It was an action-packed Saturday across the major jurisdictions. At Caulfield, Written Tycoon sired a Stakes double with his progressive son Run Harry Run winning the $500,000 G3 Blue Sapphire, while his consistent daughter Rose Quartz opened her stakes account in the G3 How Now S.
Double for Written Tycoon
Run Harry Run (Written Tycoon) continued his upward trajectory in the sixth race at Caulfield on Saturday, claiming success in the G3 Blue Sapphire S. over 1400 metres.
Having won a BM64 H. on Bendigo Cup Day, this contest was a significant step up in grade, but the Mike Moroney-trained gelding handled it with aplomb, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, taking Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}) in the final strides to claim his third consecutive win.
Brave Mead was sent forward under Mark Zahra and turned for home ominously but couldn’t go with his rival in the concluding 50 metres, who had benefitted from a soft run for the majority of the race. Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) gave Damien Oliver a placing in his final Melbourne metropolitan meeting, having made significant ground from a difficult position at the turn.
Out of Denman mare Maybe Markle, Run Harry Run is her first foal to race, affording her a strong start to her breeding career. Maybe Markle is a half-sister to G3 Gunsynd Classic winner Trump (Written Tycoon), and is related to G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Flitter (Bluebird {USA}).
He was held in high regard as a yearling, going for $280,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, from the draft of Kenmore Lodge. Bred in Queensland by Lavin Park, he is the 55th Stakes winner for Written Tycoon.
The Champion Yulong-based sire then recorded his 56th Stakes winner when his consistent daughter Rose Quartz provided her trainer Grahame Begg with his 100th Stakes winner. Ridden by Michael Dee, the 6-year-old mare denied Ghaanati (Deep Impact {Jpn}) to win her first Stakes race in the G3 How Now S.
While in Western Australia, sons of Written Tycoon were to the fore in the Listed Placid Ark S. at Ascot. Written By‘s Ripcord added to his Listed success earlier in the year by beating Oscar’s Fortune, who is by Rich Enuff, another son of Written Tycoon.
Tycoon’s barn mate strikes
The progeny of Written Tycoon are in hot form. However, the Champion Sire’s young barnmate, Alabama Express, didn’t let him steal all the thunder. The Chris Munce-trained Poster Girl, under the guidance of Robbie Dolan, became the third winner for the son of Redoute’s Choice on the Sunshine Coast. The filly defeated much-hyped Barbie’s Sister (Spirit Of Boom), a full sister to Outback Barbie, while Mishani Express (Sidestep) ran third.
Poster Girl is out of Dubawi (Ire) mare Caricature (USA), and has produced two winners from two foals to run, the other being stakes placed Sketched – Pacific Master (Snitzel).
Poster Girl was a $160,000 purchase by Gerard O’Toole and Arthur Hoyeau from the draft of Yulong at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Alabama Express has commenced his freshman season strongly, with three winners from five runners. He stands at Yulong Stud for a 2023 fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
This is an edited version of the TTR Aus NZ article written by Jesse Dart and Keely Mckitterick