Taller mountains ahead for Supreme Heights
Supreme Heights (Jimmy Choux) made relatively short work of her rivals in what was her eighth career victory at Wanganui on Saturday, having the AGC Training Stakes (Listed, 1600m) well under control as soon the field turned their heads for home.
The five-year-old mare is proving to be both honest and consistent, boasting back-to-back Group 3 wins last spring plus this, her third stakes victory.
Her trainer, Mark Brosnan, is optimistic about her future: “I really believe she is up to Group 1 company if she can strike the right track conditions.”
Brosnan has good reason to hold that belief. Three of Supreme Heights’ stakes placings include two Group 2 third placings, in the Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes (1400m) at Pukekohe last November, followed three weeks later with a game performance in the Cal Isuzu Stakes (1600m) at Te Rapa.
Her being able to handle a variety of track conditions is a bonus, with Brosnan adding: “She tends to like it when the track is a bit better than she struck today, but she tries that hard that she always puts in her best.
“Her owners are keen to keep her going so we’ll have a crack at the Tauranga Classic later this month and then put her aside again.
“We’ll bring her back in the spring and take a look at some of those good races, as it would be a hell of a thrill if we could pull off an upset at that level,” he said.
It will come as no surprise that Supreme Heights is closely connected to the same “Heights” clan made famous by Morrinsville breeder Tim Douglas during the 1970s.
However, much more recently, her dam, Summer Heights (Stark South) ranks as a winning sister to Manawatu Cup (Gr 3, 2200m) scorer Rising Heights, a seven-time winner.
Her second dam, Fairy Heights (Tristram’s Heritage), is a half-sister to the dam of $4 million earner Sky Heights (Zabeel). Sky Heights’ 11 wins included four at the elite level; The Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), the Rosehill Guineas (Gr 1, 2000m), the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) and the Caulfield-Yalumba Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
He was all class and, additionally, achieved five Group 1 placings, including seconds in the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) and Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) and third in the 1999 WS Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) won by Sunline (Desert Sun).
The fact that Zabeel (Sir Tristram) clicked with this family should also come as no surprise. Fourth dam Claudine (Battle-Waggon) is not only a sister to the grand campaigner Battle Heights, she also foaled, to Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor), the Group 1-winning sisters Mapperley Heights and Royal Heights.
Mapperley Heights claimed a South Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) against the boys, while Royal Heights took out the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m).
Sir Tristram also delivered with Claudine’s stakes-winning half-sister Gold Heights (Gold Sovereign), producing Noble Heights, winner of the New Zealand One Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
The most famous family member is, by far and away, Claudine’s brother, Battle Heights (Battle-Waggon), winner of the 1974 WS Cox Plate, one of 23 wins by the Horse of the Year that term. He was a wonder horse and tough, too, racing on as a ten-year-old and, remarkably, winning fresh up over the sprint distance of 1100 metres in a Te Awamutu open handicap at that age.
Along the way he would win in every season he raced, with the period from January 1 to April 27 of 1974, as a six-year-old, being especially fruitful, beginning with a second placing in the 1974 Auckland Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and featured triumphs in the Wellington Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), the first of his five Group 1 victories, before backing up seven days later to bag the Trentham Stakes (Gr 2, 2400m), then a Listed stakes (at Avondale) in early February, followed by the International Stakes (Gr 2, 2200m) at Te Rapa.
After a whole four weeks rest he returned to Trentham to finish second in the HR Chalmers Stakes (Gr 2, 3200m) and, a month later, showed Sydney racegoers how tough he was, scoring back-to-back wins in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and the Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m), beating Dayana (Oncidium).
His dam, Wuthering Heights (Avocat General) was deservedly named 1974 Broodmare of the Year. Wuthering Heights produced four stakes winners in her grand stud career.
The following spring Battle Heights returned to Sydney for two stakes placings before heading south to Melbourne and his premier performance in the Cox Plate, defeating Taras Bulba (Oncidium).
A second to Leilani (Oncidium) in the Mackinnon Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) followed a week later and in December he made the long journey to Perth, succeeding in the CB Cox Stakes (Gr 2, 2400m).
As a nine-year-old, he again headed across the Tasman to Sydney winning the Listed Craven Plate (2000m) in early October and four days later the Metropolitan Handicap (Gr 1, 2600m). Twelve days later, he ran second to How Now (In The Purple) in the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m).
As the saying goes: ‘They don’t make ‘em like Battle Heights any more.’
