CONNECTIONS may have had to wait until his five-year-old racing season to secure a win at the elite level, but Hellbent saluted in the 2018 Group 1 MVRC William Reid Stakes proving his competitiveness, durability and toughness.
During my Scone trip last month, I attended the stallion parade at the Mitchell families Yarraman Park, located on the western fringe of the Upper Hunter Valley, where Hellbent showed himself off along with his sire I Am Invincible and stable companion Hinchinbrook.
Hellbent will be given every opportunity to take the future reins from I Am Invincible, who now commands a stud fee of $192,500. Among 31 stakes winners by I Am Invincible, Hellbent was a $95,000 graduate from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and returned over $900,000 in prizemoney from his seven wins and seven placings from 23 starts. Finishing second in the 2017 MVRC William Reid Stakes-G1, Hellbent also finished third in the 2017 Group 1 MRC Oakleigh Plate, and also had a fourth in that race the previous year.
Stable companion, Hinchinbrook has also been starring with stakes winners this season headed by juvenile Seabrook and Group winners Spright and Flippant.
Sooboog at Kitchwin Hills
I also visited Vinery Stud in the Segenhoe Valley, and Kitchwin Hills, which can be found nestled amongst the undulating hills (also home to gorgeous and ancient eucalyptus trees) just north of Gundy and west of Scone.
While Redoute’s Choice stallion Counterattack was exported to Germany last December, Kitchwin Hills’ other stallions Dane Shadow and youngster Sooboog paraded beautifully. Last season there was a rush to secure a service nomination to Sooboog, with broodmare owners flocking to the horse who ended up serving 151 mares at his first year of duty.
Hellbent will be given every opportunity to take the future reins from I Am Invincible.
A chestnut stallion by all conquering Arrowfield Stud champion Snitzel, Sooboog won three races culminating in the notable Flemington Group 3 sprint the VRC Aurie’s Star Stakes. The foundation stallion at Kitchwin Hills is Dane Shadow, a 16 year-old stallion, and son of the great Danehill, and champion racefilly Slight Chance. A reliable sire of winners, Dane Shadow has sired over 319 winners (of 1010 wins). This includes eight stakes winners, his Group 1 winners being Red Tracer, Hurtle Myrtle and Shellscrape.
Vinery stud’s line-up
While Vinery stalwarts Testa Rossa and Mossman remained relaxing in their paddocks, six stallions were on show during its May parade. More Than Ready son Pluck was paraded along with Casino Prince and his champion racing son All Too Hard, and young sires Headwater, Press Statement and Star Turn.
Looking after 530 mares during their first two stud seasons, Headwater and Press Statement have been represented with their first weanlings to sell at auction this year. Similarly, Exceed and Excel stallion Headwater had 14 sell for an $46,357 average, and Press Statement (by Hinchinbrook) had 10 sold for an average of $41,350 at the heralded Magic Millions National Weanling Sale at the Gold Coast late last month.
Flashy chestnut Star Witness stallion Star Turn “turned heads” with his energy displaying reasons why he was a consistent racehorse. Son of Danehill’s champion sire Flying Spur, Casino Prince has proved a consistent sire of winners and is again closing in for 100 Australian winners this season.
His son All Too Hard continues to compete with arch rival Pierro (leader) and lies second in the second season Australian sires lists with over 62 winners including two stakes winners. US-bred Pluck has been represented with over 40 winners this season including his consistent second crop stakes mare Plucky Girl (eight wins and 11 placings from 21 starts and $305,000).