Redoute’s Choice colts salute for Spendthrift

Spendthrift Australia bought five colts at Inglis Easter and Magic Millions in 2015 and this week celebrated debut wins with two of them – both by Redoute’s Choice and both trained by Team Hawkes.

Redouble, out of New Zealand Group 1 winner Special Mission (by Last Tycoon’s son Towkay) and descending from Okawa Stud’s brilliant mare Lilt, was sent out on Wednesday at double-figure odds in the 1200-metre Ranvet Plate at Canterbury.

He jumped well for Christian Reith, settled back third on the fence and peeled out at the top of the straight to challenge Serena’s Pride. As he began to get past the filly, the Godolphin filly Raiment began to run home strongly down the outside. Redouble responded willingly to that challenge to score by a head from Raiment with Serena’s Pride third.  

Watch Redouble’s debut win at Canterbury.

Redouble was a $200,000 buy from the Torryburn Stud draft, on behalf of breeder Macedon Park, at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale.

Three days later, Swear started at the same $12 price in the $125,000 Claret Stakes at the Hawkesbury stand-alone meeting, but took a completely different path to victory. He mounted a big run from the back of the field and stretched out in fine style to nab Godolphin colt Flow just short of the post, with the favourite Radcliffe third.

Watch Swear win on debut at Hawkesbury.

Bred by Dean Fleming from the top New Zealand 2YO filly Crossyourheart (by Show A Heart), Swear was bought for $725,000 from the Tyreel Stud consignment at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale.

He’s a fourth-generation descendant of the British-bred mare Polly Soleil, purchased in 1985 by Kiwi breeders Graham & Helen-Gaye Bax who have bred a host of top horses from her, her daughters and grand-daughters.  They include All Thrills Too (Hong Kong Sprint G1), Group winners She Will Be Loved, Adaline, Gotta Have Heart, Malandrino, Silky Red Boxer and most notably, three-time Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina. 

Redouble and Swear take their sire’s tally of 2YO winners this season to eight, headed by Group winners Thyme For Roses and Honesty Prevails and Listed winner Zamzam.

The top of the Australian 2YO Sires’ table is something of an Arrowfield feast this season. Redoute’s Choice, whose lifetime record features 32 juvenile stakeswinners, is in eighth spot, his sons Not A Single Doubt, Snitzel & Beneteau are 2nd, 3rd and 10th, and their former barnmate All American is currently fourth.