Smart Missile is back on top of the Australian Second Season Sires’ premiership after quality Saturday wins at Ascot & Bendigo and a valuable Group 3 placing at Caulfield.

However, the day began in NZ with Cha Siu Bao, who followed up his impressive maiden success at Te Rapa last month with a three-length win at Ashburton for Hermitage Thoroughbreds and the stable of Lance O’Sullivan & Andrew Scott.

The fixed odds for next month’s G1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas were immediately adjusted and the colt now sits on the third line of betting at $8.

A $425,000 purchase by Anton & Oliver Koolman from Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter draft, Cha Siu Bao is the fourth winner out of Group winner Ballet Society (Stravinsky), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cent Home.

Next up was Redgum Racing’s 2YO colt Strela.  He defied his double-figure starting price to make an excellent debut at Bendigo, settling quickly in front and extending his lead in the straight to out-gun Tarima & Margot.  The time of 50.88s was a new race and track record for 900 metres.

Strela (ex Humma Mumma by Bel Esprit) was a $120,000 buy from Flinders Park Stud at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale and is prepared by John Sadler.

Rocketeer continued his excellent Spring form when second to Good Standing in the G3 Caulfield Classic (2000m) and was a touch unlucky it wasn’t the other way around.  Shuffled back on the turn while all-the-way leader Good Standing shot clear, he did well to cut the winner’s margin to three-quarters of a length.

The quinella was a notable result for Smart Missile’s owner & breeder Gooree Park Stud.

Rocketeer is the third winner out of Some Girls Do (More Than Ready), a winning half-sister to Sydney stakes winner Winter King.  He was a $150,000 purchase for Moody Racing from Edinburgh Park at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale.

The Mick Price-trained gelding’s four seconds – two in black type company – since his maiden win in August keep  him on track for the G1 Victoria Derby G1 on October 29.

Smart Missile’s fruitful day ended at Ascot where 3yo filly Royal Missile got her second win this season, and it was a super effort.  Drawn widest of the 10 runners over 1400m, Royal Missile ended up at the rear of the field, but made ground swiftly round the turn and sprinted home for a stylish victory over Samovare.

Royal Missile is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Turffontein, from Spirit of Grace (Dr Grace), and was offered by Blue Gum Farm at Inglis Melbourne where she was knocked down for $240,000 to Aquanita Racing.  She’s trained by Simon Miller in Perth for a partnership including loyal Aquanita clients Ray, Ben & Ryan Meadowcroft.

Rocketeer, Strela and Royal Missile added almost $150,000 to Smart Missile’s earnings – enough to take him past Foxwedge with a new total of $669,618.  He comfortably heads the list by winners with 15, and he has just cracked his first $1 million as a sire, thanks largely to his 8 stakes performers.

SMART MISSILE