What an achievement it was for evergreen stallion Desert King on the weekend - his flashy and talented daughter Real Love proving a class above her rivals in the Group III JRA Cup at Doomben, in doing so becoming her sire's third millionaire.
Well that is not strictly correct as Real Love is Desert King's only millionaire - his first two to reach the seven figure milestone going above and beyond that... Makybe Diva being Australia's highest ever prize money earner of over $14.5 million whilst fellow multiple Group One winner Desert War amassed over $3 million.
And it may be, with the Brisbane Cup beckoning, that Real Love
further improves on her already impressive record of six stakes victories over
a variety of distances from 1400m to 2600m.
"She is a high class mare," in-form trainer Darren Weir enthused, adding that "It was a great win today and she will improve on that again."
Jockey Brad Rawiller was impressed by Real Love's toughness at the finish, the five-year-old having remained in work since her brave Adelaide Cup placing in mid-March.
"It is hard to keep a horse up that long," he said, "but she looks a million dollars and she is as genuine as they come."
Chris Bakker of Lauriston Park, home to Desert King, was delighted.
"Desert King is the most underrated stallion in the state," he said. "He has sired more Group One winners than any other stallion in Victoria (six) and he is perfect for anyone who wants to breed to race."
"And he is in fantastic condition - he thinks he's a ten-year-old!"
LP Stallions' Julie Nairn agreed - "it is hard to believe
that he is 22, I visited him last week and he was scooting across the paddock
like a youngster. He and Rock Hero play games and race each other up and down
the fence... it is great watching them in action!"
"With a proven stallion like Desert King, breeders are given the opportunity to breed a high class horse, one that can see you in the winner's circle in some of the great races."
"Desert King has been a very good stallion to breeders over the years," Nairn continued. "Every year he comes up with another good horse... his results speak for themselves."
It was a good weekend for Desert King's family also, his superstar relation Frankel represented by his first runner and winner Cunco at Newbury whilst closer to home Antelucan - whose dam is a half-sister to Desert King - was a dominant winner of the Listed Adelaide Guineas at Morphettville.
"Desert King's pedigree is world class," Nairn said, "and results from around the globe continue to prove that."
Real Love's victory continued on a recent run of good news for Lauriston Park, co-breeders of Group One Robert Sangster Stakes winner Precious Gem.
For further information on Desert King contact Julie Nairn (0402 901 910) or Chris Bakker (0427 903 353).
