Queensland sires Red Dazzler and All Bar One have tied at the top of the Australian first-season winners’ table with Darley duo Ad Valorem and Nadeem.

All four sired 8 individual winners.  They finished one ahead of Independent Stallions sire Artie Schiller and West Australian freshman Saxon.

Saxon (Danehill) captured the last city win of the season by a first-season sire when Gracetown took out the Cardinal Virtue Hcp (1000m) at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Gracetown (2g Saxon – Blue Be True by Is It True) was settled in a perfect position by William Pike and he dashed clear in the straight.  The Jason Pateman trained gelding is the last recorded foal for a mare related to Listed Colonel Reeves Stakes winner Scout’s Honour (Is it True).

Saxon won the G2 Queensland Guineas and G3 Doomben Classic at the 2005 winter carnival.  Trainer Gerald Ryan believed he would have won a Group 1 but for picking up a virus in Melbourne after his Brisbane campaign.

The Heytesbury Stud freshman opened his winning account when Saxabelle scored an impressive victory at Ascot last November.  He will stand for a service fee of $5,500 (inc gst) this year.

Saxon was Champion first-season sire in WA with $385,600 in earnings.  Flying Pegasus was next best with $305,475.