Written Tycoon Rewrites Record Books With Rare Double

Woodside Park Stud's Written Tycoon became the first horse in almost half a century to produce the winners of both the Neds Caulfield Guineas (G1) and Schweppes Thousand Guineas (G1) in the same year, as Ole Kirk and Odeum took out the double Oct. 10 at Caulfield.

No stallion had achieved the feat since Sovereign Edition's top fillies Surround and Savoir took the Caulfield Guineas and Thousand Guineas respectively in 1976.

The pair of Guineas wins came just a couple of races after another Written Tycoon son, Dirty Work won  the Mccafe Schillaci Stakes (G2) to potentially put himself into the picture for the AU$15 million The Everest coming up Oct. 17, as well as securing his future as a Spendthrift Australia stallion for the years to come. 

"To be fair, I think I'm fairly lost for words," Woodside Park Stud chief James Price told ANZ Bloodstock News. "The performance of Written Tycoon's stock today, it was breathtaking, spine-tingling. It was an incredible day, one that will forever be remembered."'

The successes continued a stellar month for Written Tycoon, who is currently standing his first season at Arrowfield Stud in the Hunter Valley.

He recorded another group 1 double across two days in late September when Pippie took the Charter Keck Cramer Moir Stakes (G1) the night before Ole Kirk's breakthrough feature success in the De Bortoli Wins Golden Rose (G1).

Last weekend, his most prolific son at stud Capitalist had his first stakes runners, although father upstaged son by producing early Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (G1) favorite Enthaar (AUS) in the Keeneland Gimcrack Stakes (G3).

Price reiterated he firmly believes the best is yet to come with Written Tycoon.

"There is so much upside with this horse," said Price. "These horses that we're seeing are only off a AU$45,000 service fee, although obviously his 2-year-olds like that filly who won the Gimcrack last week, they are off an AU$80,000 service fee. We're looking ahead to the next few years of Written Tycoon—onwards and upwards."

Ole Kirk Ticks Boxes for Breeders

Ole Kirk will head to stud as one of the most valuable prospects of his generation after his victory in the Caulfield Guineas.

As a son of one of the hottest stallions in the country, a close relation to the great Black Caviar, and one of just two colts to have completed the Golden Rose and Caulfield Guineas double, the Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes-prepared Ole Kirk ticks plenty of boxes that will entice breeders in the coming years.

Sent off as the AU$4.20 equal favorite in the Caulfield Guineas, Ole Kirk was the beneficiary of a sublime William Pike ride. 

Positioned midfield one off the fence from gate 7, Pike was deftly able to avoid trouble when Tagaloa began dropping back sharply through the field; even as Ole Kirk lost a length, Pike was able to switch to the inside and avoid trouble, ultimately a game-changing move.

Tracking up on the turn, Pike then moved outside horses, travelling strongly all the while. While Aysar raced to the lead, Ole Kirk chased gamely and gallantly. The pair came away to fight it out, with the Golden Rose winner doing enough to score by a long neck.

Grandslam, the brother to BMW Caulfield Cup (G1) winner Jameka, was third, two lengths away.

For Rick Jamieson, who bred not only the winner but also the third-placed Grandslam under the Gilgai Farm banner, it was the culmination of years of planning, sprinkled with moments of anticipation.

"It's a breeder's dream. You put so much time and effort and energy into it, and then to finally get to a race like this and win it, it's just amazing,'' Jamieson said. "His future is now confirmed as a stallion if it wasn't before, he's got such a brilliant family."

The breeding barn beckons, but while Jamieson doesn't know what awaits Ole Kirk in the coming months, he does know where the colt will be this time next year.

"There's no doubt he'll go to stud next year," he said. "I'd say the ownership group will get together in the next few weeks when we're allowed and see where he's going to stand and that the Hawkes' will pick a path for the autumn.''

Purchased for AU$675,000 (US$477,765) by Mark Player's International Thoroughbred Solutions on behalf of Neil Werrett at last year's Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Ole Kirk has now earned AU$2,044,100, with the promise of plenty more to come at stud.

Ole Kirk's dam Naturale, a full sister to Black Caviar, has a 2-year-old half sister by Not A Single Doubt in training named Gimmie Par. She is being prepared by Peter Moody and will race in the Gilgai Farm silks.

Odeum Blooms in Thousand Guineas

Forty minutes before Ole Kirk's Guineas win, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Junior-trained Odeum took out the fillies' equivalent.

Owned by bloodstock agent Sheamus Mills in partnership with Anthony Roberts and Heath Newton, Odeum produced a dominant performance, defeating Personal by a 1 3/4 lengths with a long head to Instant Celebrity in third.

