Redoute’s Choice fights for third premiership

Third place on the General Sires’ table with season earnings of $6.4 million is a mighty achievement for any stallion.

But two-time champion sire Redoute’s Choice isn’t just any stallion, and with eight weeks of the 2010/11 season left, it is still too early to call the result of the battle for the premiership.

Today Varenna Miss & Zingaling (first and third in the BRC QTC Cup G2), Pontiana (3rd BRC Dane Ripper S. G2) and 2YO colt Galah (an impressive winner at Rosehill for Sheikh Mohammed) added almost $200,000 to Redoute’s Choice’s prizemoney. His 2010/11 earnings now stand at $6,635,318.

That has taken him within striking distance of current table leader Lonhro ($6,994,570) and High Chapparal ($6,920,190), with Varenna Miss a likely key player in his final push for the premiership, if she lines up in the $1 million Stradbroke Handicap G1 (11 June) and/or the $500,000 Winter Stakes G1 (25 June).

Varenna Miss has already restored Redoute’s Choice to the head of the Australian Sires’ table by individual stakeswinners, with 13 for the season. Four stakeswinners in New Zealand, England & Japan (King’s Rose, Elzaam, Tazahum & Clianthus) take his international total to 17.

Incidentally, Flying Spur is not far behind him, with eight stakeswinners in Australia, and one offshore (Sapelli in Hong Kong).

Whatever the outcome, the contest for the financial premiership is set to add immense interest to the remainder of the season.