Written Tycoon is assured of clocking in third behind Rebel Dane and Snitzel for champion 2yo sire, his best finish since Capitalist led him to the juvenile sire title in 2015-16.
The most significant contributor is the Magic Millions winner Coolangatta, with the Group III SAJC David Coles Stakes winner Maximillius and the undefeated Listed MVRC St Albans Stakes winner Crosswinds making significant contributions.
Another promising type is the Danny O’Brien-trained Atlantis Tycoon, who heads the weights for Saturday’s Rod Johnson Hcp (1420m) at Flemington after a barnstorming victory on debut at Caulfield on May 28.
On Saturday, Atlantis Tycoon will concede 4kgs to the promising Anphina, a daughter of the champion 2yo sire elect, Rebel Dane.
There was a lot to like about the debut performance of Atlantis Tycoon. Despite little support in the betting, the son of Written Tycoon came from second last to defeat two accomplished performers in Shalailed and Atlantic Ocean.
Atlantis Tycoon is raced by his breeder, Glentree Pastoral’s Bruce Wilson, after failing to make his $350,000 reserve when consigned by Bhima Thoroughbreds to the $2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the third foal of the unraced Oasis Dream mare Aqua Bella (GB), who was a €230,000 purchase for Badgers Bloodstock at the 2014 Arqana December Broodmare Sale in Deauville.
Her first foal by Frankel named Significance was a $1.2 million Easter purchase for Domeland. After a slow start to his racetrack career, Significance found a new lease of life under Clare Cunningham, running up a sequence of three wins in four stats culminating in the Listed Christmas Cup at Rosehill.
The second foal of Aqua Bella, Villanbella (Snitzel), did not see a sale ring or racetrack. She missed to Blue Point (IRE) in 2020 and was covered by Capitalist last spring.
Aqua Bella (GB) died shortly after foaling a Zosustar filly in 2020. She is named Sahara Star and was sent to the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable.
Two years after Aqua Bella (GB) landed in Australia, Ozzie Kheir imported her unraced sister Artisanale (GB).
Like Aqua Bella (GB), Artisanale’s first date was with the champion Frankel, although the outcome was not so positive.
The Frankel colt died after birth, and then Artisanale (GB) slipped to I Am Invincible. Her 2yo Rubick filly Dusse is showing promise for Lloyd Kennewell, winning at Geelong and placing at Flemington and in the VOBIS Gold Strike at Warrnambool.
Though Aqua Bella (GB) and Artisanale were unraced, their dam is the top-class Danehill mare Aquarelliste.
Trained by Élie Lellouche for Daniel Wildenstein, Aquarelliste won three races at the highest level, the Prix de Diane (French Oaks), Prix Vermeille, and Prix Ganay. She was second in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe behind Sakhee and the Hong Kong Vase behind another French raider in Ange Gabriel.
A sister to the Grade 1 Charles Whittingham Memorial Hcp and Grade 1 Clement L Hirsch Memorial Turf Championship Stakes winner Artiste Royal and Peter Moody’s Listed VRC Cup Day Plate winner Annenkov (IRE), Aquarelliste left 14 foals. Nine reached the track, and five were winners led by the Listed winner Ame Bleu (Dubawi), runner-up in the Group 1 Prix Jean Romanet. Another two Artiste Divine (Peintre Celebre) and Amerique (Galileo) were stakes-placed winners.
