Group One Stars of 2017- 218

Tara Madgwick - Tuesday June 26
Group I racing has concluded for the current Australian racing season so we decided to take a look through our elite winners and check out some of the stats with 73 Group I races won by 55 individual horses.

WinxThe world's best horse Winx was the most successful Group I horse as you would imagine with six victories at the highest level, but there were also a further nine multiple Group I winners – Santa Ana Lane (3), Shoals (3), Happy Clapper (3), Trapeze Artist (3), Ace High (2), Alizee (2) Gailo Chop (Fr) (2), Redkirk Warrior (GB) (2), and Tosen Stardom (Jpn), who retires to Woodside Park Stud.

The most successful Group I sires were Fastnet Rock (4 – Shoals, Merchant Navy, Comin' Through, Unforgotten), Snitzel (4 - Estijaab, Redzel, Russian Revolution, Trapeze Artist) and High Chaparral (IRE) (4 – Ace High, Youngstar, Redkindling (IRE), Hiyaam).

Also with multiple Group I winners were: Authorized (IRE), I Am Invincible, Lonhro, Lope de Vega (IRE), Pierro, So You Think and Teofilo (IRE).

On the other side of the equation, Zabeel (pictured below with Sir PAtrick Hogan) was the most successful broodmare sire of Group I winners with five to his credit in Bonneval, Pinot, Hiyaam, El Dorado Dreaming and Humidor. 



Not far behind were Redoute's Choice (4 – Ace High, D'Argento, Levendi and Kementari), Encosta de Lago (3 – Mighty Boss, Impending, Happy Clapper) and Galileo (3 - Unforgotten, The Autumn Sun, Leicester).

Estijaab wins the Golden SlipperThe most expensive Group I winner bought at auction was Golden Slipper winner Estijaab, a $1.7 million Inglis Easter purchase for Emirates Park from the Arrowfield draft, while the cheapest bought at public auction was SA Derby winner Leicester, snapped up by Paul Willetts Bloodstock for just $10,000 from the Yarraman Park draft at the Inglis Australian Select Weanling Sale.

Chris Waller was the most successful trainer winning 13 Group I races with Darren Weir the next best with nine.


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