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2.
Kranji Star Represents Great Australasian Family
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01/08/2002 |
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Murray Bell reports that a son of Thunder Gulch is top of the two-year-old scene in Singapore.
Grand Canyon, an Australian-bred son of Thunder Gulch, has claimed top position among Singapore’s two-year-olds following an upset debut win in the Juvenile Championship at Kranji on July 26.
The late-maturing youngster, prepared by Charles Leck, nosed out his stablemate Ninety Five in a thrilling finish to the new $S100,000 feature race for two-year-olds. Third home was Delusional, winner of this year’s Wellington Boot in NSW when trained by Tim Martin.
Leck bought Grand Canyon himself, giving $NZ110,000 for the chestnut colt at the Karaka Premier Yearling Sale in 2001.
The chestnut was bred and foaled in Australia before being brought to New Zealand by Cambridge’s Norelands Stud.
Grand Canyon is a member of one of Australasia's most famous families.
His dam Rebisca, is by Marscay from the Caulfield 1000 Guineas runner-up Red Rebecca (Showdown -Bellition).
It is a case of one of New Zealand's great families returning home as Bellition (by Bellborough) was a wonderful NZ-bred mare who went to Australia after a promising classic season in 1965-66 which provided minor placings in the Desert Gold Stakes and the now-defunct Great Northern Oaks.
Bellition was raced in Australia by Mrs Kath McGrath and her late husband Brian, and carried their colours to win the 1967 John F Feehan Handicap (G2) at Moonee Valley.
She also ran seventh in the Melbourne Cup after hitting the front shortly after turning for home.
However, it has been as a broodmare that Bellition has really left her mark. Her matings to champion Victorian sire Showdown provided Group winners The Judge, Victoria Peak and the Group One-placed Red Rebecca as well as the classy Dryburgh.
Bellition also threw a Listed winner Yorick to speed demon Crown Jester.
The Judge became best known as the sire of champion sprinter and leading sire Zeditave.
Victoria Peak and Red Rebecca became a highly-commercial
broodmares and stakes producers; and other family members have subsequently thrown up gems like AJC Oaks winner Our Sophia.
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