Winning Rupert transferred to Geisel Park last year and his Group 2 winner Iowna Merc has also made the trek west this week in an attempt to go one better in the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1600m) at Ascot tomorrow.
Iowna Merc is prepared by Warwick Farm trainer Bjorn Baker for a Darby Racing syndicate and he arrived with star stablemate Overpass (Vanguard) who has opened a $2.50 favourite to complete a hat-trick of wins in the G1 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) on November 29.
“He’s flying under the radar and is over here on his own merits,” trainer Bjorn Baker said after learning he’s quoted at $15 for the Railway. “I couldn’t be happier with him and we’ve booked Shaun McGruddy for the ride.”
Iowna Merc (Photo / Western Racepix) is not the first Winning Rupert to cross the Nullabor. Darling View Thoroughbreds general manager Brent Atwell recalls sending their G2 Karrakatta Plate (1200) runner-up Mystic Maid (Patronize) to Winning Rupert when he was standing at Newgate Farm in the Hunter Valley.
“She foaled an outstanding filly that we sold for $120,000 to Simon Miller at the Perth Magic Millions in 2022. Unfortunately she was injured and didn’t race so when Winning Rupert was purchased by Geisel Park he was an obvious option for the mare in his first book in WA.
Mystic Maid foaled a second standout filly last month and now she’s going to Sessions who is another winning outcross for a Danehill-line mare.
For his part, Simon Miller went back and targeted a Hunter Valley-conceived Winning Rupert filly offered by Western Breeders Alliance (as agent) at the 2023 Perth Magic Millions. Named Madhi Girl, she cost $68,000 and has earned $435,000 after completing a hat-trick at Belmont in August.
Winning Rupert has sired 142 individual winners at a 61% strike-rate. He is by Australian 2020-21 Champion Written Tycoon whose other successful sire sons include Capitalist, Rich Enuff, Written By, Ole Kirk and Dirty Work.