Redoute’s Choice & sons on fire at Caulfield

Redoute’s Choice and his sons Snitzel & Beneteau dominated the stakes racing on Saturday’s Caulfield card, thanks to quality performances by Great Esteem, Redzel & Ocean Embers.

The Snowden-trained Redzel, having his first start in Melbourne, opened the dynasty’s attack on the day’s prizes in the $150,000 MRC The Heath 1100 G3. He began brilliantly from gate 12, took control of the race and never let it go, winning by almost a half-length from Under The Louvre, who powered home late, and Santa Ana Lane.

Watch Redzel win the MRC The Heath 1100 G3.

It was the 4YO gelding’s fourth win from 11 starts and his second stakes success following his ATC Fireball S. LR win last March. He completes a sensational start to the 2016/17 season for Snitzel, also represented by Listed winner Thronum and Group 3 winners Russian Revolution, Sooboog and, in Japan, Young Man Power since 1 August.

Bred by Lee Fleming, Redzel is the last foal of the very good juvenile filly Millrich (by Rubiton), winner of the ATC Sweet Embrace S. G2 and third in Flying Spur’s 1995 Golden Slipper, and also dam of the Group 3 winner and sire Danerich (by Danehill).

Redzel was offered at the 2013 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale where he was a $45,000 buy for Marquee Stud, which re-sold him to Triple Crown Syndications for $120,000 at the following year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

Triple Crown’s Chris & Michael Ward have achieved notable success with Snitzel’s progeny, as purchasers & syndicators of Group 1 winner Hot Snitzel and Group 2 winner Flying Snitzel, both bought as yearlings from Arrowfield Stud.

Three races later 6YO gelding Great Esteem became the 135th stakeswinner for Redoute’s Choice with another all-the-way win in the $120,000 MRC Heatherlie S. 1700m LR.

Watch Great Esteem win the MRC Heatherlie S. LR.

Great Esteem, raced in partnership by his breeder Cressfield Stud, has been a consistent performer since his juvenile season when he split Twilight Royale and Shamus Award in the VRC Sires’ Produce S. G2.  He’s won eight races and more than $400,000 from the Hayes, Snowden and now the Stuart Webb stables.

Great Esteem’s dam Park Esteem (by Singspiel), a winning three-quarter sister of Dubai World Cup winner Moon Ballad, has also left Group-placed Listed winner High Esteem and promising filly Pepperberry to Redoute’s Choice.

Cranbourne trainer Shea Eden wound up the day with his first stakeswinner Ocean Embers, a 4YO daughter of Beneteau, bred by Arrowfield in partnership with Jungle Pocket Pty Ltd. She drew widest of the 14 runners in the $150,000 MRC Cockram S. 1200m G3 but started favourite and won most impressively, with a big home-straight run that got her to the post a half-length ahead of Thames Court, with Telopea third.

Watch Ocean Embers win the MRC Cockram S. G3.

Ocean Embers, a $23,000 buy from the Cornerstone Stud draft at the 2014 Magic Millions Adelaide Sale, has now won four of her seven starts and more than $200,000. 

She is the 7th stakeswinner from the 136 foals Beneteau left in the two crops born & conceived before his death in January 2013. 4YO Prompt Return’s easy win at Doomben on Saturday and Bacarella’s excellent Silver Shadow S. G2 second on 20 August are further reminders of Beneteau’s quality as a sire.

Ocean Embers is out of Burningwood, a winning daughter of Tabasco Cat and US Grade 2 winner Wood So, whose breeding career has been split between Japan, where she left Group 3 winner Fireflaught, and Australia. She has three fillies to follow Ocean Embers: Darby Racing’s 3YO Flame Of Love (in the Waterhouse & Bott stable), a 2YO by All American and a yearling by Manhattan Rain.

Burningwood’s first Australian foal, the city winner Pyrography (by Danzero) was retained by Arrowfield & Jungle Pocket, and has an unraced daughter by All American, colts by Smart Missile and Animal Kingdom and is due to foal this Spring to Dundeel.