Rich Hill Graduates Chasing Feature Prizes

Media Release - Wednesday October 28

A trio of Rich Hill Stud graduates will be vying for top honours in prestige events across two Australian states in the coming days.

Riodini and Albarado will be in action at Rosehill and Flemington respectively on Saturday while Surprise Baby will have a second crack at the G1 Melbourne Cup on Tuesday.

Riodini takes his place in the AU$7.5 million Golden Eagle off the back of a runner-up finish in the G2 Shannon Stakes and a third placing in the G1 Epsom Handicap.

Riodini

“He’s from Proisir’s first crop and was bred by Alan Galbraith, who remains in the ownership, and he’s a share-holder in Rich Hill so it’s exciting for all concerned,” Rich Hill’s John Thompson said.

Advertisement

Prepared by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Riodini is out of Giardini who is a half-sister to the G2 Hawke’s Bay Guineas winner Sir Andrew.

Riodini is from the first crop of farm resident Proisir who has quickly established himself as one of the up and coming sires in New Zealand. He will be bidding to add to the stallion’s progeny record which was added to last weekend with Vitesse Bo’s stylish victory in the G3 War Decree Stakes. The Ben Foote-trained filly is now on the fourth line of betting for next month’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.

Following his courageous victory in the G3 Norman Robinson Stakes, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Albarado is prominent in the market for the G1 VRC Derby.

“Peter Smith bred the colt and we sold him at Karaka on his behalf,” Thompson said.

Albarado as a yearling

Albarado was knocked down to Busuttin Racing for $140,000 and is a son of the dual Group Three winner O’Fille and the family of the G1 Wellington Cup winner Willy Smith.

Rich Hill home-bred Surprise Baby is shaping as a major chance in this year’s Melbourne Cup after his unlucky fifth 12 months ago. His trainer Paul Preusker has by design only stepped his son of Shocking out twice since then with a sole focus on winning this year’s Cup.

He was runner-up when resuming in the G2 Feehan Stakes and while then unplaced in the G1 Turnbull Stakes, he was only a touch over two lengths off the winner after an interrupted run home.

“We had a great result in the Cup with the Rich Hill-bred Prince Of Penzance winning in 2015 so we’re looking forward to Surprise Baby running on Tuesday and, hopefully, a top result for Shocking,” Thompson said.

News from Rich Hill Stud

Advertisment
More Reading...
Cambridge Stud News
It’s been the spring that keeps giving for Cambridge Stud and it’s not over yet.
Barnstorming Win by Headwall in the Warra
The super-consistent Headwall reaped a just reward in the $300,000 Group III Snap Print Solutions Wollongong The Warra (1000m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Friday November 22
Here is the full list of 46 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
$1.3million Snitzel Colt Ready to Fire on Debut for Te Akau
Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson are confident they have the young firepower to make an early impression in the first of the black type features at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Gringotts Continues Kiwi Winning Run in $1million The Gong
Kiwi bred Gringotts continued his coming-of-age campaign with a powerhouse front-running performance under 60kg to win Saturday’s Group III A$1 million The Illawarra Mercury Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sires With Winners - Thursday November 21
Here is the full list of 32 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.
Expensive Xtravagant Wins $1million Meteorite
The highest priced yearling by Xtravagant sold in 2022, progressive sprinter Nadal (Xtravagant) produced an explosive turn of foot to come from near last to win the inaugural running of today’s $1m The Ladbrokes Meteorite at Cranbourne.
Yes Yes Yes Filly wins $100,000 Crystal Slipper
The $100,000 WATC Magic Millions Crystal Slipper (1100m) at Ascot on Saturday drew a competitive field of 13 and Yes Yes Yes filly Yes Queen produced a brilliant performance to score a dominant debut victory.
City of Troy Crowned 2024 Cartier European Horse of the Year
Outstanding Justify colt City of Troy was crowned Horse of the Year at the 2024 Cartier awards on Wednesday night in London at a star studded ceremony at the Dorchester Hotel.
Sires With Winners - Saturday November 23
Here is the full list of 117 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.