Farnan named Champion 2YO of 2019/20

Not A Single Doubt’s Golden Slipper-winning son Farnan has won the 2019/20 Champion 2YO of the Year award announced on Monday evening by host Racing Queensland via live broadcast on Sky Thoroughbred Central & Racing.com.

One of four Arrowfield-connected finalists for this year’s title, Farnan is the 8th Arrowfield-sired juvenile to achieve national recognition. Past Australian Champion 2YOs include Arrowfield graduates Catbird (by Danehill; 1998/99), Fashions Afield (by Redoute’s Choice; 2004/05), Miss Finland (by Redoute’s Choice; 2005/06), Meurice (2006/07) & Estijaab (by Snitzel; 2017/18), and the Arrowfield-sired She Will Reign (by Manhattan Rain; 2016/17), Dance Hero (by Danzero; 2003/04) & Merlene (by Danehill; 1995/96).

Farnan is also the 10th Champion 2YO trained by Gai Waterhouse, and her first in partnership with Adrian Bott.

Farnan opened his $2.5 million juvenile career with a brilliant debut win at Canberra on 17 November. That was followed by success in the Wyong Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL and the only blip on his record, an unplaced finish in Away Game’s Magic Millions victory on the Gold Coast.

He prepared for his season finale with authoritative victories in the Silver Sipper G2 and the Todman S. G2 before starting favourite in the Golden Slipper G1 where he took early control of the race and was threatened only momentarily by Away Game’s gallant late charge. 

Jockey Hugh Bowman summed up Farnan’s 2YO campaign and his Golden Slipper victory: “I haven’t ridden a better two-year-old. Just his mannerisms and his professionalism, that is one thing, but his ability is another.

“I could sense the pressure coming at the 200 metres and I hadn’t asked for full throttle, but when I did, my word he responded and responded in style…He’s a very special horse and it’s a very special day.”

The strongly made colt was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbred and raced by them in partnership with Aquis Farm after going through the Magic Millions Sale as a $550,000 yearling in the Vinery Stud draft. Kia Ora Stud joined the ownership after the colt’s 2YO campaign.

Farnan is the sixth foal of the fine Group-winning mare Tallow (by Street Cry), also the dam of dual stakeswinner Sandbar (by Snitzel). The family descends from the Italian-bred mare Ursula Lauderdale, bought by David Hains along with  Kingston Town’s dam Ada Hunter and imported to Australia in 1975. Ursula Lauderdale left two stakeswinners, one of them the Champion 3YO Filly & dual Oaks winner Lowan Star, and is also the ancestress of stakeswinners Empire, Kingston Heritage, Beauty School & Petite Dane.

Farnan is the best of four stakeswinners from 20 runners by Redoute’s Choice sons out of Street Cry mares; while the Redoute’s Choice/Street Cry cross is responsible for Godolphin’s top-class sprinter & Everest contender Trekking, Arrowfield’s Thousand Guineas G1 winner Stay With Me & multiple Group 2 winner Savatiano.

Not A Single Doubt is the sire of 73 stakeswinners (14 Group 1 winners) including 27 2YOs, and Farnan is his third Group 1 2YO winner, after Blue Diamond winners Miracles of Life & Extreme Choice. Not A Single Doubt also appears as the damsire of this season’s first Sydney 2YO stakeswinners, Enthaar (by Written Tycoon) & Shaquero (by Shalaa).

Farnan’s 3YO campaign began with a controversial fifth placing in the Run to the Rose S. G2 and, following an exhibition gallop at Randwick last week, his next major target is The Everest, taking up Aquis Farm’s slot, on 17 October.