With boom colt Manhattan Rain finishing out of a place in the Group Two AJC Royal Sovereign Stakes at Randwick on Saturday after a tardy getaway, it was left to Turffontein and Hinchinbrook to make waves on the Breednet Sire Prospect Tracker.

A Group One winner last spring of the MRC Sir Rupert Clarke Stakes over 1400 metres, the Anthony Cummings trained entire Turffontein had been in our second tier AA division since then, but has earned a promotion to the elite AAA ranks following a sterling victory in the Group One MVRC William Reid Stakes at Moonee Valley over 1200 metres.

Resuming form a short break, Turffontein ( pictured www.stevehart.com.au) overpowered a colt seen as a very appealing sire prospect in Wanted, with triple Group One winner Sniper’s Bullet in third place.

The remainder of the field were all Group One winners, barring Shellscrape, who turned in an out of character performance to finish last.

With five wins and 12 placings from 30 starts and more than $1.2 million in prizemoney, Turffontein has the performance side of the stallion prospect equation well in hand.

Pedigree wise he has a lot to like being from a prolific Black Type family and his dam Spirit of Grace is by an influential sire in the Sir Tristram (IRE) horse Dr Grace, who was cut down in his prime and should have left a far larger impression than he has.

That said, Dr Grace is still the broodmare sire of three individual Group One winners this season with Turffontein joined by Danleigh and Scenic Shot, so his input cannot be underestimated.

If there is a chink in the armour of Turffontein it has been his sire Johannesburg (USA), but we’ve decided race performance, good looks and a strong female family more than compensate for any unpopularity associated with Joburg, who was a world champion two year-old and has left 28 stakes-winners, so can hardly be termed a disaster.

New to the Sire Tracker is two year-old Fastnet Rock colt Hinchinbrook, who made a winning debut in the Listed AJC Canonbury Stakes at Randwick.

A three-quarter brother to Group One winner and successful young sire Snitzel, the Gerald Ryan trained Hinchinbrook (pictured www.stevehart.com.au) impressed racegoers with his cool and calm appearance in the mounting yard.

His impressive good looks matched by the all important steady temperament, seem to be complimented with a good measure of ability judging by his efforts once the gates flew back.

While the win was professional, rather than spectacular, there was a lot to like about it and one can’t help but see physical room for improvement as well as potential for a more lethal turn of foot on a better surface.

Group One bridesmaid Wanted remains a nearly but not quite, following another gallant second to Turffontein in the William Reid, the son of Fastnet Rock attracting much interest from studmasters as his quest for Group One glory intensifies.

Queensland sprint star Swiss Ace is on his way back to the track reports Craig Rounsefell of Boomer Bloodstock.

Last season’s Group One Oakleigh Plate winner Swiss Ace returned to the stables of Mick Mair today ahead of his final preparation before retiring for stallion duties later in the year.

Swiss Ace (pictured) suffered a setback heading into the Spring Carnival and was sent to the paddock although the spell appears to have done wonders for the well bred son of Secret Savings, who returned to pre-training in the aqua walker at Yandina Lodge in early January.

“He looks extremely well”, remarked Mick Mair, who is excited at the prospect of having his stable star back in the barn and plans to target the entire towards the upcoming Gr.1 races during the Sydney Autumn and Brisbane Winter carnivals.

Swiss Ace, who lowered the colours of World Champion Sprinter, Scenic Blast, in last year’s Oakleigh Plate, has an imposing record of 12 wins from 20 starts and earnings of close to a million dollars.

Craig Rounsefell said that a stud deal for Swiss Ace has yet to be finalised.

Click here to see the Breednet Sire Prospect Tracker.