Rubick is sire of the moment in Victoria and the feeling is mutual with WA-based Western Breeders’ Alliance who have three yearlings by the Swettenham Stud stallion at next week’s Perth Magic Millions.
The WBA trio are the only Rubick yearlings catalogued for the Swan Valley Sale on February 23 and 24 and they will be in the spotlight following his feature double with Glint Of Silver (Group 2 Autumn Stakes) and Jacquinot (Group 1 C F Orr Stakes) at Sandown on Saturday.
Western Breeders’ Alliance is favoured to be the leading vendor for the fifth year running in Perth with 31 lots spread between its partners Darling View Thoroughbreds, Westbury Park and Einoncliff Park.
“The timing is perfect,” Darling View’s Brent Atwell said. “Watching Glint Of Silver was a great result in itself but to then get a Group 1 with Jacquinot was something else. Our Rubick colt wouldn’t be out of place in most of the yearling sales around Australia.”
Catalogued as Lot 64, he’s from Cafe Scientific (More Than Ready) who was purchased by Darling View with a PPT to Rubick for $160,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions National Sale.
“He’s grown into a beautiful colt and will only get better at three,” Atwell predicted. “It’s a top pedigree. The second-dam is a sister to Redoute’s Choice.”
Darling View’s Rubick filly out of Across The Moon (Lot 219) is a half-sister to recent G3 Sydney Stakes (1100m) winner Rocketing By (So You Think).
“She’s very forward and looks a 2yo type for next season. We bought the dam in foal to Dissident at the 2019 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.”
That Dissident is a 3yo filly named Ciao Luna who has won her last two starts at Belmont for Roy Rogers. Across The Moon’s 2yo is a colt named Moorditj Boy with Hayden Ballantyne. They made a combined $180,000 as yearlings and the Rubick will be a bonus on top of the dam’s $52,000 price-tag in Sydney four years ago.
Atwell can see WBA consignments topping 50 – 60 yearlings at future Perth Magic Millions. Champion WA sire-elect Playing God (Blackfriars) covered 130 mares at Darling View this season alongside Splintex (Snitzel) who broke a long-standing WA first-season record with 118 mares.
Darling View has added another high-class recruit to its Mundijong roster with news Melbourne Group 2 winner Lightsaber will be the first son of Zoustar to stand in the west this year. His introductory service fee will be announced during the Magic Millions Sale.
“The outlook is very positive over here and it’s being driven by the Westspeed Platinum Scheme,” Atwell explained. “We sold Street Parade (Lucky Street) for $40,000 as a yearling and he’s earned $340,000 so far with Westspeed kicking in $135,000. Pound-for-pound, it’s the best bonus scheme in Australia!”
WBA partner Phil Ibbotson (Westbury Farm) has entered a Rubick colt (Lot 87) from Fiftyshadesofgrey (Written Tycoon). He bought the mare for $90,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions National Sale and she was covered by Rubick before transferring to WA.
“He’s a good-looking, athletic colt,” Ibbotson said. “The dam won three sprints at Rosehill and this colt will go fast and go early.”
Ibbotson is Chairman of the Pinjarra Race Club which hosts the $250,000 Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (1200m) and $185,000 Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (1200m) this Saturday. The black-type meeting is a highlight of the season, however, last year’s winner Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) saluted in front of an empty grandstand.
“The lockdowns also cost the Club a lot of money at the last two Pinjarra Cups,” Ibbotson recalled. “The forecast is for fine weather this Saturday and we’re already booked out.”
Among the chances in the Magic Millions Classic is Rubick Lass who will be racing first-up for trainer David Harrison following a Lark Hill trial win last Tuesday. She was bred in Victoria by Rob Harding using Rubick over a daughter of G1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner Gallica (Redoute's Choice).
Harrison has won the race a record four times with Gemma’s Son (Snippetson), Jericho Missile (Smart Missile), Western Fever (Flying Pegasus) and Rose Of Thunder (Metal Storm).
WBA partners Wayne and Jane Beynon (Einoncliff Park) have four yearlings heading up from North Boyanup by interstate stallions Capitalist, Pierata, Exophere and Pride Of Dubai. The Capitalist – Madame Stryker filly (Lot 127) is from a half-sister to Free Of Debt (G3 SAJC McKay Stakes). “She’s outstanding,” Jane Beynon said. “She’s a strong, classy type with plenty of scope.”
The Pierata - Our Time Will Come colt (Lot 154) is from an Ascot 2yo winning half-sister to All Banter (LR MRC W J Adams Stakes). “He’s a cracking speed-machine. The dam was fast and he looks a 2yo type, too.”
The Beynons have also entered a So You Think – Bitter Twist filly (Lot 47) for the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale in April. To be offered through Sledmere Stud (as agent), she’s a half-sister to brilliant Melbourne sprinter Ranveer who went amiss in the G3 Blue Sapphire Stakes (1200m) at Caulfield in October.
The TBWA Yearling Showcase will be held at the Magic Millions Sale Complex this Sunday from 4pm.
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