Te Akau Racing David Ellis sparked the NZB Premier Sale into life on Tuesday afternoon when outlasting Coolmore for a colt by Fastnet Rock out of Nureyev’s Girl (USA) at $NZ1.75 million to top the sale.

Vendor Sir Patrick Hogan predicted the Cambridge Stud-consigned  colt to be the star of the show before selling started at Karaka this week and that’s how it played out with a heated bidding duel between underbidders Coolmore Stud and Ellis of Te Akau Stud.

The sixth seven-figure yearling ever bought by Ellis at Karaka, he admits he paid more than he expected he would. ”I did expect a high price for this colt, and I thought I would get him for about $1.5 million, but the others went beyond that. Demi O’Byrne is a world renowned judge of yearlings and he said this colt is the best he has seen at a sale in the last 10 years,”

“I wanted to secure him for the New Zealand racing and breeding industry, it is essential that we retain horses like this in New Zealand. He is an outstanding individual and the fact that he’s by such a great sire out of a Nureyev mare gives him the potential to win Group 1 races.

David Ellis with the Fastnet Rock - Nureyev's Girl colt

“He is already 90% sold with the remaining 10% to be sold this week and I don’t anticipate that will be very difficult to do. He will be trained by Jason Bridgman with a racing campaign intended to maximise his stud potential. If he’s as good as his sister we will be very happy.”

Earlier in the day Hong Kong-based agent Willy Leung outbid Wally Mitchell from Perth to sign at $800,000 for the three-quarter-brother to So You Think when buying the Windsor park Stud consigned colt by High Chaparral out of La Souvenir (Nuclear Freeze).

“We came here wanting to but a Derby type of horse and I was lucky to have two clients that wanted buy quality horses of this type.” Like his $650,000 High Chaparral purchase on the first day of the sale, Leung said the La Souvenir colt will remain in New Zealand to be broken and possibly race before a decision is made on his future.

High Chaparral (Ire) had his offspring sell well on Day 1 of the NZB Premier Sale with three of the top five lots sold, headed by a colt and filly fetching $650,000 apiece.

The first came at Lot 130, when the Lyndhurst Park colt from Creil (Frenchpark) was knocked down to the bid of Hong Kong agent Willie Leung acting for Hong Kong owner Mr WK Lee.

“We thought he was the best High Chaparral in the Sale and we were very keen to get him. Mr Lee wants a tough stayer and has been looking for a long time for a horse like this,” Leung said.”We paid a premium to get him but in order to get such a quality horse that is sometimes necessary.

“The horse will remain in New Zealand for at least 18 months for training and we will race him here in New Zealand before deciding whether he is good enough to send to Hong Kong.”

Less than an hour later the filly from the five-time winning Danehill mare Diamond Like was secured privately by Gai Waterhouse & James Harron Bloodstock shortly after the filly was passed through the ring.

A half-sister to the $2 million 2010 Karaka sale-topper, the filly was offered by Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud.

High Chaparral is the most represented of any sire at the 2012 Premier Sale, with 35 yearlings entered from his last New Zealand conceived crop. So far today 25 have sold for an average of $200,800.

Dual Group 1 winner Shoot Out (High Chaparral – Pentamerous) is switching stables, now to be trained by Chris Waller in Sydney after connections decided that a change of environment would benefit the five-year-old. Winner of the AJC Derby in 2010, Shoot Out has been trained at the Gold Coast by John Wallace.

“This horse has reached the greatest heights in racing and it will be arduous task to continue on with the platform that was set by Mr Wallace. I congratulate both him and his staff for the job they have done with this horse up until now.” Waller said in a statement.

“For any trainer it is difficult to lose such a horse and to my understanding there has certainly been no falling out between the owners and trainer with the owners speaking very highly of Mr Wallace.”

“The owners have indicated that the horse may benefit from a change of environment after struggling to recapture his best form in the past twelve months.”

“With the upcoming Sydney Carnival approaching and the likelihood of him returning to racing sometime throughout this period, it seemed logical to make Sydney his new base.” he said.