Her time of 1:36.22 was 0.16 seconds faster than the boys recorded just a race later. 

"She's a filly that has bloomed this whole preparation," Price said. "I'd have to say a big congratulations to Sheamus Mills. We sat in that dungy old office 20 years ago and have been working together for years and years and years. He's been putting up with me, dragging him in here on Saturday morning to clock horses. It's great now that he's logged on a group 1 filly. He does a lot of hard work and he's a smart man."

It was a first group 1 win for Kent, who entered into a partnership with Price 18 months ago.

"I'm on cloud nine, it's the most amazing feeling," he said. "Even without there being a crowd here, family and friends, the emotions going through the body, it's unbelievable. 

"She was home a long way out. It was a funny race because there was a big pack of them in the first four. It was very messy in there. She got a lovely run and once he got her out and gave a kick, the race was over.

"We've been saying all week how she's bloomed this week and she raced accordingly. She still won quite soft. Her ears were pricked. It was amazing."

A AU$420,000 ($303,030) purchase by Mills at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Newhaven Park draft, Odeum has now earned AU$718,550 through just four starts.

Her dam Movie, whose only previous winner from two to race was Southern Cross Group Brian Crowley Stakes victor Goodfella, has a 2-year-old I Am Invincible colt named Video, while she has a yearling Zoustar (AUS) filly. She is due to foal to Zoustar again in the coming weeks.

Everest or Not, Futures Secured for Sprinters

Dirty Work and Wild Ruler put themselves forward as the most likely horses to fill the final slot for The Everest, held by clients of trainer Chris Waller, after their respective wins in the Schillaci Stakes and the Polytrack Roman Consul Stakes (G2).

However, whether they line up in the world's richest turf race or not, both secured their place on future stallion rosters with their victories Saturday.

Dirty Work, owned by Spendthrift Australia, is likely to become the headline local stallion for the Victorian operation after his last-to-first Schillaci victory, grabbing favorite Diamond Effort in the last stride.

"That win has cemented his place on our roster for next year," Spendthrift Australia general manager Garry Cuddy told ANZ Bloodstock News. "You can't argue around his form this preparation, with a couple of unlucky runs behind some pretty high quality horses. We were just happy that he was able to get the job done at group 2 level."

Like Ole Kirk, Dirty Work is prepared by Team Hawkes, having been purchased by Spendthrift Australia for AU$800,000 ($615,680) out of the Sledmere Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. It looks a shrewd investment now.

"He's a son of Written Tycoon and I don't think there is a stud master in the country after the last two weeks that would knock back a son of Written Tycoon," Cuddy said. "He's arguably the best stallion in the country at the moment and obviously it's exciting to have a son of his with us. You make a play on these horses when you buy them as yearlings and you hope that Written Tycoon ends up going the right way and that the horse ends up getting a result like this on the track."

The Australian arm of American breeding giant Spendthrift has developed into a major player on the local scene since acquiring Yallambee Stud in 2015. Dirty Work gave the B. Wayne Hughes operation a first group 2 success down under.

"This is Spendthrift's highest-level group win in Australia and he's the best we've had so far, so it's very exciting," Cuddy said. "It means the world. Mr. Hughes has entrusted us to do a job down here and at the moment we've got, as two of our five horses on our roster, horses we purchased as yearlings, and we are now able to add another yearling purchase to the roster in Dirty Work. 

"It's a great achievement for the farm and an achievement that I'm quite proud of on a personal level as well. He was the best walking horse at the sale in our opinion, and we only bought two horses at that sale. He was an obvious standout for us at that sale. 

"He's just continued to develop and strengthen up. I think in his three runs this prep he's been the pick of the yard in each of them, and it shows that he's a good-looking horse and that creates a bit of a presence for him."

As for The Everest, Cuddy hadn't received a call from the Chris Waller stable as of last night, but with races like the Manikato Stakes (G1) and the Darley Sprint Classic (G1) on offer in Melbourne in the coming weeks, there are options aplenty for Dirty Work.

"It would be great to go and take out The Everest, but we came to Melbourne because we're about building the profile of these horses with the black type status," Cuddy said. "There's only one better than a group 2 and that's a group 1, so we'll aim to win a group 1 somewhere along the way and tick that last box."

Dirty Work's dam Maidel produced a sister to the full sprinter in 2018; the unnamed 2-year-old was purchased by Steve Daniels through the Inglis Digital December Sale last year. She is currently in foal to Capitalist.

Roman Consul Stakes winner Wild Ruler is another who looks to have secured his future at stud, given he is owned by a consortium headed by Newgate Bloodstock.

Newgate Farm principal Henry Field said that The Everest was one of two options on the table for the 3-year-old, who won by two lengths over On The Lead.

