Group One Double for Encosta de Lago
4th October 2008
He was the leading sire for Australasia last year and with Group One winners on both sides of the Tasman on Saturday, Coolmore’s champion sire Encosta de Lago will be hard to beat for the honour again in 2008/2009.
Encosta de Lago posted his elite double with star Kiwi based mare Princess Coup (5m Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road, by Sovereign Red) making it back-to-back wins in the $2million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings in New Zealand, while talented stayer Newport (6g Encosta de Lago x Sibeliene, by Nishapour) recaptured his best form with a determined win in AJC The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick.
A brilliant last start winner of the Group One Stoney Bridge Stakes, Princess Coup was sent out favourite to win her second successive Kelt Capital Stakes over 2000 metres and did so with real authority, swooping home over the top of her rivals to beat Red Ruler by more than a length with AJC Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu (4h Montjeu x Prized Gem, by Prized) in third place.
"It was a big effort," said her delighted trainer Mark Walker.
"She's a class mare."
Princess Coup now takes over the mantle of being the highest stake-earner for her sire Encosta de Lago, her $3.9 million in earnings amassed from 12 wins and 10 placings from 31 starts, eclipsing Racing to Win and Alinghi on $3.4 million.
Princess Coup will now head to Melbourne for a tilt at the Group One MVRC Cox Plate on October 25 and with raging hot favourite Weekend Hussler turning in a shocker at Flemington, the Moonee Valley showcase has suddenly become a wide open affair.
Bred in Australia by Mark Kelly's Ingenue Breeding Syndicate and good friend Brenton Wise, Princess Coup was raised at Mill Park Stud in South Australia before heading to the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where she was purchased by David Ellis for $260,000 from the draft of Ernivale Thoroughbreds as agent.
Racing in the ownership of John Bromley and Ray Coupland, Princess Coup is the fourth foal of the stakes-winning Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road (who died prematurely), whose dam Arch Duchess was a Group Three winning sprinter by speed influence Arch Sculptor.
Turned out in magnificent order by respected Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, Newport stuck hard to the inside running rail when the field turned for home and crept up on the inside of dour mare Bianca to claim a long neck win in the 2400 metre staying test.
The Metropolitan was the first Group One victory for six year-old grey gelding Newport, who already has a feature win in the Group Two QTC Brisbane Cup on his resume and boasts the overall record of eight wins from 34 starts and prizemoney of $847,150.
Purchased by Paul Perry for $150,000 from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Newport is a half-brother to stakes-placed Fresh Boy being from the Nishapour mare Sibeliene, a half-sister to stakes-winner Samarid from the family of Group One winner Sumayr. He is the last foal of his dam, who died in 2005.
Newport becomes the 12th Group One winner for Coolmore based Encosta de Lago, who is currently serving another stellar book of mares at a fee of $302,500.
Encosta de Lago posted his elite double with star Kiwi based mare Princess Coup (5m Encosta de Lago x Stoneyfell Road, by Sovereign Red) making it back-to-back wins in the $2million Kelt Capital Stakes at Hastings in New Zealand, while talented stayer Newport (6g Encosta de Lago x Sibeliene, by Nishapour) recaptured his best form with a determined win in AJC The Metropolitan at Royal Randwick.
A brilliant last start winner of the Group One Stoney Bridge Stakes, Princess Coup was sent out favourite to win her second successive Kelt Capital Stakes over 2000 metres and did so with real authority, swooping home over the top of her rivals to beat Red Ruler by more than a length with AJC Australian Derby winner Nom du Jeu (4h Montjeu x Prized Gem, by Prized) in third place.
"It was a big effort," said her delighted trainer Mark Walker.
"She's a class mare."
Princess Coup now takes over the mantle of being the highest stake-earner for her sire Encosta de Lago, her $3.9 million in earnings amassed from 12 wins and 10 placings from 31 starts, eclipsing Racing to Win and Alinghi on $3.4 million.
Princess Coup will now head to Melbourne for a tilt at the Group One MVRC Cox Plate on October 25 and with raging hot favourite Weekend Hussler turning in a shocker at Flemington, the Moonee Valley showcase has suddenly become a wide open affair.
Bred in Australia by Mark Kelly's Ingenue Breeding Syndicate and good friend Brenton Wise, Princess Coup was raised at Mill Park Stud in South Australia before heading to the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, where she was purchased by David Ellis for $260,000 from the draft of Ernivale Thoroughbreds as agent.
Racing in the ownership of John Bromley and Ray Coupland, Princess Coup is the fourth foal of the stakes-winning Sovereign Red mare Stoneyfell Road (who died prematurely), whose dam Arch Duchess was a Group Three winning sprinter by speed influence Arch Sculptor.
Turned out in magnificent order by respected Newcastle trainer Paul Perry, Newport stuck hard to the inside running rail when the field turned for home and crept up on the inside of dour mare Bianca to claim a long neck win in the 2400 metre staying test.
The Metropolitan was the first Group One victory for six year-old grey gelding Newport, who already has a feature win in the Group Two QTC Brisbane Cup on his resume and boasts the overall record of eight wins from 34 starts and prizemoney of $847,150.
Purchased by Paul Perry for $150,000 from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds at the 2004 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Newport is a half-brother to stakes-placed Fresh Boy being from the Nishapour mare Sibeliene, a half-sister to stakes-winner Samarid from the family of Group One winner Sumayr. He is the last foal of his dam, who died in 2005.
Newport becomes the 12th Group One winner for Coolmore based Encosta de Lago, who is currently serving another stellar book of mares at a fee of $302,500.
