Written Tycoon’s Cup Day Group double

Finance Tycoon (rails) simply would not relinquish his lead to Ingratiating in the Maribyrnong Plate G3, also won by Heroic, Biscay, Vain, Canny Lad & Testa Rossa. (PHOTO: Darren Tindale)

Written Tycoon’s exceptional Spring continued on Cup Day at Flemington when Finance Tycoon & Rich Hips became his 38th and 39th stakeswinners and took his season tally to eight.

In perfect weather, on a Good4 track before an industry crowd strictly limited by Melbourne’s pandemic regulations, 2YO colt Finance Tycoon opened the day with a resolute performance to win the $200,000 VRC Maribyrnong Plate 1000m G3, defeating the hot favourite Ingratiating and Marine One.

It was a particularly satisfying win for trainers Ben Hayes & Tom Dabernig, in the first season of their partnership minus their father & uncle David, now training in Hong Kong. It is the fifth time the Lindsay Park team has won the race in the past two decades.

Bred by Boom Racing’s Jeremey & Peta Schloss and Brian & Simon Adams’ Golden Gully Thoroughbreds, Finance Tycoon was a $150,000 buy for UK agent Johnny McKeever from Eureka Stud’s Magic Millions draft. He is Written Tycoon’s 10th juvenile stakeswinner and the $2 million Magic Millions 2YO Classic RL on 16 January is an obvious target for him.

Finance Tycoon is the fourth foal and first winner of Darook Park, a winning daughter of Darci Brahma and Silk Ending. This is the immediate family of multiple Group winner Gypsy Diamond (by Not A Single Doubt) among others, and descends from Ciboulette, also ancestress of Champion Sires Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago.

Darook Park’s half-sister Lustrous (by Flying Spur) is among the mares Arrowfield has sent to Written Tycoon this season.

Flying Spur also appears as the damsire of Written Tycoon’s second Melbourne Cup Day Group winner Rich Hips who landed the $200,000 VRC Hong Kong Jockey Club S. 1400m G3 with the equal fastest last 200 metres of the entire meeting. (The race is registered as the Maybe Mahal Stakes.)

The 4YO mare was bred by Woodside Park Stud which offered her at the 2018 Inglis Premier Sale where was purchased for $130,000 by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing & Paul Willetts. She has now won five of her 14 starts and more than $300,000 prizemoney.

That makes Rich Hips the best of three winners left by She’s Curvaceous, a winning sister of Group 2-winning juvenile Velasco, herself the dam of Group winner Debellatio and stakeswinner Devoirs.

Rich Hips scored the most important victory of her 14-start career after running the last 200 metres of the Maybe Mahal S. G3 in 11 seconds flat. (PHOTO: Bronwen Healy)

Like Finance Tycoon, Rich Hips now heads to the spelling paddock with an Autumn campaign planned for her. 

Talented filly Kissonallforcheeks also kicked up for Written Tycoon with a close second to Snitzel’s daughter Snickerdoodledandy in the Perth Racing Burgess Queen S. LR.

Arrowfield’s favourite visitor-from-Victoria sits comfortably in second spot on the current General Sires’ Premiership with progeny earnings of $6.6 million. 

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