"He will either go to the Coolmore (Stud Stakes, G1) or The Everest," Field said. "He is an exciting horse."

Earlier in the week, Field admitted The Everest had become more attractive after last year's winner Yes Yes Yes was named champion 3-year-old colt or gelding during the Australian racehorse of the year awards, despite the race not holding group 1 status. 

"Everything has changed with this race after Yes Yes Yes was named champion 3-year-old for last season and he only won The Everest," Field said. "It doesn't matter that it is not a group 1, it is the race that is above all other sprint races in the country and the world. We wouldn't worry about Melbourne if Wild Ruler got into The Everest, because the prize is just so big if you win it."

Field told ANZ Bloodstock News this week that he would be guided by Wild Ruler's trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, and Paul Snowden was reluctant to reveal his hand post-race Saturday, although he did indicate that discussions would take place about the vacant slot.

"My guys will speak to their guys I suppose and we'll sort it out from there," he said. "This is what it was about today. Obviously a group 2 is nothing to sneeze at on his resume. We can then look at our options."

Wild Ruler's dam Gypsy Robin has an American Pharoah  yearling filly, while she is back in foal to American Pharoah again.

Cox Plate Picture Muddied

The Ladbrokes Cox Plate (G1) picture was turned upside down Saturday, not just by the Caulfield Guineas—with Cox Plate entries Amish Boy, King's Legacy, and Tagaloa finishing sixth, ninth, and last respectively—but also by two of the day's other group 1 races, the Caulfield Stakes (G1) (raced as the Neds Stakes) and the Moet & Chandon Spring Champion Stakes (G1).

The Caulfield Stakes was expected to confirm two-time group 1 winner Russian Camelot as favorite for Australia's weight-for-age championship, but the Danny O'Brien-trained 4-year-old was defeated by a resurgent Arcadia Queen, who returned to her best in a powerhouse display.

The Grant and Alana Williams-trained Arcadia Queen, who races in the cerise and white colors of her breeder Bob Peters, emerged as a superstar 3-year-old filly in 2018. A winner of one of her three starts at 4 in the Tooheys 150th Birthday Theo Marks Stakes (G2), it has taken her time to find her best this spring, although her last two runs when second in the Furphy Let's Elope Stakes (G2) and third in the Hyland Race Colours Underwood Stakes (G1) suggested she was approaching something near her best.

Given a cold ride by Pike, Arcadia Queen loomed up ominously upon straightening and quickly had Russian Camelot—who had overrated for much of the event—in her sights. Racing up boldly, she quickly put a 1 1/4 lengths on her rival, with veteran Humidor again producing his usual honest performance in third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Russian Camelot.

"It's a great team effort," Grant Williams said. "A lot of months in the making and all the team at home, with Alana and the team, they got her home. They did a lot of recovery work and got her back. I would still like her feet to be better. I wanted to put the plates on for the day and the bars will go back on Monday to be cautious.

"It's great to see her back and we can look forward to the Cox Plate now."

The Spring Champion Stakes in Sydney was considered a potential stepping stone for 3-year-olds aspiring to tackle the Cox Plate, but it appears unlikely any candidates will head to Moonee Valley after trainer David Payne ruled the race out as a possibility for winner Montefilia.

The Payne trainee added the Spring Champion Stakes to her record, giving her two group 1 wins in the space of a week after she claimed a maiden top-level triumph in the Darley Flight Stakes (G1) last weekend.

"I will have a look at the race in Melbourne, the Oaks (G1)," her trainer said. "You have to look at it. She has only had seven runs now but we'll see how she is in a couple of days as we will be taking on the fillies again. I feel she will be better over 2,500 meters."

Montefilia last week became the first group 1 winner for Darley's Kermadec and is the best performer from four raced foals out of UK stakes performer Bana Wu. Bana Wu has a 2-year-old filly by Shalaa in training with Ciaron Maher, while she also has a yearling colt by Ribchester.

Purchased by Payne for AU$130,000 ($93,210) from the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Montefilia has now taken her earnings over the million-dollar mark with prize-money of AU$1,010,925.

The day's other feature, the Lexus Toorak Handicap (G1) at Caulfield, is also unlikely to have a bearing on the Cox Plate after Channel 7 Queensland Derby (G1) winner Mr Quickie defeated all comers as top-weight in the historic contest.

Mr Quickie is the first foal out of the General Nediym mare Special Favour. Back in Australia after a period in New Zealand, where she produced a Sacred Falls filly, Special Favour is back in foal to Shamus Award. 

A AU$115,000 ($85,572) purchase by Wylie Dalziel at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Mr Quickie has now earned AU$1,686,050, having won 10 of his 23 starts.