Coolmore Australia continued its outstanding run of success in February.  The winning run actually started on January 31 when Encosta De Lago’s son Sacred Kingdom led home a Coolmore trifecta in the G1 Centenary Sprint at Sha Tin.  

Sacred Kingdom is ranked the world’s finest sprinter and that rating was confirmed with another dominant victory in the G1 Chairman’s Sprint Prize on February 21.

Encosta De Lago’s barnmates, past and present, have also sired some of the fastest horses in Australia this year.  Admirable entire Turffontein (Johannesburg) again showed he is no back number with a dogged win in the G1 William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley.  He outpointed none other than Fastnet Rock’s son Wanted.

Starspangledbanner’s (Choisir) then came out and scored a brilliant victory in the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield.  The resplendent colt’s ability to quicken clear of his rivals off a searing early pace was most impressive.  His closest pursuers included Here De Angels (Dehere), who just weeks earlier had set a new track record over the same course and distance in the G3 Rubiton Stakes.

Here De Angels is proving himself better than ever as a six year-old and he can add further G1 honours to his curriculum vitae over the coming months.

Choisir’s success wasn’t confined to the exploits of Starspangledbanner.  His daughter Psychologist pulverised a good-looking field in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude before going on to run with great credit from a wide draw in the G1 Blue Diamond.

She is a performer of immense promise as is the Lloyd Williams owned Linton.  The Galileo gelding introduced himself to the big time with a slashing win in the Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley.

Linton couldn’t have been more impressive winning that G2 at his third start.  He looks sure to give Denman plenty to think about in the G1 Australian Guineas.

Rock Of Gibraltar’s son La Rocket will attempt to frank the form from his G2 win in the St George Stakes when tackling the G1 Australian Cup this Saturday.  Just like his own sire, the Wadham Park gelding is blossoming with racing and will be a hard nut to crack in the Cup.

La Rocket is the fourth individual Group winner for Rock Of Gibraltar in Australia this season.  His juveniles include the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude placegetter Thegreatandthegood.

Fastnet Rock confirmed his position as Australia’s best young stallion with another stellar month yielding six individual stakes performers in Australia.  Only Encosta De Lago could boast as many in February.

His G1 Golden Slipper candidate Hinchinbrook won the Listed Canonbury Stakes on debut and we will be hearing plenty more about the Gerald Ryan trained colt in the coming months.

Of course, it is not just the precocious progeny of Fastnet Rock that are hogging the headlines.  The progeny of Oratorio (Ire) are getting in on the act, too.  

The John Sargent trained filly Banchee completed a fantastic month for both her sire and for the progeny of Coolmore Australia stallions in general with a brilliant win in the G2 Matamata Breeders Stakes in New Zealand.  

Oratorio (Ire) had registered his first winner in Australia when Hinchinbrook’s stablemate Conturbar scored at Wyong on February 11.
Needless to say, Coolmore’s success during the summer months bodes well for the Autumn.