A sustained display of speed from two-year-old filly Diamond Earth (Choisir - Face Of The Earth, by Strategic) provided the highlight of an outstanding day’s work for reliable Coolmore sire Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime).

Diamond Earth showed terrific pace before hanging on late to win the $250,000 Inglis Nursery (1000m) at Warwick Farm. The filly’s win was her second in races restricted to Inglis sale graduates and took her prizemoney tally to more than $325,000 from three starts, providing a huge return on the $60,000 she fetched at the 2011 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

“All the family have got good gate speed and are high-cruising speed horses and she is plainly no different,” Cummings said.

“One of her assets is her gate speed … but equally she is pretty kind and does what you ask of her.

“At that speed I don’t think she’d get 1200 metres but I guess next time we don’t have to go that quick.”

Diamond Earth’s win was one of four by Choisir’s progeny on Saturday. The stallion also had winners at Narrogin, Kembla Grange and Fannie Bay.

Coolmore Stud sires took the honours again on Thursday after the worldwide breeding giant’s stallion combined for six successes in Australia and New Zealand.

Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) and High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) teamed up to provide a double at the Te Aroha meeting. Hype (High Chaparral - Zolata, by Zabeel) won the Nottingham Castle Hotel Maiden (2200m) before Encosta Larrocha (Encosta De Lago - Larrocha, by Danehill) took out the Waihou Excavation Handicap (2200m).

Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) sired a double of his own at the Seymour and Port Lincoln fixtures. Sweet Music (Choisir - Blue Music, by Bluebird) got home to win the Railway Club Hotel Maiden Plate (1009m) before Like Bolt (Choisir - Tierani, by Tierce) claimed the Carlton Draught Handicap (1000m).

Galileo (Sadler’s Wells - Urban Sea, by Miswaki) got in on the act at Port Lincoln when He’s Hot To Trot (Galileo - Zinnia, by Zabeel) won the Boston Bakery Handicap (1750m).

Coolmore’s champion Royal Academy (Nijinsky II - Crimson Saint, by Crimson Satan) closed out the operation’s impressive day when Stream Royale (Royal Academy - Sorell Creek, by King Of Kings) took out the VB Gold Maiden Plate (1109m).

Homecoming Queen (2 f Holy Roman Emperor - Lagrion, by Diesis) ran out the easy four and a quarter length winner of the Listed, Lanwades & Staffordstown Stud Stakes for two-year-old fillies over a mile at the Curragh on Sunday.

Like her sire, Homecoming Queen is trained by Aidan O’Brien and she came home alone to defeat Absolute Crackers (Giant’s Causeway) with Ronan’s Bay (Johannesburg) another two and a half lengths away in third.

Homecoming Queen is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Dylan Thomas (Danehill) who has done well with his first-crop two-year-olds in Europe this season and whose first-crop are about to hit the track in Australia.

Coolmore stallions were on the mark in Italy on Sunday where Temida (Oratorio) won the 2000m Group 3  Premio Verziere Memorial Aldo Cirla defeating Toi et Moi (Galileo) by half a length and Choisir Shadow (Choisir) running out the three-length winner of the Listed, Criterium Nazionale over 1200m, both races in Milan.

Coolmore Stud sires Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) and Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) combined for a double with a pair of well-related gallopers on Friday.

Choisir three-year-old Hell’s Kitchen (Choisir - Lanadee, by Snaadee) broke through for an overdue win in the Warren Roper Maiden Plate (1300m) on the Geelong Synthetic track.

Hell’s Kitchen is a half-brother to the dual Listed winner Secret Flyer (Secret Savings - Lanadee, by Snaadee).

Calaway Gal in her racing days, winning the 2002 Golden Slipper

Encosta De Lago produced Atreyu (Encosta De Lago - Calaway Gal, by Clang) to win the PFD Food Services Handicap (1400m) at Taree.

Atreyu is the second foal to race out of the 2002 Golden Slipper winner Calaway Gal (Clang - Calais Royale, by Captain’s Gold).

Calaway Gal has had four foals to race for two winners in a disappointing breeding career.

Meanwhile, The Oaks Stud resident Bachelor Duke (Miswaki - Gossamer, by Seattle Slew) earned his first double of the season with winners at the Geelong Synthetic and Te Rapa meetings.