Shoot Out last raced when runner-up to Glass Harmonium (Ire) in the Eagle Farm Cup (Gr 2) on June 4.

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).

Coolmore has reduced fees for 11 stallions in Ireland in 2012. Galileo’s fee remains listed as  ’private’ after a magnificent season with another former shuttle-sire Montjeu listed at €75,000 this year, and Fastnet Rock, now listed as ‘Private’ after standing at €30,000 last season.

The Epsom Derby Derby winner Pour Moi (Montjeu) will stand at €20,000 in his first season with Gr 1 winning miler Canford Cliffs at €17,500. There is no listing of So You Think on the roster with his sire High Chaparral to stand for €25,000, unchanged from 2011.

Coolmore 2012 fees (change from 2011 in brackets)

Alfred Nobel    €4,000 (down €1,000)

Aussie Rules     €5,000  (down €1,000)

Canford Cliffs    €17,500 (new)

Danehill Dancer  €60,000 (down €15,000)

Duke Of Marmalade   €20,000 (down €5,000)

Dylan Thomas   €12,500 (down €5,000)

Excellent Art    €10,000  (no change)

Fastnet Rock  Private (from €30,000)

Footstepsinthesand   €10,000  (no change)

Galileo    Private (no change)

High Chaparral  €25,000 (no change)

Holy Roman Emperor   €12,500 (up €2,500)

Hurricane Run   €12,500 (down €2,500)

Mastercraftsman   €15,000 (€2,500)

Montjeu   Private (from €75,000)

Peintre Celebre   €12,500 (down €2,500)

Pour Moi     €20,000 (new)

Rip Van Winkle   €17,500 (€2,500)

Rock Of Gibraltar    €17,500 (no change)

Starspangledbanner     €10,000 (down €5,000)

Strategic Prince     €6,000 (up €2,000)

Thewayyouare     €5,000 (down €1,000)

Yeats    €9,000  (no change)

Zoffany   €7,500 (new)

So You Think (High Chaparral - Triassic, by Tights) failed to run a place in the Gr 1 $5m Breeders Cup Classic over 2000m at Churchill Downs on Sunday.

The Aidan O’Brien-trained multiple Gr 1 winnern hope enjoyed a good run through the race, sitting just off the pace, in total contrast to his previous outing in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe,  tracking Game On Dude and turning for home looking for gaps to launch a challenge on the leaders.

On straightening however he was unable to go with Game On Dude who kicked away with what looked a winning break in the quest for his rider, Chantal Sutherland to be the first woman ever to win the race. Drosselmeyer (Distorted Humor - Golden Ballet), ridden by Mike Smith, came from nowhere with a strong run from second last to score by one and half length win over Game On Dude (Awesome Again) with Ruler On Ice (Roman Ruler) third.

“He has run a very creditable race but just got a bit tired, he ran out of petrol at the end.” said So You Think’s jockey Ryan Moore. ”He looked good but this was his first time on dirt and he ran a very brave race.”

Coolmore Stud enjoyed a successful day at the Breeders’ Cup meeting in the US but also took its form to Hong Kong where its sires produced a winning treble on Saturday at Sha Tin.

Tale Of The Cat (Storm Cat - Yarn, by Mr Prospector) started the Sha Tin meeting in good style for Coolmore sires when his son Super Goodies scored a half-length win in the Sun Wui Handicap (1200m).

Coolmore’s champion Danehill Dancer (Danehill - Mira Adonde, by Sharpen Up) produced the operation’s second Hong Kong winner on Saturday when the Ricky Yiu-trained Jade Christy (Danehill Dancer - Fandangles, by Centaine).

Jade Christy’s dam Fandangles (Centaine - Eastern Joy, by Three Legs) is from the same family as stakes winners Volksini (Volksraad - Indochine, by Grosvenor), Piachay (Danasinga - Pleasure, by Nassipour) and Utility (Flying Spur - Pleasure, by Nassipour).

