It took Written Tycoon less than 24 hours to compile a memorable Group I double and claim the No. 1 spot on the General Sires’ Premiership and take over the leading sire of 3YO’s list.
Pippie supplied the first leg victory in Friday evening’s A.J. Moir S. G1 at The Valley (read about her here) and Ole Kirk contributed the second leg with a hard-fought triumph in Saturday’s $1 million ATC Golden Rose S. 1400m G1.
It was a deeply determined effort from Ole Kirk, whose competitive spirit has produced 7 top-four finishes in a seven-start career wholly spent in Group & Listed company.
His Golden Rose win was achieved from a difficult position near the back of the field and even jockey Tommy Berry doubted his chance of winning.
“I didn’t know it was James [McDonald] outside me, but I thought I was beaten 80 metres out. But Ole Kirk just pinned his ears back, he didn’t want to lie down. He’s had a great attitude all preparation, he’s definitely a lot more mature than he was last season.”
The result was notable for Michael, Wayne & John Hawkes, who also prepare the valiant runner-up North Pacific, and for Ric Jamieson’s Gilgai Farm which bred Ole Kirk from Naturale (by Bel Esprit), a full sister to World Champion Sprinter Black Caviar.
As it happens, Ole Kirk (sold for $675,000 to International Thoroughbred Solutions) and North Pacific (an $800,000 buy for Orbis Bloodstock) were the two top-priced yearlings at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.
Already a stakeswinner, at his 2YO debut in the VRC Talindert S. LR, Ole Kirk is Written Tycoon’s 10th individual Group 1 winner.
But Written Tycoon wasn’t quite finished for the day.
Over in Perth his 6YO son Stageman (ex Best Feature by Secret Savings) took out the $100,000 Black Heart Bart S. 1200m LR for Bob & Sandra Peters. He is Written Tycoon’s 36th stakeswinner, and his fourth this season.
With season earnings of $2.8 million (including the $1.3 million he’s added in the last two days), Written Tycoon now leads I Am Invincible & Snitzel on the General Sires’ list. He also heads the 3YO Sires’ table.
Arrowfield Chairman John Messara says, “We’re thrilled to have Written Tycoon on our 2020 roster, and it is exciting to see what we thought was ahead of him now starting to unfold.
“He truly deserves the wider opportunity he’s receiving at Arrowfield this year and we’re very grateful to Woodside Park Stud and the Written Tycoon syndicate for working with us to make that possible. He’s serving a tremendous book this year, including around 40 of our own mares, so it’s only onwards and upwards for him.”
News from Arrowfield
