The 2010 Group 1 Winter Stakes was a watershed result for Redoute’s Choice and he can win it again this year with Victorian filly Varenna Miss.
Redoute’s Choice clinchéd the 2009-10 Australian sires’ premiership when Melito claimed the $500,000 feature for fillies and mares at Eagle Farm.
The Arrowfield champion is back in the reckoning for his third Australian general sires’ title this season. With 10 weekends remaining before the close of 2010-11, High Chaparral ($6.85 million) is looking over his shoulder at Lonhro ($6.34m), Redoute’s Choice ($6.26m) and More Than Ready ($6.20m).
Varenna Miss (4m Redoute’s Choice – Mica’s Pride by Bite The Bullet) will be set for big-ticket events after winning the Act For Kids Handicap (1200m) at Doomben on Saturday.
“I brought her here for the Dane Ripper and then the Winter Stakes,” trainer Tony Noonan said. “But if she happened to win the Dane Ripper, I might even give her a chance in the Stradbroke.”
The Mornington based mare had been sidelined for almost a year before winning her maiden at Ballarat last October. She is an elite level competitor having finished fourth at just her sixth start in the G1 MRC Oakleigh Plate in February.
“I gave her all the time she needed to develop and get over some injuries last year,” Noonan added. “Her owners Glenn and Kerry Fraser have been very patient and I think you will see a very good mare next season.”
Varenna Miss is from G3 STC Research Stakes winner Mica’s Pride and she has also foaled Randwick Listed winner Silently (Anabaa).
Her 3yo filly Our Pride And Joy (Canny Lad) is a recent Mornington winner for Patrick Payne and the mare has a yearling colt by Reset and a weanling colt by Sebring.