With 11 wins from 17 starts including two at the elite level, the Yellow Ribbon Stakes and Gamely Handicap, Tates Creek had all the attributes to make an outstanding contribution as a broodmare for Juddmonte Farms.
By leading broodmare sire Rahy and a half-sister to 7-time Group 1 winner Sightseek and to the dam of the Cheveley Park Stakes, Poule d'Essai des Pouliches and One Thousand Guineas heroine Special Duty, Tates Creek retired to great fanfare at the end of her career in 2003.
She proved to be a major disappointment with just three winners from seven to race from eight named foals.
Still, a little ray of sunshine shone through at Randwick on Boxing Day.
Spirit Ridge (GB) could do no better than a pair of wins at Leicester and Catterick in eight starts when trained in England. However, he has found a new lease of life in Australia under Mark Newnham.
Nathaniel's 6yo son has won two and finished second twice from four starts in his adopted homeland.
It was topped off with a maiden stakes success in the Group III Summer Cup (2000m) at Randwick on Saturday to credit his sire with his 22nd stakes-winner and his dam with her first.
Given an inspired ride by Robbie Dolan, Spirit Ridge (GB) battled courageously to repel the challenge of Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour) by a head with three-quarters of a length back to Black On Gold (Sebring) in third.
Purchased by De Burgh Equine/Darby Racing for 100,000 guineas at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, Sprit Ridge (GB) advances his record to four wins and four seconds from 12 starts with earnings of $181,724.
"He has only had the four starts here and he's improved each time. He got in his right race today and a good ride got him home," Newnham said.
"He is quite a promising stayer, but so far we have been nice and patient with him and the best is still ahead."
