Widespread Success for Fusaichi Pegasus
22nd March 2008
Kentucky Derby winner Fusaichi Pegasus enjoyed success coast to coast in Australia on Saturday with a stakes-winner in Perth in the shape of three year-old gelding Yuro and a brilliant juvenile debut winner in Melbourne in Fury.The Bob Turrell trained Yuro (3g Fusaichi Pegasus x Hot Spice, by Old Spice) improved off a last start third in Listed company over 1800 metres to score a commanding win in the Listed WATC Melvista Stakes over 2200 metres, relishing the additional journey to score by the best part of two lengths over Dash Incredible.
He settled in fourth position and when let loose in the straight confirmed his standing as the best staying three year-old in Western Australia, his next target the Group One WATC Derby over 2400 metres on April 5.
Bred by Charles Roy Bloodstock and offered by Oaklands Stud at the 2006 Magic Millions Yearling Sale in Perth, Yuro was snapped up by renowned yearling judge Les Samba for $180,000.
Yuro has won three of six starts earning $147,600 and tasted Group Three success just before Christmas when he won the WATC Sir Lee-Steere Classic over 1400 metres.
He is one of three stakes-winners for outstanding broodmare Hot Spice, who has had seven foals to race all winners led by Group One WATC Derby winner Hot Jules, Yuro and the Listed winner Spirit of Jules.
A daughter of top class WA sire Old Spice, Hot Spice comes from the family of Group Two winning stayer Clear Day as well as smart stakes-winners Miss Woodleigh, Finally and Emit Time.
Fusaichi Pegasus showed his versatility in producing a brilliant first up juvenile at Caulfield on Saturday when the Peter Moody trained colt Fury (2c Fusaichi Pegasus x Palia, by Last Tycoon) led throughout and blitzed the opposition to win by three and a half lengths.
A full brother to stakes-winning juvenile Dr Green, Fury sailed through the 1200 metres to win as he liked in a highly impressive debut.
A $160,000 purchase from the draft of Cressfield at the 2007 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Fury is from the Group Three winning Last Tycoon (IRE) mare Palia, the dam of four winners.
Palia is a full sister to stakes-placed Lady Capel who also featured on Saturday as the dam of Casino Prince, winner of the Group One AJC Chipping Norton Stakes, while another of Palia’s sisters Mrs Squillionaire is the dam of recent Hong Kong stakes-winner Green Birdie, so this is clearly a family that is right on the boil at present.
Fusaichi Pegasus has some outstanding yearlings scheduled to sell at Magic Millions this week starting on Monday evening with 23 catalogued including Lot 151 from Torryburn Stud, a colt from Pink Mogul, making him a brother-in-blood to Fury.
