The production line of Mungrup Stud bred or reared winners continued at an astounding rate over the past week, with eight winners at three race meetings having originated from the Narrikup property in the south of Western Australia.

At Pinjarra last Wednesday, no fewer then five of the nine winners were products of Mungrup Stud.

Du Printemps, Interange, Global Flirt, Steel Bars and Away Ye Go set the trend which was quickly followed by Sleepwalk and Motion Pictures at Belmont Park on Saturday.

Another winner rolled in at Northam on Sunday with Vain Raider a gusty second to Kid Choisir in the Northam Sprint also Mungrup Stud bred galloper.

"We are very proud to have produced the past two Karrakatta Plate winners in Motion Pictures and Gold Rocks" Mungrup Stud principle Gray Williamson told perthracing.com.au

"It was great to win the WA Sires Produce Stakes with Motion Pictures who is taking all before her. With a bit of luck we could have really cleaned up on saturday with Waratah's Secret, Striken and Chin Chin finishing in the money."

"Oratorio the sire of Motion Pictures and Waratah's Secret has his fee set at $33000 this season and is already booked out." Williamson added.

 By Perth Racing.

Please find below a selection of the first Danehill Express crop who are currently weanlings. We are thrilled with how they are turning out, very strong with a lot of scope, which will have them develop into very attractive yearlings.

Pictured: Danehill Express enjoying the Winter sunshine yesterday in his paddock at Mungrup.

Mungrup Stud is able to offer a reduced service fee on the first 20 mares booked into the stallion this season. Please call the office if you would like test matings, or any information on McFlirt.

Mungrup Stud sire Oratorio (Aus) sired his second G2 Karrakatta Plate winner in a row when Motion Pictures flew home to capture Perth's premier juvenile event at Ascot on Saturday. 

Motion Pictures (2f Oratorio - Zabore Loch by Marooned) arrived in the nick of time to defeat Melbourne filly Miss Gai Flyer (Flying Spur). 

Oratorio (Stravinsky) is taking WA by storm.  His first crop filly Gold Rocks won the 2009 Karrakatta and he's now sired 18 winners of 39 races and over $2.06 million.

Oratorio sired the 2010 Karrakatta winner from a nondescript mare who raced around the WA Goldfields for Keith Biggs without any success.  Biggs raced Oratorio to wins in the BTC Tommy Smith Slipper (LR) and Adelaide Magic Millions at two and the MVRC C S Hayes Stakes (G3) as a three year-old.

He has covered over 540 mares in his first five books in WA's Great Southern.  Mungrup studmaster Gray Williamson increased his fee to $11,000 (inc gst) last year.

Motion Pictures is a Northern Thoroughbreds homebred for Don Hammarquist.  He kept the filly after she failed to make $60,000 at the 2009 Perth Magic Millions.  She has now won four races and earned over $426,000.

"I've got three mares in foal to Oratorio and I'm glad I got in early," Hammarquist said after his filly won at Ascot in March.  "It won't be long before Gray bumps up his service fee again!"

Trainer Dave Casey is also a fan of Oratorio.  "He's the State's best sire prospect for many years," Casey stated.  "I had a couple of Oratorio yearlings early on and told anyone with a broodmare that he was the stallion to go to."

Motion Pictures' dam has a Due Sasso yearling colt and a Danehill Express filly foal and is back in foal to Oratorio.

Local Filly Motion Pictures Wins 2010 Karrakatta Plate April 19, 2010 Motion Pictures, trained by David Casey, was the victor at the $500,000 Group 2 Karrakatta Plate (1200m) on Saturday at Perth’s Ascot Racecourse.

The 2010 Karrakatta Plate saw 15 two-year-olds compete for the title, with the Oratorio filly claiming the victory – the second offspring from Oratorio to have done so in two years, after Gold Rocks won the 2009 race.

It was a case of touch-and-go for the winning filly, having to overcome a virus in her lead up to the race – making the victory that much sweeter for the Ascot-based horse.

 Miss Gai Flyer was the favourite heading into the race, and came into the straight leading the pack, but the Peter Moody-trained filly lost out to a gallant Motion Pictures and lost by a neck. Absolute Pleasure, trained by Trevor Andrews rounded out the top three spots, while Riosand disappointed in the gallop, finishing in ninth position after heading into the race with strong odds. Also taking place on Saturday alongside the 2010 Karrakatta Plate was the $250,000 Group 3 Western Australian Oaks (2400m) which saw Impressive Jeuney claim another win.

The locals took the spoils in yesterday's $500,000 Group Two Karrakatta Plate (1200m) at Ascot when star filly Motion Pictures rattled home to beat the favourite Miss Gai Flyer.

Sent out at $3.70 the Peter Moody trained Miss Gai Flyer was being hailed the winner when she skipped clear in the straight, but in a great display of tenacity the Oratorio filly Motion Pictures reeled her in to win by a neck.

The performance completed a remarkable double for the Australian bred Oratorio - meaning with two racing crops racing - he's won the past two Karrakatta Plates.

Motion Pictures is the latest star for the Mungrup Stud based son of Stravinsky - a sire who's taking WA by storm.

A former winner of the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic, Oratorio has already produced the outstanding young prospects Clueless Angel, Gold Rocks, Waratah's Secret and now Motion Pictures - all group winners.

Oratorio's latest star gave renowned horseman Dave Casey his biggest win - amongst hundreds he's achieved particularly throughout the far north of WA.

"It wasn't that long ago and I was getting a trophy in Kununurra so to be here is a big difference."

"I'm speechless!"

"A perfect ride," Casey said. "We left it all up to Troy - but boy what can I say."

"Everyone wrote her off - but last week she gave them a nine length head start and was beaten a length and a quarter."

Casey is a massive fan of the stock of Oratorio and told everyone he knew early on that he was the state's best sire prospect for many years.

"I had a couple of Oratorio yearlings early on and I told anyone with a broodmare that he was the stallion to go to."

"So to win with one today is just sensational."

Winning owner Don Hammarquist is a regular in the winner's stall around the state, but the Karrakatta success is by far his biggest success in racing.

"We identified her early on to be pretty special," Hammarquist said. "And even before this she had proven to be a fair two-year-old."

"This is my first genuine two-year-old and we've come to the top in WA - I'm over the moon."

Hammarquist said he was happy with the way the race unfolded and praised Troy Turner for a copybook ride.

"I loved the position she was in. I was a bit worried when the leader kicked away."

"But it was a real gutsy effort to grind away and wear it down."

Jockey Troy Turner was quietly confident leading into the race and he gave her a perfect ride throughout the state's premier juvenile contest.

"I was really happy with the barrier draw today and I knew she would be hard to beat after that."

"Dave's done a good job to train her on from her (virus) mishap, so I'm really happy."

The win was the second in the Karrakatta Plate for Turner - he won the race aboard Daney Boy in 1995.

"That was a big thrill then - but this tops it!"

Motion Pictures is one of three winners, from three runners, for the city performed Marooned mare Zabore Loch.

Zabore Loch is a daughter of the Zabeel mare Zabori - making her a half sister to the stakes performers Freeroller and Limani.

Further back in the family are Australian Group One winners Strawberry Fair and Barkada and South African stars Taineberry and Jalberry.

As it stands Motion Pictures has raced on six occasions for four wins and two minor placings (both in stakes company) and her earnings sit at $426,000 - not bad for a filly who could have been yours for just $60,000.

Fans of Oratorio will be looking forward to the 2011 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale when the cream of his crop goes under the hammer.

Motion Pictures trained by David Casey and brilliantly ridden by Troy Turner repelled the Victorian raider Miss Gai Flyer to gallantly win the $500,000 Go For 2 & 5 Karrakatta Plate (1200 metres) with another filly Absolute Pleasure back in third place.

David Casey faced a race against time when Motion Pictures contracted a virus but with the help of Ascot veterinarians they were able to get the daughter of Oratorio to the races in peak condition and her grinding win was full of merit.

The Victorian filly Miss Gai Flyer had been heavily supported and when she raced clear after racing outside of the speed throughout, the Karrakatta Plate looked destined to be heading across the Nullarbor.

Turner switched Motion Pictures into the clear and began the task of running down Miss Gai Flyer who attempted to hold out the late challenge but her gallant effort just came up short.

Absolute Pleasure had every chance in third position but her effort was full of merit and made it a clean sweep for the fairer sex in Western Australia's main race for the juveniles.

The inexperienced Friday's Girl was making late ground for fourth and Miss Condition was huge coming from back in the field after tracking wide throughout to be next in ahead of Big Josh the first male home and another to be seen flying home late in the race.

There was a sensation just as the field was to be released when the Fred Kersley trained Cristiano went berserk in the barriers, turning himself around in the stalls and he was eventually released and was deemed a late scratching.

Don Hammerquist from Northern Thoroughbreds owns Motion Pictures and purchased the Oratorio filly on the recommendation of Dave Casey who has been a huge fan of the stock of W.A's latest boon sire.

The win was the second success for Troy Turner in the race, who won his first Karrakatta Plate back in 1995 on Daney Boy and the top jockey continues to have success in the major races on the local calendar.

What they said - "Thanks to Troy for a great ride. I have been a huge fan of Oratorio and this win gives me my biggest thrill." - Dave Casey.

"I own a lot of winners in the bush but to come to Perth and win a race like the Karrakatta Plate is one of the biggest thrills of my racing career." - Don Hammerquist.

"This is my second Karrakatta Plate win but it is by far my best. Thanks to everyone involved especially Dave Casey and Don." - Troy Turner.

Pictured; Gray Williamson walking Oratorio.

The 2010 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sales will be held from the 27th to the 31st of January, where Mungrup Stud will put on offer 16 yearlings by exciting, young Boom sire Oratorio.

Also on offer will be progeny from stallions such as; Due Sasso, Flying Pegasus, Untouchable, Blackfriars, Churchill Downs, Show A Heart, Ferocity, Bel Esprit, Mcflirt, Eternity Range and Comfy.

Mungrup Stud will be presenting an outstanding first crop by Due Sasso, speed son of Scenic at the Magic Millions yearling sales in Januray. 

By Due Sasso, there will be on offer;

Half brothers to Gr 1 winner Kusi, Gr1 winner Shout From Maroof, Clarton Super, Mythical Man, Gabo's Storm, She's In Demand, Pittance, Petite Angel, Mercury Halo.

Half Sisters to Smokey Ireland, Lachino, Vain Raider, Scuffs, Secret Enigma, Eastern Zone, Egomaniac.

Families of Mocassin Bend, Kalatiara, Kentiara, Scuffs, Oratorio, Show A Heart, Arena, Belladiva, Morasco, Light Fantastic.

Also available are 16 lots by boom sire ORATORIO, including a half sister to Mocassin Bend and yearlings from families of Lock The Vault, Scuffs, Climb The Vine, Old Fashion, Beat The Storm, Western Pago etc.

Other stallions represented are; FLYING PEGASUS, BLACKFRIARS, CHURCHILL DOWNS, BEL ESPRIT, UNTOUCHABLE, FEROCITY, COMFY, ETERNITY RANGE and SHOW A HEART.

For enquiries and inspection, please contact us. All yearlings will have photos posted on our sales page.

Trainer Lindsey Smith and winner Clueless Angel after winning the $250,000 Group 2 Sky Racing - WA Guineas over 1600m at Ascot on Saturday

The best of modern day WA breeding is displayed by Guineas victor

The odds were stacked against Clueless Angel in the $250,000 Group 2 Sky Racing-WA Guineas, 1600m, at Ascot on Saturday. There was no doubting her potential: eight starts had yielded five wins and three placings. But her convincing success against fillies in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes, 1400m, on October 31 was 1.3sec. slower than the boys ran in the Listed Fairetha Stakes on the same day. And the State’s best jockey, Paul Harvey, who rode her in the Burgess Queen and rarely misjudges his mounts, preferred Thorn Dancer, an eye-catching Fairetha fourth, for the Guineas. The 2kg fillies’ weight advantage did not appear enough to tip the scales in her favour and help Clueless Angel overcome the challenge. So what enabled her to defy the circumstances, burst through and take the time-honoured Classic from the more fancied Thorn Dancer and The Corporation in a driving finish? Under-rated ability, a steely determination to win and some smart training, obviously. Now add a pedigree that represents some of the best modern day WA racing and breeding has to offer. Clueless Angel, by Oratorio from Petite Angel, by Marooned, and line-bred 3 x 4 to Haulpak, was bred on the 3000 acre Mungrup Stud in the Great Southern and bought by bloodstock agent John Chalmers on behalf of London investment banker Willie West for $130,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. She was later onsold to Yarradale Stud principal Ron Sayers. Oratorio, by Stravinsky from Express a Smile, by Success Express from Hold That Smile, is WA’s boom sire. And fittingly so. For Oratorio has had an outstanding start to his stud career, also coming up with unbeaten three-year-old Waratah’s Secret, unbeaten two-year-old Motion Pictures and Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks in his first two crops, ensuring his high commercial viability. He will serve 120 mares this year and will have a sharp price increase next year. Hold That Smile ranks with WA’s best juveniles, winning the Group 1 Karrakatta Plate, Queen’s Plate, Gimcrack Stakes and Initial Plate from her only starts at two. She is also a full sister to the super talented Carry A Smile, who won at 12 of 17 starts, including the Winterbottom Stakes, Lee-Steere Stakes, Prince Of Wales Stakes, R.S. Crawford Handicap and Waratah Quality Stakes. Carry A Smile was not overly successful at stud, getting 173 winners at 61.1 per cent and seven stakes winners at 2.5 per cent. Stravinsky, the champion European sprinter, was able to ‘awaken’ the family through electric ability and a ‘modern day’ performing pedigree. Stravinsky, currently at Sir Patrick Hogan’s Cambridge Stud in New Zealand, is by Nureyev (463 winners at 78.3 per cent and 131 stakes winners at 22.2 per cent) from the US Group 1 winner Fire The Groom, by Blushing Groom (259 winners at 73.2 per cent and 82 stakes winners at 23.2 per cent) from Prospector’s Fire, by Mr Prospector (630 winners at 77.1 per cent and 159 stakes winners at 19.5 per cent). This significant genetic boost enabled Oratorio to become a tough racetrack performer and, far more significantly, has given him the ability to upgrade mares at stud. Petite Angel descends from a most successful family founded by her third dam, So Stunning, who I purchased on behalf of Robert Holmes a Court, who bred and raced both Hold That Smile and Carry A Smile, at the historic Tattersall’s Yearling Sale in Newmarket, England. Holmes a Court wanted traditional English-bred staying fillies that could complement his speed-line stallions (at the same sale I also purchased Colour Me Red, the dam of Group 1 Australian Cup winner Starstruck, and Gala Night, the dam of Group 1 Beyer Classic winner Al Akbar). So Stunning, by the English Derby-Irish Derby winner Shirley Heights, was placed with Ian Balding, trainer of the legendary Mill Reef, the sire of Shirley Heights. Tall and powerfully built, So Stunning showed enough on the fabulous Park House Stable gallops at Berkshire for Balding to declare her a future feature race winner. She was injured and retired to Heytesbury Stud, Keysbrook. So Stunning’s first foal, Bonus, named because she was one of the great Haulpak’s last stock, won twice and was the dam of Mogul (Easter Stakes) and Springtime Gold (Italian Festival Handicap) before producing Petite Angel, a city winner at 1400m. So Stunning had another six foals to race. They all won and included Old Nick (Group 1 Fruit ’n’ Veg Stakes and WA Guineas), Lady Belvedere (Colonel Reeves Stakes, Australia Day Stakes and Sheila Gwynne Stakes) and Lady Belgrave (Gimcrack Stakes). And let’s not forget Marooned’s contribution to this success story. The Sydney Cup winner, by Mill Reef, was an unsung hero of WA breeding, getting 172 winners at 68 per cent and 17 stakes winners at 6.7 per cent, including Hardrada, Island Morn and Red Eye Special. He’s also the broodmare sire of 142 winners at 65.1 per cent and 16 stakes winners at 7.3 per cent, including Miss Andretti, Special Harmony, Danny Beau and Redwoldt. • Thirty-eight horses from the Overbrook Farm dispersal in Kentucky have sold for $20,957,500. Top price of $3.1 million was paid by France’s Wertheimer brothers for the four-year-old mare Honest Pursuit, a dual winner of $96,985 with no Black Type. She is by Storm Cat from Group 1 winner Honest Lady and a half-sister to Group 1 winner First Defence. Her grand-dam is the Juddmonte Stud matriarch Toussaud, the dam of four Group 1 winners. • Eleven-year-old Azeri, the 2002 US Horse of the Year and from the Australian-bred Zodiac Miss, sold for $2.25 million during Kentucky’s November Breeding Stock Sale to Japan’s Northern Farm. • Four time Group 1 winner Mastercraftsman has been retired and will stand alongside his sire, Danehill Dancer, at Coolmore Stud, Ireland. 

JAY ROONEY, The West Australian

November 15, 2009..

Gutsy filly Clueless Angel boosted her future broodmare potential with a thrilling win in the $250,000 Sky Racing WA Guineas (1600m) at Ascot. A brilliant last-start winner of the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m), Clueless Angel will be spelled immediately after her stunning win in the Group 2 Guineas, ruling out a tilt at the $500,000 Go For 2&5 Kingston Town Classic (1800m) on December 5. The daughter of sire sensation Oratorio was purchased by bloodstock manager John Chalmers for $130,000 at last year's Perth yearling sale for a UK client, but was later on sold to leading breeder Ron Sayers. She was the highest priced yearling from the first crop of Oratorio at the sales. The Lindsey Smith-trained three-year-old gave Alan Kennedy, who recently out-rode his apprentice's claim, the biggest victory of his promising career. Clueless Angel ($9) gained a split and motored home to defeat race favourite Thorn Dancer ($4) by a head with The Corporation ($4.20) a further neck away third. Top jockey Paul Harvey was on board Clueless Angel in the Burgess Queen win, but opted to pilot Thorn Dancer instead in the Guineas. "It's a great thrill to win it for Ronny," Smith said. "She spent a week down at the ocean (after the Burgess Queen), freshened up good and then I went at her again and she found more again. "That's what helped her in the last little bit. "She'll come back maybe for the Champion Fillies and then I'd say she'd go to stud next year." In other news, Elliotto gained a start in next Saturday's $1 million Carlton Draught Railway Stakes (1600m) with a solid win in the $125,000 RJ Peters Stakes (1500m). A fast-finishing runner-up to Kasabian in the Asian Beau Stakes (1400m), Elliotto had always been restricted to short-course sprints but trainer Neville Parnham said he was always confident the five-year-old would improve over further ground. "I thought he'd eventually get over more ground. He's a close relation to a Kalgoorlie Cup winner," Parnham said. The State's premier trainer Parnham will have two leading hopes in the Railway with Elliotto joining Tarzi, an impressive last-start second to Idyllic Prince in the Lee-Steere Stakes (1400m). The Hay List bubble burst in the $200,000 Colonel Reeves Stakes (1100m) after the star sprinter pulled up lame when sixth in the feature. The loss was Hay List's first from nine starts and trainer Jim Taylor all but ruled him out of the $500,000 Winterbottom Stakes (1200m) in a fortnight. "He wasn't himself today. He'll probably go for a break, he's been up a long time," Taylor said.

By ROBERT EDWARDS, The West Australian November 20, 2009, 7:44 a

Buyers will be keen to get their hands on the stock of boom Mungrup Stud-based stallion Oratorio in January's Perth Magic Yearling Sale at Belmont Park. Oratorio has taken WA racing by storm with his son Waratah's Secret making a whitewash of the new season's four three-year-old feature events at Ascot. Waratah's Secret won the Belgravia Stakes (1200m) and Fairetha Stakes (1400m), while Oratorio's daughter, Clueless Angel, won the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) and last Saturday's WA Guineas (1600m). Clueless Angel was the dearest Oratorio yearling at $130,000 last year. Oratorio has a total of 28 yearlings - 16 colts and 12 fillies - entered for Perth's premier sale, which has a catalogue of 630 yearlings and runs over five days at the sales complex from January 27-31. Mungrup will present a draft of 40 yearlings, including the stock of first-season Scenic stallion Due Sasso. Other first-season stallions will be Saxon, Flying Pegasus and Natural Blitz.

ANGEL NABS GUINEAS FOR AUSSIE ORATORIO

Clueless Angel confirmed her status as one of the star three-year-olds of the country with a courageous win in the Group Two $252,000 Western Australian Guineas (1600m) at Ascot on Saturday. In continuing the outstanding run for Mungrup Stud based stallion Oratorio, Clueless Angel earned herself a well deserved spell with her latest stakes victory. Winning trainer Lindsey Smith was proud of the effort of the locally bred, sold and owned filly. "It was a good, courageous win," Smith said moments after the victory. "I thought when that horse headed her we might have been going to run second." "But she's always been a fighter and she showed it again today." Smith said it was an honour to win the Guineas for the filly's owner, leading WA breeder and businessman Ron Sayers. "It's a good bloke who owns it - he's a better bloke than this horse is a horse. He's a champion bloke and it's a great thrill to win for Ronny." Connections said the filly would head for a deserved spell following back to back stakes successes. "That's definitely it," Smith confirmed. "She'll probably come back for something like the Champion Fillies (Stakes) and I'd say she'd probably go to stud next year." For Sayers the win meant plenty. "Lindsey has done a fantastic job with this horse. The horse has been up for 45 weeks off and on - the horse has never left his stable." "The unfortunate thing was I didn't breed it, I had to buy it." Clueless Angel ($9) found enough under the urgings of Alan Kennedy to get up and beat the favourite Thorn Dancer ($4 fav) by a head. In a driving finish The Corporation ($4.20) was a further short head back in third place. Clueless Angel, purchased from the Perth Sale by renowned bloodstock agent John Chalmers, is the highest priced yearling by Oratorio sold at auction, so far. She was knocked down for $130,000 - a bargain price considering she's already earned over $300,000 and her worth as a broodmare prospect is anyone's guess. Clueless Angel is one of two winners from her dam - the city winning Marooned mare Petite Angel. A winner at 1400 metres, Petite Angel is a half sister to two stakes performers including the Group Three Easter Stakes winner Mogul. Also in the family, one of Western Australia's best, are the likes of Group One winner Old Nick and his stakes winning half sisters Lady Belvedere and Lady Belgrave. A half brother to Clueless Angel by exciting young Scenic stallion Due Sasso is set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. The colt will be offered by Mungrup Stud and he has been catalogued as lot number 190.

Another second-season stallion enjoyed a big day last Saturday

- Oratorio (Aus). The West Australian-based son of Stravinsky,

Oratorio, dominated the big Ascot program.

His unbeaten fl ying machine Waratah's Secret made it four wins

from as many starts with another all-the-way victory in the listed

Fairetha Stakes (1400m), having notched his fi rst stakes win in

the Belgravia two weeks earlier.

And in the three-year-old fi llies' division, the Burgess Queen

Stakes-LR, Oratorio made it a one-two fi nish when Clueless Angel

scored by a half length over Dawinner.

A member of the Lindsey Smith stable, and, like Waratah's Secret,

ridden by Paul Harvey, Clueless Angel gave one of Western

Australia's biggest thoroughbred breeders reason to celebrate.

Carrying the green with gold horse head colours of Ron Sayers's

Yarradale Stud, the fi lly took her record to fi ve wins from eight starts

and sent her prizemoney earnings past $130,000.

Clueless Angel is one of two winners from her dam - the citywinning

Marooned mare Petite Angel.

A winner at 1400 metres, Petite Angel is a half sister to two

stakes performers including the Group 3 Easter Stakes winner

Mogul.

Also in the family, one of Western Australia's best, are Group 1

winner Old Nick and his stakes-winning half sisters Lady Belvedere

and Lady Belgrave.

In another update for the Magic Millions company, a half brother

to Clueless Angel by exciting young Scenic stallion Due Sasso

is set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions

Perth yearling sale.

The colt will be offered by Mungrup Stud and he has been

catalogued as lot number 190.

Oratorio, a winner of four races for Lee Freedman in Melbourne

before retiring to stud in WA, is based at Mungrup Stud and is

standing this season for $11,000.

Not to be confused with Coolmore's Irish-bred Danehill stallion

of the same name, the Stravinsky stallion has been hugely popular

with WA breeders, covering books of 86, 104, 90 and 115 in his

four seasons to date.

With the WA Guineas seemingly at the mercy of Waratah's

Secret, and further riches in store for his fillies, his popularity will only grow.

Carrying the familiar colours of Ron Sayers' Yarradale Stud, Clueless Angel delighted favourite punters when she got home first in the feature fillies event.

A member of the Lindsey Smith stable, Clueless Angel is as it stands - the highest priced youngster by WA based sire Oratorio sold at auction.

Offered by Mungrup Stud, Clueless Angel was sold for $130,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Smith said he was surprised with the lack of speed in the race.

"It was a bit of a different race. I thought there would be a lot of pace on and there was nil."

"She got into a bit of a traffic jam at the 600 to 700 and Paul (Harvey) had to get going."

Connections have a good opinion of the nicely bred daughter of Oratorio and they knew she was the horse to beat in the Burgess Queen Stakes.

"This is the fittest I've had her this time around."

"It was a nice effort from a filly that has a good dam line and is by an exciting sire."

It appears likely that Clueless Angel will head to the paddock for a deserved break following her breakthrough stakes victory.

"It seems to be, but Ron will make the final decision," Smith said. "We'll put the horse first and just see how she comes through the race."

"She's only had a couple of weeks off in about ten months - she's very tough and done a great job."

Clueless Angel ($2.50 fav) got home to beat fellow Oratorio filly Dawinner ($21) by a half length.

Another three parts of a length back in third place was Hurricane Sky filly Avante ($17).

The latest win was the fifth from just eight runs for Clueless Angel. Yet to miss a place, she's earned renowned WA breeder and businessman Ron Sayers an ever increasing $142,230.

Clueless Angel is one of two winners from her dam - the city winning Marooned mare Petite Angel.

A winner at 1400 metres, Petite Angel is a half sister to two stakes performers including the Group Three Easter Stakes winner Mogul.

Also in the family, one of Western Australia's best, are the likes of Group One winner Old Nick and his stakes winning half sisters Lady Belvedere and Lady Belgrave.

A half brother to Clueless Angel by exciting young Scenic stallion Due Sasso is set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

The colt will be offered by Mungrup Stud and he has been catalogued as lot number 190.

While the margin wasn't as big as those he recorded at his first three outings - the performance was just as impressive.

Connections resolved from the race that the star three-year-old would not be pushed out to a mile for the WA Guineas and instead his future racing would be restricted to sprinting distances.

"I think he's a super horse," Harrison said. "He's done well today."

"Perhaps Paul (Harvey) is right and he won't get the mile."

"We'll probably have to change plans. The Guineas is out of the question now."

Like he had in his previous three wins Waratah's Secret showed speed throughout and he also stopped the clock in slick time.

Connections know they have a serious racehorse on their hands.

"He's ran time again and you can't do anymore than win - so it's all good," Harrison stated.

"He's obviously a high class sprinter so we'll probably keep him to that."

In the run to the line Waratah's Secret ($1.35 fav) had a long neck to spare over The Corporation ($15).

Rounding out a Magic Millions trifecta was former sale topper Dino Mak ($31), who was another half length back.

Waratah's Secret, who is from a Zabeel mare, was purchased by David Harrison for just $43,000 at the 2008 Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

From his four wins from as many starts he's already his connections $136,900.

Oratorio, an Australian bred son of Stravinsky and the sire of Waratah's Secret, was a former top class juvenile who won feature races in numerous states including the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.

Prepared by Hall of Fame horseman Lee Freedman he trained on at three to win the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes at Moonee Valley.

His freshman crop, two last season and of which Waratah's Secret is a member, has done a remarkable job already and he looks destined for a bright future at stud.

A race prior to Waratah's Secret's success he had the first and second placegetters in the listed Burgess Queen Stakes - Clueless Angel and Dawinner.

An outstanding selection of yearlings by the sire are set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.

Speedy stallion and a staying mare has Waratah's Secret headed for riches

It's a tried and true theory as old as thoroughbred breeding itself. Put a speed-bred stallion to a staying-bred mare.
   The aim is simple: To produce a racehorse with a combination of qualities that enables it to perform with distinction in the lucrative 1600m-2000m range.
   And it appears to have worked again with the highly-exciting three-year-old Waratah's Secret.
   After two easy Lark Hill barrier trial wins, Waratah's Secret rocketed to a six-length first-up 1000m success at the Belmont Park mid week fixture on August 19.
   He followed up with a 6 3 /4-length demolition of the Westspeed 3YO Handicap, 1300m, at Belmont Park on Saturday, when never let go by ace jockey Paul Harvey.
   Granted, Waratah's Secret, a $43,000 purchase by trainer David Harrison at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, has only beaten mediocre opposition.
   But he has acheived this with such authority and oozes such class it would be brave to suggest a super future does not lay ahead.
   Waratah's Secret is by Mungrup Stud's ever emerging newcomer Oratorio from the New Zealand mare Blissfully, by Zabeel, and is line-bred 3 x 4 to Nureyev, who won at two of his only three runs in France and then became a champion sire with 131 stakes winners at 22.2 per cent.
   Oratorio, by Stravinsky from Express A Smile, by Success Express, was a tough, quickly maturing juvenile winning four times, from 1000m to 1200m, taking the Group 3 C.S. Hayes Stakes and Listed St Albans Stakes in Melbourne, Listed Tommy Smith Slipper in Brisbane and Magic Millions 2YO Classic in Adelaide.
   He was a natural for stud in speed-conscious WA.
   Stravinsky was the champion European sprinter with wins in the Group 1 July Cup at Newmarket and Group 1 Nunthorpe Stakes at York. Success Express led all the way in the Group 1 US Breeders' Cup Juvenile at Hollywood Park.
   Oratorio's dam line descends from Heytesbury Stud's grand Silver Knight mare, Silver Smile, the dam of Carry A Smile and Hold That Smile.
   Ted Martinovich trained Carry A Smile and Hold That Smile to both become WATC Horses of the Year. Carry A Smile won at 12 of 17 starts, including the Group 2 Winterbottom Stakes, Group 2 Lee-Steere Stakes, Group 3 Prince Of Wales Stakes, Listed R.S. Crawford Stakes and Burswood Champion Breeders' Stakes while Hold That Smile was unbeaten in four runs at two years, taking the Group 1 Karrakatta Plate, Group 3 Queen's Plate, Listed Gimcrack Stakes and Initial Plate.
   This is a seemingly ideal genetic recipe to slow cook in the staying pot. For, as successful as it has been, there was a lack of ability to win quality races beyond sheer sprint distances.
   And there is no staying sire in Australasia to match Cambridge Stud's evergreen Zabeel.
   Zabeel, by Sir Tristram and a half-brother to Group 1 Australian Guineas winner Baryshnikov, descends from the female line of Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Detriot, her son, Carnegie, who also took the ‘Arc' and dual Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Gildoran.
   Zabeel's seven wins, from 1200m to 2040m, was also highlighted by the Group 1 Australian Guineas. Kiwi breeding maestro Sir Patrick Hogan sought Zabeel to continue the Sir Tristram dynasty and he has not been disappointed.
   Sir Tristram, by English Derby-Washington DC International winner Sir Ivor, ended with a career record of 1213 named foals for 999 starters (82.4 per cent), 685 winners (68.6 per cent) and 130 stakes winners (13 per cent).
   Zabeel's current figures are 1414 named foals for 1120 starters (79.2 per cent), 801 winners (71.5 per cent) and 121 stakes winners (10.8 per cent).
   Waratah's Secret's dam line also features a speed/stamina mix.
   Big race performers include Blazing Saddles (eight wins, 900m-1200m, Blue Diamond Stakes, Maribyrnong Plate, Black Opal Stakes), Impede (seven wins, 1200m-1900m, Storm Queen Stakes, Surround Stakes), Boasting (nine wins, 1000m-1200m, Liverpool City Cup twice), Gabfest (six wins, 1100m-1400m, Epona Stakes), Research (nine wins, 1100m-2500m, AJC Derby and Oaks, VRC Oaks, Flight Stakes), Colour Page (nine wins, 1200m-2500m, Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Sandown Cup, Hill Stakes, Prime Minister's Cup, Rosehill Cup), Big Colony (10 wins, 1400m-2000m, Mornington Cup), Rockabye (seven wins, 1100m-1400m, Dalgety Stakes) and In Top Swing (10 wins, 1200m-3200m, Queensland Cup).
   Few factors are proven in the increasingly scientific, but still inexact, world of thoroughbred breeding. The speed/stamina cross, or one done in reverse, is among them.
   barry@vanguardpress.com.au

The West Australian ©

Serpentine trainer David Harrison is excited about the prospects of Sir Hallowell joining stablemate Waratah's Secret as one of WA racing's new rising stars when he steps out at Belmont Park tomorrow.

Sir Hallowell will tackle a strong field of three-year-olds in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1200m) and has much to live up to following Harrison's declaration of Waratah's Secret being a "superstar" following his two victories from as many starts.

The Oratorio gelding created a big impression when winning by a combined 12 � lengths in a pair of dominant displays at Belmont and Harrison is confident he has a massive future ahead.

"He's having a couple of weeks let-up and will come back for the lead-ups heading to the WA Guineas," Harrison said.

"We'll keep stepping him up in distance and see how far he goes.

"The Guineas and Kingston Town Classic are options if he gets the mile, if not we could back off and set him for sprints, possibly over east down the track."

The $250,000 WA Guineas (1600m), run at Ascot on November 14, is also the main target for Sir Hallowell.

At his only race start earlier this year at Ascot, Sir Hallowell stormed home from last to run fourth behind Kid Choisir in the Supremacy Stakes (1100m), recording the fastest final 600m of the race.

The More Than Ready colt returned with an eye-catching trial performance at Lark Hill, sitting just off the speed before cruising to a 2 � lengths win over One Talk in a 930m heat.

Harrison also has Hallowell Express and debutant Jimmy's Toil set to start in the 1200m race which features the likes of Sires Produce Stakes winner God Has Spoken, Jacks Or Better Plate winner Bridgestone, impressive debut winners Morant and Power Princess and the undefeated Angelic Heart.

"Sir Hallowell's the best of my three runners on his first-up run," Harrison said.

"He still has a lot to learn and it should be a good test against a strong field.

"He has a heap of talent. He's not fully wound up and it should be a nice conditioning race for him, but he'll still run well."

Sir Hallowell will also benefit from the addition of blinkers and top jockey Paul Harvey in the saddle.

Harrison said Hallowell Express wasn't suited when taking a sit last start and will be allowed to roll forward, while Jimmy's Toil is still learning and will benefit from the experience of his first race start.

Harrison also has last start winner Goldy Junior set for the Ascot Vale Estate Handicap (1200m) and Kenbon engaged in the perthracing.com.au Handicap (1300m).

"Goldy Junior won last start and winning form's good form," he said.

"Kenbon was OK first-up but might struggle against a solid field."

Kalgoorlie Miner / Travis Anderson ©

Veteran sprinter McLurch caused a boilover when claiming the $130,000 Kalgoorlie Diamonds Hannan's Handicap (1400m) in an epic three-way finish.

The David Harrison-trained McLurch ($14) downed Oroya Gold ($10) by a long head with a further short neck back to Tudor Lad, who was well supported at $4.

McLurch, ridden by 62-year-old jockey Danny Miller, came from near the tail of the field on the turn to win in an uncharacteristic performance as the seven-year-old is a noted pacesetter.

The victory was Miller's fourth in the Kalgoorlie feature and he has strong claims to land the Hannan's-Kalgoorlie Cup double when he pilots Dante's Banquet in the cup on Saturday.

McLurch Wins Hannan's Handicap
WA's Mungrup Stud stallion McFlirt (Kaapstad-Irish Flirt, by McGinty) added a black-type success when 7YO gelding McLurch (McFlirt-Raw Flyer, by Belele) gained the judge's decision in a 3-way photo-finish to yesterday's $130,000 Listed Hannan's Handicap (1400m) at Kalgoorlie in Western Australia. McLurch (ridden by Danny Miller for trainer David Harrison) scored by a long-head from 6YO gelding Oroya Gold (Scenic-Stellare, by Bletchingly) with a further short-halfhead to favoured 5YO gelding Tudor Lad (Canny Lad-Gay Tudor, by Polish Patriot). McLurch now has 11 wins & 8 placings from 35 starts for $344,920 earnings. More at http://www.breedingracing.com

For More on Danny Millers Ride go to http://www.perthracing.com.au/news.aspx?ContentID=12994

While the attention of most racegoers was centred on the meetings from Flemington and Randwick on Saturday it was the performance of a lightly raced Perth three-year-old that was the day's best anywhere in the country.

Waratah's Secret is his name - and he's certainly a secret no more.

The son of Oratorio, who cost his trainer David Harrison $43,000 at last year's Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, treated his rivals in the Westspeed 3YO Handicap (1300m) with contempt, winning by six and three quarter lengths.

Sent out the odds on favourite after a stunning six length debut win at the same track, Waratah's Secret emerged as WA racing's next star when he won with a "leg in the air".

Harrison, who's had numerous top class gallopers over his career, has no doubts his latest star performer is of the highest quality.

"I think he's a superstar this horse," Harrison stated. "How far in distance he will go, I don't know."

"We'll just weight up whether I give him a break now or head him to the Guineas."

"I will more than likely give him a break and come back for the (Summer) Carnival I would say."

"I don't want to drive him mad for his first prep."

"He's learning all the time and the world is his oyster. Hopefully he will keep improving."

"It's hard to weigh them up until they stop improving and let's hope he doesn't."

Paul Harvey, who partnered Waratah's Secret to victory on Saturday, paid the exciting performer a great compliment.

"I wish they were all like that," the champion Perth jockey said.

Oratorio, an Australian bred son of Stravinsky and the sire of Waratah's Secret, was a former top class juvenile who won feature races in numerous stakes including the Magic Millions Adelaide 2YO Classic.

Trained by Hall of Fame horseman Lee Freedman he trained on at three to win the Group Three CS Hayes Stakes at Moonee Valley.

His freshman crop, two last season and of which Waratah's Secret is a member, has done a remarkable job already and he looks destined for a bright future at stud.

An outstanding selecting of yearlings by the sire are set to go under the hammer at January's 2010 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.  

We are very excited to report that the first foal of Danehill Express' first crop has been born. It is a filly from the Group One placed South African mare Silver Empire. She is a beauty!

Keep your eyes on our website for more foal photos to come...

Our first foal of the year arrived three weeks premature, a striking Due Sasso colt from mare Chanti Dilune. A precocious and cheeky foal, he is typical of the nice types Due Sasso is throwing.

If a horse can be spurred to success by the frantic, comical jumping and shrieking of its owners, four-yearold gelding Jackson Avenue is ensured an illustrious career. The horse has raced into the history books after being leased by Aboriginal corporation Ngarluma Yindjibarndi Foundation on behalf of its 1200 members. Veteran Roebourne trainer Martin Hughes said yesterday he had never heard of 1200 people owning a horse — the norm was about eight. The corporation asked him three months ago to source and train a horse in an effort to get people back to the races. He found Jackson Avenue through friends in Perth and deemed the strong, big boned horse suitable for North-West racing conditions. “He will race in the Aboriginal colours and bring people together,” Hughes said. It was a chance for Aboriginal families across WA to come together and share the excitement of race day. “They are the original horseback riders for stockmen in Australia and that has faded away over the years as motorbikes and planes have come into it,” Hughes said. He said Jackson Avenue, which has been placed twice in Bunbury, would run a good, honest race at the Nor-West Jockey Club meeting next Saturday. Part-owners Stephen Adams and Donny Walker said Jackson Avenue was the first race horse they had owned. The men, both riders, were looking forward to the race. NYF chief executive Evan Maloney said Jackson Avenue would be the first Roebourne-owned horse. It would represent the corporation and the people of Roebourne. He would like to change its name to Ieramugadu, the Aboriginal word for Roebourne.

Jackson Avenue is by Stormy's Son from mare Disarming Lady, bred at Mungrup Stud

NEW!   TO SEE STALLION VIDEOS, CLICK ON THE VIDEOS TAB ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE.

Julio Santarelli

March 30, 2009 11:45am

SATURDAY'S Group 2 Karrakatta Plate win by Gold Rocks was a triumph of precision and planning from Gelorup trainer Peter Giadresco.

MUNGRUP STUD - SERVICE FEES 2009.

Mungrup Stud are pleased to announce their roster and service fees for the coming 2009 season. A roster of great variety, not only in pedigree but importantly, price range. We certainly believe we have a stallion that will not only suit your mare, but also your budget.

Your decision on stallion selection in the coming months will have a major factor on your results in either the sale ring in 2012 or the racing seasons beyond.

We have pleasure in offering to you for the coming 2009 Breeding season:

DANEHILL EXPRESS (Danehill): 2009 Fee - $13,200 (incl GST).

The fee for DANEHILL EXPRESS remains unchanged for the coming season. In his first season at stud in 2008, DANEHILL EXPRESS the impressive looking Stakes winning, Group 1 performed son of DANEHILL covered a quality book of 136 mares. One of the finest books ever achieved in WA to a first season sire, his book included the dams of 5 Group 1 winners. Pedigree, Performance, Presence, he has it all.............A great commercial prospect!

ORATORIO (Stravinsky): 2009 Fee - $11,000 (incl GST).

One of the hottest young sires to step foot in WA in many years, the speed son of Stravinsky has been a dominant force with his first crop racing this season siring the 2009 Karrakatta Plate winner GOLD ROCKS. Currently sitting third (at time of writing) on the Australian First Season Sires Table behind Charge Forward (2008 Fee $22,500) and Fastnet Rock (2008 Fee $75,000) and ahead of the likes of Al Maher ($35,000), Elvstroem ($35,000) and Shamardal ($40,000).

Selling up to $120,000 at this year's sales and averaging over $37,000, ORATORIO, a sound choice for your mare this season. (Book limited to 90 mares in 2009).

DUE SASSO (Scenic): 2009 Fee - $5,500 (incl GST).

DUE SASSO returns to Mungrup this coming season where he stood his first season in 2007. DUE SASSO stood last season at Touchstone Farm by arrangement and has covered over 150 mares in his first two seasons at stud. Having covered over 150 mares in his first two seasons, this gives him an even greater chance of success.

By possibly the finest stallion to have ever stood in WA - SCENIC, DUE SASSO possessed great early speed being a Group winning 2 year old. An outstanding looker himself, DUE SASSO has produced some wonderful looking foals which we can't wait to offer at the sales in 2010. Looking for value? Look no further!! Book Now!!

McFLIRT (Kaapstad): 2009 Fee - $3,300 (incl GST).  

In 2009 McFLIRT stands at a reduced fee and makes him simply outstanding value! McFLIRT could be described as a great "bread and butter" stallion, a stallion who gives you a great return on investment.

Week in week out, McFLIRT continues to produce winner after winner and has produced the likes of Lachino ($200,000), Sleepwalk ($144,000), McLurch ($190,000), McBuster ($180,000) and so many other top money earners. Yearlings by McFLIRT sold to $31,000 in 2009 and at this year's reduced fee makes him wonderful value.

Perth's Magic Millions Westspeed Yearling Sale last weekend was dominated by Mungrup Stud sire Oratorio.
Magic Millions catalogued 361 lots on Friday and Saturday and five of the top six lots were by the Australian bred son of Stravinsky whose first crop includes G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Gold Rocks.
Ascot Bloodstock topped the sale when paying $30,000 for the Oratorio colt from the Perth winner Flaming Caro.  A Metal Storm mare, she has already produced winners by Mungrup sires Eternity Range and Right Wing.
The Oratorio filly from Vain mare Vanite was next on the leader board at $27,000.  She is a half-sister to three winners including Perth juvenile Royal Reuben (Rubition).  Magic Millions (as agent) bought the filly who hails from the family of Vain's Golden Slipper winner Sir Dapper.
WA buyers Ron O' Malley and Paul Jordan also purchased Oratorio yearlings for $21,000 and $20,000 respectively.
Trainer Joe Miller also paid $20,000 for a Bletchley Park colt from Star Way mare Tudor Lassie (NZ).  The dam is a half-sister to WA Oaks winners India's Dream (Western Symphony) and Hasty Departure (Red Anchor).

Magic Millions Perth Bloodstock Sale last Sunday was topped by Heytesbury Stud mare Body Corporate.  She sold to Magic Millions (as agent) for $60,000.
Body Corporate is an 8yo Second Empire mare who was served by Husson Lightning last year.  She is a winning half-sister to G2 NSW Roman Consul winner Denmarket (Lord Dane) and Rangeview Stud sire Key Business (Success Express).
The Sale was highlighted by a reduction of stock owned by Bob Peters.  His unraced Commands filly Concert Hall sold for $55,000 to Elva Van Merwyk.  The filly is from an unraced sister to G1 Australian Cup winner Old Comrade.
Four year-old gelding Radiant Prince (Tribu) was sold to local trainer Branko Rudez for $40,000.  Radiant Prince has won three races and is a son of LR Sheila Gwynne Stakes winner Society Miss (Old Spice).

Scenic sire DUE SASSO, will stand at Mungrup Stud again in the 2009 season. DUE SASSO spent his first season in 2007 at Mungrup Stud and has since had a very special group of foals born. We are delighted to have him back here again after a season at Touchstone Farm.

DUE SASSO is by prolific sire of the moment SCENIC, who more notably sired recent WA superstar Scenic Blast.

DUE SASSO'S service fee is set at $5500 incl. GST for 2009.

Take a look at the entire Mungrup Stud draft for the Westspeed Select yearling sale. Just click on the HORSE SALES tab on this site...

The Magic Millions Westspeed Select yearling sale will take place on the 3rd and 4th of April at the Belmont Sales Complex, Perth.

Please contact the stud for information or a private inspection of our draft.

Mungrup Stud stallions are flying the flag on the leading WA sires lists, especially ORATORIO who tops the WA leading 2yo sires list and the Leading first crop sires list.      

 WA LEADING 2 YO SIRES BY EARNINGS

1. ORATORIO (NUMBER 5 IN AUSTRALIA)
2. HELENUS
3. BLACKFRIARS
4. VAIN RANCHER
5. BLETCHELY PARK
6. VISCOUNT
7. HURRICANE SKY
8. ZVENTSOV STREET
9. STATE CITY
10. MCFLIRT
11. POLIUTO
12. COMFY

     LEADING FIRST CROP SIRES

1. ORATORIO
2. STATE CITY
3. COMFY

One sale down, one to go...

The month of February saw the 2009 Perth Premier Yearling Sale come and go with a mixture of results for most concerned. The downturn in the economy had an effect here in WA with the average price down slightly and the turnover down also.

The sale did prove however, that even in tough times, the buyers were still prepared to pay for a quality product. They eagerly sought out yearlings that were by a well credentialed sire, with a nice family and from nurseries noted for producing winners. These are all important components that breeders need to consider, as we look ahead at our future matings and approach what may be a few more years of tougher sales. On the bright side though, the Mungrup sired and bred youngsters were very well received and returned great averages and results.

The first and only crop of the ill fated PEARL OF LOVE stole the show at this years sales with great competition on the progeny of the Group 1 winning son of Peintre Celebre. Of the 18 lots offered by PEARL OF LOVE  17 were sold at an average of just over $45,000 with the top lot selling for $105,000.

Not to be outdone, Mungrup resident sire ORATORIO, was again popular in 2009. A real hit amongst the trainers purchased one in 2008, the progeny of ORATORIO sold up to $120,000 at the 2009 sales, returning an average price of over $37,000 - over 7 times service fee!! Another interesting statistic for ORATORIO is, that of his 35 lots offered, 33 found new homes which is testament to the popularity of the stock of the speed son of Stravinsky.

With just under a month remaining until the Westspeed Select Magic Millions Yearling Sale, we look forward to offering another 25 yearlings by a variety of sires including PEARL OF LOVE, ORATORIO, McFLIRT, STORMY'S SON, COMFY, ETERNITY RANGE and others. We welcome your inspection at any time and look forward to seeing you at the sales.

Photos of the lots on offer at the Westspeed Select sale will be posted on our website in the near future.

2009 matings

We eagerly await the upcoming Perth Autumn Racing Carnival in the weeks ahead, where we will see the states major 2 and 3 year old races conducted. This includes the Gr2 Karrakatta Plate  where ORATORIO has seven 2 year olds nominated(twoare amongst the top half dozen qualifiers) including unbeaten filly Gold Rocks who looks set to have a great chance.  

DANEHILL EXPRESS will be commencing his second year at stud in 2009. There was great interest in this son of Danehill resulting in him covering a book of 136 mares in his first year, almost half of which are Stakesperformers or the dams of Stakesperformers including five individual dams of GR 1 winners.  Danehill Express's book is again filling fast, so please contact us early to avoid disappointment.

Weaning

The 2008 foals have been branded and will be weaned over March/April. As the foals are weaned they are brought into our stables and handled, rugged, put through the walker, floated and generally taught how to behave.

The DNA typing will also be done over the next few months, so if you receive any DNA kits for your 2008 foal, please forward them to us.

For any further details at anytime or to arrange an inspection of the Mungrup draft feel free to call the office on 08 9853 2103.

The Magic Millions 2009 Perth Yearling Sale will be held at Belmont Park from February 11 to 13, when 440 young horses will go under the hammer. Grey & Jan Williamson's Mungrup Stud, nestled at Narrikup in the Great Southern, will be the major vendor, offering 43 lots. Mungrup's Oratorio, who has made a flying start to his stud career, will be represented by 34 yearlings, the equal highest stallion representation with evergreen favourite Bletchley Park. Mungrup will also present nine yearlings by Italian Group 1 winner Pearl Of Love and others by McFlirt, Face Value, Quest For Fame, Stratum, Mossman, Rock Of Gibraltar, Barely A Moment, Danzero and Stormy's Son.

Williamson has been selling yearlings in Perth for 32 years. At his first sale his top price was $14,000. He was "ecstatic". Last year Williamson sold a filly by Exceed And Excel from Vintage Dance for $190,000. He's risen to the top through: "Hard graft. A long apprenticeship, and then some." So, with all due respects to AC/DC, it's a long way to the top in much more than just rock 'n' roll.

Preparing yearlings for sale requires the same skill, patience and timing as setting high-class racehorses for feature events, claims Grey Williamson, 50, WA's biggest thoroughbred breeder. "You have to get the yearlings right for the day, just like the racehorses," said Williamson. " Have them prepared to the minute. Get them ready too early and they will go off. Too late and they will not achieve your goals. Timing is everything. You have to be spot on. It's a period of hard work, long hours and plenty of angst. It's not natural for young horses to be confined and prepared for sale. They should be out running around a paddock. Kept away from stress. Allowed to develop bone and muscle. So it's vital to ensure they are given plenty of exercise in as natural an environment as possible."

Williamson inspects his sales team well before preparation starts. And devises an individual work and feed programme for each horse. "Some will need ten weeks to be at a peak," he said. "Some just seven or eight. We still have the stallions working up to Christmas. So the stud and sales seasons overlap."

This season the six Mungrup stallions, Oratorio, Danehill Express, McFlirt, Stormy's Son, Comfy and Eternity Range, served about 320 mares. About 215 mares foaled down on the property. At the peak of the season, staff looked after about 700 horses. Williamson exercises his yearlings by walking.On a mechanical walker, or by hand. They are stabled and turned out one day in five into individual paddocks.

Buyers inspect the yearlings throughout the preparation. Williamson arranges visits for the major players. But most inspections take place at the sales complex (where the team is taken three/four days before the auction starts). Not an easy job. Not by a long shot. But, then, he's been well-trained.Williamson is the third generation owner of Mungrup, which now comprises 3000 acres, and is about 400km south of Perth, between Mt Barker and Albany. His grand father, Kenneth Rankin Williamson, migrated to WA from England in the early 1900's to establish the property. He died in his late 50's and the farm was taken over by Williamson's father, Kenneth Ian, who also died around the same age. K.R. Williamson started a family traditionwhen he raced horses in Albany and Perth. He also imported the English stallion, Golden Wheat, to stand at Mungrup in the 1930's. K.I. Williamson was more interested in racing motor cars and bikes. He bought his first horse, Othma, from Sheila Gwynne when he was "too old for racing cars." Othma's first win for K.I. as an owner-trainer was in the Albany Cup. She went on to produced Amazing Red, a winner of ten races including the Albany, Geraldton and Toodyay Cups, and Man Amazing, who won six. K.I. also re-introduced a stallion to Mungrup when he stood the WA Derby winner, Sir Chatary. So it was against this background that Grey Williamson grew up with sister Marsha and brothers Ken, now a successful Ascot trainer, Bruce and Ross. Mum, Gladys, 79, still lives on the property. He was educated at Mt Barker, Albany and Aquinas College, Perth, before moving home at 18. "Dad was not well and things were desperate in the cattle and sheep industries," said Williamson. "Cattle and sheep were supposed to pay the way with horses a hobby. But baby beef were bringing just $30 a head and we were getting 50 cents for an old cow. It would actually cost us money to sell once we got the transport bill. We were going backwards. Quickly. The farm was then around 2,300 acres with only a third developed. There was a 200 acre swamp that was used to grow potatoes. So we set about clearing the virgin bush to produce more productive farming land. It was very hard physical work and took several years to complete."

Williamson then formed a partnership with Bruce (who still runs a cattle farm at Narrikup). When Ross (who now has a tank cleaning business at Albany) finished school they each took over a third of the farm and operated independently. "It was the best way forward," said Williamson. "I wanted to develop a horse business. My brothers were set on general farming."

Willliamson branched out and bought the un-raced Steel Glow (Pago Pago-Kallissima, by Tudor Melody) from Heytesbury Stud for $250. "It was the best thing I every did," he said. Steel Glow, from the family of champion stallion Showdown, had been in training with Neville Begg in Sydney but could not race because of throat problems. "Steel Glow turned our full attention to breeding racehorses," said Williamson. "He started to get winners and we built up some momentum. Don Morton was at his peak as a trainer in the Great Southern at the time and took over several Steel Glow's. It was not unusual for them to win three or four races at an Albany meeting. Then Tool Time won the Hannans Handicap and Turn A Glow took the Pinjarra and Bunbury Cups. We built up a higher profile."

Williamson subsequently paid $10,000 "a huge investment for us" to purchase the talented I'm In Luck, a son of the champion stallion Haulpak, also from Heytesbury Stud. "We then went to the sales and bought a number of cheaper mares," he said. "Some worked and some didn't. But we gradually built up numbers. Continued to move slowly forward."

Williamson and wife Jan, whom he had met as a 14-year-old, worked the property and raised four daughters. Ann, 27, and husband Tom now run the stud office; Kate, 21, and partner Ben look after the cattle; Clare, 20, take a "hands on" role at the stud and Laura, 18, "loves dance" and may join the WA Academy Of Performing Arts."

"In the early days we would take eight or ten to the sales," said Williamson. "Our top price would be around $7500. Most would only bring a couple of thousand. But it taught us to evaluate bloodstock. No-one gets it right all the time. That's impossible with horses. But we were not afraid to sell horses that we thought would be successful for relatively cheap prices. We had to become known as genuine sellers."

"All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination. Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning energy into accomplishment and wealth" -- Napoleon Hill, US writer.

Williamson's break came in the 1990's.

He was convinced sons of Kenmare would be successful in WA. Kenmare, by Kalamoun, and bred 4 x 4 to Nasrullah, won the Group 1 Prix Jacques Le Marois in France and became a successful dual hemisphere stallion with 382 winners (77.3 per cent) from 654 named foals and 58 stakes winners (11.7 per cent). With Lex and Shirley Piper, who had sent mares to Steel Glow, Williamson bought King Kora in Sydney. King Kora was by Kenmare from Quarantieme by Bletchingly, and a half brother to Charming City, the champion sprinter in Hong Kong, and to West Point, winner of the Group 2 AJC Stan Fox Stakes. But he got laminitis and had to be put down before leaving NSW. With an insurance payout, the partners bought the Group 3 French winner Metal Storm, by Kenmare from Porphyrene by Habitat, for 33,000-pounds.

Metal Storm subsequently stood his first season at Mungrup the same year as Poliuto and Hideyoshi. Poliuto had won the Group 1 Italian Two Thousand Guineas and was by Last Tycoon from Ploy, a half sister to Group 1 winners Saddler's Hall and Sun Princess. Hideyoshi was by Devil's Bag from Fanfreluche, a member of one of Canada's greatest families (that has subsequently produced the champion Australian sire Encosta de Lago). "The progeny of Poliuto and Hideyoshi were better received early," said Williamson. "Metal Storm was always regarded as third pick."

Until they started to race.

Metal Storm became a sensation. He got 299 named foals for 248 starters (82.9 per cent), 184 winners (74.2 per cent) and 23 stakes winners (9.3 per cent). His best included Old Fashion, Avenida Madero, Covertly, Stormy Nova, Kalatiara, Kentiara, Metallic Storm, Hail The Storm, Metal Master, Storm Shot, Stormed Out, Carrallen Storm, Dark 'n' Dangerous, Glory Hunter, Paris Moon and Stormy's Son. "Metal Storm had a rare quality," said Williamson. "He was able to upgrade mares. The longer you are involved in breeding the more you appreciate how difficult it is to find a stallion capable of this. It's virtually impossible. Probably a once in a lifetime experience."

Metal Storm stood six seasons at Mungrup, and was at a peak of popularity and performance, when he was bitten by a snake and died. Metal Storm's contribution to the success of Mungrup was far reaching," said Willliamson. "He enabled us to re- invest. Build the quality of the mares and increase the size of the farm."

Williamson now owns about 85 mares with Jan and another 25 in partnership. They also keep a team of about 30 racehorses. He's building future hopes on the quality of his mares: "We have a number of Group winning or Group producing mares and their progeny will start to come on stream. A sound broodmare base is everything in breeding. We try and upgrade whenever possible." Williamson is also making Mungrup as "green as possible. We're not totally organic," he said. "But we are going down that track. Working in conjunction with farmers who are on the same page. The aim is to produce better quality feed naturally. To then nurture a sounder horse. Un-soundness starts with the foal in utero. We can do a lot to prepare the foal for the rigours of racing. Expanding the farm has also given the young horses the chance to run around and develop muscle and tendons. Success on the track is achieved in a matter of degrees. The foal only has to be a bit stronger, a bit sounder, to gain an edge. And that edge could prove the difference between winning and losing."

Williamson, who is president of the WA Bloodhorse Breeders Association and has served on the committee of both the Albany and Mt Barker race clubs, is a strong supporter of both Racing and Wagering WA and Perth Racing.

"They have both done fantastic jobs," he said. "WA racing is now the envy of Australia. At the same time, breeders cannot become complacent. Increased stakemoney will lead to increased competition. We have to continually re-assess goals and move forward. Present a better product. The coming sale will be difficult because of the world financial crisis. But we have done well in recent years and should not grumble about a downturn, which is largely out of our control. We should take any correction on the chin and plan for the future. Strive to come out stronger and better."

Wise words. For, as the proverb goes, : "He who fails to plan, plans to fail."

Some of our clients also have yearlings under the Toreby Park banner and Fiona will be only to happy to assist any clients wishing to see those yearlings, by appointment.

In 2009 Mungrup Stud will present the first and only crop of the ill fated grandson of Nureyev in PEARL OF LOVE. There will be nine on offer at the Perth Magic Millions sale. PEARL OF LOVE was a speed machine being a 4 time winning juvenile winning at Group 1 level at 2 years and culminating in being named Champion 2 year old. PEARL OF LOVE has a great pedigree coming from the family of successful WA sire VERGLAS and also from the family of successful International sire STRAVINSKY. STRAVINSKY of course is the sire of hot young Mungrup sire ORATORIO.

ORATORIO our exciting young sire and current leading first season sire in WA (currently 5^th on the Australian First Season Sires Table) continues to take all before him.ORATORIO has sired winners of 3 city races from just 4 starters and several placegetters as well. No nonsense horses that are great to work with and a pleasure to train the progeny of ORATORIO are sure to be in demand at the sales in 2009. Mungrup will present, what we believe to be the best group of yearlings so far by  ORATORIO at the sales this year.

On a sadder note, we unfortunately lost our son of Leah Fan - COMFY over the Christmas period. COMFY has had recent 2 year old trial winners from his first crop and reports from trainers that had the progeny of COMFY had been very positive. Be on the lookout at the 2009 yearlings sales in February and April for his stock.

As we are all aware of the economic climate and the potential for tough yearling sales ahead, the team at Mungrup want to assist our clients in any way we can. If you are selling a Mungrup bred or raised yearling in 2009 and are looking for promotional information, up to date statistics etc on any of our stallions, then please feel free to contact Grant Burns and he can assist you:: grant@premiumbloodstock.com.au or call 08 9277 9644 or 0410 683 470.

For any further details or to arrange an inspection of the Mungrup draft feel free to call the office on 08 9853 2103.

Westspeed

If you're interested in nominating your yearling (2007 foals) for the Westspeed scheme, contact RWWA on 94455280 to get a booking form.

Breeders nominations for this scheme cost $550 and mean you are eligible for bonuses of up to $5000. If you plan to race your yearling yourself you can also register for the owner portion for $1100. This means you are eligible for bonuses of up to $15000.

Other Oratorio kicks off stud career in style

(As Published on www.perthracing.com.au) 

Born runner Wizards Point made a one act affair of the $50,000 Westspeed 2YO Handicup (1200m) on Saturday at Ascot on Group1 Kingston Town Classic Day.

Wizards Point ($7.30) was first out and first home, beginning quickly for veteren hoop Paul King, always travelling well within himself in front, prior to leaving his rivals standing early in the straight and racing away for an impressive victory.

The gifted son of hot first season Stravinsky sire Oratorio, showed the benefit of a debut fourth behind Don'trocktheboat, and once again demonstrated the astute judgement of Ascot owner/trainer Bill Godecke.

Godecke purchased Wizards Point from the 2008 Perth Magic Millions sale for $70,000 and looks destined to make it a very profitable purchase.

The well bred juvenile is the first foal of gifted 2003 Perth Magic Millions victor Rose Of Thunder.

The short priced favourite Don'trocktheboat never looked happy, appearing to over-race and perform in patches throughout the race.

The impressive debut winner never figured and finished a well beaten seventh.

Pre-race Neville Parnham trained filly Light That Smile gave his rider Brad Parnham an eventful start to the day.

Light That Smile dislodged Parnham twice, heading out on to the track and one again in the 1600m chute, before being allowed to start and holding third place.

What they said-

"Paul King said he would just win after he worked him during the week." Winning trainer Bill Godecke said following the win.

Paul King rider Wizards Point (1st)- "He is a very professional little horse, and has the scope to train on."

Numbers: 4-5-2-7-8     Margins: 3 x 3 x short head.   Time: 1.10:58 (34.55) 

Winners Breeding: Oratorio- Rose Of Thunder (Metal Storm(FR)).

Oratorio had his first runner and more notably his first winner, when Gold Rocks raced in the first two year old race of the season at Belmont Park on 11/10/08.

In an effortless 4 length win, Gold Rocks showed the precocity her sire, Oratorio, showed as a two year old. Trainer, Peter Giadresco has high hopes for the filly, setting her for the Karrakatta Plate.

This looks to be just the beginning of great things from the Oratorio stock. His yearlings were very well received and placed with the leading WA trainers and we have had nothing but positive feed back from breakers, owners and trainers alike.

Oratorio has taken his last mares for the 2008 season and is now fully booked.

They look like runners, are bred to be runners and guess what?? They are out and running!!!

Mungrup Stud (WA) Stallion ORATORIO (Stravinsky) had his first 2 year old trial runner today Monday 6^th October at Belmont with instant success!!

The 2 year old filly named Gold Rocks led from start to finish over the 600 metre journey. Jumping from an inside barrier she led easily from the start. Having a few looks around over the first furlong as youngsters often do, she then settled down to the task at hand and disposed of the other runners winning by 5 ¾ lengths in 35 seconds. (a whole second faster than the other 600 metre trial of the day)

Trained in the South West by astute horseman Peter Giadresco, Gold Rocks only previous outing was a unofficial Bunbury jump out where she of accounted for a group of older horses by 8 lengths!!

Peter Giadresco commented "having broken in and educated a couple of the Oratorio progeny, I'm really impressed, they seem natural racehorses, they learn quickly and show an enormous amount of early speed" "she (Gold Rocks) is a really exciting filly, we have always liked her and decided to bring her to town today to test her out" "we will now head towards one of the first 2 year old races of the season with her and on ability she looks sure to be competitive"

Gold Rocks is the third foal of Luskin Star mare Alozie. Alozie has had two foals to race, both of those winners and it certainly looks like it won't be long before she extends that record and has three for three.

ORATORIO, the speed machine himself has been well received at stud and in the sale ring covering wonderful books of mares each season and has 2 year olds in all the states leading stables.

ORATORIO has a limited number of bookings available for the coming 2008 season.

For further details call Mungrup Stud on 08 9853 2103 or call Grant Burns on 08 9277 9644 or 0410 683 470.

Pictured: Danehill Express.

Like the true professional he is in all aspects, our exciting new first season sire Danehill Express has been receiving "positive" news the past couple of weeks.By that we mean positive pregnancies, of his first 16 mares covered he has returned 15 positive results....not bad for a new kid on the block.An exciting stallion prospect taking it all in his stride, Danehill Express continues to be the ultimate professional in everything he does!

For those of you who don't know, if you look in any dictionary you will find:Oratorio; "An Oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists"If any of you have ventured to trackwork around the state in the past few weeks, you will have thought many of the states leading trainers had turned musicians themselves!! Constant singing by them all, almost in harmony, they have all been singing the praises of the Oratorio two year olds.We eagerly await the two year old season ahead, not that Oratorio himself has time to be checking up on his siblings......he has been busy again this season with a good sized book and a number of early pregnancies already this season. His book is filling fast and a limited number of nominations are still available in 2008. 

Not to be outdone Comfy (Lear Fan) has his first crop of two year olds ready to hit the track this season as well. On Monday 22^nd September saw Comfy have his first trial runner here in WA. The filly named Southern Comfort produced a nice trial over 600m at Belmont working to the line in a group with the rest of the field. A Stakes Winning two year old himself, Comfy may prove to be the "smokey" amongst the first season sires here in WA.

The 25^th of September was a big day for former Mungrup stallion Kenvain (Kenmare-Dancelot, by Vain) who recorded 4 winners on the 8-race card at Northam: Kennity (ex Vanity Rose), Cape Leeuwin (ex Muthaiga), Rita's Pearl (ex Miss Conquistador), and Kender (ex Tender Smile) were all winners for the ill fated stallion and we congratulate the connections of all those winners.

Pictured: Laura Williamson with Lacher and her Due Sasso foal in the glorious sunshine 

In perfect sunshine the covering season began this week and is now in full swing at Mungrup.

We are pleased to report that "Danehill Express" has taken to his new role in the breeding shed like a ‘duck to water'.The support from a large number of breeders has ensured his book has been full for several weeks and will see him cover a quality book of over 100 mares this season.

"Oratorio" has his first 2 year olds in training with all of the states leading stables. A wonderful prospect at stud he was the hottest first season sire seen at the Perth sales for many years. His progeny sold up to $130,000 and averaged just shy of $50,000...... nearly 10 times service fee. This saw Oratorio rank as the ‘Number 1' first season sire in Australia by return on service fee!!! (ahead of Fastnet Rock, Elvstroem, Al Maher and many other high profile stallions)Precocious types, and highly sought after by all the leading buyers at the sales Oratorio represents great value at a fee of $5,500 +GST. His book is filling fast and a limited number of nominations are still available in 2008. 

The first foals of Scenic horse "Due Sasso" are arriving and we could not be more impressed. Good looking foals, they have great scope, good structure and presence with all the quality of their sire.Due Sasso stands this season at Touchstone Farm in association with Mungrup Stud and we can offer clients a great deal to breed to him in 2008.

"McFlirt" just keeps producing winner's week in week out and he has now sired the winners of close to $1.5 million on the track. McBuster (9 wins) and McLurch (8 wins) are both tough city winning horses who are performing well by the sire. Bookings are still available to McFlirt for this season.

We also have bookings available to our other resident sires for the coming season: "Comfy" "Right Wing" "Eternity Range" and "Stormy's Son"