Coolmore commits to Espionage
Harron sells down part of exciting Group 1-bound Zoustar colt
Colts syndicate pioneer James Harron and his loyal band of supporters have cashed in some of their valuable chips in exciting Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) contender Espionage (Zoustar) ahead of the three-year-old’s return in a barrier trial at Randwick on Friday.
The large syndicate behind the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Espionage – a $1 million purchase by Harron from the Baramul draft at the Magic Millions sale in January last year – has been joined by a group of new investors in the colt led by Coolmore, Sir Peter Vela, B2B Thoroughbreds’ Ricky Surace and Torryburn Stud’s Brett Cornish.
The new co-owners of last season’s ATC Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) and Kindergarten Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) winner also include Bangaloe Stud’s Julia Ritchie, Merricks Station’s Ben Cooper, Bowness Stud and Alma Vale Thoroughbreds.
Espionage was high up in betting for the Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m), a race won by his stablemate Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon), but he was an emergency for the race and did not gain a start, prompting connections to successfully target the Kindergarten as his autumn encore.
It was then that Harron and his co-investors received considerable interest in Espionage and it led to a deal being struck, which according to the prominent agent, “has always been our model from day dot”.
Coolmore has previously linked with the Harron syndicate, buying into King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) after he won the 2020 ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Inglis Sires’) (Gr 1, 1400m).
The $1.4 million yearling graduate, whose first crop two-year-olds will hit the track this season, subsequently won the ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) to further justify Coolmore’s investment in the valuable stallion.
“We take a lot of risk on these horses buying them as yearlings and once they look like they’re going to deserve their place at stud and there’s studs interested, we are always open to selling down equity,” Harron told ANZ Bloodstock News on Wednesday.
“We have a great association with Coolmore, they’re very good to race horses with and they have brought along some wonderful partners as well, so we are really looking forward to that next chapter with them.”
On the eve of spring, as some of his contemporaries are more advanced in their campaigns such as Storm Boy (Justify), Gatsby’s (Snitzel) and Mayfair (Fastnet Rock) who are set to race in the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Rosehill on Saturday, Espionage will have his first barrier trial of the season over 740 metres at Randwick a day earlier.
Espionage, who is a grandson of Group 2-winning and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winning juvenile Military Rose (General Nediym), will have a more serious barrier trial about a fortnight after Friday’s hit-out with September 28’s Heritage Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Rosehill looming as his most likely spring starting point.
“He has developed and furnished beautifully and he’s a great horse to have around the stables,” Harron said.
“Everyone who rides him feels that he’s a very fast horse and the idea is to keep him sprinting, so we didn’t want to kick him off too early knowing that we weren’t going to head towards the Golden Rose ultimately with the Coolmore in mind.
“Running in the Heritage also keeps The Everest open as an option as well.”
The Heritage was won last year by subsequent Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Ozzmosis (Zoustar), who will on Sunday begin his first season at stud on the Newgate Farm roster, while fellow Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) kicked off his 2021 spring campaign in the Listed sprint, using it as a lead-up to The Everest, before he went on to land the stallion-making Group 1 sprint at Flemington.
James Harron Bloodstock and Coolmore both have vacant slots for this year’s $20 million The Everest (1200m), scheduled for October 19, a fortnight prior to the Coolmore Stud Stakes on Derby Day at Flemington.
The agent said he and Coolmore were “keeping quite an open mind” about the prospect of Espionage taking on older horses in The Everest.
“He will have a fairly soft trial on Friday and that will bring him on nicely,” Harron said.
“He’ll have a bit more of a serious hit-out in a couple of weeks and then I dare say we’ll get through the Heritage and then work out what the best plan for him is.
“Our timing just keeps everything open, but we just have to see what the best race programme will be. Ultimately, to try and win that big race for him.”
Bred by Gerry Harvey, who retained an interest in the colt when he was sold at the Gold Coast, Espionage will be ridden by Tommy Berry in Friday’s short-course barrier trial with the jockey in the box seat to maintain his association with the colt having partnered him to victory in the Kindergarten on April 6.
As for King’s Legacy, who stands his fourth season at Coolmore at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST) this year, the early feedback about his first crop of 138 juveniles has been promising, according to Harron.
“It has been exciting hearing from some very respected trainers just what their early thoughts are, but the one common thing is they seem to have very good temperaments, really good constitutions in the stable and they’re very happy with where they are at in terms of handling the work at this early stage,” Harron said.
“You don’t know until they run, but the reports have been fantastic. Of our own King’s Legacys, we’ve been equally excited and pleased. Like I say, everything’s crossed but he’s got unbelievable credentials.
“You won’t see too many sons of Redoute’s on any rosters coming up at this stage and he’s been such a prolific stallion. To have an amazingly bred son of his, with two Group 1 wins on the board as a juvenile, it keeps us dreaming, that’s for sure.”