While Fiorente was busy earning accolades in Melbourne with his stunning Group 1 triumph in the VRC Australian Cup, his dam Desert Bloom was being covered by a champion Australian sire in France.

Desert Bloom (Pilsudski – Desert Beauty by Green Desert) was served at the weekend by Redoute’s Choice who is standing his second northern book at the Aga Khan’s Haras de Bonneval in Normandy.

Fiorente’s breeder Ballymacoll Stud also welcomed a Redoute’s Choice colt from Fleur De Cactus (Montjeu) in January.  He was the first foal born this year on the famous Irish farm owned by the Weinstock and Sobell families.

Fiorente is the third horse to complete the Melbourne Cup-Australian Cup double in the same season, after  Hall of Fame mares Let’s Elope and Makybe Diva.  His season earnings of $4.90 million are keeping his champion German sire Monsun, who died in 2012, among Australia’s current Top 10 sires, with prospects of plenty more as his Irish bred son returns to Sydney for The Championships.

Ballymacoll Stud has had great success with Fiorente’s female family over a long period of time.  His second dam Hellenic won the G1 Yorkshire Oaks and proved a gem at stud, as the dam of five Group winners, three of them successful at Group 1 level:  Islington (Sadler’s Wells); Mountain High (Danehill) & Greek Dance (Sadler’s Wells).

Fiorente is directly descended from Coventry Belle (Hyperion), purchased as a foal at the 1938 Newmarket December Sales for 2,300 guineas by Dorothy Paget, the previous owner of Ballymacoll Stud.

Coventry Belle, whose siblings included classic winners Godiva and Windsor Slipper, is also the ancestress of outstanding English miler Reform and Golan (G1 English 2000 Guineas and G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth Stakes).

FIORENTE
Australian Cup winner’s dam has been served by Redoute’s Choice in France
Photo: Arrowfield / Bronwen Healy