Three year-old Mastercraftsman (IRE) filly Champion Stage improved on her debut fifth at Hawkesbury last month, appreciating the step up to 1600 metres to win by a length and a half as favourite.
A $125,000 NZB Premier Yearling Sale purchase for Apollo Ng from the draft of
Curraghmore Stud, Champion Stage is the seventh winner from seven to race from
Upstage (GB), a half-sister by Epsom Derby winner Quest for Fame to the dam of
multiple Group II winning stayer and perennial Melbourne Cup runner Precedence.The best offspring from Upstage is dual Group I winner Tavistock, now a successful Group I producing sire at Cambridge Stud.
Champion Stage is by Mastercraftsman, who is already the sire of European Classic winners The Grey Gatsby and Kingston Hill, while his best Southern Hemisphere performer is the John Sargent trained filly Thunder Lady, winner of the Group II VRC Wakeful Stakes last year.
Thunder Lady was second in the VRC Oaks and fifth in the ATC Australian Oaks won by her stablemate Gust of Wind, both fillies running in the same ownership as Champion Stage, who may well make it three Oaks fillies for Oliver Wong or maybe even four!
Mr Wong's colours were also carried to victory by another John Sargent trained filly at Newcastle on Tuesday with Military Lady taking out the 1850 metre maiden by more than three lengths.
A $50,000 NZB Select Yearling Sale purchase from the Bradbury Park draft, Military Lady is a half-sister by Keeper to stakes-winner Vivid Vixen from Pompeia.
She too is entered for the Queensland Oaks.
Watch this space!
