Swettenham Stud sire Host (Chi) and his promising son Philippi will ensure the G1 Australian Derby isn’t a Dundeel for New Zealand.
Philippi (3c Host – Soorena by Encosta De Lago) forged to the front against his G2 Tulloch Stakes rivals at Rosehill on Saturday and then ran the 2000 metres right out to win by three lengths.
Philippi is a homebred for Rick Jamieson who has been a staunch supporter of Host. The Gilgai Farm breeder sent his dam Soorena back to Host and the mare foaled another chestnut colt to him last September.
Jamieson bred Black Caviar and sold her through Swettenham’s draft at the 2008 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale. His Redoute’s Choice half-brother to the world-champion mare is tipped to bring $2 million plus when the Inglis Easter Sale starts on Tuesday.
Jamieson believed he had sealed a deal to sell Philippi last month but it fell through at the eleventh-hour. “We had scratched him from the Rosehill Guineas thinking it was a done deal,” he said. “It’s been a tough week.”
It’s A Dundeel’s subsequent runaway in the Rosehill Guineas was an ominous result for his Australian Derby opponents at Randwick on April 13. “It was a bit sobering to see that Kiwi horse win last week,” trainer Mick Kent said. “But we’re happy to press on.
“We bypassed the Victoria Derby to concentrate on the autumn. I’m looking forward to getting him out to 2400 metres.”
Philippi was runner-up in the G2 Alister Clark Stakes (2040m) at Moonee Valley before heading to Sydney. He had completed a winning hat-trick at Flemington in the spring and was a $7 second-favourite for the G1 Victorian Derby before connections called a halt to that campaign.
Swettenham’s up-and-coming stallion Host is firmly embedded in the Top 10 on Australia’s second-season premiership with 16 winners and $641,250 in prizemoney.
Host (Hussonet) will stand for a $9,900 (inc gst) service fee at Swettenham in 2013. Broodmare owners can call Swettenham owner Adam Sangster (0418 543 633) or Sales & Marketing Manager Chris Belli (0417 514 552).
– Karl Patterson