Spectrum’s Winchester On Target For 2012 Melbourne Cup

Spectrum’s Winchester On Target For 2012 Melbourne Cup

Spectrum’s maternal grandson, Winchester, is back in the limelight again. The four-time American-bred Gr 1 winning stallion has been bought by Rosemont Stud in Australia, destined for Australia’s biggest race, the Gr 1 Melbourne Cup.

www.race.au reports that John Sadler’s imported Spring Cup hopeful, Winchester, is gearing up for their debut down under this coming Saturday after the stallion was given a searching gallop at Caulfield on Tuesday morning.

Formerly prepared in America by Christophe Clemet, Theatrical stallion Winchester joined Sadler’s Flemington stables earlier this year having had 22 starts overseas for six wins – the most recent of which was in the Grade 1 Saratoga Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes (2412m) in August last year which took their Group 1 tally up to four.

They had their first major piece of work in front of the public eye on Tuesday morning in Melbourne showing off their big stride over 1400m on the course proper at Caulfield when ridden by Jamie Mott, their performance impressing stable rep Troy Corstens.

“I am really happy with him,” Corstens said of the horse that ran this morning’s final 400m in a smart 24.88 seconds. “The last bit of work was his best. He has a beautiful action.”

Considered a strong chance for next month’s $2.5 million Group 1 BMW Caulfield Cup (2400m) in Melbourne on October 20, Winchester will resume racing off a lengthy break on Saturday with connections leaning towards the Underwood Stakes for their first-up assignment.

The eight-year-old is nominated for the $200,000 Group 2 Hill Stakes (2000m) at Royal Randwick in Sydney as well as two Caulfield features – the $400,000 Group 1 Underwood Stakes (1800m) and the $150,000 Group 3 Naturalism Stakes (2000m) both of which offer a Caulfield Cup ballot exemption to the winner.

“It is a tough assignment in the Underwood Stakes at weight-for-age and over only 1800-metres, but if he run past a few in the straight we will be happy,” Corstens said.

In the latest Caulfield Cup odds at bookmaker.com.au Winchester is a $71 roughie, a price that is sure to firm if they pull out a good run on the weekend. Sadler is also hoping the horse will go through the grades this season and develop into a chance for the $6.2 million Group 1 Emirates Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington on Tuesday November 6.

“I can’t wait to see him over two miles (for the Melbourne Cup),” Corstens said. “He will run in the Caulfield Cup on the way through because he is qualified. He is right where we want him at the moment on his way to the Melbourne Cup.” Winchester is much shorter in the Melbourne Cup odds paying $26.

Melbourne Cup weights were released by Racing Victoria with the past two winners in Dunaden (2011) and Americain (2010) topping the handicaps at 58kg each. Winchester meanwhile has been allocated 55kg along with the likes of last year’s runner-up Red Cadeaux, one time Caulfield Cup favourite December Draw, and 2007 Melbourne Cup champ Efficient.

Spectrum ‘s grand-daughter Up (by Galileo) has had an incredible September, finishing sixth in the Gr 1 Beverly D Stakes at Arlington recently, she went onto win a Gr 3 Lanwades Stud Stakes in Ireland at the Curragh less than two weeks later on 9 September. Since then, she went onto win the Gr 2 Blandford Stakes again at the Curragh. Her trainer Aiden O’Brien has described her as a tough filly, who handles travelling well. She is now being aimed at the Breeders’ Cup Filles and Mares in Santa Anita.

The filly is a half-sister to UK sire, another descendant flying Spectrum’s flag high, Dutch Art. Dutch Art is a dual Gr 1 winner, standing at Cheveley Stud alongside his sire Medicean and Pivotal. Dutch Art has produced 45 winners from his first crop to race, including seven Bold Black Types and four Black Type winners.

The common denominater between the pedigrees of Winchester, Dutch Art and Up is Northern Dancer in their male lines, with Mr Prospector appearing in the male lines of Dutch Art and Up.

Spectrum, standing at Koos and Lorraine De Klerk’s Yellow Star Stud, is currently lying 10th on the National Sires Log by Stakes earned (stats as of 17 September 2012, NHRA).

Click on the following link to view a video of Winchester’s introduction to the Australian press.

Spectrum stands alongside Damage Is Done, Kildonan and Tropical Empire.

If you would like to contact Yellow Star Stud, please contact Koos 083 390 3045 or Lorraine 082 897 7179 or alternatively email info@yellowstarstud.co.za. or stud@yellowstarstud.co.za.

Website: www.yellowstarstud.co.za
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For extended pedigree and information click here.

Click on the G1 Goldmine link on the right to match your mare’s pedigree to Spectrum.

Information source courtesy of www.race.com.au and www.rosemontstud.com.au