REWARD FOR EFFORT recorded his first
Stakes Winner on Saturday in Melbourne when the
Peter Moody trained colt Gold Symphony won the Group 3 Vain Stakes (1100m) at Caulfield.
Previously a winner at Mornington on debut July 2, Gold Symphony then finished second to the handy Jalan Jalan at Flemington two weeks later.
Ridden by Glen Boss, Gold Symphony raced on pace, 3 wide without cover in a race that turned into a sit and sprint.
In a close finish Gold Symphony out sprinted his rivals to hold out stablemate Top Me Up by a long-neck with Star Planet three-quarters of a length away in third, a nose ahead of Demonstrate.
Moody said he had planned to start the colt last week but the colt had a setback.
"It ended up being a blessing in disguise,” Moody said.
"He hasn’t done a lot on the track for the last couple of weeks and we thought the 1100 might have been a shade short. But it was a messy run race, Glen showed initiative and put him into it and he toughed it out well.”
"We’re not going to be unrealistic and silly in expectations. With the preparation he’s had he’s probably going to be aimed more at the autumn than the spring, while he keeps performing we will have a look at another option, if he pleases us at home.”
It was “a good effort by one of my old horses Reward For Effort (Dynamic Syndications) to get a stakes winner and he is certainly making a name for himself as a stallion.”
REWARD FOR EFFORT - At Stud
Dynamic Syndications purchased Reward For Effort at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Sale as a yearling for $190,000 and Peter Moody polished the colt into a Group 1 winner.
Reward For Effort at the Yearling Sales after Dynamic Syndications purchased him for $190,000
When the stallion retired from racing and was sent to stud, on behalf of several of his co-owners Dean Watt set about buying mares that would genetically work with the son of Exceed And Excel.
“Many of our owners were new to the breeding game and wanted to support their sire.” Watt said.
“Most had restricted financial budgets so we had to work very hard to find the mares required for the exciting new sire. We had champagne tastes on a beer budget” Watt stated.
One of the mares knocked down to Fengood P/L trading as Dean Watt Bloodstock was Tzaress (the Dam of Gold Symphony).
TZARESS
Dean purchased Tzaress “on spec” through the 2011 Inglis Melbourne Great Southern Sale for $13,500 from Wood Nook Farm draft. Long term client Jack Keeley, one of the original co-owners who raced Reward For Effort put up his hand and became the ultimate owner of Tzaress.
Jack Keeley - Raced REWARD FOR EFFORT & now the Breeder of Gr3 Winner GOLD SYMPHONY
Selected by Dean because she was an excellent type and the mating of Exceed And Excel over Stravinsky mares genetically worked so well, the resulting colt was a strong, correct type and an excellent first foal.
Sent to be raised and nurtured at Gary Mudgway’s Grange Thoroughbreds property and taken by Gary through to the 2014 Inglis Premier Yearling sale where he was offered for sale with
a reserve of $100,000 which is the price the colt was sold for in the ring.
Gold Symphony is the first foal of the unraced Tzaress, herself a half-sister to Group 3 AJC Sweet Embrace winner Stripper (Danehill Dancer) who was narrowly beaten by Duporth in the 2008 Golden Rose.
Grand-dam Charming Belle (Imposing) is a half-sister to multiple Group 2 winner Delightful Belle, the dam of Golden Slipper and Newmarket Handicap winner Belle du Jour (Dehere) and also to the dam of Group 1 Goodwood Handicap winner Perfectly Ready (More Than Ready).
Tzaress has been dedicated mare to
Reward For Effort having being covered by the Group 1 Blue Diamond winner in the first four seasons at stud.
She has a 2yo filly (retained by Jack) and a yearling colt and was covered by the son of Exceed And Excel again last season.
Our client has a valuable package of thoroughbreds as a result of Gold Symphony’s Group 3 win and the wonderful job Reward For Effort is doing at stud.
Interestingly, another mare purchased by Dean Watt Bloodstock from the same 2011 Great Southern Sale was Go With The Wind for just $3,500.
GO WITH THE WIND with Dean Watt in background looking at the mare & foal
Another mare purchased “on spec” by Dean Watt Bloodstock for Reward For Effort, she ended up in the ownership of our client George Rassos who was also a co-owner in the racing career of Reward For Effort. The resulting colt was the highest priced yearling sold to date by a Reward For Effort, when it was knocked down to Peter Moody for $170,000 at the 2014 Inglis Melbourne Sale – a very tidy return on investment.
Reward For Effort was the 2014-15 Victorian leading First Season Sire.
He was second on the 2014-15 Australian Active First Season Sires list to Rothesay whose progeny had been running around in Queensland where that sire is based. Beneteau had produced 12 winners but is now deceased.
Reward For Effort has been a highly popular stallion with breeders from the time he retired to Chatswood Stud in 2011. His books have been constantly over the 150 mares.
REWARD FOR EFFORT
His service fee this spring remains unchanged at $11,000 an absolute bargain when compared to his peers and his success.