Wednesday 12 February 2014
Leading Melbourne trainers Peter Moody and Mick Price produced a pair of talented 4YOs to give champion sire REDOUTE'S CHOICE a valuable Group race double at Caulfield in Melbourne today.
The Teeley Assets home-bred Lankan Rupee (ex Estelle Collection by Zabeel) made it look easy in the $175,000 MRC Rubiton S. 1100m G2, bouncing out smartly from the gates to take an early lead he extended to 3.75 lengths by the winning post. Iconic took second place, followed by First Command a quarter-length away in third position.
Already a winner at Group 3 and Listed stakes level last Spring, Lankan Rupee has earned $434,260 from 6 wins and three placings, and a Group 1 campaign is now planned for him.
Trainer Mick Price said, "He’s a big strong horse, you saw what he did last prep as a gelding and I think he’s on the right path. He’s only had one jumpout coming into this, he hasn’t been screwed down to win first up but that’s the sort of horse he is.
"We’ll go to the Oakleigh Plate, then to the Newmarket and then on to the William Reid. There’s still good improvement in him, he’s just a good, sound, tough racehorse that holds his condition well."
John and Deborah Camilleri's home-bred mare A Time For Julia (ex Procrastinate by Jade Hunter) is also likely to target Group 1 prizes after her well-deserved victory in the $150,000 Bellmaine S. 1200m G3.
Settled just off the speed by jockey Luke Nolen, A Time For Julia unleashed a decisive turn of foot to score by a long neck from Danestroem who was a quarter-length ahead of Bonaria (also by REDOUTE'S CHOICE).
Her success completed a valuable treble for the Peter Moody stable which also turned out Moment of Change (MRC C.F. Orr S. G1) and Spirits Dance (MRC Kevin Hayes S. G3).
A Time For Julia is the 109th stakeswinner by REDOUTE'S CHOICE, and his fifth Group winner in Australia this season.
Her jockey Luke Nolen said, “There is probably no more deserving mare in that race to win; she has been a victim of bad luck a couple of times and I was glad to see her bring that excellent work of a morning to the races and showcase it.”
The Robert Sangster S. G1 on 26 April and The Goodwood G1 on 10 May are both likely targets for A Time For Julia, who is the fifth stakeswinner from the remarkable broodmare Procrastinate.
Herself a Group 3 winner, Procrastinate has also left multiple South African group 1 winner Laisserfaire (by Danehill), Group 1-placed stakeswinners Time Thief (REDOUTE'S CHOICE) and Foreplay (Danehill), and the juvenile stakeswinner Personify (Galileo).
REDOUTE'S CHOICE, about to begin his second Northern Hemisphere season at the Aga Khan's Haras de Bonneval, has now left 16 stakeswinners from the 113 named foals in his 2009 crop, among them Group 1 winners Royal Descent & Wylie Hall.
The mighty son of Danehill has 10 yearlings catalogued for next month's Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale, six of them in Arrowfield's draft.
Thirty-six lots by REDOUTE'S CHOICE will be offered at April's Inglis Australian Easter Sale, including six colts & three fillies from Arrowfield.
Updated 11/02/2014.
