Blue Gum Farm will stand superbly bred Group 3 winner War at Euroa this year.

War (More Than Ready – Deedra by Zabeel) was trained by Gai Waterhouse and showed terrific talent right from the get go when runner-up in the LR Breeders Plate at Randwick.

Sidelined by injury for 10 months, he didn’t reappear until a spring three year old for a front-running victory in the G3 Up and Coming Stakes (1300m) at Warwick Farm.  “He’s a very good horse in the making,” Waterhouse said.  “He was allowed to dictate today and I liked the way he came away in the straight.”

War joined Snitzel, Fastnet Rock, Exceed and Excel, Testa Rossa and Marscay on the roll-call of Up and Coming Stakes winners and they all developed into top-class sires.

“He controlled the race and was never going to be beaten,” jockey Tommy Berry said after bringing the winner back to scale.  “His turn of foot was explosive.”

War was a $500,000 buy for renowned judge James Bester at the 2012 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.  “I consider War as good looking a yearling as I’ve ever bought,” Bester claimed.  “He’s a perfect marriage of the speed, precocity and athleticism that is synonymous with More Than Ready and the quality and presence for which Zabeel is renowned.

“He is a superb walker with a great head and chiselled, muscular physique.  He was a fast, mature two year-old, one of the best of his generation in that respect, and he was good enough to progress to win a high-quality race at three.  As a racehorse, he certainly delivered on the promise of his physique as a yearling.”

War is by Champion 2YO Sire More Than Ready whose sire sons include champion stallion Sebring.  He is the first foal of a Zabeel daughter of the G1 Queensland Oaks winner Joie Denise and she has produced Group 1 winners Tuesday Joy and Sunday Joy.  The latter is the dam of More Than Ready champion More Joyous.

War will stand for an $8,800 (inc gst) fee alongside fellow newcomer Glass Harmonium (Ire).  Blue Gum Farm also stands Canford Cliffs (Tagula), Red Arrow (Red Ransom), Turffontein (Johannesburg) and Elvstroem (Danehill).