By Peter Wharton
The record-breaking win of the Captaintreacherous mare Encipher in the $2.1million Eureka has given his son Catch The Fire, who is standing his first season at Somerset Farms for Pete and Chantal Turpin, a substantial shot in the arm.
Catch The Fire, who holds a record of 1:46.8, is the fastest son of this season’s leading Australian three-year-old sire Captaintreacherous at the stud.
The Rocknroll Hanover horse A Rocknroll Dance, Catch A Fire’s studmate at Somerset Farms, is enjoying a banner season with his progeny in Australia.
He has sired 136 individual winners and progeny earnings of $2.83 million so far.
Among his recent winners have been the very smart Curly James, a winner in 1:51.3 at Melton, the Vicbred four-year-old heat winner Solesseo Matuca (1:58), Whereyabinboppin 1:52.2 (Wagga), Mossdale Ben, winner of the Group 3 $38,600 Maurice Holmes Vase at Addington, Hugo George 1:55 and Payton’s Rock 1:55.7 (both Newcastle) and Beat City (Gloucester Park).
Interestingly, A Rocknroll Dance has qualified four runners for this Saturday’s Vicbred two-year-old semi-finals at Melton.
Joining the roster at Somerset Farms this season is the trotting stallion Classic Collection, a 1:54, $625,000-winning son of the great Love You.
Out of the USA and Canadian 2YO Filly of the Year Crys Dream ($1.2million), Classic Collection won the German Breeders Crown and Derby as a three-year-old and four Group races in France.