The Group III Winx Guineas (1600m) at the Sunshine Coast takes centre stage on Saturday, and as usual, connections will be casting their gaze skywards with rain predicted for the next few days.
The Bjorn Baker-trained Battleton is a deserved favourite despite being winless in five runs since saluting at Warwick Farm last October.
He has run some crackers since, including a second to Mazu in the Listed Brian Crowley Stakes, fifth in the Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes won by Home Affairs, and was most recently second to Kiss Sum in the Group III Gunsynd Stakes at Eagle Farm.
That was the Battleton’s first attempt at 1600m, and he was solid to the line.
Bred by Qatar Bloodstock, the gelded son of Zoustar has already made a dent in his $300,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing/Clarke Bloodstock from the Widden Stud draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal of the Commands mare Dulverton who carried Qatar Bloodstock’s distinctive claret with gold braiding silks after her purchase by David Revers for $180,000 from the Trelawney Stud draft at the 2014 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Despite failing to earn black-type, Dulverton proved her worth with five wins and six placings in Melbourne while banking $236,000.
Trelawney had purchased Dulverton’s dam Rathun Island (Giant’s Causeway) for $200,000 in 2008 when carrying the stakes-placed Fastnet Rock filly Epona Princess.
Further success came with Rathun Island’s second foal, Warhorse (General Nediym), who was honoured as Champion 2YO in NZ in 2011-12 following his win in the Group 1 ARC Diamond Stakes.
Rathin Island is still going strong, but unfortunately, the same cannot be said of her year older half-brother California Dane.
The dual Group II winning son of Danehill died in 2014 and is not around to witness the coronation of his son Rebel Dane as Champion 2yo Sire.
Rathin Island’s dam Storminwinter (USA) (Seattle Slew) arrived in Australia via Hong Kong, where she was a winner over 1000m at two.
Her brother Williamstown was a top-class 3yo in America highlighted by the GrII Withers Stakes and was runner-up in the Jerome Handicap and King Bishop Stakes.
Storminwinter’s granddam Turn To Talent is a multiple stakes-winning half-sister to the outstanding racemare Too Bald, dam of the international champion Exceller and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile winner Capote, a successful stallion.
Turn To Talent and Too Bald are daughters of the Kentucky Oaks heroine Hidden Talent, a daughter of Kentucky Derby winner Dark Star the only horse to defeat Native Dancer and a son of the wonderfully versatile Australian champion Royal Gem.
Dream Thoroughbreds / Bluegrass Bloodstock (FBAA) / Yargi Racing went to $50,000 for a brother to Battleton at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Dulverton has a weanling colt by Zousain and was covered by the Group II winning son of Zoustar again last spring.
