It’s been a long time since we’ve witnessed a tight fight for Champion First-Season Sire honours in WA but that’s likely to change in 2026-27. The WA 2YO and Freshman titles kick-off with the Initial Plate (1000m) at Ascot next month and, at this stage, it’s a case of ‘patent pending’ with three young bulls vying for the first-crop premiership.
Which one stamps his authority will be a close call. Lightsaber (Zoustar), Marine One (Capitalist) and Aysar (Deep Field) all have the right credentials and it wouldn’t surprise to see them go right down to the wire. Meanwhile, all three were off the mark with this season’s first foals arriving early in August.
Gold Front Thoroughbreds
Aysar sired 61 foals first-up at Geisel Park before transferring to Ridgeport Farm this year. His third book includes this colt from Kaymay who was the first winner by Gold Front resident Awesome Rock at Ascot in March 2021. She descends from Coral Park matron Honeymoon (Beau Sovereign) who foaled G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Coal Pak (Haulpak).
Kaymay was also the first Ascot winner prepared by Gold Front’s Sue Olive. “I didn’t think she could win around the bend and I wasn’t even sure she had got there until they put the number up on the board,” Sue recalled. “I named Kaymay after my granddaughter. She’s a beautiful filly and gives her all.”
Ruby Racing & Breeding
The first reported foal by Darling View sire Lightsaber (Zoustar) is this August 10 filly from Jamaica Jeuney (Hinchinbrook). Bred by Ruby Racing’s Bridie O’Bree at Kojarena, she’s from a half-sister to Talladega / Beauty Joy (HK) who won a LR John Roberts Stakes (1800m) at Ascot before shipping off-shore where he has banked AUD7.51 million to date for clients of Hong Kong trainer Tony Cruz.
Mogumber Park
This Marine One filly pictured while finding her feet at Mogumber Park is the first foal from the David Gatti-owned mare Atia (The Factor). She hails from the ‘Tennessee’ family famed for its Flemington Stakes winners Tennessee Jack (Whiskey Road), Tennessee Morn (Bletchingly), Tennessee Midnight (Danehill) and Tennessee Vain (Whiskey Road).
Scenic Lodge
Scenic Lodge mare Elegant Blast (Blackfriars) is the dam of recent Universal Ruler winners Elegant Ruler and Jet Planes and her latest foal is this filly by Widden Victoria sire Nicconi (Bianconi).
Elegant Blast won four city events for Justin Warwick and also earned black-type when placed in the 2017 Belmont Oaks (2000m) won by Fontainebleau (Alfred Nobel). It’s the family of Australian Horse of the Year Scenic Blast (Scenic) and G1 Railway Stakes (1600m) winner Gilded Venom (Golden Snake).
Send landscape images to: karlo@bigpond.net.au
