King’s Rose takes Redoute’s Choice to the top

Last season’s New Zealand Filly of the Year King’s Rose became the first Australian stakeswinner in 2011/12 for

Redoute’s Choice when she sustained a powerful finish to claim yesterday’s $200,000 MRC Memsie S. 1400m G2 at Caulfield.

Pictured: King’s Rose defeats Heart of Dreams in the Memsie S. G2 (PHOTO: Colin Bull/Sportpix)

Bred and raced by Dr Gene Tsoi from the Nureyev mare Nureyev’s Girl, the 4YO mare is now trained by Peter Moody after winning six of her 12 New Zealand starts, including last spring’s CJC NZ 1000 Guineas G1.

She headed a sparkling day for Redoute’s Choice whose season earnings already exceed $700,000 – enough to take him to the top of the Australian General Sires’ table after 27 days of racing in 2010/11.

The Memsie runs of Rekindled Interest (4th) and Absolutely (5th) were encouraging, while 3YO colt Cross of Gold (ex They Say by Thirty Six Red) flashed home for second behind Golden Archer in the MRC H.D.F. McNeil S. 1200m G3. Another 3YO, Hurriyet, the full sister to champion filly Samantha Miss, also produced a strong finish for third over 1400 metres at Caulfield; and 4YO Altius was a close second over 1500 metres at Rosehill.

At Rosehill progressive 3YO colts Just The Tonic and Rekindled Alliance delivered the quinella in a 3YO Benchmark 75 event over 1400 metres. Trainer Gai Waterhouse has not ruled out a start in the ATC Golden Rose S. G1 on 10 September for Just The Tonic, while Paul Messara said that Rekindled Alliance is beginning to look more like a Spring Champion Stakes horse.

The day’s racing concluded with Redoute’s Choice’s third black type performer in England this year, the 3YO filly Rakasa (ex Danse Arabe by Seeking the Gold), who was just pipped by Regal Realm in the 7-furlong Goodwood Prestige S. G3. That effort follows Listed Race victories by Elzaam and Tazahum in May, Elzaam’s eye-catching fourth in the Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee S. G1 and Tazahum’s second in the York Strensall S. G3 earlier this month. These horses are among the 20 named foals in Redoute’s Choice’s northern time-conceived 2008 crop.

Redoute’s Choice, with 20 Group 1 winners on the board and 10.7% SW/runners, stands at a fee of $137,500 inc. GST in 2011.