Redoute’s Choice regiment assembles for spring assault

Nine winners in 7 days have given champion sire Redoute’s Choice a quick start to the new Australian season, and they include several appealing prospects for significant spring success.

His 2011/12 campaign opened with two winners on Wednesday 3 August, Just the Tonic on debut at Canterbury, and Achievements at Eagle Farm.

Pictured: Nash Rawiller & Just the Tonic return to scale at Canterbury on Wednesday. (PHOTO: Martin King, Sportpix)

The Paul Messara stable produced Ze Choice & Leicester Square to win at Scone on Friday, while Saturday’s racing brought success for the David Hayes-trained pair Columbus and Niconoise at Morphettville, alongside Bawaardi in Cairns and Silent Predator in Newcastle.

Today Bob and Rosemary Scarborough‘s 3YO filly Hurriyet, the sister to champion filly Samantha Miss, broke her maiden at Seymour. She’s been patiently handled by her owners and trainer Peter Moody, with the autumn likely to be her time to shine.

Godspeed, another Redoute’s Choice 3YO in the Moody stable, also began his Guineas-aimed campaign at Seymour, posting his third second placing from three starts.

3YO gelding Just the Tonic, from the fine producer Platonic (by Nassipour) claimed Sydney’s first metropolitan race of 2011/12 for jockey Nash Rawiller and trainer Gai Waterhouse, who said afterwards, “We’ve always had an opinion of him and today confirmed it.”

Niconoise, the 3YO half-brother to Group 1 winners Niconero and Nicconi, won his 1200-metre debut by more than three lengths and the $1 million ATC Golden Rose on 10 September is now a possible spring target for him.

Stablemate Maraaseem followed up her valuable Rivette Series Final win on 9 July with a solid effort for second behind There’s Only One at Flemington yesterday. She looks capable of success at stakes level.

Another highlight of yesterday’s racing for Redoute’s Choice was Rekindled Interest‘s fast-finishing second to Temple of Boom in yesterday’s VRC Aurie’s Star H. 1200m G3 at Flemington. The 4YO gelding won last year’s 2040-metre MVRC AAMI Vase G2 before a brave fifth in the VRC Victoria Derby G1 and is nominated for the Caulfield Cup, among other major spring races.

Spring has traditionally been a kind season for Redoute’s Choice: nine of his 20 Group 1 winners have won at the highest level during the Sydney & Melbourne spring carnivals.

The champion sire son of Danehill stands the 2011 season at a fee of $137,500 inc. GST.