Arrowfield sires dominate early season 2YO racing

With the first quarter of the 2012/13 season, and the Emirates Melbourne Cup Carnival behind us, the Australian Sires’ lists are beginning to take meaningful shape.

Pictured: A trio of cracking Arrowfield-sired 2YOs fight out the finish of the VRC Maribyrnong Plate G3 past the Flemington roses. The winner Direct Charge (black & red) digs in as runner-up Crack A Roadie (pink) and third-placed Shamus Award (green & black) challenge him. (PHOTO: Darren Tindale)

With only seven of the Group & Listed Races reserved for 2YOs now decided, it is really too early to pay close attention to the 2YO sires’ table. However, spring juvenile results are always noted by buyers who begin inspecting sale yearlings as early as this week.

After supplying 4 winners and four placegetters from only 12 starters in those seven races, Arrowfield sires have put themselves in front of every trainer, agent, syndicator & owner keen to minimise the wait between purchase and raceday results.

Charge Forward is the sire of yesterday’s VRC Maribyrnong Plate G3 victor Direct Charge, and Crack A Roadie who won the MVRC Inglis Banner, a race given Restricted Listed status for the first time this year, and completed the quinella with Direct Charge at Flemington.

This pair and impressive Warwick Farm debut winner Assail give Charge Forward a clear lead on the 2YO Sires’ table with prizemoney of $340,250. That is quite an achievement, given that Charge Forward’s 2010 crop numbered 71 live foals, considerably fewer than most of his rivals.

Snitzel holds third place on the list with earnings of almost $200,000, thanks to city winners Sweet Idea, O’Hara de Belle & Petrol Power, and the twice stakes-placed Shamus Award.

Fourth spot on the 2YO Sires’ table is occupied by Not A Single Doubt with $165,825 prizemoney, after Villa Verde‘s back-to-back stakes wins at Caulfield and Flemington.

Flying Spur ‘s talented son Rockford flew home for second in the VRC Maribyrnong Trial S. LR on 6 October and brings the total of Arrowfield-sired 2YO Australian stakes performers this spring to five.

Three winners in New Zealand boost these statistics, with Zaragoza winning yesterday at Te Rapa for Charge Forward, Choice Snitzel winning on debut at Riccarton for Snitzel, and Not A Single Doubt’s son Doubtless scoring by 5.5 lengths on debut at Ruakaka in September.