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Seeking the Gold (USA) - Let's Elope (NZ)
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One could argue that there is
no better bred colt racing in Australia than the Bart Cummings trained Ustinov.
By the sire of the mighty Dubai Millenium (the American bred Mr Prospector horse
Seeking the Gold), and out of one of
the best race mares to grace the Australian turf (Let's Elope), this handsome
colt has perhaps failed (so far) to live up to his pedigree. We were all
hoping he would win a Derby, and he actually started favourite for the VRC Derby
(or
co-favourite with the Cox Plate placegetter Viscount), and was the early
favourite for the AJC Derby at the start of the autumn, on the strength of his
2nd placing to Lonhro in the Caulfield Guineas and his win in the AAMI
Vase. He apparently jarred up on the hard Flemington track however to run
a slightly disappointing 4th to Amalfi, and he never really fired in the autumn
despite a promising start. Let's hope the Bart Cummings magic can get the
horse right during the spring of 2002 as a 4 year, perhaps for a tilt at the
Melbourne Cup? It would not, however, surprise me to see the colt
retired to stud on the strength of his pedigree, although I am hoping that he
can do so as a Group 1 winner. He is a magnificent individual, and it is
always nice to see nicely bred horses live up to their pedigrees (a la Don
Eduardo). |
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