Russian Revolution Proves His Class In The Galaxy
To this observer it was a stunning effort from a three-year-old competing as favourite against a strong field of older, seasoned sprinters at only his sixth start.
His supporters, though, must have had some concerns before the race as the colt became stirred up in the parade yard then needed a shoe replaced behind the barriers and his problems did not end there as he was trapped four wide in the run under his 51 kilograms but was still able to unleash a strong finishing sprint late to nail stablemate Redzel (Snitzel) near the line with longshot Jungle Edge (Dubawi) a close up third. On a Heavy 10 surface the race time was 1:07.60 with the last 600 metres covered in 36.89.
Now winner of five races, including the Roman Consul Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) defeating Astern (Medaglia d’Oro) and Capitalist (Written Tycoon), Russian Revolution carries the now familiar red and yellow silks of part-owners, the China Horse Club, racing for a high profile group of owners, among them his breeder, John Stuart Investments Pty Ltd.
So far Russian Revolution’s only defeat was his fourth, beaten just over two lengths, in last spring’s Coolmore Stud Stakes (registered as Ascot Vale Stakes) (Gr 1, 1200m) behind Flying Artie (Artie Schiller), Astern and Star Turn (Star Witness) and we may see him run again on Saturday week in the weight-for-age T J Smith Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) which will be an even sterner test.
For the connections of Russian Revolution’s sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) last Saturday capped an exciting few days in an amazingly successful season being enjoyed by the Arrowfield horse who currently heads all Australian sires’ lists for 2016/17 with extraordinary results from his juveniles. Overall this season Snitzel to date has 21 individual stakes winners with Russian Revolution becoming his eighth Group One winner following his seventh coming up last Thursday in New Zealand when two-year-old colt Summer Passage (Snitzel) captured the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
Snitzel’s success and that of his barnmate Not A Single Doubt (Redoute’s Choice) have put Arrowfield Stud into an enviable position to continue the Danehill (Danzig) dynasty via Danehill’s greatest sire son, Arrowfield’s still active Redoute’s Choice, three times champion sire in Australia, sire of 142 stakes winners and already also an important broodmare sire.
Russian Revolution was well bought for $320,000 at the 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and is the fourth foal of his richly related imported dam Ballet d’Amour (Stravinsky). Her previous foal, Turbo Miss (Sebring), recently won the Frances Tressady Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) while her first two foals, Ticket To Toorak (Northern Meteor) and Miss Interiors (Flying Spur) are also winners.
Ballet d’Amour has a yearling filly by Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) who was purchased by China Horse Club for $300,000 at January’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Now in the ownership of Mrs Belinda Bateman, Ballet d’Amour also has a weanling colt by Wandjina (Snitzel) but missed to her 2016 service by Exceed and Excel (Danehill).
Stravinsky (Nureyev), Russian Revolution’s maternal grandsire, was a champion sprinter in Europe and while successful as a sire of winners in both hemispheres his lasting influence on breeding is likely to be best expressed via his broodmare daughters, to date dams of 54 stakes winners throughout the world, 12 at Group / Grade One level.
Highest earner produced by a Stravinsky mare is outstanding American mare Tepin (Bernstein) while Coolmore sire Rip Van Winkle (Galileo) is another star but it is interesting to note that eight of the 12 have campaigned in Australasia: Lankan Rupee (Redoute’s Choice) bred on a similar cross to Russian Revolution, Mosheen (Fastnet Rock), Tavago (Tavistock), Julinsky Prince (Darci Brahma), Sacred Elixir (Poi Moi), Ugo Foscolo (Zacinto), Signify (Perfectly Ready) and Russian Revolution.
Russian Revolution’s prospects of becoming a future leading sire are enhanced by his coming from the renowned E P Taylor family tracing to champion Fanfreluche (Northern Dancer), already responsible for Australian champion sires Encosta de Lago (Fairy King) and Flying Spur (Danehill). Another member of the family, L’Enjoleur (Buckpasser), twice Horse of the Year in Canada, also did well at stud.
With no fewer than six crosses of breed shaper Northern Dancer (Nearctic) in his background, Russian Revolution may need outcross mares to achieve the best results at stud although the closest presence of Northern Dancer is in his fourth generation. His dam Ballet d’Amour is linebred 4f x 3m to Northern Dancer’s great foil Mr. Prospector (Raise a Native) and bringing in more of his blood may work to advantage when Russian Revolution retires to stud.