Million dollar colts break their maidens.
A pair of $1.1 million colts by Arrowfield Stud stallions Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) and Snitzel (Redoute's Choice) broke their maidens on Wednesday, with Doubtland (2 c Not A Single Doubt - Miss Sharapova by Ustinov) scoring at Kensington-Randwick, while Pioneer River (2 c Snitzel - Ocean of Tears by Minardi) saluted the judge at Flemington.
Trained by Team Hawkes, Doubtland was purchased by Orbis Bloodstock at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling from the Arrowfield Stud draft and he was having his first start at the Sydney track, hitting the line well to beat Miss Canada (Exceed And Excel) by a length and three quarters in the Vinery Stallions (1100m).
"He was a bit slow away, got back and went left and right, so he's really done this on raw ability," said co-trainer Michael Hawkes.
"He's still a green baby and will actually be a lot better next time in. It was a good first win and will be the first of many."
The colt is a three-quarter brother to Group 2 winner Villa Verde and is out Group 3-placed Ustinov (Seeking The Gold) mare Miss Sharapova making him a brother to Listed winner Pretty Fast.
Further back the colt is from the family of Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m)-winning pair Rory's Jester (Crown Jester) and Ha Ha (Danehill).
Arrowfield Stud will offer the colt's Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) half-sister at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale which begins its two-day run in Sydney on April 7. The filly is catalogued as Lot 78 and is one of 13 yearlings by the sire set to go through the ring at Riverside next month.
The Arrowfield stallion was also responsible for the next winner on the card at the Randwick-Kensington track when three-year-old filly Shout The Bar (3 f ex Drinks All Round by O'Reilly) followed up her winning debut with another victory in the Street Boss at Darley Handicap (1150m). Segenhoe Stud will offer the filly's sister at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and she will go through the ring catalogued as Lot 416.
Later in the afternoon at Flemington, Not A Single Doubt's barnmate Snitzel brought up his 11th two-year-old winner of the season when Pioneer River landed the Years Racing at Flemington 2YO Handicap (1200m) - a win which saw the stallion move one ahead of nearest rival I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) in the leading two-year-old sire championship race.
Sold by Treen and Royston Murphy's Sledmere Stud to Sun Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Lindsay Park-trained two-year-old finished sixth on debut in the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m), but he had no issues breaking his duck, chinning pre-race favourite Mystery Dancer (Akeed Mofeed) by a half-head.
Pioneer River is out of New Zealand-bred mare Ocean Of Tears (Minardi), making him a half-brother to Group 3 winner No More Tears (Darci Brahma) and a further two winners.
Ocean Of Tears herself is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Hips Don't Lie (Stravinsky) - the dam of Chairman's Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Ennis Hill (Fastnet Rock) and Listed winner Lake Geneva (Fastnet Rock).
Sledmere Stud will offer the colt's Exceed And Excel (Danehill) half-sister at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling and she is set to go through the ring catalogued as Lot 116.
Meanwhile, Snitzel will be represented by 67 yearlings at the auction.
