Winx and the Superstar Three Year Olds

       This weeks racing in Australia and the world. After last weeks international performances with the running of the Arc and California Chrome's continued success in the USA it needed some good performances from down under this week to keep our resume in good order and i can tell you the three year olds in Australia at the moment must arguably rank as the best of all time.They remind me of that superstar 1996 group which included Octagonal,Saintly and Nothing Leica a Dane, Our Maizcay and Filante. Octagonal being by Zabeel who was out of Lady Giselle a Nureyev broodmare. The great Zabeel who died a few months back has left a dynasty in New Zealand which will have a long lasting effect on Australian racing. Octagonal was out of the great broodmare Eight Carat.

 The Eight Carat Dynasty 

Octagonal victory in the 1996 Australian Derby 

       The win of Extreme Choice in the Moir Stakes defeating Chautaqua was the first three year old on show last week.  Then we saw Russian Revolution hold off Astern who i still believe is the best of the crop and now this week we have seen Star Turn take on the older horses and win the Schillaci in arrogant fashion. Now the fillies have begun to show their colours as well with Yankee Rose flying home to win the Spring Champion Stakes. 
     The Caulfield Guineas the race for stallions was run and won by another awesome prospect, Divine Prophet who was narrowly beaten by Impending a couple of weeks ago after Impending having the sit on him but in the Guineas on saturday he was the one with the run of the race and it did the trick. Divine Prophet is by Choisir the Danehill line out of the Encosta De Lago mare Prophet Jewel. This win lifted his value to heavenly heights and now possibly onto the Cox Plate to take on Winx with Yankee Rose heading in the same direction. This Cox Plate could easily be a superstar plate with Hartnell in epic form and the arrival of the French horse Vadamoss and add the three year olds in the mix. We could witness a gem of a Cox Plate in a fortnight. 
     I think if Winx is able to win two plates in a row against this field she could be on her way to legendary status but she has to get past these super up and comers. I am sure there could easily be a superstar amongst these three year olds we have in Australia this year and Winx's crown could be under threat. Winx didnt reach her peak until later in her three year old season so anyone of these could be her nemesis . The Queen is under siege ! 

       The Three Year Old Stars

        

      Astern Megadalio Doro out of Exceed and Excel mare

      Star Turn Star Witness out of Made of Gold mare

      Global Glamour Star Witness out of Testa Rossa mare 

      Divine Prophet Choisir out of Encosta De Lago mare

      Yankee Rose All American out of Xaar mare

      Russian Revolution Snitzel out of Stravinsky mare 

      Extreme Choice Not A Single Doubt out of  Hussonet mare 

      Impending Lonrho out of  Encosta de Lago mare

    Astern 

                 

 The Grand Matron Special and her Daughter Fairy Bridge

  Broodmares highlighted this week ! I have a feeling Australia maybe onto a successful formula right now. This double Northern Dancer through Danzigs son Danehill and the connection through that awesome matron Special the mother of Nureyev. Specials daughter Fairy Bridge produced the full brothers by Danzig they are Fairy King and Perugino and was also the mother of  the Northern Dancer stallion, Sadlers Wells . Encosta De Lago is producing a super dynasty at the moment with Chautaqua by Encosta De Lago  out of the Danzig stallion Lion Hunter mare Lovely Jubly . Encosta De Lago was by Fairy King and his full brother Perugino produced Testa Rossa so i think value wise some good Testa Rossa mares could produce just as good horses rather than paying the extra for the Encosta stamp approval.  

Testa Rossa winning Fillies 

International Racing 

 Vyjack sets mile all time record at Santa Anita Park on the weekend with a breakneck speed in front Vyjack sat back to have last crack at them. The Into Mischief six year old Group 2 City of Hope Mile win.