Mungrup Stud champion Oratorio (Aus) has extended his lead among active sires for the 2012-13 Sunspeed premiership.

Belmont winner Geiger Rio increased his earnings to $328,843 on Wednesday.  Two months into the season, Oratorio (Aus) has built up a six-figure lead over fellow Mungrup sire McFlirt ($228K), Trade Fair ($217k) and Ihtiram ($206K).  They all follow long time champion Bletchley Park who died aged 22 at Lynward Park in February 2011.

Geiger Rio is trained by David Harrison and was well overdue to win the Racing Radio Hcp (1000m).  He had been runner-up to smart gallopers Kalahaar, Peggie’s Dream and Travinator since his previous victory at Belmont in June.

Harrison was on a Royal Ascot holiday during the winter months but was on deck for Wednesday’s win.  “He ranged up at the right time and Shaun (O’Donnell) looked after him.  There was another length up his sleeve at the finish.

“He carried 59kg so that was probably his last look at the midweeks,” Harrison added.  “He’s a Saturday horse now.”

Geiger Rio (4g Oratorio – Geigerita by Geiger Counter) is a homebred for Lex and Shirley Piper and they race him with a syndicate of friends and relations.  His dam Geigerita is an unraced half-sister to top-class Hong Kong sprinter Town of Fionn (Snippets).

Geigerita’s latest colt by Oratorio has been nominated for the 2013 Perth Magic Millions.  He will pass muster with flying colours when the Magic Millions team inspect Mungrup’s yearlings on Monday.

Oratorio (Aus) enjoyed a bumper sale at the 2012 Perth Magic Millions.  He was the only locally based sire to make the Top 12 leader-board – and three of his colts featured in that dozen!

Ascot trainer Dan Morton paid $205,000 for the colt ex Zenda, Mt Hallowell’s Craig Thompson weighed in with $180,000 for the colt out of Perth flyer Scuffs and John Chalmers bid for the $150,000 colt from True Surrender.

The tail didn’t wag either.  The median among the 24 Oratorio yearlings was $65,000.

Oratorio started stud life at $6,050 and results at the races and the sale ring have reflected his rise to the top of the Mungrup roster.  “He continues to get above average performers,” studmaster Gray Williamson said.  “The quality of his incoming two year olds is better than ever.”

Mungrup is standing Oratorio (Stravinsky) for a$22,000 (inc gst) service fee.

Hoofnote:  McFlirt narrowed the lead at the top of the table on Saturday.  The Harrison trained stablemates McScar and McBlitzam completed a Belmont double that banked over $63,000.

– Karl Patterson