Royal Haunt - One To Watch

As the sire of 16 Stakes winners to date from only two northern hemisphere-bred crops to race, G1 King’s Bishop Stakes winner Hard Spun has proven that he is clearly a stallion to take note of.

Whilst his oldest in Australia are only three, he has been represented by numerous classy runners, and the recent two-and-a-half length victory by the Peter Moody-trained three-year-old gelding Royal Haunt to remain unbeaten, indicates he is one to watch as he moves through the grades.

Stepping up the 1210m for his second race start after a half length victory on debut over 1009m, the Contract Racing Pty Ltd-bred galloper is out of the King's Best mare Royal Glow, an unraced half-sister to G3 winners Nediym’s Glow and Red Colossus.

With two yearlings catalogued for this week’s Inglis Classic yearling sale and a further 15 for the Inglis Premier yearling sale in March, some highlights from the drafts include; lot 288 from the draft of Murrulla Stud (as agent for Tanja Park Stud) that will sell on the second day of the Classic sale. Out of the Sir Tristram mare Group, a sister to G3 winner Spirit Of Westbury and Listed winner Duke of Westbury, as well as a half-sister to G3 winner Lucky Diva and Listed winner Gina Lollawitcha, the colt is bred on the Danzig-Sir Tristram cross which has produced G1 winners Nothin’ Leica Dane, Teranaba, Viking Ruler and Danske.

With 15 yearlings catalogued for the Inglis Premier yearling sale, lot 390 from the draft of Basinghall Farm (as agent) is out of the Stakes-winning Snippets mare Franjelica, while lot 411 from the draft of Bowness Stud (as agent) is out of an unraced Strategic mare, a half-sister to G1 winner Grand Journey and Listed winner Proliferate.

Mid-way through the final day of the main catalogue, Swettenham Stud (as agent) will offer lot 522, the fourth foal from the US-bred Stakes winner Minge Cove, a half-sister G3 winner Mint and the Listed winner Nasty Hero.

From the family of Champion sire More Than Ready, lot 715 is a bay filly from the draft of Three Bridges Thoroughbreds (as agent for Gilgai Farm). Out of the Grand Slam mare Just A Sin Away, this filly is also from the heavily Black type laden family of G1 winners Stephanie’s Kitten, Fly Lexis Fly and Bail Out Becky.

One of final yearlings from the draft of Hard Spun will be consigned as lot 733 by Anthony Mithen’s Rosemont Stud (as agent). A chestnut colt out of the Diesis mare Marple, a half-sister to the dam of Champion South African filly Mahbooba, this filly is sure to have significant residual value once her racetrack career is over.

Already the sire of G1-winning fillies Zo Impressive and Questing in America, Hard Spun currently sits in second position on the second-season sire table in Australia based on winners, and with many of his current three-year-olds starting to show real promise and hit their straps, the Autumn carnival appears as if it will be an exciting time for the young stallion.