Bright future predicted for Althoff
Yulong colt Althoff became the latest two-year-old stakes-winner for the stud’s flag-bearing stallion Written Tycoon (Iglesia) with a game and thrilling victory in Saturday’s Ken Russell Memorial Classic (Gr 3, 1200m) at the Sunshine Coast.
Positioned three-wide but with cover on a Heavy10 by James McDonald in the leading division from barrier six of 17, Althoff pushed to a narrow lead a long way from home at the 250 metres, and had to dig deep to overcome challenges to his inside to win by a 0.2 lengths from Silva ’N’ Suave (D’Argento), with Gin A Tonic (Better Than Ready) a 0.1 further back in third.
Starting a $5 favourite in just his second start after running second on debut at Rosehill two weeks ago, the Chris Waller-trained Althoff further extended Written Tycoon’s lead on Australia’s two-year-old sires’ table.
Having also been represented this season by Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Lady Of Camelot, the 21-year-old Written Tycoon has a huge lead as he aims for a remarkable second Australian two-year-old sires’ title. That honour will come eight years after another Golden Slipper winner, Capitalist (Written Tycoon), helped him to his first.
Written Tycoon now has nine individual two-year-old winners this season – which is the same as Too Darn Hot (Dubawi) and Headwater (Exceed And Excel) and one head of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice).
A $500,000 purchase for Yulong from Arrowfield Stud’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Althoff (2 c Written Tycoon – Miss St Tropez by Magnus) is the sixth winner from as many to race from Miss St Tropez (Magnus), a half-sister to five-time stakes-winner Don’t Doubt Mamma (Not A Single Doubt) and her Listed-winning brother Risen From Doubt.
Althoff also descends from Australian breeding royalty, with his fifth dam the four-time modern Group 1 winner Denise’s Joy (Seventh Hussar), and fourth dam the Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Joie Denise (Danehill).
McDonald said Althoff looked poised for a brilliant future.
“He’s got a beautiful action. He got through the ground ok because he’s obviously won,” McDonald said.
“Dare I say he’s got a real fluent action, so anything on top of the ground will be up his alley. But he’s a very talented horse, very well educated and he did everything well today.
“That’s testing work so you need a good constitution, and he’s tough. It bodes well for the future.”
Waller’s Queensland stable foreman Brett Killion said Althoff would now likely target the $1 million BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m) at Eagle Farm on June 1.
“He’s a lovely little colt. He’s very laid-back, so I wasn’t too sure what to expect from him,” Killion said.
“They’ve put the blinkers on him and he put himself in the race and he travelled great. I don’t know if he just got lost a bit in front or just tired late, but he did enough.
“He was on the bit a long way and cruised up. He does everything you need him to do. He switches off and he’s got a lovely turn of foot.”
A half-sister to Althoff by Maurice was sold from Arrowfield’s draft to Ken Keys Racing for $80,000 at this year’s Inglis Classic sale, while Miss St Tropez – not covered in 2022 – went to Arrowfield’s Admire Mars (Daiwa Major) last spring.