Oratorio (Aus) finished September with a rush of winners, siring five of them in the last two days of the month.

The Mungrup Stud champion grabbed an international double on Sunday with maiden winners Heeza Torio (Toodyay) and Gato Negro (Singapore).  He went one better during the Queen’s Birthday meeting at Northam on Monday courtesy of In Rhythm, Monteverdi and Advantage Norman.

All five were catalogued for the Perth Magic Millions and, just as gratifying for studmaster Gray Williamson, all five were bred by Mungrup’s clients.

HEEZA TORIO (ex World Harmony by Royal Academy) won first-up after a 30 week spell at Toodyay’s once-a-year meeting.  He was bred by Belhus Racing’s Peter Morley and cost $14,000.

GATO NEGRO (ex Lady Ruby by Rubiton) scored second-up at Kranji despite racing wide for the entire journey.  He made $30,000 as a yearling and is among hundreds of winners bred by Fairfields Stud’s Sally Oakes.

Oratorio has sired the winners of 16 races in Singapore and his latest looked a promising type on Sunday.  “Gato Negro is still learning what racing is all about,” trainer Alvin Tan said.  “He’s definitely got ability and there’s more improvement to come.

“He’s very green so we added pacifiers and they worked well.  He did look around in front but kept going strongly to the line.”

Gato Negro means ‘Black Cat’ in Spanish and his dam Lady Ruby was purchased by Oakes for $45,000 at the 2002 Magic Millions National Sale.  The mare foaled winners by Rory’s Jester and Strategic in the Eastern Stakes and her Sunspeed-bred progeny includes winners by Mungrup sires Kenvain, Danehill Express and Oratorio.

IN RHYTHM (ex Cailoucay by Stay Tuned) claimed the first-leg of Oratorio’s Monday treble for part-owner and trainer Neville Parker.  He was entered for the 2010 Magic Millions by Eddie Rigg’s Geisel Park (as agent) but was withdrawn prior to the Sale.

MONTEVERDI (ex Happy Halo by Don’t Say Halo) doubled up with a front-running victory for Bruce Watkins.  He cost the Bunbury based conditioner $30,000 when offered by Williamson in partnership with Lex and Shirley Piper.

ADVANTAGE NORMAN (ex Evert by Belong to Me) did best in a busy finish to notch a hat-trick for his sire in the Avon Valley.  He was retained by Peter Morley after failing to reach a $30,000 reserve at the Magic Millions.

Oratorio has taken advantage of those wins to grab an early lead in the WA sires’ premiership for 2013-14.  He stands at Mungrup for a $13,750 (inc gst) fee and among his bookings this year is Peggie’s Dream (Ihtiram), a stakes winning sister to Australian Horse of the Year Miss Andretti.

GATO NEGRO
Son of Oratorio wins at Kranji on Sunday