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While it may not grab the headlines to the extent of Sadler’s Wells siring the first four across the line in the Irish Derby, it is significant that the winners of the two showcase stakes races at the Sunshine Coast on Saturday were sired by sons of the Coolmore champion. 

New Zealand-bred and trained Victory Smile, a son of Victory Dance (Sadler's Wells-Tree Of Knowledge by Sassafras), won the $200,000 Caloundra Cup a Listed race over 2400m. Fourty minutes earlier the classy Danny Bougoure-trained sprinter Scenic Peak won his ninth race from 21 starts when running away with the $150,000 Glasshouse H. a Listed race over 1400m. As his name suggests Scenic Peak is a son Collingrove Stud’s resurrected Sadler’s Wells stallion Scenic. 

Although he only won a maiden race over a mile at The Curragh Victory Dance possessed solid stud credentials being a half brother to the outstanding Nureyev stallion Theatrical. Purchased for 560,000 Irish guineas at the 1987 Cartier Million Yearling Sale by legendry Irish trainer Vincent O’Brien Victory Dance has fought his way to the top of the N.Z. sires standings the hard way. Despite battling to gain commercial acceptance Victory Dance will finish the N.Z. season with only Volksraad ahead of him on the leading sires table. 

While on the subject of fashion and commercial acceptability it is fascinating to see that two stallions the market had fallen in and out of love with are fighting out fourth and fifth positions on the Australian sires premiership. Coolmore Stud’s Nijinsky stallion Royal Academy returns triumphantly to Australia this year after being cut from the roster after the 1999 season while Collingrove Stud’s Scenic returns to Victoria sporting a $22,000 service fee after spending a couple of seasons in West Australia. 

By: Mark Smith

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