News

Surprise Winner of Anzac Day Stakes

27th Apr 2011

Breednet - Tara Madgwick - Monday, 25 April 2011

The Listed VRC Anzac Day Stakes at Flemington on Monday was won in good style by Raffles Pegasus, a $100,000 purchase from the Three Bridges Thoroughbreds draft at the 2010 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

The Danny O'Brien trained gelding had been racing consistently, albeit without winning, in lesser grade races, the experience standing him in good stead for this tougher assignment.

He jumped well for Glen Boss and raced sweetly in transit before finishing off strongly to win the 1400 metre contest by half a length.

"It's a decent race to win and when he gets to a mile, he'll go up another gear,” said Glen Boss.

A son of Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegaus (USA), Raffles Pegasus (pictured as a yearling) was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock and runs for Dato Yap's Raffles Thoroughbred Racing, which also owns half of O'Brien's star filly Shamrocker, winner of the Group I VRC Australian Guineas and AJC Australian Derby this season.

Bred by Pinnacle Thoroughbreds and consigned for sale by the Liston family's Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Raffles Pegasus is the first foal of metropolitan winning Redoute's Choice mare Fanfares, who comes from the family of celebrated producer Princess Tracy (IRE), whose many successful descendants include Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy.

Fanfares was back at Coolmore Stud last spring and was one of a stellar book of mares covered by High Chaparral (IRE).

Raffles Pegasus is the 55th stakes-winner worldwide for Fusaichi Pegasus, whose last Australian bred progeny are two year-olds and is the third stakes-winner for champion sire Redoute's Choice as a broodmare sire joining Ego and Shamillion.