The prestigious stakes winners title for 2010-11 will go right down to the wire between Hunter Valley heavyweights Redoute’s Choice (Arrowfield), Encosta de Lago (Coolmore) and Lonhro (Darley).
Redoute’s and Encosta have both sired 13 winners of 16 stakes races in Australian this season. Lonhro is right on their hammer with 12 winners of 18 stakes races.
Redoute’s Choice was the only one of the trio to sire a stakes winner on Saturday. His Brisbane based gelding Essington led home an Arrowfield quinella in the Listed BRC Ascot Hcp at Eagle Farm.
Essington (4g Redoute’s Choice – Besame Mucho by Encosta De Lago) had won the Rockhampton Newmarket last month and he backed up for a determined victory over Patinack galloper Metallurgical (Redoute’s Choice).
“I will give him one more run over a mile and then spell him,” trainer Daryl Hansen said. “They all had their chance to beat him today. I think he’s up to a big sprint race during the spring in Melbourne.”
The Ascot Hcp was part of a memorable afternoon for the former Mackay conditioner. He also hit pay-dirt with Rocket To Glory (Shovhog) in the $250,000 QTIS Plate and the heavily-supported Hampden (Savabeel) completed a wining treble in the lucky last.
Essington is from G3 STC Research Stakes winner Besame Mucho and was originally purchased for $150,000 by Nick Williams from the Princes Farm draft at the 2008 Inglis Easter yearling sale.
After failing to win a maiden in four starts in Victoria, Team Williams sold Essington for $50,000 to Townsville painting contractor Merino Katsanvas.
The gelding has raced 14 times since changing hands and has won 10 races and been placed in the other four. His overall prizemoney now exceeds $300,000.
The Brisbane quinella meant Redoute’s Choice banked most of the $80,000 prizemoney from the Ascot Hcp. And his Melbourne filly Maraaseem weighed in with another $62,000 for winning the Rivette Series Final at Flemington.
Redoute’s Choice is in second spot behind Lonhro on the Australian sires’ premiership with earnings of $7.16 million this season.
The Arrowfield champion has ended all but one of the last six seasons among Australia’s Top 3 stallions. No other sire can match that record.
Redoute’s Choice will stand the 2011 season at a fee of $137,500 (inc gst).