Listed double for Red Ransom

It was a fine day in Australia on Saturday for Red Ransom, siring a brace of Listed winners, both of whom could be destined for the top.

The youngest, two-year-old Romneya, maintained her unbeaten record to score decisively in the Oaklands Plate. She has progressed in each of her three runs and will now be spelled before challenging for top honours at the start of next season.

Bred in the purple by Darley Australia, she is a half-sister to G1 Victoria Derby winner Benicio out of the exceptionally fast mare Mannington, who won the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude and placed twice at G1 level. Other distinguished members of her family include the G1 winners Bint Marscay, Bollinger, Filante, Kenny’s Best Pal and Stella Cadente.

Over at Flemington, Red Element stamped himself as a sprinter to follow when making all to win by one-and-a-quarter lengths in the 1200m A R Creswick Stakes. The three-year-old has only had five starts in his career, but has now won his last four. Like Romneya, he is due to be spelled with the big G1 sprints like the Salinger Stakes in the spring as his likely targets.

It has been a fantastic 2008 so far for Red Ransom, siring 14 Stakes horses including eight individual Group winners; more than top class stallions Giant’s Causeway, Pivotal, Montjeu and Danehill Dancer.