The Colin Little-trained Cavendish (Bachelor Duke - Blooming, by Stravinsky) won the Geelong Australia Handicap (1300m) on the Geelong Synthetic track before Miss Isle (Bachelor Duke - Island Doy, by Doyoun) claimed the Marea Alta Handicap (1600m) at Te Rapa.

The Hawkes Racing team took the wraps off a well-bred prospect when Bigcat Rhapsody (Darci Brahma - The Lions Roar, by Western Symphony) made a winning debut at Monday’s Warrnambool meeting.

Bigcat Rhapsody narrowly won the Marriott Hotel Maiden Plate (1200m) to become the fifth winner out of the Group 2-winning mare The Lions Roar (Western Symphony - Western Solstice, by Sir Tristram).

The gelding is a half-brother to the New Zealand stakes winner Leeu (Volksraad - The Lions Roar, by Western Symphony) as well as the Group 2 Herbert Power Stakes (2400m) winner Growl (Montjeu - The Lions Roar, by Western Symphony).

Hawkes Racing paid $400,000 for Bigcat Rhapsody at the 2010 NZB Premier Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, Coolmore Stud sires started the week strongly by posting a winning treble at Monday’s Wagga and Warrnambool meetings.

Merci Grand (Choisir - Thanksgiving, by Generous) provided the Wagga leg to Coolmore’s treble while Iguazu (Giant’s Causeway - Japari, by Deputy Governor) and Gotta Dream (Oratorio (IRE) - Granada Miss, by Bellotto) claimed races at Warrnambool.

Shake Shake Shake (Choisir - Dancing Pago, by Thunder Gulch) topped the broodmare session on the opening day of the two day Inglis Melbourne August Thoroughbred Sale on Thursday.

Offered by Bucklee Farm, Shake Shake Shake won a race and sold in foal to Domesday. She was knocked down to VCB New South Wales for $40,000. 124 horses sold for a gross of $454,050 at a clearance rate of 83%.

The sale continues tomorrow, highlighted by the racehorse section, which includes a host of gallopers in Darley’s Annual Reduction.

“We have seen some excellent racehorse sales this year and we have assembled another strong catalogue for tomorrow’s session,” Inglis Director Peter Heagney said. “In addition to the Darley reduction, there’s also horses like Marheta, a Group 3 winning, Group 1 placed mare, plus strong supplementary entries.”

Selling begins from 10am

Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) led the way for Coolmore Stud sires with a two-state double on Thursday.

Fastnet Rock

Fastnet Rock’s new season progress had largely stalled since a double on the opening day of the season. The hot sire had only produced one winner in nine days ahead of his double on Thursday.

The Peter Moody-trained Rock Of Ages (Fastnet Rock - Eishin Shelby, by Forty Niner) got Fastnet Rock back on the winner’s list for the first time this week when the mare won the Local Extra Maiden Plate (1400m) at Ballarat.

The Brett Cavanough stable provided Fastnet Rock’s other winner on Thursday when Rab (Fastnet Rock - How About That, by Honour And Glory) claimed the Helenus at Wattle Grove Handicap (1300m) at Goulburn.

Fastnet Rock’s dual success formed part of a seven-win day for Coolmore Stud sires. Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) , Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr Prospector - Angel Fever, by Danzig) and Royal Academy (Nijinsky II - Crimson Saint, by Crimson Satan) all produced winners at Mt Isa.

Golan (Spectrum - Highland Gift, by Generous) sired a winner at Ballarat while High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) provided a winner in New Zealand at Foxton.

Progeny of Coolmore Stud’s 2011 roster have made a lightning start to the new season with an abundance of success in the opening days of the 2011/12 term.

Coolmore’s incumbent sires from the stud’s bases in Australia, Ireland and the US have combined to produce 30 individual winners in the eight days of August.

The US-based Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr Prospector - Angel Fever, by Danzig) provided Coolmore’s latest Australian successes with a double on Monday.

The Luke Oliver-trained Arch Pegasus (Fusaichi Pegasus - Aldarch, by Archway) claimed the Murray Mondays Handicap (2100m) at Swan Hill while La Hdood (Fusaichi Pegasus - Azzurro, by Bluebird) took out the Reynolds Refrigeration Handicap (1250m) at Taree.

Fusaichi Pegasus’s double took his win tally to five for the season. Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) leads the way for Coolmore with seven winners in the first eight days of 2011/12.

