Coolmore’s high-class sprinting stallion, Choisir, chalked up his  16th stakes winner on Saturday when Battlefield got the better of his opponents in the Listed Ascot Handicap at Eagle Farm.

Racing off the speed, and at times giving his trainer Paul Messara concern with his head on the side and ears layed back suggesting all wasn’t right with him.  Battlefield, straightened up under Daniel Ganderton when it mattered most and went home too well beating the older Wasted Emotions (Desert Prince - Emotional Moment by Salieri) by a length-and-a-quarter. 

 Elderly sprinter, Mitanni (Danewin - And A Hug by Ivor Prince) collected another cheque for his owners’ in third another short-half-head away.

Messara, sent Battlefield to Queensland after his unplaced effort at Rosehill earlier in the year in the Listed Fireball Stakes.  A short break and the chestnut returned to the track in June to win a class one event at the Sunshine Coast.  Taking the next step with Battlefield Messara entered him for a 3YO Hcp at Eagle Farm on June 20.   That day the gelding beat a handy field and opened up well in the straight clocking a slick 1-9.11 for the 1200m.  

 On Saturday, Messara, made the most of the weight allowance for Battlefield and the gelding came through for the young trainer.  Punters made him the warm favourite and he didn’t disappoint them and took his record to four wins and a second from six starts with earnings in excess of $110,000 for his syndicate of owners.

Battlefield was bought out of the 2007 William Inglis Melbourne Premier yearling sale by Messara Racing for $300,000 from the Glentree Downs draft.  He is the first stakes winner for his dam Charming Charge (by Rory’s Jester) a daughter of Captivation (by Vain), a non-winning stakes place getter. 

Covered last spring by Dehere, Charming Charge is a half-sister to Group Two winner Khaptivaan (by Adraan), the dam of Group One VATC Oakleigh Plate winner Khaptingly (Bletchingly).

The Listed Ascot Hcp win of Battlefield, gave his sire, Choisir his ninth Australian stakes-winner for the season.  A son of Danehill Dancer, out of the Lunchtime mare, Great Selection, Choisir has been well supported by breeders since his retirement covering 995 mares over the past six seasons.  At this stage of his new career he has six Group 2 winners on his resume and while he was a great sprinter himself his progeny have shown diversity with a winning distance ranges from 1000m to 2000m.   It’s hard not to think that its only a matter of time before Choisir clocks up that all important first group one winner.  

Choisir is one of a very few stallions that had a service fee rise this spring with Coolmore setting his fee at $35,750 (inc gst) up from $33,000 (inc gst).

Tags: Coolmore
Permalink| Jul 5, 2009

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