Getting your penis burnt due to some sort of problem with a washing solution is not a great way to kick-start a stallion career, particularly if it restricts a book to little more than a handful of mares, but that was the scenario faced by The Judge when he took up residence at his trainer Angus Armanasco’s Sandown Park Lodge.
The Judge was part-owned by leading bookmaker Bruce McHugh but it was another bookmaker in Col Tidy that was to play an important role in The Judge’s stallion career.
A slick sprinter by the great Showdown, The Judge won the MVRC AJ Moir Stakes in 1978 and 1979 in addition to the VRC Lightning Stakes when it carried Group II status.
While he would be courted by all the leading stud’s today, The Judge was considered unfashionable in 1980.
He did find a wonderfully productive partner in Col Tidy’s mare Summoned.
Purchased by Tidy as a yearling for $26,000, Summoned was a daughter of the champion English 2yo Crowned Prince (USA) out of the Pardao (IRE) mare Sweet Life (GB) who arrived in Australia carrying a Habitat filly named Sweet Habit who would finish third behind Century Miss in the 1979 Golden Slipper when trained by Neville Begg.
Crowned Prince (USA) was exported to Japan after two seasons and Summoned never saw a racetrack but what a jewel she became at stud.
Her first four foals were all by The Judge and three became stakes-winners.
Remarkably all three won the Blue Diamond Prelude but there was a standout in the champion Zeditave who went on to win the Blue Diamond.
In a busy juvenile season, Zeditave won nine of his 10 starts with his only defeat coming in the Golden Slipper when sixth behind Star Watch on a heavy track.
He would go on to Group 1 wins in the William Reid Stakes, Futurity Stakes and Lightning Stakes before embarking an a highly successful stallion career at Newhaven Park Stud.
In a long and illustrious career with 16 foals, all of which reached the racetrack with 13 winners, Summoned proved she did not rely solely on The Judge for her success as she produced a further two stakes-winners.
They were the Group III Rubiton Stakes winner and tragically short-lived stallion Alannon (Noalcoholic) and the Group III VATC Debutante Stakes winner Pampas Fire (Prince True) who is the granddam of the dual Group 1 winning Redoute’s Choice mare Melito.
You could write a book on the descendants of Summoned, which also includes the champion South African colt Grey’s Inn and the dual Group 1 winner Norzita but we are going to go back to the lone foal of Summoned by The Judge that did not win a stakes race.
That was Summond’s first foal True Verdict.
But true to form True Verdict was to become a successful broodmare.
The best of her seven winners was the Bletchingly mare Verocative who would become a foundation mare for Ron and Debbie Gilbert’s Highgrove Stud.
The winner of six races including the Group III VATC Thoroughbred Club Stakes, Verocative produced 11 foals before she was pensioned in 2014.
The best of her six winners from seven to race was the Group II MRC Dodo Internet Sprint (Caulfield Sprint) winner and underrated stallion Jet Spur (Flying Spur).
Verocative’s unraced daughter Portrait (Octagonal) is the dam of the Group II MVRC Bill Stutt Stakes winner Leonardo Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook) and the multiple stakes-placed Raeburn (Danehill Dancer).
Another unraced daughter of Verocative is the Encosta de Lago mare Fate Rules who tragically died last December.
Back at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Kitchwin Hills outlaid $500,000 for Highgrove Stud’s stunning Redoute’s Choice filly out of Fate Rules.
Named Jen Rules and sent to Peter and Paul Snowden, the daughter of Redoute’s Choice has been an honest performer winning four and placing in five of her 17 starts with earnings of $233,410.
The 4yo mare earned some very valuable black-type at her most recent start when third in the Listed Silk Stocking at the Gold Coast.
Racing in the ownership of Max Whitby and Neil Werrett, Jen Rules may well be in her final preparation as her worth as a broodmare would be immense, particularly if she could add a stakes win.
That may come as soon as Saturday.
Jen Rules may need all the stars to align in the Listed Helen Coughlan Stakes at Doomben in which she again faces off against her Silk Stocking conquerors Love You Lucy (Love Conquers All) and Fiesta (I Am Invincible).
She jumped the first hurdle, making the field after being declared the first emergency.
One thing for sure the gorgeous looking daughter of Redoute’s Choice will give her best and the rewards go way beyond the $72,500 winner’s cheque.
(Watch the finish of the Silk Stocking)