A stakes double on Saturday boosted Choisir’s 2011/12 win tally. Choisir’s sire Danehill Dancer (Danehill - Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up) has sired two winners for the season, both in Queensland.

Coolmore’s champion sire Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) produced the stud’s fourth stakes winner of the season when the exciting three-year-old Aeronautical (Encosta De Lago - Moon Fever, by Fusaichi Pegasus) claimed last Saturday’s Listed Rosebud (1200m) at Randwick.

Encosta De Lago has sired four of Coolmore’s 30 winners while the progeny of Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) has won three races this season.

Aeronautical

Coolmore stallions enjoyed a two state stakes double on Saturday when Uxorious (Choisir) landed the Spring Stakes (Gr 3) at Morphettville and Kid Choisir (Choisir) the Belmont Newmarket (Listed) in Perth while Aeronautical (Encosta de Lago) streaked away with The Rosebud (Listed) at Randwick.

Aeronautical (3 g Encosta de Lago – Moon Fever, by Fusaichi Pegasus) looks well bought at $100,000 as a Magic Million yearling by Lionel Cohen following his devastating victory at Randwick. Last turning in, Aeronautical ran on powerfully to win by three and a half lengths over Bello (Exceed And Excel) with Queenian (Dubleo) in third.

“He was super impressive. I had him well today, but I was a little concerned he was a bit underdone, I didn’t want to get ahead of myself but I knew there was more to come,” trainer and part-owner Lionel Cohen said. “He’s never run a bad race, his first two runs he was getting fit. I was confident but you never know.”

“I thought there was probably no one better to track into the race than Queenian, I stayed with him until the 300 and peeled off his back and he was just so dominant,” winning jockey Nathan Berry said. ”The best thing about this horse is he’s doing it all on raw ability. I think Lionel has only got him 80 per-cent right, He was very dominant. I think he’s a real serious racehorse and Lionel has done a spectacular job with him.”

At Morphettville in the $115,000 Spring Stakes (Gr 3), Uxorious (6 g Choisir - Shiny Mai, by Keltrice) was near the lead all the way and came away in the straight to defeat Periduki (Perugino) by two lengths with Valentine Miss (Danetime) running on into third. The $2.10 favourite Avenue lost her chance when stumbling at the start.

Kid Choisir (6 g Choisir - Friendly Seas, by Mister C) came on strong in the straight to defeat Shock Value (Key Business) by three quarters of a length in the Belmont Newmarket over 1200m.

Choisir (Danehill Dancer) is standing for $33,000 (Incl GST) at Coolmore Stud in the Hunter Valley in 2011.

Coolmore Stud sires enjoyed a bumper day on Thursday with the dual-hemisphere breeding operation producing six winners, including a double to champion stallion Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way).

Encosta De Lago’s successes came with high-priced yearlings. The $1.7 million yearling purchase Speedskater (Encosta De Lago - Skates, by Danehill) led throughout to claim the Callaghan Park Handicap (1500m) at Rockhampton before the $750,000 purchase Special Encore (Encosta De Lago - Wyndam Special, by Centaine) broke his maiden in fine style at Hastings in New Zealand.

Wyndham Special (Centaine - Mwaared, by Unfuwain) hails from the same family as Group 2 winners Star Of Nouvelle (Star Watch - Giladah, by Mill Reef) and Double Reef (Last Tycoon - Giladah, by Mill Reef) as well as Group 3 winners Rainbow Styling (Zabeel - Done That, by Centaine) and Zingaling (Redoute’s Choice - Done That, by Centaine).

High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) four-year-old Seigal (High Chaparral - Supermodel, by Bletchingly) completed a Coolmore double at Hastings with his win in a 1600-metre maiden.

Coolmore sires claimed the last two races at Rockhampton. Red Story (Tale Of The Cast - Red Rebel Girl, by Rivotious) posted a convincing success in the Become A Member of the RJC Handicap (1400m) before Klitschko (Choisir - Eccentricity, by Noalcoholic) claimed the Woollam Constructions Handicap (1200m).

To The Wire (Galileo - Argentum Start, by Kenmare) provided a Victorian flavour to Coolmore’s big day with his win in the Your Function At Silks Maiden Plate (1400m).

Winners to Coolmore father and son duo Danehill Dancer (Danehill - Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up) and Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) helped propel the stud to a sextet of successes on Friday.

