Choice Bro Salutes in G1 Sires Produce Stakes

Leading New Zealand trainer John Sargent produced a rare achievement on Saturday with Choice Bro leading a Group 1 Quinella for the trainer in the $225,000 Group 1 The Oaks Stud Manawatu Sires' Produce Stakes (1400m).

Choice Bro (Choisir x Ladidi) was slow from the barriers but improved quickly to settle mid-field in transit, with jockey Jonathan Riddell electing to take an inside run on the colt with a gap coming at the point of the turn.

The son of Choisir had work to do in the straight with Group 1 Diamond Stakes winner Warhorse (General Nediym) a clear leader and stable mate Magic Shaft (Shaft) flying home late, but in a determined victory he powered home in the final 100 metres to claim the feature by a short-neck.

"It was a great result, I wish it could happen every weekend," commented Sargent.

"We were confident coming into the race. The Diamond Stakes (1200m) at Ellerslie was perhaps a little short for him but he needed the run so we were happy going into Saturday. He's a bull of a colt, he is very strong so it was good to have a jockey like Jonathan Riddell on him and he did a good job.

"I think he will be well suited over a mile and the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1600m) in Queensland on June 9 would be an ideal race so we will have to sit down and discuss what we would like to do next."

His third win from six starts, Choice Bro showed his class early when winning the Countdown to the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in December before running a good fourth in New Zealand's richest race - the $1 million Karaka Million.

His next start saw him cement his position as one of the country's best two-year-olds beating a strong field in the Group 3 2YO Classic at Taranaki before being unplaced after a luckless run in the Group 1 Diamond Stakes last start.

Out of a Palace Music mare, Choice Bro is the 35th stakes winner for his Group 1 winning sire Choisir, his 20th in the Southern Hemisphere.

Bred by Richard Pietrykowski, Choice Bro is raced by G T Burgess, R W Edwards, K Jones, S Saric, L Topic & G Wright. He was purchased by Gary Mudgway and John Sargent from Ainsley Downs Stud for $50,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock's 2011 Karaka Select Sale and has now won over $225,000 in stakes.

Second placed Magic Shaft (ex Adaptable Lass) had not been seen on the track since winning the Listed Matamata Slipper (1200m) in late-February and provided the quinella for John Sargent. The colt produced what looked like the winning run for Michael Coleman and his placing continues his honest record on the track.

Magic Shaft's five starts have netted one win and four placings including a third to Warhorse in the Group 3 Eclipse Stakes (1200m) on debut. He was purchased by John Sargent from Te Mania Thoroughbreds at the 2011 Karaka Select Sale for $60,000.

Last start Group 1 Diamond Stakes winner Warhorse (ex Rathlin Island) took plenty of catching in the straight after hitting the lead at the 250 metre mark. A $100,000 purchase by David Ellis from Trelawney Stud at the 2011 Karaka Premier Sale, the colt's third placing gave New Zealand Bloodstock the Group 1 trifecta.