Redoute’s Choice colts quinella Up and Coming Stakes

While their champion sire received accolades in the Hunter Valley, a pair of smashing Arrowfield colts showed Randwick racegoers exactly why Redoute’s Choice is the king of Australian sires.

Scissor Kick and Panzer Division both went into Saturday’s $125,000 ATC Up and Coming S. 1300m G3 as last-start winners, but the more experienced Scissor Kick, successful in the The Rosebud LR on 9 August, was preferred by punters who let Panzer Division start at $17 in the nine-horse field.

Kathy O’Hara made good use of the ace draw to position Panzer Division on the rail behind Liberation and Valentia, while Tye Angland and Scissor Kick settled behind them, one off the rail.

Soon after the field rounded the bend Panzer Division launched his challenge for the lead as Liberation ran out, badly hampering Valentia, Better Land and Meursault. Panzer Division’s resoluteness began to pay off in the final 200 metres as Liberation continued to run erratically, while Scissor Kick drove through on the inside of the recovering Valentia.

Panzer Division hit the front fifty metres from home with Scissor Kick a half-length behind him and chasing hard. The two colts crossed the line together and Scissor Kick was announced the winner after lengthy consideration of the photo by the judge and confirmation by the stewards. The official winning margin was a nose, with Valentia third and Better Land fourth after Liberation was relegated to fifth. 

Trainer Paul Messara said, “A great result for the team obviously. They are two outstanding colts that both have unlimited ability.

“They both have stallion potential. Panzer Division was headed to the Spring Champion Stakes while Scissor Kick is definitely going to the Golden Rose, but they may both head there now.”

Previous winners of the Up and Coming Stakes include champion & leading sires Snitzel (2005), Fastnet Rock (2004), Exceed and Excel (2003), Testa Rossa (1999) and General Nediym (1997).

Tye Angland said, “I thought my bloke was going to run fourth or fifth at one stage, he didn’t handle the track very well but he really knuckled down late.”

Kathy O’Hara believed the wayward Liberation cost Panzer Division victory, despite not actually interfering with him.

“My horse has plenty to learn and he just lost concentration a bit when Liberation ran off the track. It’s a bit disappointing to lose, but it was a very good effort and it’s a good result for Paul.”

A few hours later in Scone on Saturday evening, at the 2014 National & NSW Breeding Awards Dinner, Arrowfield Chairman John Messara accepted the third Australian Champion Sire trophy won by Redoute’s Choice, following his premiership successes in 2006 and 2010.

Scissor Kick (ex Back Pass by Quest for Fame) was a $200,000 purchase from the 2013 Inglis Easter Sale and is raced by his breeder Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing in partnership with Arrowfield.

Scissor Kick and his stakes-winning brother Sharkbite are grandsons of a half-sister to the great broodmare Hasili (dam of four Group 1 winners by Danehill), Arrive (dam of Danehill’s champion daughter Promising Lead) and Dissemble (dam of Animal Kingdom’s sire Leroidesanimaux).

Back Pass died earlier this year but has a 2YO daughter by Redoute’s Choice and a yearling colt by High Chaparral.

Also an Inglis Easter graduate, Panzer Division (ex Desert Fight by Hussonet) was bred by Brent & Judy Hudson of Lustre Lodge and purchased for $120,000 by Paul Messara Racing. Desert Fight, a dual Group 1 winner and Champion 2YO Filly in Chile, has a 2YO filly by Redoute’s Choice and visits Animal Kingdom this Spring.

Scissor Kick and Panzer Division have quickly pushed Redoute’s Choice past the $500,000 mark on the 2014/15 General Sires’ table which is currently headed by another Redoute’s Choice son, Snitzel.