Musir, a colt bred on the cross of Australia’s two leading stallions, capped off a top debut season when he was named South Africa’s Champion 2YO Colt at the weekend.

He now joins New Zealand-based The Heckler as an Australian-bred Champion 2YO in a foreign country.  The Heckler was recently crowned NZ’s Champion 2YO for 2008-09.

Musir is by Redoute’s Choice from Encosta De Lago’s stakes placed daughter Dizzy De Lago.  He was bred by Sheikh bin Khalifa and was offered for sale by Coolmore Stud at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where he was passed in at $900,000.

The decision was taken to send the colt to South Africa, where he joined the stable of champion trainer Mike De Kock.  He was an easy debut winner in May over 1000m at Clairwood before running second to fellow Australian-bred Redoute’s Choice colt Solid Choice at the same track in June.

Despite that defeat, he then went onto become the dominant juvenile in South Africa when he landed the Group 1 Golden Horseshoe (1400m) by three and a half lengths.

In winning, he became the 15th individual Group 1 winner for Redoute’s Choice and the first Group 1 winner from an Encosta De Lago mare.

Charles Laird was named South Africa’s Trainer of the Year and his main client Marcus Jooste was named Owners of the Year.

Laird and Jooste have been strong supporters of Australian sales in recent years, with Group 1 winners such as Our Giant and Seventh Rock among their successful purchases.