For the many fans at Randwick on April 27, 2013 the mood went from euphoric highs watching Hugh Bowman guide the magnificent grey Reliable Man (GB) to victory in the Group 1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes to stunned disbelief when Bowman pulled up seconds later and removed the saddle, as Reliable Man (GB) was led hobbling back to the enclosure.
After looking to have the world at his feet, Reliable Man (GB) had done a tendon and would not grace the track again.
He defeated Dundeel that day in a race worth $500,000. Twelve months later Dundeel triumphed in the same race when it carried a purse of $4 million.
By any standards, Reliable Man (GB) was a top-class racehorse.
Following wins at Saint-Cloud and Chantilly, the son of Dalakhani was thrown in the deep end when trainer Alain de Royer-Dupre elected to tackle the Prix du Jockey-Club (French Derby) but he was up to the challenge keeping his record at a perfect three for three.
After losing his unbeaten record when third in the Group 1 Grand Prix de Paris, Reliable Man (GB) turned the tables on his conqueror Meadrein the Group II Prix Niel at Longchamp.
Following an unplaced effort in the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, Reliable Man was done for the season.
He made his 4yo bow in the Group 1 Prix Ganay at Longchamp won by Cirrus Des Aigles.
It was the start of what proved to be a frustrating year where he performed credibly at the highest level without winning.
He was beaten less than two lengths when fourth to Danedream, Nathaniel and St Nicholas Abbey in the KingGeorge and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot and a close fourth to So You Think in the Prince Of Wales Stakes on the same track.
After six months off thetrackReliable Man (GB) made his first start for Chris Waller in the Group 1 George Ryder Stakes over 1500 metres at Rosehill and showed he would be a force to be reckoned with over the Autumn Carnival when a close-up sixth behind the champion Pierro.
Three weeks later he made what was to be his final appearance.
Stud farm’s in Australia were not beating the door down to stand Reliable Man (GB) but he found a great home in Gerry Harvey’s Westbury Stud in New Zealand.
Few stallions have a more potent pedigree to sire Classic and Cup winners.
His sire Dalakhani also won the French Derby as did his grandsire Darshaan, whose sire Shirley Heights won the 1978 Epsom Derby, seven years after his own sire Mill Reef won the classic at Epsom Downs.
Reliable Man’s stakes-winning dam, the Sadler’s Wells mare On Fair Stage, is a daughter of Fair Salinia who won the English Oaks, Irish Oaks, and Yorkshire Oaks in 1978.
Reliable Man has two chances in Saturday’s $2 million Group 1 AAMI Victoria Derby (2500m) and both are trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young who themselves have classic pedigrees.
Their honour roll includes the 2011 Victoria Derby winner Sangster and the 2016 ATC Australian Derby winner Tavago.
A $19,000 purchase, Sangster came out of New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale, as does Saturday’s Derby hopeful Main Stage who came at a cost of $150,000 from the Kilmore Farm draft at last year’s Ready to Run Sale of 2YOs.
Main Stage is the third
A daughter of the Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Prized (Kris S), Kiri is out of the St Hilarion mare Opera Singer a half-sister to the likeable Skoozi (Please).
Back in February 2000, Skoozi Please won the Group II TS Carlyon Cup and at his next start, which came six months later, won the Group II JJ Liston Stakes.
He followed that up with a second to Oliver Twist in the Group 1 Underwood Stakes and was fifth in the Group 1 Cox Plate won by Sunline.
Also placed at the highest level in the CF Orr Stakes, WRC Thorndon Mile and Queensland Derby, Skoozi Please became a world traveller, winning at Group III level in Dubai and contesting races in England and Germany.
While Main Stage already has a stakes win to his credit in the Listed UCI Stakes (1800m) at Flemington, the second son of Reliable Man (GB) in the Victoria Derby for Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Sully, is chasing his first black-type win.
Following two wins in country Victoria, the progressive gelding was sent to Sydney where he finished fourth in the Group III Gloaming Stakes at Rosehill and third in the Group 1 Spring Champion Stakes at Randwick.
Both those races were won by the David Payne-trained Ace High (High Chaparral) who shapes as the horse to beat again on Saturday.
A $36,000 purchase from Weetwood Grange draft at the 2016 NZBSelect Yearling Sale, Sully is the third winner from as many to race out of the 5-time winning Casual Lies mare Lady Winifred whose dam Frisky Business (Kaapstad) is a half-sister to the Listed STC Winter Cup winner Romeo George.
Looking at Sully’s extended pedigree is like taking a trip back through time to a 1960’s catalogue at Trentham with names such as Faux Tirage (GB) and Sobig featured.
With Reliable Man (GB) gaining traction in both hemispheres he has again proved popular at Westbury Stud and his fortunes will certainly be boosted with a maiden Group 1 score on Saturday.
