Belated Stakes Win for Street Cry's Harper's Choice

Mark Smith - Saturday June 30

Just over 14 months ago Harper's Choice finished second to Jon Snow in the Group 1 ATC Austrian Derby and the world looked to be his oyster.

Harper's Choice He had failed to win in nine starts since although punters thought Saturday's Listed Winter Cup (2400m) at Rosehill Gardens looked to be his race.

They were proved right, but not before being given a scare by Joe Pride's old warrior Destiny's Kiss.

Given a positive ride by Brenton Avdulla, Harper's Choice (image Steve Hart) had all his rivals off the bit rounding the home turn and look set for a dominant win.

Jay Ford had been hard at work on Destiny's Kiss for over 800 metres but the 9yo gelding began to cut into Harper's Choice's lead in the last 100 metres, however, the Gerald Ryan-trained son of Street Cry (IRE) held on to win by a half-length with the Chris Waller-trained Araaja two and a half lengths back in third.

Gerald Ryan's son Blake Ryan said Harper's Choice had paid a penalty for his derby second.

"You run horses out of their grade at three and if they don't win there's pretty much nowhere for them to go after that.

"He won a maiden Kembla, a midweek at Canterbury and ran second in a Derby and now he's getting 58kg-59kg in stakes races.

"But today looked his day after the scratchings and it was a great ride by Brenton."

"He's a great old horse that horse of Joe's. I thought he was going to run us down 150m out".

With his first stakes win, Harper's Choice advances his record to 3 wins, 6 seconds and 2 thirds from 21 starts with earnings of $627,400.

A homebred for Peter and Catherine Campbell's Bennelong Bloodstock, he is the third winner from the first four foals of the imported mare Oxigenada (ARG) who was a Group 1 winner in her native Argentina.

Oxigenada (ARG) has an unraced 2yo Zoustar filly named Zourhea who was purchased by David Raphael for $52,500 at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Not covered in 2015, Oxigenada (ARG) had a filly foal by More Than Ready (USA) last spring who died after birth. Oxigenada (ARG) was covered by Sebring.

Harper's Choice becomes the 119th stakes-winner for Darley Stud's champion stallion Street Cry (IRE) who died in September 2014.

Advertisment
More Reading...
Rosemont and Partners Stakes Quinella on Cup Day
Written Tycoon posted his second new stakes-winner on Melbourne Cup Day when promising three year-old gelding Catoggio took out the Listed VRC Amanda Elliot Stakes (1400m)  for Rosemont Stud and partners, who also race the second horse Bosustow.
All Too Hard's Arran Bay Brave in the Furphy Plate
Phillip Stokes admitted his preference was to run Arran Bay in the Listed John Letts Cup at Morphettville but was overruled by the owners, who made the correct decision in favouring the Listed Furphy Plate (1800m) at Flemington.
Kiwi Bred Grey Wins Subzero for OTI at Flemington
New Zealand-bred gelding Cloudland proved a handful for James McDonald at Flemington on Tuesday, but the champion jockey was in a forgiving mood after they had claimed top honours in the Subzero Handicap.
$6million Frankel Mare Tops Fasig -Tipton November Sale
The Fasig-Tipton November Sale, billed as the World’s Premier Breeding Stock Event, was held Monday at the company’s Newtown Paddocks in Lexington, Kentucky. Twenty-five offerings sold for $1,000,000 or more, led by a trio of Grade/Group 1 winners with international appeal.
More Stakes Success for Air Assault
Group I placed last season in the SA Derby, talented gelding Air Assault kept the winning run going for Victoria Derby winning trainer Andrew Gluyas when taking out the Listed SAJC John Letts Cup (1800m) at Morphettville on Melbourne Cup Day.
Kiwi Bred Gringotts Wins $3million Big Dance
Talented New Zealand-bred gelding Gringotts(NZ) (Per Incanto) delivered a big payday for his connections with victory in Tuesday’s A$3 million Big Dance (1600m) at Randwick.
Knights Choice a True Underdog Story
Punters were left stunned when the Queenslander Knight's Choice and Japanese visitor Warp Speed (JPN) emerged from the pack to fight out a dramatic finish to the $8,560,000 Group 1 Lexus Melbourne Cup (3200m) at Flemington.
El Vencedor wins G3 Balmerino Stakes
El Vencedor is making a habit of picking up major victories at Ellerslie, adding the Gr.3 Balmerino Stakes (2000m) to his burgeoning record at Tuesday’s Melbourne Cup Day meeting.
2024 Melbourne Cup Result - It's Knights Choice
The 2024 Melbourne Cup has been run and won with Knight’s Choice, a five-year-old gelding by Extreme Choice victorious.
Sires With Winners - Tuesday November 5
Here is the full list of 145 stallions which had winners throughout Australasia today with winners and result details.