Champion sire Redoute’s Choice made his presence felt on Oaks Day at Flemington yesterday with a pair of impressive sprinting stakeswinners, Dystopia and Lankan Rupee.
The colours made famous by Redoute’s Choice himself were carried to a thrilling victory in the $150,000 VRC Century S. 1000m LR by 4YO gelding Lankan Rupee (ex Estelle Collection by Stravinsky). He fought a stirring battle with Snitzel’s classy daughter Snitzerland over the final 300 metres and prevailed by a nose to become the 107th stakeswinner for Redoute’s Choice.
Lankan Rupee’s trainer Mick Price said, “I thought Snitzerland looked absolutely outstanding in the mounting yard and I think we beat the right horse in the race.”
Jockey Craig Newitt said, “It was a tough win. He ranged up alongside her, she fought back. It was just a really tough effort.”
Lankan Rupee is a home-bred for Musaffar Yaseen who has made a major contribution to the Australian thoroughbred industry as the owner-breeder of Redoute’s Choice himself. Lankan Rupee has now won four of his 11 starts and almost $250,000.
Mr Yaseen also has a 2YO sister to Lankan Rupee, named Timeless Choice, in training with Mick Price. Estelle Collection foaled a filly by Manhattan Rain in September and has visited Redoute’s Choice again this spring.
Dystopia (ex Bourgeois by Luskin Star) scored her first Group race success in the $200,000 VRC Begonia Belle S. 1100m G3, and was one of three winners from three starters for trainer Chris Waller on Oaks Day. She is the 62nd of Redoute’s Choice’s 107 stakeswinners to win at Group level.
Dystopia has accumulated seven wins (two in Listed company), five black type placings and more than $630,000 during a 32-start, five-season career for the Ingham family which bought her for $800,000 from Reavill Farm at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Sale.
Her racetrack achievements, and her status as the only full sister to Golden Slipper winner and leading young sire Stratum make Dystopia a very valuable mare indeed.