Lightly-raced High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) gelding Hear The Roar (High Chaparral - Talbya, by Mujtahid) completed Coolmore’s Hong Kong treble with his win in the Leighton Handicap (1800m).

“I think he will probably hold his own (in better class),” Hear The Roar’s trainer Sean Woods told the South China Morning Post. “He is only a young horse who had limited racing in England so we’ll look for him to improve a lot this year.”

Trainer Aidan O’Brien believes So You Think will have no problem with racing on dirt in the Breeders’ Cup. The son of High Chaparral, who finished second in the Gr 1 Qipco Champion Stakes at his most recent outing, is to start in the BC Classic at Churchill Downs a week on Saturday.

O’Brien, who has saddled Giant’s Causeway and Henrythenavigator to finish second in the Classic, told the Racing Post, “You can’t ever be sure. Obviously he is a big, strong powerful horse, he has tactical speed early in his races and he’s a great traveller.”

“I suppose that ability to travel and to stay is probably more important. He is a battle-hardened horse, a great horse and he’s done great this season. He has a great constitution and we’re looking forward to seeing him run.”

Star Coolmore Stud sire High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kashora, by Darshaan) started the last week of October in fine style with a winning double on either side of the Tasman Sea.

Prairie Star (High Chaparral - Maryann Jones, by Fasliyev) provided the New Zealand leg of High Chaparral’s dual success when the mare took out the Vision Forest Lake Handicap (2000m) at Te Rapa.

Colin and Cindy Alderson produced High Chaparral’s Australian winner on Monday when head Honcho (High Chaparral - Dialect, by Lord Waverley) won the Schweppes Handicap (1314m) at Pakenham.

Head Honcho’s win formed part of a treble for Coolmore Stud sires at Pakenham. The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra stable produced Hugomania (Royal Academy - Hugo Girl, by Entrepreneur) to win the Brady’s Carpet Court Maiden Plate (1314m) before Dame Claire (Danehill Dancer - Lovely Actress, by Kaldoun) claimed the Carlton and United Brewers Handicap (2428m).

High Chaparral has produced the winners of 27 races this season.

Dual Cox Plate winner So You Think (High Chaparral - Triassic, by Tights) has been described by trainer Aidan O’Brien as a “definite possible” for next Saturday’s Group 1 Champion Stakes at Ascot and the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Churchill Downs next month.

Last seen when finishing fourth in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe earlier this month when given an impossible task by jockey Seamie Heffernan, So You Think is as low as 7-4 for the Champion Stakes.

Speaking after saddling Crusade to win the Middle Mark Stakes at Newmarket on Saturday, trainer O’Brien told the racing Post, “I would say he’s a definite possible for the Champion Stakes at this stage.”

“The boys will decide later on, but if it were up to me he would run every week such is his constitution. He has come out of the Arc in unbelievable form.”

So You Think (High Chaparral - Triassic, by Tights) heads a field of 16 for the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp on Sunday, with three expected supplementary entries being made.

Owner Bjorn Nielsen have decided to run his English St Leger winner Masked Marvel (Montjeu) at a cost of €100,000 after his trainer John Gosden scratched King George winner Nathaniel from the race on Wednesday.

Seven-time Arc winner Andre Fabre will be respresented by Meandre, the winner of the Grand Prix de Paris, while the third addition to the field is the Peter Schiergen-trained Danedream, who bids to become the first winner from Germany since Star Appeal in 1975.

Trainer Aidan O’Brien will also saddle Irish Derby winner Treasure Beach alongside St Nicholas Abbey and So You Think as he goes in search of a second victory in the race following Dylan Thomas in 2007.

The home defence will be headed by the Aga Khan’s Sarafina, winner of the Prix Foy. Her stablemate Reliable Man also features among the 16, although trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre has warned that he will monitor the ground before making a final decision on Sunday about the Prix Niel winner’s participation.

Prix Vermeille heroine Galikova also takes her chance and will bid to give Freddy Head a first success in the Arc as a trainer, having won it a record-equalling four times as a jockey.

The barrier draw takes place in Paris on Friday morning.