Coolmore Stud sires produced at least one winner at all five meetings held in Australia. Choisir and Fastnet Rock (Danehill - Piccadilly Circus, by Royal Academy) combined to produce a double at the Geelong Synthetic fixture.

Le Bonsir (Choisir - La Bella Dame, by Royal Academy) took out the Keane Real Estate Maiden Plate (1100m) before Ramiel (Fastnet Rock - Oh Blue Angel, by Semipalatinsk) claimed the Optus Business Handicap (1200m).

Merwaan (Fusaichi Pegasus - Jump ‘n’ Move, by Catrail) took out the Shoalhaven Services Club Handicap (2200m) at Nowra while To Follow (Danehill Dancer - Hit And Run, Success Express) provided the Ipswich leg of Coolmore’s winning day in the Schweppes Australia Handicap (1200m).

Oracle Of Omaha (Royal Academy - Bellquin, by Bellotto) continued the success for Coolmore with his win in the PCYC Gunnedah Handicap (2050m) at Gunnedah before Positive Dream (Encosta De Lago - Fayfa, by Slip Anchor) completed the stud’s day out with her win over older mares in the Maiden Plate (1000m) at Cowra.

A new stakes winner for top sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) was the highlight of an 11-win Saturday enjoyed by Coolmore Stud stallions.

The Chris Gangemi-trained The Underworld (High Chaparral - Rune, by Star Way) became High Chaparral’s 27^th individual stakes winner when the gelding prevailed in the Listed Belmont Guineas (1600m) in Perth. The Underworld was a $50,000 purchase at the 2009 NZB Ready To Run Sale.

Gangemi said The Underworld should improve markedly with time, racing and extra distance.

“He’s won well over 1600m today,” Gangemi said. “But he should be even better from 2000m to 2400m. The horse is still learning and his future looks bright.

“He had a setback three weeks ago and seemed below his best for a while, but he was spot on again today.”

Coolmore stalwart Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) provided ample support to his younger colleague with a double of his own in Sydney and Brisbane. Mystical Grey (Encosta De Lago - Mysterieux, by Snaadee) took out the Hamilton Hotel Handicap (1400m) at Eagle Farm before Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago - Special Harmony, by Spinning World) won the Riviana Foodservice Handicap (1350m) at Rosehill.

Footstepsinthesand (Giant’s Causeway - Gatisant, by Rainbow Quest) produced at double at Morphettville and Belmont while Galileo (Sadler’s Wells - Urban Sea, by Miswaki) provided two of Coolmore’s four wins at the Adelaide venue.

Rock Of Gibraltar (Danehill - Offshore Boom, by Be My Guest) produced a winner in Adelaide while Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr Prospector - Angel Fever, by Danzig) was successful at Ararat. Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) completed Coolmore Stud’s cricket team of winners with a success at Newcastle.

Coolmore Stud stallions have posted a treble at Friday’s Geelong Synthetic meeting as part of a quartet of successes.

Coolmore mainstay Encosta De Lago (Fairy King - Shoal Creek, by Star Way) provided three of the Hunter Valley operation’s four winners. The two-year-old Costly Commitment (Encosta De Lago - Mutate, by Octagonal) proved too good for his older rivals in the Centrebet On Facebook Maiden (1100m).

Costly Commitment is a half-brother to the stakes-placed My Amici (Anabaa - Mutate, by Octagonal). The juvenile’s dam Mutate (Octagonal - Mutribah, by Silver Hawk) was a dual stakes winner herself at Listed level.

Martinka (Encosta De Lago - It’s Who Deanie, by Fuji Kiseki) became Encosta De Lago’s second winner at Geelong when the filly won the Centrebet Cup Packages Maiden (2000m).

Hootilla (Encosta De Lago - Speedy Kids, by Snippets) completed the sire’s treble with his success in the Hot 91 Plate (2000m) at the Sunshine Coast. Speedy Kids (Snippets - Mia Lisa, by Denizen) was a Group 3 winner herself and a half-sister to stakes-class horses Kate’s Myth (Kaoru Star - Mia Lisa, by Denizen) and Brosberg (Aurealis - Mia Lisa, by Denizen).

