Date posted February 12, 2010 | Posted by Michele Cullen | Filed under
Oratorio_IRE,
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Racing and BreedingMelbourne, Vic (Feb 12th, 2010) - Debut starter Conturbar created a good impression in dispatching his rivals at Wyong on Thursday afternoon in an 1100m 2yo event, and in the process he became the first Australian winner for his young sire, three time Group 1 winning son of Danehill, Oratorio (Ire).
Beginning well, Conturbar, trained by Gerald Ryan, settled in fourth spot and rounding the turn he found room near the rail to surge clear of his rivals with jockey Tye Angland afforded the opportunity to ease his mount significantly in the closing stages before going on to record an impressive near three-length victory.
Ryan has a good opinion of the colt, which certainly looks justified on the basis of his strong win. “He’s certainly a city class horse and I think he is up to competing well at stakes level” he said.
“He is a good, sound, tough, horse and he’s run a fast time in that ground today so it was a good win”.
A $45,000 purchase from the draft of Kulani Park at the Magic Millions Premier Yearling Sale in 2009, Conturbar is a son of the winning Canny Lad mare Rainbow Lover and is in fact her first winner from three foals to the racecourse.
Oratorio (Ire) has enjoyed considerable success with his first two year olds in New Zealand this season with his winning daughter Banchee ranking amongst the best performers of her age in that country. Anyone who saw her barnstorming run when an unlucky third in the recent Karaka Millions race at Ellerslie will have been left in little doubt that she is a filly of considerable ability. She is reportedly being targeted at the Gr.1 Sires Produce Stakes by trainer John Sargent which in itself is a ringing endorsement of the regard in which she is held.
Revered by his trainer Aidan O’Brien for his sheer courage and appetite for racing, Oratorio (Ire) marked himself down as a racehorse of the highest calibre with his three Group 1 wins, hence justifying the strong demand that we have witnessed for his early stock.
His first crop of yearlings, now two-year olds, averaged well over $80,000 with top prices of $340,000, $NZ375,000, $300,000, $NZ325,000 etc. His stock have continued to be in considerable demand in 2010 with his colt from Pacific Dreams realising $200,000 at the recent Inglis Classic Sale, the second highest priced lot of the sale, while a colt from Chaleur realised $NZ240,000 at the recent Karaka Select Yearling Sale.
At the William Inglis Premier yearling sale in Victoria at Oaklands Junction, Oratorio (Ire) has 10 yearlings listed for sale (March 1st - 4th). He also has a lone colt that has been catalogued for sale at the Inglis Australian Easter sale in April (4th-8th).
In a sign that breeders are very happy with Oratorio’s foals he was well supported at Coolmore last spring in Australia serving 164 mares at a fee of $22,000.