The 208^th stakes win for Coolmore stallion Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells - Floripedes, by Top Ville) provided the finishing touch to a nine-win day for the worldwide breeding giant on Sunday.

Mr Tipsy (Montjeu - Fairy Tipsy, by Casual Lies) earned the second stakes success of his 29-start career when the seven-year-old claimed the Listed Karaka Classic (1600m) at Pukekohe. Affairoftheheart (Fusaichi Pegasus - Call Me Lily, by Just A Dancer) completed a quinella for Coolmore sires in the $NZ45,000 feature.

The Missing Link (Montjeu - Fritzy, by Hermitage) completed a double for Montjeu when the gelding won the Librettist Handicap (2400m) at Pukekohe.

The sire of last year’s Caulfield Cup and Cox Plate winners, High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan), also produced a double with winners at Sunday’s Pukekohe and Warwick Farm meetings. Rafa (High Chaparral - Amanpuri, by Scenic) won The Informant Maiden (1600m) while Gai Waterhouse prepared Western Symbol (High Chaparral - Blue Symbol, by Bluebird) to win at Warwick Farm.

Galileo (Sadler’s Wells - Urban Sea, by Miswaki) enjoyed dual success with winners at Warwick Farm and Ballarat while Footstepsinthesand (Giant’s Causeway - Glatisant, by Rainbow Quest) produced a winner at Halidon in South Australia.

Fusaichi Pegasus (Mr Prospector - Angel Fever, by Danzig) produced a winner at Swan Hill while Johannesburg (Hennessy - Myth, by Ogygian) contributed a winner at Ballarat to Coolmore’s successful Sunday.

The brother of globetrotting champion So You Think, will be offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2012.  The colt by High Chaparral (Ire) from the recently crowned New Zealand Broodmare of the Year Triassic, is scheduled to go under the hammer at Newmarket next April 10 to 12.

“We are delighted that So You Think’s co-breeder Mrs Cecile Smith of Piper Farms, who has just been named New Zealand’s Breeder of the Year, has engaged us to sell one of the standout yearlings of 2012 at Easter.” Inglis Bloodstock Director Jonathan D’Arcy said . “Myself and  Inglis’ New Zealand representative Michael Otto inspected the colt in New Zealand two weeks ago and were very impressed with him as an individual. There is a great likeness between him and his famous sibling.”

Willow Park Stud, who sold the Champion filly Samantha Miss as a yearling, will be consigning the colt for sale in Sydney. “We are honoured to be able to offer such a valuable colt for his entrusting owners,” said Willow Park Stud’s Glenn Burrows. “With five colts by Redoute’s Choice, including a brother to Samantha Miss, the brother to So You Think will be in very good company amongst our draft of 14 for Easter.”

Darley

Darley

Saturday afternoon saw the huge Darley stallion presentation parade. With big screen and an even bigger crowd in place, Darley were also able to influence the weather gods to keep the rain away.

And there was plenty to get excited about. Darley boast current Champion Sire in Lonhro, the former Champion Racehorse now also becoming champion off the track. He looked magnificent and it is so easy to understand his popularity. There is something very satisfying for team Darley with Lonhro as he was one of the main reasons that Darley purchased the former Woodlands operation.

David Raphael of Sky Channel and Darley’s Nominations Manager Alastair Pulford did a wonderful job taking us through the huge line up of siring talent. Once again, Medaglia d’Oro has jaw-dropping presence and the likes of Ad Valorem, Bernardini (sire of the weekend Travers winner Stay Thirsty), English Derby winner Authorized, the muscular Henny Hughes, and the wonderful ageing warrior Canny Lad all showed to advantage.

Fantastic roster, great parade, enthusiastic crowd, and award winning hospitality, as always.

Coolmore

Coolmore held three stallion parades over the weekend to cater for the different timetables of clientele; the Bluebloods/Stallions team attended the Sunday afternoon parade. As always, James Bester was the most entertaining of parade commentators, assuring the assemblage that any blame for hype or over the top sales pitch uttered by him should be blamed on stallions nominations man Colm Santry. And there was more of that…..

