Well-bred stallion Master of Design lived up to his pedigree with a last stride victory in the G1 T J Smith Stakes at Randwick on Saturday.

The David Payne trained sprinter became the 21st Group 1 winner for champion sire Redoute’s Choice when he snatched a narrow victory over Rain Affair (Commands) and Hallowell Belle (Starcraft) in the feature sprint of Sydney’s autumn carnival.

Master Of Design (6h Redoute’s Choice – Urge To Merge by Last Tycoon) took a roundabout route to winning at the elite level after Arrowfield sold him to Sheikh Mohammed for $2.10 million at the 2007 Inglis Easter yearling sale.

He won races for Lee Freedman at Seymour, Ballarat and Moonee Valley before transferring to Adam Durrant in Perth.  Legs injuries restricted his career to just two starts between January 2010 and July 2011 which included a win at Belmont Park in October 2010.

In the meantime, he was sold to a syndicate that includes Luke Murrell and Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock and former Fremantle Dockers coach Mark Harvey.  “He’s had problems but we’ve nursed him back,” trainer David Payne said.  “We’ve been trying to win a Group 1 because he’s so well bred.  Now the owners will be getting offers to stand him at stud.”

Master Of Design is a Redoute’s Choice half-brother to G1 Greyville Champion Stakes winner Suntagonal (Octagonal).  Their dam Urge To Merge has a 2011 filly by Charge Forward and is in foal to Not A Single Doubt; while Master of Design’s sister Emanday is in foal to All American.

Emanday is part of Arrowfield’s offering at the upcoming Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.

Master of Design is the second Group 1 winner, after Queensland Derby winner Dariana, bred on the Redoute’s Choice – Last Tycoon cross.  The combination has produced a total of seven stakes winners from only 39 named foals.

Urge To Merge is a sister to Champion South African filly Tracy’s Element and leading NZ sire Towkay.  She is also a half-sister to Metal Bender’s sire Danasinga.

Tracy’s Element is the dam of Australian Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom).