The Black Book will identify race performances around Australia particularly worth following in the future. These may be high profile runners at trials and smaller tracks, or eye-catching performances, we'll aim to give you a horse to add to your pedigree or performance black book for the future.
By Anthony Manton
It was with great sadness on Tuesday we learnt of the passing of champion sire Redoute’s Choice (Danehill {USA}) at Arrowfield Stud. Thankfully his legacy will live on through his sons at stud and in particular through Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice), leading sire in Australia for overall winners, stakes-winners and prize money for the last two seasons and on-track for similar success again this season.
At Rosehill trials on Tuesday morning around the same time that news of Redoute’s Choice passing broke a son of Snitzel named Spend trained by Team Hawkes won a barrier trial in slashing style and the long-awaited debut for the high-priced colt appears imminent.
Spend was a $1.55 million yearling at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and was purchased by Spendthrift Australia Pty Ltd. The colt was the third highest priced lot at the sale.
Spend as a yearling
Coincidentally, the sale topper was the full-brother to three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock) out of The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}), a half-sister to Redoute’s Choice (Danehill {USA}), as well as Group 1 winners Platinum Scissors (Danehill {USA}) and Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) who sold for $2.3 million as a yearling.
Spend first trialled publicly at Warwick Farm on March 7, coming from near last in the small field and running on strongly to win the heat defeating $1.5 million yearling purchase Creator (Redoute’s Choice). Creator had placed third behind Czarson (Stratum)and Golden Slipper hero Kiamichi (Sidestep) at his only start in December at Rosehill, strong form lines to consider when Spend makes his debut.
On Tuesday morning trialling over 895 metres at Rosehill on a heavy 8 rated track, Spend settled behind the leader before being allowed to angle clear by jockey Brenton Avdulla in the home straight and work to the line under his own steam clocking 34.70 seconds for the last 600 metres, the fastest sectional of the morning from eleven heats.
Spend was bred and reared at Milburn Creek in the New South Wales Southern Highlands and owner John Muir says he was always an outstanding type.
“He was outstanding from the day he was born and a dream to do anything with, he just continued to improve all time”, said Muir.
“He was outstanding from the day he was born and a dream to do anything with." - Milburn Creek owner, John Muir
Such was the high opinion of Spend as a yearling Muir negotiated with Spendthrift General Manager Garry Cuddy to stay in the ownership and still retains a 10% interest in the colt under his company New South Wales Pastoral Company.
Spendthrift's Josh Rix and Gary Cuddy
Muir says the name Spend was appropriate given who bought him and his price tag.
“He was purchased by Spendthrift, who spent a bit of money on him so we all agreed let’s just call him Spend,” said Muir.
Spend is the second foal from stakes-winning mare Walk With Attitude (Hussonet {USA}), winner of the 2012 Listed Lexus Hybrid Plate at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day. Walk With Attitude is out of the Listed winner Hillfa (Danehill) and descends from the same family as Champion Sire Invincible Spirit (Green Desert)
Muir purchased Walk With Attitude privately and first put her in foal to I Am Invincible, which produced a filly. Unfortunately, that filly never made it to the races and died of colic after her first preparation.
“Her first foal was a filly by I Am Invincible we named Pose being by Walk With Attitude and we sent her to Peter & Paul Snowden to train. She had a couple of trials but unfortunately she died of colic and never made it to the races”, said Muir.
The third foal from Walk With Attitude, a colt by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) will be offered at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale next month along with nine other yearlings Milburn Creek has prepared for the sale and Muir has high expectations for lot 329 the Written Tycoon colt.
“He is a lovely colt the Written Tycoon and interest has been strong on him,” said Muir.
Muir credits the hard-working staff at Milburn Creek for getting all the yearlings to the sale in tremendous condition.
Spend was raised on the picturesque Milburn Creek property
“I have to thank my staff at the farm in particular Farm Manager Scott Holcombe who does a fantastic job at getting all our yearlings ready for the sales”, said Muir.
“He has done everything right so far and obviously we would love to win a Group 1 with him." - John Muir
Walk With Attitude is currently in foal again to Snitzel with a full-brother or sister to Spend.
Muir bred the first Group 1 winning son of Snitzel, Sizzling (Snitzel) who won the 2012 Group 1 T.J Smith Stakes at Eagle Farm as a 2-year-old and currently stands at Newgate Stud.
Muir is hopeful he can achieve similar success with Spend.
“He has done everything right so far and obviously we would love to win a Group 1 with him. With the passing of Redoute’s Choice a colt like him now becomes very sought after,” said Muir.
Muir suggested Spend is likely to run Saturday week in the Group 3 Widden Kindergarten Stakes, 1100 metres on day one of the Championships at Randwick.