Coolmore

The stallions needed no hype. Turned out in magnificent order by the Coolmore stallion handling team, they had that shine and polish one comes to expect. The new boy, Lookin At Lucky is a great looking addition and his race record speaks volumes. Catch some video of his win in the Grade One Haskell – it gives you an idea of his class.

Encosta de Lago paraded in magnificent order and James pointed out that for earnings in Australia, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and South Africa, Encosta de Lago’s progeny topped prizemoney earnings for that wider region. Some achievement.

Others to impress were the father and son Choisir and Starspangledbanner, Smart Missile and Foxwedge’s sire Fastnet Rock, High Chaparral, Oratorio, Excellent Art, Dylan Thomas, Duke of Marmalade and Spinning World. A world class roster.

Today, Monday, we’re off to Widden to drink in a couple of Golden Slipper winners and others….

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.

So You Think (High Chaparral - Triassic, by Tights)  is likely to run in the Irish Champion Stakes - a race his trainer Aidan O’Brien has already won six-times -  at Leopardstown next month, according to Coolmore Australia’s racing manager Tom Magnier.

”His next run is going to be in the Irish Champion Stakes. He can run in that and then go into quarantine if he was to come here [Australia]. But there are a couple of other races that the trainer could run him in as well.” Magnier told The Age.

No decision on a possible return to Australia for a third  Cox Plate will be made until after the Irish Champion Stakes

Leading Sires by Coverings 2010 (Source Australian Studbook)

Stallion Mares Covered Advertised 2010 Fee Stud /State

High Chaparral (Ire) 1999 234 $88,000 Coolmore Australia, NSW

Choisir (Aus) 1999 211 $35,750 Coolmore Australia, NSW

Written Tycoon (Aus) 2002 198 $6,600 Eliza Park, Vic

Hidden Dragon (Aus) 1999 196 $13,200 Lyndhurst Stud Farm, QLD

Not A Single Doubt (Aus) 2001 191 $13,750 Arrowfield Group Pty Ltd, NSW

Fastnet Rock (Aus) 2001 188 $137,500 Coolmore Australia, NSW

Domesday (Aus) 2002 162 $11,000 Darley, VIC

Bon Hoffa (Aus) 2002 160 $8,800 Bowness Stud, NSW

Haradasun (Aus) 2003 158 $24,750 Coolmore Australia, NSW

Northern Meteor (Aus) 2005 156 $33,000 Widden Stud, NSW

Nicconi (Aus) 2005 156 $22,000 Widden Stud, NSW

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).

Breeding legend Sadler’s Wells (Northern Dancer - Fairy Bridge, by Bold Reason) was among the winning sires when his Irish-bred son Fergus McIver (Sadler’s Wells - Danelissima, by Danehill) scored his first Australian win.

Fergus McIver had nine starts for one win while in the care of trainer Jim Bolger before Melbourne businessman Lloyd Williams added the Group 2-placed stayer to his burgeoning bloodstock portfolio to race in Australia. Williams subsequently transferred the gelding to the care of Cranbourne trainer Eric Musgrove.

Musgrove has prepared multiple members of Williams’s staying team to jumps success in recent weeks. Fergus McIver tuned up for his jumping career with a three-quarters of a length win in the Peter Livingstone Memorial Handicap (3100m).

Fergus McIver was Sadler’s Wells’s 19^th individual winner in Australia.

Sadler’s Wells was a 14-time champion sire in the Great Britain and Ireland during his extraordinary career, which also yielded three champion sire titles in France as well as another in North America.

Sadler’s Wells retired as a sire in 2008 before passing away, aged 30, at Coolmore Stud in Ireland in April this year.

Sadler’s Wells’s sons Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells - Floripedes, by Top Ville), Galileo (Sadler’s Wells - Urban Sea, by Miswaki), High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells - Kasora, by Darshaan) and Yeats (Sadler’s Wells - Lyndonville, by Top Ville) all stand at Coolmore in Ireland.