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17.
Japanese
Shuttle Stallions Paying Big Dividends
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01/11/2002 |
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Australia
has become one of the real beneficiaries of the foresight shown by Japanese
breeders who have spent a fortune over the past decade securing elite European
classic performers.
When Helissio’s outstanding three-year old son Helenus out-dueled the game
Hydrometer (Geiger Counter) in today’s Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby he became
the second successive winner of the Victorian Classic to be sired by a stallion
that shuttles from the Asian powerhouse Shadai Stallion Station.
Last year Carnegie’s son Amalfi was successful in the Victorian Derby.
Carnegie, a son of the incomparable classic influence Sadler’s Wells, won the
1994 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and Helissio, a son of Sadler’s Well’s full
brother Fairy King, was successful in the race two years later.
HELISSIO
The Arc is playing an ever-increasing role on the Australian breeding scene.
Winners of the time-honoured European WFA Championship to stand in Australia in
recent times include the ill fated Suave Dancer who stood for a short time in
Victoria; Carnegie now stands at Darley Stud NSW after initially shuttling to
NZ; Helissio stood for two seasons at Widden Stud, NSW; Peintre Celebre (Nureyev)
stands at Coolmore Stud, NSW. Additionally 1993 Arc winner Urban Sea is the dam
of Cooolmore Stud’s Epsom Derby winner Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) while
English 2000 GNS (G1) winner King’s Best (Kingmambo), whose illness prevented
him returning to Australia this year, is a half brother to Urban Sea. Montjeu,
winner of the 1999 Arc shuttles to N.Z. while the 2000 Arc winner Sinndar is a
son of Woodlands Stud's Grand Lodge.
For the short priced favourite Helenus the Victoria Derby proved a far tougher
battle than his supporters would have liked. Victoria’s premiership winning
jockey of the 1996/97 season Stephen King gave Helenus a wonderful ride. After
jumping well from the barrier Helenus was allowed to find his feet with King
sitting quietly. In previous races Helenus had shown a tendency to throw his
head around however there was no evidence of any antics today as the favourite
raced tractably as King angled out to make his winning run at the top of the
straight. Almost as soon as Helenus headed the freewheeling Hydrometer his run
seemed to have come to an end. However King extracted a little more from his
mount that had just a short-half-head to spare over Hydrometer on the line. “I
thought he was going to win by two or three lengths when he went to the front
but he thought he had done enough and half wanted to pull up on me," the
winning rider said.
Ain’t Here (Dehere), trained by last years winning trainer Peter Moody,
rattled home for an impressive third a long neck further back. Maskerado
(Straight Strike), Diamond Jake and the sentimental favourite Davidoff, ridden
by Damien Oliver, all finished close up behind the placegetters.
Amazingly under 4 weeks ago Helenus was still a maiden. He now boasts a record
of 8 starts for 4 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third. The Derby triumph was his second
at Group 1 level following victory in the Caulfield Guineas to add to wins in
the AAMI Vase (G2) and Bill Stutt Stakes (G2). The Leon Corstens-trained
three-year old was lining up for his fourth successive win that has netted him
over $1.73 million.
Helenus was an 80,000 purchase from the Widden Stud consignment by Troy Corstens
Newmarc Thoroughbreds at the 2001 Sydney Easter Yearling sale. Corstens
purchased the colt for private clients Jos and Thecla Xippell.
The pedigree of Helenus was discussed in depth after his win in the group 1
Caulfield Guineas. His sire Helissio shuttled from Japan to Widden Stud in 1998
and 1999 where he was poorly patronized covering two relatively small books of
mares. One of the most successful racehorses to be imported into Australia
Helissio won five Group One races and placed in three others, earning him the
titles of Cartier Horse of the Year, Champion European Three-Year-Old and
Champion Middle Distance Horse. His career highlight came at Longchamp with a
5-lengths demolition of the high-class Pilsudski in the Arc. He also won the
Prix Lupin (G1), Prix Ganay (G1) and was a two-time winner of the Grand Prix de
Saint Cloud (G1).
Helenus is the second and final foal of his dam, Worldwide Elsie, a three-times
winning daughter of the champion racehorse Java Gold (Key To The Mint), who died
in January 2000.
Tender Camilla (Prince Tenderfoot), the dam of Worldwide Elsie won 4 races
including the Curragh Railway Stakes (G3), Moyglare Stud Stakes (G3) and Marble
Hill Stakes (LR). She is a half-sister to two other stakes winners out of
Camilla Edge (Alcide) a half-sister to the great New Zealand stallion
Battle-Wagon (Never Say Die) and the useful Queensland-based stallion Call
Report (Raise A Native).
For Helenus, who is still in his first race preparation, a well-earned spell
beckons. "He'll go out now and we'll get him ready for the big races in the
autumn like the AJC Australian Derby," Corstens said "I think he is
just a special horse."
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