Champion
sire Encosta de Lago added another Group I winner to his resume when four year-old
entire Mac de Lago landed the biggest prize of his career when taking out the
Group I Rising Sun Gold Challenge at Greyville in South Africa on Saturday.
Trained by Weiho Marwing, Mac de Lago (pictured courtesy sahracing.com ) had won twice previously and been placed
and finished fourth in several Group events.
He soared to new heights in this weight-for-age 1600 metre contest claiming
victory in the steward's room after being beaten narrowly on the line by Trip
to Heaven, who was relegated to second.
A $65,000 Inglis Premier purchase for James Bester Bloodstock from the Coolmore
draft, Mac de Lago was foaled and raised at Coolmore and is the best of three
winners from Group I winning Vettori(IRE) mare Macavelli Miss (NZ).
Macavelli Miss is now at stud in New Zealand and produced a colt by Rios last
year and will foal to him again this spring.
Mac de Lago is the 110th stakes-winner for now retired Encosta de
Lago and is his 26th Group I winner.
Currently fifth on the Australian General Sires List by earnings, Encosta de Lago
has been enjoying a very successful season represented by Australian Group I
winners Chautauqua, English and Vanbrugh.
He is also leading the Australian Broodmare Sires List by earnings, his
daughters having produced the winners of over $15million in prizemoney
highlighted by 15 stakes-winners.
Coolmore have put their faith in his brilliant sprinting son Rubick to carry forward
his line for them and he's certainly been a popular pick with breeders.
Rubick covered 214 mares last spring and stands at the same fee of $17,600 this
year.