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24.
First Australian crop
flying flag for Red Ransom
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03/02/2003 |
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Given
that Red Ransom only two starts at two resulted in two impressive wins, one in a
new Saratoga track record, we didn’t expect to have to wait long to see some
significant action from his first Australian crop.
Well, the son of Roberto certainly hasn’t let us down. Halibery, who became
her sire’s first Australian winner when scoring at Mornington on December
11th, became a group winner on only her second start with a determined victory
in the G3 AAMI Blue Diamond Preview.
The speed and precocity which Halibery has shown is made all the more impressive
by the fact that she is out of a classically-bred daughter of Sir Tristram. Five
minutes after Halibery's win, the odds-on favourite Face Value, another first
crop son of Red Ransom won at Doomben. Like Halibery, Face Value remained
undefeated in two starts.
With Halibery’s triumph, Red Ransom has begun 2003 in the same way in which he
ended 2002, as on December 28th, he was represented by the G3 La Prevoyante
Handicap victress, New Economy. A filly who looks sure to add to her laurels in
2003, New Economy joined the G2 Arlington Classic winner, Mr. Mellon, and the G3
Ascot Handicap victor, Van Rouge, as one of a trio of three-year-old graded
stakes winners for Red Ransom in the most recent American season.
Red Ransom’s total of Northern Hemisphere stakes winners from his first eight
crops now stands at 43. They include the North American Champion Grass Mare,
Perfect Sting; European Champion Intikhab, officially rated the World’s
leading older horse on turf in 1998; European group winner and UAE Champion
China Visit; grade one winner Bail Out Becky, and other group and graded stakes
scores Trial City, Wandering Star, Sri Pekan, Comic Strip, Ekraar, Pico
Teneriffe, Stay Sound, Upper Noosh, Crystal Symphony, Petrouchka, Rojo Dinero,
Slew the Red, Think Red and Shining Hour.
From these eight crops of racing age he has left a remarkable 90 stakes
Performers (17%), including four champions and progeny earnings in excess of
AUS$60 Million. Red Ransom is an outcross for most major sire lines; three of
his four Champions are from Northern Dancer or Raise a Native line mares the
worlds most powerful sire lines, of which Red Ransom has demonstrated a strong
affinity for both strains.
Interestingly, 31 of the Red Ransom foals born in 2002 Northern Season were out
of Graded Stakes mares.
More importantly in Australia we look forward to Inglis Easter with 29 yearlings
entered in the Sydney sale from the likes of Burning Embers, Captiva,
Compulsion, Danglissa, Fitting, Freckled Face, Humour, Ladybird Blue, Really
Wild, Rose O'War, Rubitoff, Shizu, Stella Cadente and Sly Smile.
With this sensational stud performance combined with a pedigree which is free of
Northern Dancer and Mr. Prospector, Red Ransom is clearly establishing himself
as one of the world’s most important turf sires.
Vinery Australia Press release.
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