In the past seven years, winners of the Fred Best Classic have gone on to win multiple stakes races with earnings averaging out too well over $1,000,000, so the capacity field for Saturday's Group III feature at Eagle Farm has a bit of living up to.
The Gerry Harvey homebred Hawaii Five Oh is the likely favourite. The brother to Libertini would be a more than worthy Best On Breeding, but we hope another Gerry Harvey-bred, Swiss Exile, returns to the form displayed early in his career.
The Annabel Neasham-trained colt has won just one of his 13 starts. That came in the Group II Spirit Of Boom Classic (1200m) at Eagle Farm at two.
The son of Pariah has contested eleven stakes races. In addition to his Champagne Classic win, he has placed in the Listed Phelan Ready Stakes, Group III BJ McLachlan Plate, Group II BTC Sires' Produce Stakes, Group III San Domenico Stakes, and Listed Mick Dittman Plate.
Purchased by Annabel Neasham Racing/Brian McGuire for $95,000 from the Baramul Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Swiss Exile has banked $442,825.
Swiss Exile is the second winner from as many to race and is the final foal of the Swiss Ace mare Swiss Francs, whose highlight in a 4-start career was second in a 1200m maiden at Nowra.
None of Swiss Exile's first three dams won a race. Swiss Francs' dam Lazulia (Zabeel) is a half-sister to the dam of the Listed ATC South Pacific Classic winner Indy Car (Sebring). Granddam Zali (Danehill) is a sister to stakes-placegetters Dubai Ice and Skates and a three-quarter sister to Group III ATC Skyline Stakes and Breeders' Plate winner Murtajill and to the Magic Millions 2yo Classic and AJC Canonbury Stakes winner Bradbury's Luck.
Skates produced the Golden Slipper winner and successful sire Vancouver, Group 1 Robert Sangster Stakes winner Just Momente, and Listed winner Captain Coltish.
Dubai Ice is the granddam of Group III ATC Reisling Stakes winner Tenley and Group III SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes winner Biscayne Bay.
The family matriarch Skating, a daughter of Melbourne Cup hero At Talaq, won the Group III ATC Sweet Embrace Stakes at two and in a brilliant season at three, added the Group 1 Doncaster Hcp, Group 1 Winfield Classic (Coolmore Classic), Group II Surround Stakes, Group III Siver Shadow Stakes, and Group III Light Fingers Stakes.
Swiss Exile comes from the first crop of Pariah. The son of Redoute's Choice won the Group III ATC Canonbury Stakes at his career debut and defeated all bar Catchy in the Group 1 Blue Diamond. he kick-started his 3yo season by winning the Group III San Domenico Stakes at Rosehill.
After beginning his career at Arrowfield Stud, Pariah stands at Oakland Stud in 2023 for a fee of $8,800.
