War Chant (USA) has sired a winning double with his 6yo sons Seminole Brave and Mood Swings in the last two city races conducted in Perth this season.
The Belmont brace on Saturday consolidated the Yarradale Stud sire’s Australian career stats to 155 individual winners of 495 races for earnings over $19 million.
Seminole Brave and Mood Swings were foaled in 2016 and that crop has a 69% strike-rate headed by G2 WA Guineas winner War Saint. His highest earner from that year has been Apache Pass who has banked the equivalent of AUD1.14 million from being placed in a LR Lex Piper Stakes (1600m) at Ascot to winning three races to date at Sha Tin.
Apache Pass was bred by Misty Valley Thoroughbreds owner Tony Patrizi in partnership with Yarradale and Seminole Brave also carries the MV brand.
Seminole Brave defied a drama at the start of the Schweppes Hcp (1200m) when four horses were late withdrawals due to an electrical malfunction that resulted in a delayed opening of the barriers. He also cast a near-hind plate in running and was never closer than three-wide under Peter Knuckey.
“He’s so laid-back and remained calm when some of the others were panicking behind the gates,” trainer Gino Poletti said. “He was in the moving line which was probably the place to be in the heavy going. He needs room and always goes well fresh – that was only his second run in 10 months
“He’s had a few problems but is a lovely horse and is 100 per cent now. And I got $51.”
Seminole Brave (6g War Chant – Cruisy Lady by Honours List) was an $28,000 buy for Poletti and his wife Bethany at the 2018 Perth Magic Millions. They’re based at Woodleigh Estate, not far from Yarradale, on a 125-acre property in Gidgegannup.
Poletti began his training career in the Goldfields and the original Seminole Brave was a flashy black stayer who won the Coolgardie Cup – Kalgoorlie Cup double in 1975. He was the only Australian stakes winner by USA-bred stallion Seminole II (Nasrullah).
Mood Swings completed a $965 double for War Chant with a front-running victory in the Drummond Golf Hcp (1400m). Jockey Jarrad Noske pinched a break at the top of the straight and, although all out at the finish, he held off a late challenge from the favourite Vast Art (Flying Artie).
“I was confident when he drew the inside barrier but after watching the weather and talking to Jarrad halfway through the meeting, it was obvious the rail was off,” trainer George Dupre revealed. “We changed the plan and Jarrad said he got better the wider they travelled. He’s been up for a while but is the soundest horse I’ve ever trained.”
Mood Swings (6g War Chant – Scarlet Storm by Commands) was bred by Yarradale Stud in partnership with Waldeck Farms. He took time to furnish and was held over as a yearling until the 2018 Perth Winter Sale when Dupre bought him for $7,000 on behalf of owner Barry Evans.
That would appear to be money well spent with current prizemoney of $496,640 boosted by Westspeed Bonuses of $41,880.
He’s the first and only named foal from Peters Investments mare Scarlet Storm. She’s an unraced daughter of Scarlet Storm (Metal Storm) who was Group 1 placed in the 2004 Victorian Oaks behind Hollow Bullet and Kylikwong and later won a G3 Cockram Stakes at Caulfield.
War Chant stands for $8,250 at Yarradale alongside Gingerbread Man at $5,500. Both fees (inc GST).