A Group I winner last season at two, talented colt Choice Bro (3c Choisir x Ladidi, by Palace Music) has returned in top form this year winning at his first run back from a spell capturing the $100,000 Karaka Mile RL in New Zealand on Sunday.
Ridden by Jonathon Riddell, the three-year-old shot clear of his rivals in the straight and held off the advances of Single Act and Twilight Granita to win the 1600 metre feature by a length. His trainer John Sargent is looking to take Choice Bro to the Group I New Zealand Derby later in the season.
“He won with a bit of authority last night and he was the class horse of the field winning the Group 1 last season,” said John Sargent. “We have nominated him for the Group 1 New Zealand Derby. I’m not sure if he will stay the 2400 metres but I think he can get away with it against his own age group.”
“He will most likely have just one run between now and the Derby with the middle-distance three-year-old races the most likely options.”
Choice Bro was foaled in Australia and purchased by Gary Mudgway the New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Select Sale for just $50,000.
He now has the overall record of five wins from 11 starts with prizemoney in excess of $300,000.
MUDGE (Gary Mudgway)
Gary Mudgway is a renowned yearling judge and has developed a close affinity with the Choisir progeny having been responsible for selecting STARSPANGLEDBANNER as a yearling for clients to purchase.
CHOISIR has now produced 46 Stakes Winners, 4 are Group 1 Winners and “Mudge” has selected two of them.
Dynamic Syndications employees Mudge as part of our yearling Selection team and he works alongside our veterinarian Dr. Tim Roberts and Dean Watt.
MUDGE & TIMMY are both DYNAMIC
Mudge was adamant when we saw the Choisir ex Carlton Show at the Inglis Classic that this was the right horse for team Dynamic. Tim Roberts agreed that from a veterinary point of view she was an outstanding filly and one of only 3 yearling in total that Dynamic should bid upon at the sale. So no wonder we were ecstatic when being on our MUST HAVE FILLY we thought she was worth $120,000 plus but was knocked down for just $62,000. She was outstanding value.
CHOISIR - CARLTON SHOW Yearling Filly - Lot 172 Inglis Classic Sale
Choisir yearlings averaged over $61,000 in 2012. With the Inglis Classic sale averaging just over $30,000 we thought she was exceptional in the sale and worth 4 times the average of the sale such was her superiority. The fact the stallion stands at a Service Fee of $27,500 suggested at 4 times service fee for a quality filly would be reasonable buying ($110,000). So to obtain her with all the ticks having passed a rigours veterinary inspection including clean x-rays for $62,000 was “cheap as chips.” She was in our opinion the best filly in the sale and far better than just twice the sale average. She was a genuine salering bargain at half price !
As the saying goes: “The harder you work, the luckier you get !”
Mudge checking on one of his buys
We remain convinced we have purchased an absolute spectacular filly and could she could well be our next top class horse to win an Inglis Bonus. More so Mudge remains convinced she is in the same class of a yearling as was STARSPANGLEDBANNER and CHOICE BRO. We know Mudge is a great judge and has an outstanding eye especially for the CHOISIR yearlings. We also knew prior to the sale that this filly was rated on her genetic cross as THE TOP LOT in the BEST OF SALE CATEGORY in the whole Inglis Classic Sale. So, with conformation, veterinary science, genetics on her side and being with the BEST TRAINER in SYDNEY, we hope things pan out well for her and those who will become her lucky owners in the months ahead.