Date posted November 30, 2009 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Encosta de Lago,
Premium Updates,
Racing and Breeding,
Rising Star,
Staff FavouritesMelbourne, Vic (November 30, 2009) - Progressive stayer Star Ripper is finally living up to his blue-blooded pedigree, the son of champion sire Encosta de Lago and Cox Plate winner Dane Ripper posting his third straight win at Randwick on Saturday.
Stepping up to 2400 metres for the first time, the Bart Cummings trained gelding settled beautifully for Glyn Schofield and then strode clear at the finish to score a dominant two-and-a-half length win.
Star Ripper winning the Sharp Hcp (2400m)
“He settled well and did a good job, he’s a horse that has really only come right since he’s been gelded and he has a good future,” Bart Cumming said.
A $400,000 purchase for DGR Thoroughbreds from the Coolmore draft at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Star Ripper is part-owned by Dato Tan Chin Nam in whose colours he runs and has now won three races from 11 starts with plenty of upside for the future.
He is the fifth foal of former superstar Dane Ripper, who was trained by Cummings to win a dozen races and more than $3.1 million in prizemoney highlighted by Group One victories in the MVRC WS Cox Plate, VRC Australian Cup and QTC Stradbroke Handicap.
At stud, Dane Ripper has enjoyed only moderate success as the dam of three winners, her best being stakes-placed Switchblade, who now does his racing in Singapore.
Dane Ripper has had little luck at stud in recent years, although does have a yearling filly by Fusaichi Pegasus, making her a full sister to Switchblade.
Although Encosta de Lago did get caught up in quarantine during the horrendous equine influenza saga the Coolmore based stallion does have a number of yearlings appearing at the sales.
Next month, in Hong Kong at the International Sale (December 12), he has a lone colt going through the ring. To be offered as Lot 12 he is out of the stakes winning Alzao mare, Miss Helga. Selected by the HKJC out of New Zealand’s premier sale they paid NZ$360,000 for him. Miss Helga is already the dam of a winner and black type earner, Pink Siris (Encosta de Lago).
In the New Year, Encosta de Lago has 32 yearlings by him catalogued for sale at the Magic Millions sale (January 6th – 14th) on the Gold Coast. With the next opportunity for buyers to look at his stock being at Karaka in New Zealand where 13 yearlings are listed for sale by the son of Fairy King and Shoal Creek (February 1st-2nd).
