Amongst the leading first-crop stallions, the Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner Brutal seems the most underappreciated.
With seven winners from 17 runners, the son of O'Reilly sits in sixth place on the first-season sire's table. Four of the five ahead of him have significantly increased service fees this year, while Brutal's has been cut to $16,500 at Newgate Farm.
He has yet to sire a stakes-winner, which he may rectify with three two-year-olds accepting in the $1,000,000 Group II Aquis Stallions Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The Kris Lees-trained Brutal Bowler bounced back from a mediocre debut at Eagle Farm to slam a competitive 14-runner maiden at the Sunshine Coast by two and three-quarter lengths on May 19.
A $240,000 Magic Millions purchase from Newhaven Park for Lees Racing/Bahen Bloodstock, Brutal Bowler Is the third most expensive yearling from his sire's first crop.
He is the third winner from as many to race for the stakes-placed Fastnet Rock mare Refer.
A $160,000 Easter yearling, Refer is a sister to the Group 1 Queensland Derby runner-up Electric Fusion.
Her winning dam, Silken Song (Unbridled Song), is the daughter of the extraordinary influence Lady Of Persia (USA), a descendent of the champion Meld.
The winner of the Epsom Oaks, One Thousand Guineas, St Leger Stakes, and Coronation Stakes, Meld produced the Epsom Derby hero Charlottown and left a lasting influence in the antipodes through the champion stallion Mellay and, to a lesser extent, Lysander and Scarletville.
While Silken Song did not quite make Lady Of Persia's list of daughters to leave a stakes-winner, three of her half-sisters did.
The Listed AJC Angst Hcp winner and Group 1 New Zealand Oaks third Danasia (Danehill) is the dam of the Group 1 Rosehill Guineas winner Zabrasive (Zabeel).
The Group II placed Silk Veil (Danehill) is the dam of Group III ATC Epona Stakes winner and Group 1 South Australian Derby runner-up Scratchy Bottom (Sebring).
The unraced Christchurch (Caerleon) is the dam of the Group 1 AJC Flight Stakes winner Cheeky Choice (Redoute's Choice), and granddam of the now Japanese resident Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino), the winner of the Group 1 Queensland Oaks and Champion 3YO Filly in Australia in 2021-22.
Refer has a yearling colt by Cool Aza Beel, a $50,000 purchase for Blake Ryan Racing from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
After foaling a Cool Aza Beel filly last spring, Refer revisited the son of Savabeel.
