Melbourne, Vic (March 16th, 2010) - The news just keeps getting better for Coolmore Stud with young stallion, Oratorio, siring his first southern hemisphere Group 1 winner when his juvenile daughter Banchee won the AuRC Diamond Stakes at Ellerslie in New Zealand.

Banchee was Oratorio’s first southern hemisphere winner when she won on debut, at Ellerslie, and on Saturday she beat the best of her age in the $200,000 juvenile feature. 

Sent out as the punters elect after her last start Group 2 Matamata Breeders’ Stakes victory, the John Sargent prepared, Banchee had a good barrier and her rider, Leith Innes, used it the his advantage to find a spot on the rail just off the pace set by Sirrio (Captain Rio) and Nacho Man (Mr Nancho). 

Innes angled out after straightening to put the race away very quickly and beat the colts Cellarmaster (Dubawi) by a head with Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) a nose away in third.

Out of the Group 3 winner Miss Jessie Jay (by Spectacularphantom), Banchee is a half-sister to Katie Lee (Pins), winner of the Group 1 NZ 2000 Guineas and the Group 1 NZB 1000 Guineas.

Owned by Sam and Belinda Kelt, Banchee with $280,000 from her five start-career maybe sent to Australia to contest the Group 1 AAMI Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) on 3 April, a race that John Sargent believes could suit the filly with her ability to relax off the pace.

Banchee was bred and sold by Denny and Mark Baker’s Hallmark Stud, along with Trevor Hurley and sold for $375,000 at the 2009 Karaka Premier Sale.

Oratorio was a top-class juvenile himself, winning the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and he was runner-up in the Phoenix Stakes at the Curragh and the Dewhurst Stakes at Newmarket. 

His fee last spring in Australia at Coolmore was $22,000 (inc gst) while in the northern hemisphere it was £12,222/€13,811.  This year his northern hemisphere fee in Ireland has been advertised at €15,000.

Permalink| Mar 16, 2010

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