AUSSIE RULES
Grey 2003 - 2016 by Danehill – Last Second by Alzao
Tony morris
IT would be hard to write a more impressive pedigree than the one flaunted by AUSSIE RULES, the latest recruit to the Lanwades stallion roster.
By DANEHILL, a sire whose global impact has been second to none, he hails from one of the most conspicuously successful families of modern times. Out of the Nassau and Sun Chariot Stakes heroine LAST SECOND, he has close relationships to a host of Group 1 celebrities, including champions Alborada, Albanova and Quarter Moon, Classic winners Yesterday and Allegretto and the Derby runners-up Dragon Dancer and Midas Touch.
With such a background, AUSSIE RULES was entitled to make his mark at the top level on the racecourse, and he did just that. A dual winner at two, including the Group 3 Somerville Tattersall Stakes, he progressed significantly in his second season to secure top-level victories on both sides of the Atlantic, collecting the Poule d'Essai des Poulains and the Keeneland Turf Mile.
In a career noteworthy for honesty and consistency, AUSSIE RULES also finished in the frame in three other Group 1 events - the Eclipse and Sussex Stakes and the Prix du Moulin de Longchamp. Racehorses of 2006 recognised his superior class with a rating of 123.
Combining an impeccable pedigree and distinguished racecourse performance, AUSSIE RULES was always a good bet to enhance the exceptional record of Danehill's sons at stud and his early results have more than fulfilled expectations. His first two crops have delivered winners of 100 races with earnings in excess of £1.7 million, and there have been 38 individual two-year-old scorers among them.
Moreover, he has proved that he transmits class performance with seven individual stakes winners already to his credit, including a first-crop champion juvenile filly and Classic winner in Djumama (out of a mare by Barathea) whose victory in the Schwarzgold Rennen was followed by second place in Germany's Oaks equivalent, the Preis der Diana.
Two AUSSIE RULES colts showed top-class form in Italy in 2011. Two-year-old Duck Feet, out of a Zafonic mare, remains undefeated after four starts headlined by a Group 3 score in the Premio Guido Berardelli, while Cazals, whose dam is by Mujadil, claimed a meritorious second place in the Derby Italiano, relegating none other than the subsequent Arc de Triomphe heroine Danedream to third.
Private Jet, Chinese Wall and Staros have all notched Listed wins in France, the first two also having been placed second at Group 3 level. Their dams are by Fairy King, Ashkalani and Anshan respectively. At home his team is led by the speedy Dinkum Diamond (out of a mare by Lomitas), who added to a Listed victory with a second in Group 2 and a third in Group 3.
There are six other stakes performers to date, including Boomerang Bob (out of a daughter of Cozzene), whose efforts at two in 2011 included a second in the Group 2 Norfolk Stakes at Royal Ascot. The other five, all Listed-placed last season, are Kyoei Basara, Vijaykeerti, Doquet, Deire Na Sli and Eternal Ruler, whose respective dams are by Cozzene, Conquistador Cielo, Highest Honor, Pursuit of Love and In the Wings.
The record shows that AUSSIE RULES has made a significant impact with his early runners, though not favoured with high-quality mates. It is also evident that he succeeds with mares from a variety of backgrounds and can get precocious stock, proficient milers and capable middle-distance performers.
I have no doubt that he will build on that highly creditable start in the seasons to come.
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