A common theme exists with many well performed and established families and that lies at the feet of the great Foxbridge (Foxlaw), Champion New Zealand Sire and Champion New Zealand Broodmare Sire for eleven successive seasons, with the ‘Heights’ family hugely influenced by the stallion.
The ‘Belle’ family, made famous by James and Annie Sarten and continued very successfully by their daughter Marie (Leicester), owes its success to Foxbridge and his daughter Belle Fox.
The Chittys of Haunui Farm owe much of their breeding success to their foundation broodmare Foxona (Foxbridge). They bought her as a weanling from Trelawney Stud’s Seaton Otway, who stood Foxbridge.
Successful breeder and owner Chris Grace can contribute his success to the purchase of Hawakai, a Le Filou (Vatellor) daughter of Railway Handicap (Gr 1, 6f) winner Te Awa (Foxbridge).
For Tim Douglas, it was no different. Wuthering Heights’ dam is Merry Fox (Foxbridge) and from her descend fifty stakes winners, comprising twelve Group 1 winners of 31 Group 1 races, and quite a list they make.
Apart from those already mentioned above, heading the list of Group 1 victories is the extraordinarily versatile Weekend Hussler (Hussonet), who was successful seven times at the elite-level from 1100 metres to 2000 metres.
Left-handed, right-handed, Flemington, Caulfield, Randwick or Rosehill, it didn’t matter. He was some racehorse. His fourth dam, Malarus (Marceau) is a daughter of the previously mentioned Gold Heights. Interestingly, Weekend Hussler’s third dam, Market Heights, is by Sir Tristram’s son Grosvenor.
Weekend Hussler’s close relative Lucky Hussler (by Hussonet’s son Husson), a dual Group 1 winner, is from Weekend Hussler’s half-sister.
Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Viewed (Scenic), also a Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) winner, is a grandson of Mount Tryst, a Sir Tristram granddaughter of Wuthering Heights.
Triple Group 1 victor Vosne Romanee (Electronic Zone) is a grandson of Madison Square, herself a Marceau (Kaoru Star) granddaughter of Wuthering Heights.
Another triple Group 1 winner is Waikato Draught Sprint Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) victor Allegro (Red Tempo). Allegro’s dam Gallant Heights is by Amalgam (Damascus), making her a three-quarter sister to Supreme Heights’ third dam Anaheim.
The third dam of Llanacord (Contributer), the recent Group 2 Lowland Stakes winner, Melodia, is yet another Sir Tristram granddaughter of Wuthering Heights.
Facts matter
At this point it might be too easy to lament the loss of Supreme Heights’ sire Jimmy Choux (Thorn Park) who was shuffled off to Western Australia a couple of years ago.
Jimmy Choux was a slashing galloper and performed at the highest level, earning three titles including New Zealand Horse of the Year in 2010-11 as well as a World Thoroughbred Ranking of 120.
His twelve wins included seven at three and three Classics: the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and in Sydney, the Rosehill Guineas.
At four, he took out the latter two of the Hawke’s Bay Triple Crown Group 1s, then trekked to Melbourne to run a fighting second to Pinker Pinker (Reset) in the WS Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m), banking more than $2.75 million in a three-season career.
Retired to Rich Hill Stud in Walton, he was well supported during his first five seasons, covering 469 mares. His initial crop earned him the title of Champion First Season Sire but, in 2017, support dropped to 34 mares and in 2018 to just 18.
The writing was on the wall despite his best performer The Bostonian scoring three Group 1s. Four stakes winners (one from each of his first four crops) meant that Rich Hill had few options but to say farewell, despite siring more than a hundred winners.
Hopefully he will find bloodlines to his liking at his new home.
Tarzino off the mark
Representing a family that has produced champion sires Beau Pere (Son-In Law), Balloch (Obliterate) and Vice Regal (Bismark II), Tarzino (Tavistock) got off the mark last Wednesday when his third runner, Jungle Magnate, held on well after scooting to the lead at the 250-metre mark of the Sandown Hillside 1400 metres juvenile event.
“We are elated. The Tarzinos are only going to get better with age so to get a two-year-old winner, in town and on debut, is better than we could imagine,” said Westbury Stud general manager Russell Warwick to Kiwi Chronicles. “The colt beat a couple of very promising types too and Mick (Price) thinks he has some talent.
