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Racing & Breeding News

Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service

Phone (02) 654 3051, Fax (02) 6541 1022, July 8, 02

Octagonal, revered as the 'Big O', is laying claim to being the source of the current champion two-year-old in South Africa and in doing so has delighted in particular long time Woodands stud employee Nickie Cransie. Though she did not breed the Australian bred youngster, one that goes under the name of Suntagonal, that distinction going to an Arrowfield Stud syndicate, she bought him in Sydney as a weanling for $50,000 and resold him through last year's Easter yearling sale to D. Payne of South Africa for $80,000.

A big admirer of Octagonal, a fact that is not surprising as he stands at Woodlands and she sees him most days, Nickie bought the horse at the weanling sale after inspecting him in the paddock at Arrowfield. Although he was on the small side and stood over a lot of ground, she liked what she saw, his pedigree and the prospects of him being in her price range because of his small stature.

"This might be the one time in my life I can afford an Octagonal I really like with an Easter pedigree and being small he might not attract as much money as he looks as though he should on paper," she cogitated at the time.

South African born Nickie Cransie has followed Suntagonal's exploits on the racetrack closely and during a return visit to that country in May was on hand to cheer him on when he was second to another of their current juvenile stars, National Currency, in a Group One event at Scottsville. Earlier winner of a Group Two event, Suntagonal, however, gained ascendancy over National Currency when he won the Group One Premier's Champion Stakes at the big July carnival at Greyville.

Suntagonal is the third major stakes winner in South Africa from his immediate family for his dam Urge to Merge is a sister by Last Tycoon to Tracy's Element (champion filly at two in South Africa) and a half-sister to Topsannah (a Group Two winner in that country). In addition Urge to Merge is a sister or half-sister to three stakes winners now at stud in New Zealand, namely Towkay (by Last Tycoon) and two sons of Danehill, Danasinga and Cullen.

Racing & Breeding News

Brian Russell Bloodstock Media Service

Phone (02) 654 3051, Fax (02) 6541 1022, July 8, 02

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