Des Scott Breeds Gr2 Champagne Stakes Winner In UK

Des Scott, a partner in Scott Bros that has been breeding champions for almost 50 years in South Africa, has bred a Gr2 winner in the UK named Rivet, a son of Fastnet Rock. Rivet is out of Galileo mare, Starship.

The Scott Bros are no strangers to breeding Group winners overseas and Des’ brother Robin produced Gr3 Coventry Stakes winner Cutting Blade at Royal Ascot. Trained by Lester Piggot, Cutting Blade went to stud in the UK. Des Scott also owned Querari’s third dam, Gr1 winner Queen To Conquer.

Rivet produced another performance full of promise when running out the head winner of the Group Two At The Races Champagne Stakes over seven furlongs.

The 7/4 favourite had to battle hard to get past the leader, and runner-up, Thunder Snow as the field quickened up and the front two pulled well clear of the third, D’Bai, in the final furlong.

It looked for one moment that the runner-up would hold on to his lead but, when jockey Andrea Atzeni gave his mount a couple of cracks of the whip, Rivet responded gamely to get his head in front well inside the final furlong and held onto his advantage in a driving finish.

Trainer William Haggas, who was recording his third winner of the Ladbrokes St Leger Festival and moves alongside Roger Varian at the head of the top trainer leaderboard, was pleased enough with the performance of Rivet following the race.

“He is lovely-looking horse and a good mover – he is a nice horse,” said the trainer.

“He has had a race today and I thought he was a bit laboured. I think he is doing quite well physically and I need to assess this and see it again.

“He looked to make heavy weather of it but he won and that’s all that matters really. I would definitely like to run him again this season but, whether that is over seven furlongs or a mile, I don’t know. He’s in every smart race that I could find, so we will take it from there.

“I’m thrilled to bits but I need to see it again to assess it. They pulled clear of the third in a slowly-run race, which is a good sign. Andrea said he would get a mile and now probably wants it. He thought the ground was a bit loose on top for him but, all in all, he’s won and, when you come for a race like this from a maiden, you hope they do.

“The Racing Post Trophy back here (October 22) is a possibility but I don’t know whether I’ve put him in (he is entered). I think he’s a good moving horse but a lot of his family have liked top of the ground. All the jockeys who have ridden him so far like him so hopefully they can’t all be wrong.

“His owners, the Starship Partnership, are an eclectic mix. Des Scott, a 87-year-old South African, is marvellous. He’s had horses for 60 years, most in South Africa. There’s also a certain L K Piggott (Lester), who bred Rivet’s dam, Starship and also Messrs Tabor and Magnier. I’m pleased to say they leave it to us, which is fantastic.”

 Atzeni said: “Rivet knuckled down well. He is tough and very genuine.

“He is probably still learning a little bit. He got the job done in the end and I would say he is a horse who will get better with time. He will be an even nicer horse next year.

“He is obviously a nice horse and you would think he would get a mile the way he was galloping on at the line and I was struggling to pull him up. He is a very good looking horse who can only get better with age.

“It was hard to pull him up. He is just a horse who is still learning as well. James Doyle probably got the run of the race on the rail and my horse has got a little bit lost.

“When he won last time [York, September 19, three and a quarter-lengths], it was hands and heels and he was made to work a little bit harder today.

Atzeni added: “I do think that he is a horse who is going to get better with time and will be a nice horse next year.”

The Scott Bros are still breeding Gr1 winners locally almost 50 years later after producing the great Politician and too many to mention, with significant success in the Durban July as breeders and owners and honoured at the 2015 Equus Awards for Champion Stayer with Wild One, and more recently 2016 Equus Champion Sprinter Talktothestars.

 – extract thoroughbrednews.com.au