“The stallion has been supported really well, covering 495 mares in four seasons so there are going to be a few around and this early win will give trainers some confidence,” he continued.
“Hopefully, he is on the right track.”
Fittingly, the colt is trained by Mick Price in partnership with Michael Kent jr. Price also trained Tarzino.
“Jungle Magnate is typical of Tarzino in terms of his toughness,” Price said. “They are going to be good, energetic, tough horses and Jungle Magnate is very sound. We didn’t buy him as a staying type as such. He is a sharper type of colt than what Tarzino was.
“I think the beauty of sending a 1200-metre to 1600-metre mare to Tarzino is you will get a horse with a better turn of foot and that is why we bought this horse. He is going to be good when he gets to 1600 metres and I’d like to think he has some black type potential,” said Price.
Of Tarzino, the stallion, Price added: “I think the Tarzinos may throw either way. You’ve got to remember that Tavistock (Montjeu) himself was not a dour stayer. Tavistock was a 1400-metre horse to a miler with a good turn of foot.
Jungle Magnate’s dam, The Love Of Money (Casino Prince), is a half-sister to Brazilian Group 1-winning filly Questing New (Romarin) whose victory in the Grand Prix Barao de Piracicaba (Gr 1, 1600m) was by a wide margin. Questing New has since produced Group 1 winner Xic New (Refuse To Bend).
Questing New’s dam, Loving New (Choctaw Ridge), was the Champion Brazilian Three-Year-Old Filly of her crop, winning twice at Group 1 level.
Tarzino has the distinction of being one of the few gallopers to head Hong Kong Champion Beauty Generation (Road To Rock) when the latter raced in Australia under the name of Montaigne. That was in the 2016 Rosehill Guineas, Tarzino’s second Group 1 win of that season, having scored the VRC Derby the previous October.
Westbury Stud also stood Tarzino’s close relative Sky Chase (Star Way), sire of the champion Saintly. Tarzino’s fee of $12,000 + GST has been retained for 2021.
More city success for Per Incanto
She had no chance against the winner, Duais (Shamus Award), in last Saturday’s Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m), but Charms Star (Per Incanto) still ran a mighty race for second.
The filly has only a January maiden win to her name but, since March, has stepped up twice at Group 1 level for two seconds and twice at Group 2 level for a second and a third.
Her second in the New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) saw her finish strongly behind Amarelinha (Savabeel). In Saturday’s Oaks she tried hard all the way to the line and now deserves a rest. Don’t be surprised if she comes out all guns blazing next season.
In Sydney, Per Incanto (Street Cry) has, in addition to the exciting Lost And Running, another promising sprinter. Named Shadow Crush, the four-year-old made it back-to-back city wins, graduating from a Wednesday Randwick victory to a Saturday Rosehill success, when taking out Saturday’s Acy Securities Benchmark 78 Handicap in a sharp 1:10.67 on the Soft 6 track, carrying 59 kilograms.
This win is his third in Sydney and takes his career total to five wins plus two seconds in 12 starts.
Kiwi metro winners
At Flemington, six-year-old Mr Tipla (Echoes Of Heaven) got home by a long neck in the Lesley Millson Benchmark 78 over the 1400 metres. He has six wins to his name and started his career in New Zealand where he won his maiden at start two. His five wins in Australia include two at Sandown and now at Flemington.
Morphettville saw two Kiwi winners: Cashin’ Chex (Mettre en Jeu) and Lord Bouzeron (Burgundy). Cashin’ Chex was enjoying his second win at Morphettville having broken his maiden there last November.
Lord Bouzeron won three times in New Zealand then bolted in first up at Caulfield 11 months back. His win on Saturday was by a clear three and half lengths.
Tavistock – again
The Tavistock story has a few chapters yet to tell, even though he was lost to the industry in 2019. In New Zealand he sired four winners over the weekend: two at Ellerslie (Queen Of Soul and Pacorus), one at Wanganui (Tavis Court) and one at Wingatui (Blue Eyed Susie) on Sunday.
At Eagle Farm, Tutukaka, the half-brother to Melody Belle (Commands), ran home well from last to claim third in The Phoenix (Listed, 1500m). He is still a maiden, but probably not for long. With three placings in as many starts he looks to have a promising future.
At Rosehill, tough customer Stockman, having his third start in three weeks, finished a strong third in the Winter Cup (Listed, 2400m). Winner of three in succession this time last year, he is overdue for another.