Miss Bon Beach (Footstepsinthesand - Crest Of Gold, by Made of Gold) took out the Centrebet Jockey Challenge Maiden (1300m) at Geelong before Like Bolt (Choisir - Tierani, by Tierce) completed a terrific day for Coolmore Stud with his win in the Centrebet Superbest Handicap (1200m).

A win for the Matthew Williams-trained Uxorious (Choisir - Shiny Mai, By Keltrice) in Friday’s $70,000 Gold Topaz at Swan Hill has spearheaded a treble for Coolmore Stud stallion Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime).

The five-year-old nabbed the early leader Beyond Pardon (Invincible Spirit - Unbridled Fire, by Unbridled’s Song) to record a half-length success. The win was the gelding’s sixth from just 11 starts.

Choisir enjoyed further success when Angel Of Hope (Choisir - Amen Ruby, by Rubiton) won the WHK Handicap (1200m) at Grafton. The mare fetched $90,000 at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Choisir also produced a winner across the Tasman. Three-year-old filly Sourire (Choisir - Maranta Star, by Marquetry) proved too good for her rivals in the Adberry Maiden Plate (1400m).

Choisir will stand for $33,000 (inc GST) in the 2011 breeding season.

Victorian operation Swettenham Stud enjoyed local success when Dash For Cash (Secret Savings - Gulistan, by Rubiton) produced a winning double at Seymour.

Swettenham Stud is situated a short drive from the Seymour racecourse at Nagambie. The Dale Short stable provided Dash For Cash’s first winner of the day when Secret Stealth (Dash For Cash - Bella Vita, by Marauding) took out the Hollylodge Thoroughbreds Maiden Plate (1600m).

Dashalot (Dash For Cash - Zalium, by Zeditave) completed Dash For Cash’s winning day with his success in the Mitchelton Wines 0-72 Handicap (1200m). Till Dawn (Bianconi - La Fav, by Encores) made it three wins for the day for Swettenham Stud stallions in the Narrandera IGA Maiden Plate (1000m) at Narrandera.

Bianconi’s success was the sire’s 101^st win for the season.

Meanwhile, Coolmore’s terrific sire Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) had a double of his own at Seymour. The Mick Price-trained colt Sir Ready (Choisir - Ready Made Family, by More Than Ready) took out the Centrebet Maiden Plate (1300m) before Steely Choice (Choisir - Steel Springs, by Bluebird) claimed the Parker Bros. Earthmoving Handicap (1300m).

Sir Ready provided Choisir with his sixth juvenile win of 2010/11.

Coolmore stallion Choisir (Danehill Dancer - Great Selection, by Lunchtime) was to the fore on Thursday with a winning double at the Bendigo and Rockhampton meetings.

Klitschko (Choisir - Eccentricity, by Noalcoholic) won the Callaghan Park Handicap (1050m) to produce the Queensland leg of the stallion’s double. Any Dream Will Do (Choisir - Hours A Day, by Jugah) completed the sire’s brace with his win in the TAB Sportsbet Handicap (1100m) at Bendigo.

Choisir’s pair of successes took his win tally for the season to 89.

Meanwhile, Oakside Park Stud resident Devaraja (Sir Tristram - Khaptivaan, by Adraan) enjoyed a double of his own at Thursday’s Balaklava fixture.

Our Lara (Devaraja - Isolated Action, by Marooned) began the stallion’s day with her win in the Dunlop Underlays Handicap (1100m). Just Tess completed the sire’s double with her success in the McLeay & Sons Carpets Handicap (1100m).

Local trainer Brian Mueller prepared both of Devaraja’s winners at Strathalbyn.

Fastnet Rock is the most expensive stallion on Coolmore’s Australian roster  this year with his fee set at $132,000 Champion sire Encosta De Lago will stand at a reduced fee of $110,000 with High Chaparral up on last year at $99,000.

Starspangledbanner proved popular in Ireland in his first season at stud and will stand his first Australian season at $44,000. “Starspangledbanner’s achievements are numerous and well documented. A champion sprinter of Australia and Europe, boasting a pedigree synonymous with Gr.1 success in Australasia and an Adonis like physique – he is the commercial breeders ‘dream’ sire.”

“In setting our fees, we have been mindful of the difficult times endured by many breeders over the last couple of years,” said Coolmore’s Michael Kirwan.

“I believe that we are making available, at value prices, an outstanding line up of champion sires, proven sires, and impeccably credentialed sire prospects.”

