Every now and then a stallion overcomes the odds, proving himself despite not enjoying the advantages large books provide - siring smart types from limited opportunities.
One such horse is Larneuk Stud's Ilovethiscity.
Even though he is a Group I winner of one of Sydney's best tests of
three-year-old class, the Randwick Guineas, Ilovethiscity has somehow been
overlooked by breeders.He ticks so many boxes; he had the racing class, he is great type and he hails from a consistent stallion line, his sire Magic Albert well represented by 22 stakes winners with an excellent 67.2% winners-to-runners strike rate whilst his grandsire Zeditave sired 36 stakes winners with an outstanding 70.5% strike.
And he hails from an outstanding local family proven it its ability to produce successful stallions - his relations including the high class gallopers Grosvenor (triple Group I winning sire of 53 stakes winners; 70.3% winners-to-runners) and Lonhro (11 times Group I winning sire of 67 stakes winners; 71.1% winners-to-runners).
It is difficult to pinpoint why some stallions capture the attention of breeders and why some don't but one thing is for certain - Ilovethiscity is doing the job and deserves greater recognition and opportunity!
From just 34 runners to date, with his oldest runners just three, Ilovethiscity had sired five city winners (13 overall plus eight lightly raced placegetters), talented horses who have been in really good form in recent weeks.
Such as two-year-old Bris Vegas who was so gutsy saluting over 1000m at Morphettville earlier this month and recent Brisbane metropolitan winner Ilovevegas, who showed great heart weaving through the field before racing clear to win by a soft and impressive 1 1/2 lengths at Doomben.
A 3 1/4 length maiden winner at his previous start, Ilovevegas is trained by Ben Currie who described the bay as "a beauty."
"He is doing everything right," he told the media - "he's relaxing really well and I think once we get him up in trip further he's only going to get better."
Currie has since accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong for Ilovevegas, who will continue his caring career in that jurisdiction.
Ilovethiscity's sire Magic Albert was a favourite with Hong Kong trainers and his stock have featured consistently in the winner's circle at Sha Tin and Happy Valley with 10 winners headed by the stakes-winner Vital Flyer.
Also showing plenty of talent are Ilovethiscity's sons and daughters Chapel City (stakes placed three times Morphettville winner), Vivaldi's Quest (Morphettville winner also close up in black type company) and Plenty To Like (Caulfield winner in mid-April).
There are others who look sure to break through in town soon; the four times
winner Moonlover competitive in good company, the Moonee Valley runner up The
Passage boasting good form lines and Ville Chanson winning two of his first
four whilst City Of Dreams impressed bolting in by four lengths at her
Tasmanian debut in late April.All this from just 74 live foals produced in his first two crops!
"There is no doubt that Ilovethiscity is a stallion who is worthy of greater support," said Larneuk Stud's Neville Murdoch.
"He is upgrading his mares and from day one there has been something about his foals. He is a lovely horse who stamps his progeny, passing on his strength and presence."
Grahame Begg, trainer of Ilovethiscity, is also a fan
"It seems to me that people are just looking past the obvious," he said.
"He hails from a sire line proven in Australia and he only won races that very good horses win - the Randwick Guineas, the Hobartville Stakes, the Spring Stakes. And he was desperately unlucky not to have won the Golden Rose."
Ilovethiscity stands at a fee of $6,600 and for further information contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706 or visit www.larneuk.comandwww.facebook.com/pages/Larneuk-Stud/455896497806590
