Rich Hill freshman Sir Percy (GB) sired his first New Zealand-bred winner on Monday. His colt That’s Where It Is captured the Minstrel Courtwillow Glen Stakes (800m) on the east coast of the South Island at Waimate.
That’s Where It Is (2c Sir Percy – Clifton by Bahhare) flew home to score by a nose for Awapuni trainer Paul Shailer. He will next appear at Riccarton before spelling for next year’s Karaka Million at Ellerslie
Rich Hill Stud homebred Ockham’s Razor (Any Suggestion) won the 2012 edition of the Karaka Million in January.
Sir Percy (Mark of Esteem) was a G1 winner of the Dewhurst Stakes and English Derby and he has sired a flood of two and three-year-old winners in Europe from his Lanwades Stud base in Newmarket
That’s Where It Is was bought out of the Rich Hill’s 2012 NZB Select Sale line-up for $20,000. Rich Hill kept a share as did his Auckland based co-breeder Paul Merton. “He was a nice yearling,” Rich Hill studmaster John Thompson recalled. “A bit small but he looked like he would make a two-year-old.”
The winner’s dam Clifton was placed in the G3 Gold Trail Stakes and she is a half-sister to G3 Newcastle Gold Cup winner Stratofortress. The extended family includes G1 winners Calm Harbour (Thorndon Mile, Captain Cook Stakes) and The A Train (Adelaide Cup).