Burridges hope they made right Choice

Michael Lee
Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Champion Australian sire Redoute’s Choice might be a marquee name in his own backyard, but not many of his progeny have stepped off a plane to continue their career in this part of the world.

In fact, up until this Friday, only two Redoute’s Choice's had ever raced on both sides of the Causeway – the deleted Borneo Holiday (two wins from seven starts) and Fortyeight King, an ordinary two-time winner from 37 starts formerly known as Lim’s Racer.

Company – and hopefully some restoration of the Arrowfield stallion’s reputation - is on its way, though.

The Redoute’s Choice household on the Malayan Racing Association circuit is about to double with the third family member making his Kranji debut in the $65,000 Novice race over 1200m this Friday – Sir Pelleas (known as The Strip in Australia).

While the “Redoutes”, as they are affectionately called back in Australia, fly off the shelf at all major yearling sales in Australia, and most of them – think Champion 2YO fillies Fashions Afield and Miss Finland, God’s Own, Undoubtedly, Snitzel and Australia’s latest darling, Samantha Miss - subsequently live up to their hefty price tags by snagging Group races after another.

Paradoxically, that huge domestic success rate is probably the main reason they have not been heading up to the Singapore/Malaysia market.

“They’re obviously too highly-priced for the Singapore market, especially those with upsides for the breeding side,” said Magic Millions bloodstock agent Wade Burridge, who is incidentally behind the purchase of Sir Pelleas for his trainer father Steven.

“Local owners would rather buy, say an O’Reilly for much less from New Zealand, knowing they will perform very well here. They’ve of course heard of Redoute’s Choice, but it has more of an ‘unknown appeal’ to them.

“I’ve been eyeing this one (Sir Pelleas) when he was racing in Adelaide for David Hayes. He was then transferred to Clinton McDonald after a couple of unplaced runs, but never ran for him.

“He was then gelded and became available. As you know, once a colt by a top stallion is gelded, its market value dramatically drops and that’s how we got this one.”

Racing then as The Strip, the four-year-old scored a win (1266m) at debut in Cheltenham, Adelaide and ran second for Hayes before his form went downhill at his subsequent two starts in Melbourne. He is out of Speedy Kids, a Group 3-winning mare by Snippets.

“He was an A$650,000 yearling that showed a lot of promise earlier. Then he became coltish and the previous owner decided to get rid of him after he was gelded,” said Burridge senior.

“He’s done nothing wrong since he arrived last May. His work has been good and we’ll have to wait and see how he fares this Friday.”

Aware that the previous representatives of the Redoute’s Choice family have not set the tracks alight in Singapore or Malaysia (it was only at his 33^rd start that Fortyeight King broke his maiden status in a RM30,000 Class 5 event in Ipoh), Burridge junior is hopeful Sir Pelleas will stand up to his flattering pedigree.

“The Redoute’s Choice’s tend to be big and not suited to Singapore. But that one (Sir Pelleas) is not overly big, is well-balanced and has a beautiful nature,” said Burridge who is applying to be Magic Millions’ local agent for Singapore.

“I was willing to bring this one here as I reckon Singapore will suit him. He should go better over some ground.”

Sir Pelleas will be ridden by Michael Cahill and is owned by Jupiter Stable, a spin-off of Hydrocarbon Stable. Well-drawn in barrier two, he will however have his work cut out against some smart opposition in last-start winners like impressive debut winner Ready For Success, Best Knight and Powerful Ruler.