Magnificent new Group 1 Classic winner for Redoute’s Choice

“”You don’t see Oaks won like that.””

So said one commentator after Royal Descent defeated a quality field of 3YO fillies in yesterday’s $550,000 ATC Australian Oaks to become the 22nd Group 1 winner, and the 11th 3YO Classic winner for her super sire Redoute’s Choice.

Pictured: Royal Descent is the third consecutive Australian Oaks winner by Redoute’s Choice or one of his sons, after Absolutely (2011) and Streama (by Stratum, 2012). Royal Descent also won last weekend’s Adrian Knox S. G3. PHOTO: Bronwen Healy.

Defeat is too light a word for what Royal Descent inflicted upon the VRC Oaks, New Zealand Oaks & New Zealand Derby winners, and six other rivals, after Nash Rawiller sent her forward 500 metres from home. The strapping dark brown filly responded magnificently, leading at the 400-metre mark, and then powering on to a 10-length victory – the biggest winning margin in a Randwick Group 1 race since Might And Power’s 1998 Queen Elizabeth Stakes win.

It was Royal Descent’s fourth success in a 7-start career that began only four months ago, and took her earnings close to $560,000 – well past the $350,000 her breeder Gerry Harvey had asked for her at the 2011 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale. Passed in at $340,000, she has not only justified his assessment of her worth, but also rewarded one of her sire’s most consistent supporters with a remarkable Group 1 ownership success.

Mr Harvey’s royal blue and white colours have also been worn this season by Redoute’s Choice’s son Sheer Talent, winner of the VRC C.S. Hayes S. G3 and third in the Australian Guineas G1, and by the Group-placed winners Chateau Margaux and Rose Pattern, while the Harvey-bred Cantonese has been successful at Listed level.

Royal Descent is the seventh and best foal of the very good Group 2-winning mare Mulan Princess (Kaapstad-Madam Valeta), a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1 winner Golden Sword. Group 3 winner Madam Valeta is also the dam of the top-class sprinter Falkirk, now at stud in New Zealand, and the Listed stakeswinner Luscilla whose recent foals include a 2012 colt by Snitzel.

Royal Descent has an unraced, year-younger sister named Chateau Lafaite, and a weanling half-brother by Big Brown.

The combination of Redoute’s Choice with mares by sons of the great Sir Tristram has now produced 17 stakeswinners from 98 runners, four of them Group 1 winners (Samantha Miss, Melito, Allez Wonder and Royal Descent). Interestingly, the Oaks winner is one of only 7 named foals bred on the Redoute’s Choice/Kaapstad cross.

Royal Descent was the opening half of a very special double for trainer Chris Waller who also prepares the Doncaster Handicap G1 winner Sacred Falls – son of the Redoute’s Choice mare Iguazu’s Girl.

Redoute’s Choice leads the Australian 3YO Sires’ list by stakeswinners with a tally of nine, and is the youngest sire among the top 10 on the Broodmare Sires’ table. His lifetime tally of stakeswinners stands at 105, 19 of them successful in five countries this season.

Currently serving a stellar book of mares at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in France, Redoute’s Choice will be available to Australasian breeders this spring at a fee of $137,500 inc. GST.