Duporth progeny win interstate treble

Duporth’s progeny are also keen to race. That fact was clearly evident last Saturday, August 12, when Duporth sired an interstate winning city treble in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Already winner of the Group 1 Australian Guineas at Flemington in autumn this year, 4YO gelding Hey Doc (Heyington Honey) started his spring campaign with a first-up win in the Group 3 Aurie’s Star Handicap (1200m) at Flemington. This was preceded by two 3YOs winning on debut at Rosehill and Doomben. Another Sin (G Sin Sin Sin) won an 1100m Highway handicap at Rosehill while Let’s Party Marty (C Mollycat) was impressive winning a 1200m QTIS 3YO handicap at Doomben.

Having begun stud duties at Kitchwin Hills, Scone, NSW, in 2010 and now based at Kooringal Stud, Wagga Wagga, NSW, Duporth’s BTC Cup victory was almost an all-Queensland affair as he was bred and owned by Brisbane breeders Peter and Wendy Moran and ridden by former Jandowae-born jockey Luke Nolen. Formerly owners of Noble Park Thoroughbred Stud near Beaudesert, the Morans sold out to former Racing Queensland and Brisbane Racing Club chairman Kevin Dixon in 2004 and relocated a small band of about 12 mares to two properties at Gumdale and Burbank.

One of the mares was Staging – a daughter of former Noble Park resident sire Success Express – who won 10 races for trainer Clarrie Connors and more than $1.1 million. One of her eight black type wins was the Group 2 BTC Carlton Cup at Doomben preceded by running second a year earlier to Chief De Beers in the Group 1 Doomben Ten Thousand. Alas, while Staging missed Group 1 glory, the BTC Carlton Cup was elevated to Group 1 status and renamed the BTC Cup in 2006.

The race has had more name changes than Johnny Farnham farewells! Originally run in 1964, it was named the JT Delaney Quality Handicap in honour of former long time Brisbane Amateur Turf Club committeeman J.T. Delaney. Since then it’s been re-branded a further 10 times – the latest occurring this year with a new name (Kingsford-Smith Cup), new distance (1300m) and a new venue (Eagle Farm). It now has a new winner – Clearly Innocent. While the race hasn’t always had Group 1 status, the list of winners reads as a ‘who’s who’ of Australia’s top sprinters including Black Caviar, Strawberry Road, Apache Cat, Falvelon, Eye Liner, Cabochon, Charlton Boy, Ricochet, Triton, Chief De Beers and General Nediym.   

Although lacking a Group 1 win herself, Staging more than compensated by producing two Group 1 winners in Excites and Duporth, plus Tickets – a dual Group 2 and Listed winner and twice placed in the Group 1 AJC Sires’ Produce and Group 1 Champagne Stakes.

Previously winner of the Golden Rose Stakes (G2) and San Domenico Stakes (G3), Duporth ended his racing career with three wins and a third from 18 starts for earnings of more than $1.14 million. 

AQUIS Farm – fast emerging as one of Australia's premier Thoroughbred nurseries – celebrated a special milestone on the weekend when its first North American runner won at Saratoga on Saturday, August 12.

Owned by Stonestreet Stables in partnership with Aquis, the Mark Casse trained 2YO colt Machtree scored a determined debut win in a maiden special weight race on turf over 8.5 furlongs. Bought for US$450,000 at the world renowned Keeneland September Yearling Sale, Machtree is by five-time champion US turf sire Kitten's Joy from the Group 2-placed Lady Lumberjack, a daughter of stakes-winner Harbor Blues.

The US win was a wonderful prelude to the Aquis stallion parade held at its Canungra headquarters on the Gold Coast hinterland on Sunday, August 13. A crowd of around 1200 interstate racing and breeding enthusiasts saw seven stallions paraded including first season sire Furnaces (Exceed And Excel/Heat Of The Fire) – a member of the prepotent Danehill sire line.

For those unable to attend, the parade was streamed live on facebook and is still available for viewing at facebook.com/aquisfarm. Aquis is also holding an open weekend this weekend (Saturday, August 19 and Sunday, August 20) from 9am-3pm both days for anyone who missed out last Sunday.

OSCIETRA – the first offspring of world champion sprinter Black Caviar – posted one of the most anticipated and high profile maiden victories in a long time at Geelong, Victoria on Friday, August 11.

Trained by the Lindsay Park team of David & Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, Oscietra (Exceed And Excel) showed the same trademark brilliant speed of her mum to lead throughout for a dominant 1.75 length win in a 1000m Maiden Plate.

David Hayes told racing.com. "She's a black-type filly in waiting I think…I've seen her work with too many stakes winners at home and beat them. She just has to do it on race day." Neil Werrett, co-owner of Oscietra and Black Caviar, said the filly was likely to make her city debut at Moonee Valley in three weeks' time.

ARROWFIELD Stud's Snitzel emerged as the new benchmark for stallion excellence with his first Australian Champion Sires' Title that amassed all-time record progeny earnings of $16,220,135.

Finishing in second position was Darley's deceased shuttler and Group 1 Dubai World Cup winner Street Cry with $14.4 million, while Coolmore's former champion Australian sire Fastnet Rock rounded out the top three with $12.9 million.

According to arion.co.nz, the top 10 ranked stallions in Australia for last season (as of 1 August) were: