Overcoming the Odds

Media Release - Thursday July 27
You've got to love a stallion that exceeds expectation.

Every now and then a stallion overcomes the odds, proving himself despite not enjoying the advantages large books provide - siring smart types from limited opportunities.

One such horse is Larneuk Stud's Ilovethiscity.

IlovethiscityEven though he is a Group I winner of one of Sydney's best tests of three-year-old class, the Randwick Guineas, Ilovethiscity has somehow been overlooked by breeders.

He ticks so many boxes; he had the racing class, he is great type and he hails from a consistent stallion line, his sire Magic Albert well represented by 22 stakes winners with an excellent 67.2% winners-to-runners strike rate whilst his grandsire Zeditave sired 36 stakes winners with an outstanding 70.5% strike.

And he hails from an outstanding local family proven it its ability to produce successful stallions - his relations including the high class gallopers Grosvenor (triple Group I winning sire of 53 stakes winners; 70.3% winners-to-runners) and Lonhro (11 times Group I winning sire of 67 stakes winners; 71.1% winners-to-runners).

It is difficult to pinpoint why some stallions capture the attention of breeders and why some don't but one thing is for certain - Ilovethiscity is doing the job and deserves greater recognition and opportunity!

From just 34 runners to date, with his oldest runners just three, Ilovethiscity had sired five city winners (13 overall plus eight lightly raced placegetters), talented horses who have been in really good form in recent weeks.

Such as two-year-old Bris Vegas who was so gutsy saluting over 1000m at Morphettville earlier this month and recent Brisbane metropolitan winner Ilovevegas, who showed great heart weaving through the field before racing clear to win by a soft and impressive 1 1/2 lengths at Doomben.

A 3 1/4 length maiden winner at his previous start, Ilovevegas is trained by Ben Currie who described the bay as "a beauty."

"He is doing everything right," he told the media - "he's relaxing really well and I think once we get him up in trip further he's only going to get better."

Currie has since accepted a lucrative offer from Hong Kong for Ilovevegas, who will continue his caring career in that jurisdiction.

Ilovethiscity's sire Magic Albert was a favourite with Hong Kong trainers and his stock have featured consistently in the winner's circle at Sha Tin and Happy Valley with 10 winners headed by the stakes-winner Vital Flyer.

Also showing plenty of talent are Ilovethiscity's sons and daughters Chapel City (stakes placed three times Morphettville winner), Vivaldi's Quest (Morphettville winner also close up in black type company) and Plenty To Like (Caulfield winner in mid-April).

IlovethiscityThere are others who look sure to break through in town soon; the four times winner Moonlover competitive in good company, the Moonee Valley runner up The Passage boasting good form lines and Ville Chanson winning two of his first four whilst City Of Dreams impressed bolting in by four lengths at her Tasmanian debut in late April.

All this from just 74 live foals produced in his first two crops!

"There is no doubt that Ilovethiscity is a stallion who is worthy of greater support," said Larneuk Stud's Neville Murdoch.

"He is upgrading his mares and from day one there has been something about his foals. He is a lovely horse who stamps his progeny, passing on his strength and presence."

Grahame Begg, trainer of Ilovethiscity, is also a fan

"It seems to me that people are just looking past the obvious," he said.

"He hails from a sire line proven in Australia and he only won races that very good horses win - the Randwick Guineas, the Hobartville Stakes, the Spring Stakes. And he was desperately unlucky not to have won the Golden Rose."

Ilovethiscity stands at a fee of $6,600 and for further information contact Neville Murdoch on 0418 105 706 or visit www.larneuk.comandwww.facebook.com/pages/Larneuk-Stud/455896497806590

Advertisment
More Reading...
ILovethissuccess
Two serious Group I spring classic contenders for this value Victorian sire have made him a highly desirable option for budget conscious breeders seeking an outcross sire that works.
Ilovethiscity's King Of Hastings Takes Aim at the Spring
Winter wonder or genuine spring contender, King Of Hastings will likely be given his chance to answer that question when he takes aim at stakes level following his courageous win in Saturday’s Super Vobis 2-Y-O Hcp (1200m) at Caulfield.
Switzerland Wins the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes for Coolmore
After Coolmore’s $875,000 I Am Invincible colt Home Affairs captured the Coolmore Stud Stakes in 2021, it was the turn of the $1,500,000 Snitzel colt Switzerland to do the sponsor proud in the $2,000,000 Group 1 feature at Flemington on Saturday.
Bravo Centurion - How Good is He?
Ridden by Chris Parnham for Luke Fernie, Bravo Centurion stretched his winning run to six, making every post a winner to defeat Saloon Bar (Sessions) by a long three and three-quarter lengths with Crippalenko (Maschino) a half-length back in third.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 2
Here is the full list of 137 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
William Haggas Trained Lake Forest Triumphs in Golden Eagle
William Haggas is playing his part in keeping the UK economy afloat, taking home a further $5,250,000 after Lake Forest (GB) won an action-packed James Squire Golden Eagle (1500m) at Rosehill.
First Stakes Win for Ilovethiscity's Moonlover
After an out of character performance in the Northwood Plume Stakes, Matt Laurie’s ultra-reliable Moonlover bounced back for a career highlight win in Wednesday’s Listed Shojun Concrete Stakes (Black Pearl Stakes) (1200m) at Geelong.
Back to Back Victoria Derby Winners for Triple Crown Hero American Pharoah
The Watson family owned South Australian nursery Mill Park is a name synonymous with serious Group I horses and in particular those bred by astute breeder Harry Perks and this winning association struck for a third time in the $2million Group I VRC Victoria Derby (2500m) at Flemington on Saturday when Goldrush Guru saluted to join previous winners they have produced in Rebel Raider and Warning.
Ilovethiscity Colt Stakes Derby Claim
El Dorado Dreaming might not be the only Group I winner sired by Ilovethiscity come the end of the spring carnival with the Darren Weir trained three year-old colt Savoie staking a claim on the Group I VRC Victoria Derby with a runaway win in the $60,000 VRC Derby Trial over 1800 metres at Flemington Wednesday.
Invincible Mares Quinella G3 Furphy Sprint
The first foal of triple Group I winning mare Shoals, blueblood I Am invincible mare Isthmus has been threatening to win a stakes race this year and got the job done when charging clear to score a dominant victory in the Group III VRC Furphy Sprint (1100m) at Flemington on Saturday over another I Am Invincible mare in Kundalini.