Improving three year-old Golden Chateau turned in the best run of his life to win the 1600 metre classic by half a length for the powerful Mike de Kock stable, his overall record now two wins and a second from six starts.
A modest $7,500 purchase for Worldwide Bloodstock from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2009 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Golden Chateau is the first stakes-winner for Chateau Istana (GB), a Group II winning son of Grand Lodge that stands at Oaklands Stud in Queensland.
He is one of eight winners, but the first stakes-winner from Accent on Gold (USA), a Deputy Minister mare from the family of French Group I winner Fast Topaze.
A homebred for Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum trained by Mike de Kock, five year-old Rock of Gibraltar (IRE) stallion Atyeb scored a dominant two and a quarter length win in the 2450 metre staying feature.
It was his third win from 10 starts and first in a Black Type event.Foaled and raised at Coolmore in Australia, Atyeb is a half-brother to English stakes-winner Musaalem and is one of five winners from the Mr Prospector mare Atyab (USA), who was exported to South Africa in 2008.
Rock of Gibraltar (pictured) made it a stakes double on the program as his five year-old Irish bred daughter Europa Point (IRE) earlier took out the Group III Acacia Handicap for the same trainer.
Both Atyeb and Europa Point are new stakes-winners for their sire bringing his overall tally to 71 stakes-winners worldwide.
