Edinburgh Park-bred Tanker and Glenfiddich to run in Blue Diamond
Edinburgh Park Stud will enter uncharted territory with a two-pronged assault on the $1,500,000 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Superbly-bred colts Tanker (Pride Of Dubai) and Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock) will take the New South Wales-based stud to new heights in the blue riband juvenile event.
Edinburgh Park’s Ian Smith is ecstatic to be represented by the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates.
“We have never had two runners in a Group 1 before and it will be a case of not knowing where to look,” Smith said.
“It’s exciting and emotional and everything else you could think of all thrown into one big melting pot.”
Edinburgh Park took 16 yearlings to the January sales at the Gold Coast last year, with Glenfiddich realising $200,000 and Tanker selling for $170,000.
“They were a couple of lovely colts and we were lucky enough to retain shares in both of them,” Smith said.
The achievement comes hot on the heels of Edinburgh Park’s first-ever $1 million sale at last month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast auction.
“This is another fantastic milestone for the stud,” Smith said.
“We have to pinch ourselves to make sure that it’s really happening.”
Edinburgh Park reached the seven-figure milestone with a grey colt by Exceed And Excel (Danehill) from Smokin’ Alice (Smoke Glacken).
Smokin’ Alice is a half-sister to Nothin’ But A Dream (First Defence), who is the dam of Glenfiddich.
“This is an American family which we have invested heavily in,” Smith said.
Glenfiddich’s second dam, Darling Alice (Northern Flagship), and third dam, Adarling (Alleged), are both black-type winners, while Nothin’ But A Dream is currently in foal to Exceed And Excel.
“There is a lot happening in the family,” Smith said.
Glenfiddich, who is trained at Cranbourne by Robbie Griffiths, is yet to win in four starts but was second in the Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (Listed, 1000m) at Caulfield in late January.
“You would think he will appreciate more ground but he will be in for the fight on Saturday,” Smith said.
Tanker won Caulfield’s Debutant Stakes (Listed, 1000m) first-up for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable in October before finishing behind the placegetters in three subsequent starts.
A win would be bittersweet for Smith as he lost Tanker’s dam, Calcatta (Tale Of The Cat), just days after she foaled a Zoustar (Northern Meteor) colt in the spring.
Edinburgh Park was quick to snap up Tanker’s half-sister, Lady Naturaliste (Choisir) – a Listed winner as a two-year-old – when the opportunity to purchase arose.
“Losing Calcatta was a big blow so I bought Lady Naturaliste privately…I did not want to lose the family completely,” Smith said.
Edinburgh Park is looking to stay in the spotlight following the win of Rubisaki (Rubick) in the $1 million Inglis 3YO Sprint (1200m) at Warwick Farm last week.
Rubisaki was sold to Prime Thoroughbreds for $85,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
“We have a reputation for selling good stock and our success cements the faith in our brand,” Smith said.