todman S., G2
WON Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic, RL
Prizemoney: $2,502,250
KING’S LEGACY
Redoute’s Choice-Breakfast In Bed (by Hussonet)
The only dual Group 1 winner among the finalists, King’s Legacy is the 10th Group 1 2YO winner by his legendary sire and one of six Group winners bred on the Redoute’s Choice/Hussonet cross.
Breeder: Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia
Owners: James Harron Bloodstock Colts, Mrs B C Bateman, Love Racing,
P Mehrten, Doyles Breeding & Racing, S N Gillard, G1G Racing & Breeding,
D Saab, Rockingham Thoroughbreds, J A Ingham
Trainers: Peter & Paul Snowden
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast, $1.4 million, Segenhoe Stud/James Harron Bloodstock
WON ATC Sires’ Produce S., G1
WON ATC Champagne S., G1
WON BRC BJ McLachlan S., G3
Prizemoney: $884,100
TAGALOA
Lord Kanaloa-Vasilissa (by Heart’s Cry)
Tagaloa is the second 2YO Group 1 winner, after Saturnalia, by Champion Sprinter & leading Japanese sire Lord Kanaloa, and the fourth Group winners from only 15 runners bred on the Lord Kanaloa/Heart’s Cry cross.
Breeders: Arrowfield Group & Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd
Owners: A Kheir, A Latassa, D P Juratowitch, Mrs S H Juratowitch, J C L See, Mrs N K Stuart, J R Clancy, C E Gilder, S A Lewin, T M Scales, Mrs R T Secatore, B A Secatore, Dr A Terluk, T E Woodman, S L Curran, G Ohehir, Mr J A O’Neill, V Kheir
Trainers: Trent Busuttin & Natalie Young
Sale: Magic Millions Gold Coast, $300,000, Arrowfield/Busuttin Racing
WON MRC Blue Diamond S., G1
2d ATC (Randwick) Todman S., G2
3d VRC Maribyrnong P., G3
4th ATC (Rosehill) Golden Slipper S., G1
Prizemoney: $1,237,150
The presentation of the 2019/20 Australian Racehorse of the Year Awards will be broadcast live on Sky Thoroughbred Central & Racing.com from 8:00 pm on Monday 5 October.
