Best On Breeding

Mark Smith - Thursday March 17

The Written Tycoon filly Coolangatta and the Sebring colt Sejardan have been the benchmark two-year-olds since winning the Gimcrack Stakes and Breeders' Pate respectively at Randwick last October.

They will carry the bulk of punter's money in Saturday's $5,000,000 Longines Golden Slipper at Rosehill Gardens

Sejardan's trainer Gary Portelli has an able backup in the Rebel Dane filly Fireburn.

Fireburn (image Steve Hart)

Following a troubled fourth on debut at Warwick Farm, when she clipped heels and became unbalanced, Fireburn's form has been impeccable.

She reeled off three consecutive wins at Randwick, culminating with a fast-finishing triumph in the Group II Sweet Embrace Stakes.

The Laurel Oak colour-bearer was born and raised at Steve Grant's Silverdale Farm, and Grant has plenty riding on Fireburn's shoulders.

Grant and Ken Lowe are principal owners of Rebel Dane, who will be in search of a new home in New South Wakes this spring after five seasons in Victoria.

From her sire's second crop of 26 live foals, Fireburn is the first foal of the Think Big Stud-bred Mull Over.

Purchased by Laurel Oak Bloodstock P/L (FBAA) for $22,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, Mull Over won a 1600m maiden at Newcastle from 11 starts.

The daughter of So You Think had an extensive rap sheet with the stewards, Including respiratory noise in running and proving difficult to settle.

Rebel Dane stretching his legs under Glen Boss

Mull Over is a half-sister to Nathan Tinkler's stakes-winning Galileo (IRE) mare Galizani, out of the royally related Zabeel mare Zahani whose career highlight on the track came when second in a class one at Goulburn.

Zahani was, however, a daughter of the top-class mare Danarani.

A first-crop daughter of Danehill, Danarani made a winning debut at Canterbury in August 1994. She finished second to the ill-fated Aragen in the Group II Silver Shadow Stakes a fortnight later. The Bart Cumming-trained filly then reeled off three wins, the Listed Furious Stakes, Group II Tea Rose Stakes and Group 1 Flight Stakes.

Owned by Malaysian businessmen Ananda Krishnan and Dato Tan Chin Nam, the daughter of Danehill was being mentioned in the same breath as Tristanagh by her world-renowned trainer.

"She has tremendous potential, and I believe she is at least the equal of Tristanagh, the filly who took all before her in her three-year-old days," Cummings said after her Flight Stakes win.

Advertisement

"Don't forget Tristanagh won the Oaks at Flemington, and this is the race I want to win with Danarani."

It is also interesting to look back on what Cummings thought of the first crop of Danehill.

"I liked the look of the filly. I had a larger budget to buy her, and to purchase her for only $50,000 (at Inglis Easter) was good," he said

"I looked at all the Danehills that year, and it was hard to find any of them with scope and depth. The best Danehill I saw was at the Sanctuary Cove sale, and I was the underbidder. But this filly is the best Danehill I have seen since, and they both went for about the same price."

The Danehill Cummings missed out on was the Golden Slipper winner Danzero.

Danarani was destined not to win again after the Flight Stakes. She finished second to Northwood Plume in the Group 1 Thousand Guineas before clocking in sixth the Wakeful Stakes and fifth in the VRC Oaks.

Campaigned in elite company for the remainder of her career, Danarani placed in the Group 1 Australian Oaks and Group 1 Toorak Hcp before the pin was pulled.

A daughter of the stakes-winning Vaguely Noble mare Vaguely Modest, Danarani left little of note in five foals.

Vaguely Modest was a half-sister to the Champion Irish 2yo colt Danzatore.

A $1million son of Northern Dancer, Danzatore retired with much fanfare to Cambridge Stud, with a record of four wins from five starts in a carefully choreographed career for Vincent O'Brien.

Danzatore did quite well at Cambridge, siring the Group 1 winners Key Dancer and Wonder Dancer before being sold to Spendthrift Farm, Kentucky. The son of Northern Dancer then made the short trip to Prestonwood Farms, where he sired arguably his most accomplished performer, Reraise.

Honoured as the 1998 champion sprinter after winning the Breeders' Cup Sprint, Reraise won eight of nine starts and earned $922,830.

Following his stint at Prestonwood, Danatore stood in Texas before his final home in New Mexico.  

Advertisment
More Reading...
Sires With Winners - Saturday December 27
Here is the full list of 88 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Second Black Type Victory For Darby Owned Amor Victorious
Successful in the G2 Shannon Stakes last year, the Bjorn Baker trained Amor Victorious has been contesting stronger races of late and a drop in class to the $200,000 Listed BRC Seven Members Mile (1600m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday resulted in victory.
Impressive Debut win for Frankel Filly
Following her impressive debut victory in the SkyCity 1100 at Ellerslie on Boxing Day, Wexford Stables are daring to dream with their exciting juvenile filly Te Encuentro, a $600,000 purchase from Inglis Easter.
Hellbent Colt Downs Favourite to Win G3 BJ McLachlan
The Group III BRC BJ McLachlan Stakes (1200m) has proven a key lead up for the Magic Millions 2YO Classic with recent winners Storm Boy and Coolangatta both going on to success at the Gold Coast with the race on Saturday won by unbeaten Hellbent colt Zip Lock.
Back to Back G3 Summer Cup Wins for Tavi Time – Half-Brother K1
Kiwi bred Tavistock gelding Tavi Time made it back to back wins in the $250,000 Group III ATC Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day (2000m) putting the spotlight on his half-brother headed to Karaka Book 1 for Pencarrow Stud.
Half-Sister to G1 Winner Grail Seeker Scores at Cranbourne
Well-related mare Watersports added a second win to her record with a track-record-breaking victory in the A$80,000 Big Swing Golf Handicap (1500m) at Cranbourne on Saturday.
Hidden Wealth Shoulders 60kgs To Listed Falvelon Win
Weight can sometimes stop a train, but Tony Gollan’s Better Than Ready gelding carried top weight to victory in Saturday’s $200,000 Listed BRC Magic Millions Falvelon (1200m) at Eagle Farm with the win securing the gelding automatic entry to the $1m Magic Millions Snippets (1200m) on January 17.
Karaka Graduate Klabel Wins Listed Christmas Handicap
New Zealand-bred gelding Klabel capped a consistent run of form with a welcome return to the winners’ circle in the A$120,000 Listed Adelaide Galvanising Industries Christmas Handicap (1200m) at Morphettville on Saturday.
G1 Blue Diamond Plan for Home Affairs Colt
The much-anticipated debut of Home Affairs colt Guest House lived up to expectation at Cranbourne on Saturday when the powerhouse youngster overcame trouble to win the $150,000 Clamms Seafood Handicap (1000m) for the Price Kent stable.
Written By 2YO Wins for Waterhouse Bott – Half-Sister MM 2026
The Waterhouse Bott stable have had plenty of success with juveniles by Widden Stud’s Written By claiming Group wins with the likes of Straight Charge, The Playwright and The Novelist and they unleashed a talented debut winner by the same sire at Randwick on Saturday in By Choice.