Darley shuttle stallion Blue Point (Shamardal) who stands this spring at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST), has done a wonderful job in the Northern Hemisphere during his fledgling career, with six stakes triumphs to his name in 2023. His best performer has been Big Evs (Ire), who won the Listed Windsor Castle S. at Royal Ascot in June, the G3 Molecomb S. at Goodwood last month and the G2 Flying Childers S. at Doncaster just days ago.
Blue Point sired two of Monday’s trial winners - Scampi, who claimed Heat 9 by 2.64l, and Gerringong, who took out the following Heat by 0.4l.
Back to back trial winners for Blue Point when the @GaiWaterhouse1 and Bott trained Gerringong proved too good in the 10TH for Singo! 🍓@DarleyAus pic.twitter.com/PZebnRF3Xu
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2023
Bred by Robert Crabtree, Scampi was consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The colt was bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $750,000.
Scampi is from the two-time winner Sistonic (Bel Esprit) and she herself is a sister to the Listed winner Iconic, and a three-quarter sister to the great Black Caviar and Naturale - the dam of the dual G1 hero Ole Kirk. The colt is a half-brother to last year’s G3 Kindergarten S. winner Semillion and the four-time winner Seatonic.
Scampi races in Colin McKenna’s Halo Racing Services silks and Crabtree has retained a share in the colt.
“He always looked a very mature horse, right from the get-go,” Eustace told The Thoroughbred Report.
“He’s been in work a long time and has done things very easily and professionally throughout.
“We know the family well, we trained the half-sister (Seatonic). She was quick, he’s a bigger, stronger and more mature horse than she ever was.
“He’ll get every opportunity now to go to the G3 Breeders’ Plate (September 30).”
Eustace said “it was hard not to be impressed by Blue Point.”
“We really like him and his progeny have been very impressive to deal with thus far,” Eustace commented.
“We’ve got another Blue Point in Victoria and it’s going nicely.”
Scampi was handled by Jason Collett, who told Sky Thoroughbred Central: “It probably surprised me how quick and nippy he was, he did that quite easily.”
The @cmaherracing trained Scampi was very impressive in those famous colours when winning his heat this morning!
— SKY Racing (@SkyRacingAU) September 18, 2023
He is by first season sire Blue Point out of Sistonic. @DarleyAus @DarleyStallions pic.twitter.com/puS7Nul0ou
