There is plenty of interest for John Messara's Arrowfield Stud in Saturday's Listed The Rosebud (1100m) at Rosehill Gardens.
The exciting Snitzel colt Zoukerino will attempt to build on his three and a quarter length romp on debut on the Kensington track at Randwick on July 20. The likely favourite is the Maurice (JPN) colt Kibou, and it would be surprising if John Messara did not have a soft spot for the Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained gelding.
We have become accustomed to Tulloch Lodge residents being consummate professionals, so it was a surprise when Kibou was near uncontrollable for Regan Bayliss when well-fancied on debut in the Group III Breeders Plate last October.
After earning the ire of stewards, Kibou was gelded and was off for an extended holiday.
When the son of Maurice (JPN) lined up for his second start over 1100m on a heavy 9 at Warwick Farm on May 16, he was a different horse.
He romped to a three and three-quarter length victory despite a tendency to over-race and showed that was no fluke when leading all the way over 1400m on a good track at Rosehill a fortnight later.
Consigned by Arrowfield to the 2021 Classic Yearling Sale, Kibou was a $170,000 purchase for Gai Waterhouse / Adrian Bott / Kestrel Thoroughbreds.
He is the second winner from three to race out of the talented Any Given Saturday (USA) mare Fortiche.
In a career restricted to four starts, Fortiche won on debut at Seymour for Greg Eurell, then separated Tawteen and Pittsburgh Flyer at Moonee Valley. Her career ended with a pair of fourths at Caulfield and Moonee Valley.
Maurice (JPN), the champion Japanese racehorse and emerging stallion, is not the only Maurice in this story.
Fortiche was bred and owned by Maurice Messara's Boomerang Breeding.
The father of John Messara, Maurice Messara, enjoyed great success with Fortiche's half-brother Mic Mac.
The son of Statue Of Liberty (USA) kick-stared his career with five consecutive wins culminating in the Group II Hobartville Stakes at Rosehill.
After losing his unbeaten record in the Group 1 Randwick Guineas won by Metal Bender, Mic Mac was back in the winning groove in the Listed Aurie's Star Handicap, defeating All American and El Segundo.
The Greg Euell-trained colt then defeated Whobegotyou and Zarita in the Group II Memsie Stakes before Whobegotyou gained his revenge in the Group II Feehan Stakes.
A Group 1 eluded Mic Mac, who was beaten less than a length behind Melito and Hot Danish in the TJ Smith Stakes.
When Paul Messara took over his training, Mic Mac won the Listed Civic Stakes and finished third in the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap.
But injuries took their toll, and by the time Mic Mac brought the curtain down on his career at Randwick in June 2014, he had banked just short of $1 million with eight wins and six places from 31 starts.
Mic Mac's pedigree page features some talented winners by a roll call of stallions that proved disappointing.
However, it traces back to the New Zealand Hall of Fame Broodmare and breed-shaper Eulogy.
Fortiche has a 2yo colt by Mikki Isle (JPN) and a weanling filly by Showtime. She was covered by Maurice last spring.