“The reputation of the Australasian thoroughbred continues to soar worldwide and Coolmore has demonstrated our confidence in the domestic market though our acquisition of international sire prospects Starspangledbanner and So You Think who will be racing in Europe for Aidan O’ Brien this year. The foundations for this success have been laid by our own shuttle sires and we continue to introduce horses and bloodlines of the highest international quality into the Australasian market.”

AUSSIE RULES Danehill - Last Second (Alzao) $8,800
CHOISIR Danehill Dancer - Great Selection (Lunchtime) $33,000
DUKE OF MARMALADE Danehill - Love Me True (Kingmambo) $22,000
DYLAN THOMAS Danehill - Lagrion (Diesis) $19,800
ENCOSTA DE LAGO Fairy King - Shoal Creek (Star Way) $110,000
EXCELLENT ART Pivotal - Obsessive (Seeking The Gold) $11,000
FASTNET ROCK Danehill - Piccadilly Circus (Royal Academy) $132,000
HARADASUN Fusaichi Pegasus - Circles Of Gold (Marscay) $22,000
HENRYTHENAVIGATOR Kingmambo - Sequoyah (Sadler’s Wells) $27,500
HIGH CHAPARRAL Sadler’s Wells - Kasora (Darshaan) $99,000
LOOKIN AT LUCKY Smart Strike - Private Feeling (Belong to Me) $33,000
ORATORIO Danehill - Mahrah (Vaguely Noble) $11,000
SPINNING WORLD Nureyev - Imperfect Circle (Riverman) $6,600
STARSPANGLEDBANNER Choisir - Gold Anthem (Made of Gold) $44,000
TALE OF THE CAT Storm Cat - Yarn (Mr. Prospector) $33,000

All fees include GST.

Fastnet Rock

The rain that swept Randwick  on Friday night did not concern trainer Joe Pride, whose mare Scared Choice revelled in the conditions to record her second Group 1 win in the $2 million Emirates Doncaster Mile.

Given a lovely ride by Tim Clark, Sacred Choice was midfield early before taking closer order before the turn for home. Into the straight and Sacred Choice ran past Aloha before going clear to score by two-lengths over Love Conquers All (Mossman) with Bold Glance (Sequalo) a half-length off in third.

“It was hard to make up ground and Tim made a conscious decision to be a little bit closer, I was worried about cover but she settled well and on these heavy tracks she just sprints like a gazelle,” Pride said afterwards. “When she broke away there was nothing that was going to catch her. When she came to the stable she was a class two horse and I would have been happy to win a couple of midweek’s with her, the rise has been gradual but now she is at this level she has been amazing.

“I love these horses, I pick them up as mature horses and I like to think I can get the best out of them and this mare has been a phenomenon.

“It’s an easier challenge than someone giving you a million dollar yearling from the sales and telling you it is going to win the Slipper. These horses come here, there isn’t a great expectation for them, I love training these older horses and particularly the mares, I have a lot of success with them.”

“I think she has done all that she can do, maybe the Myer in the spring. There are a lot of good mares around at the moment, this mare has bumped into all of them and beaten most of them on different occasions,” he said.

“I am absolutely wrapt to be able to win such a prestigious race, I have one a few group ones previously but this is definitely the biggest race I’ve won.” said winning jockey Tim Clark. “I had the race in control a long way from home, obviously the conditions helped her, Joe must get a lot of credit as well, he gave her four weeks between runs, got her here nice a fresh, she was the fresh horse on the scene and she showed that.

“I was a length or two closer than I would have liked, but I was even having trouble stopping here there, she only had 52kg on her back so I knew she could do a little bit of work, she did that, she sprinted away and was dominant on the line.” he said.

The Doncaster is the second Group 1 win for Sacred Choice (5 m Choisir – Sacred Habit, by Sir Tristram) who sold for $40,000 as a yearling at the 2007 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. After yesterday her record stands at nine wins from 30 starts and she has earnings of $1,947,640.

Leon Corstens and the Newmarc/Spicer Bloodstock team combined to win the first bonus in the rich Inglis Race Series two seasons back with a colt by Choisir and history repeated at Sandown yesterday. (more…)

Choisir’s headline performer Starspangledbanner was officially retired earlier this week, the stallion moving quickly to replace him witha  new Group One winner in Sacred Choice. (more…)