Duncan Ramage and trainer John Thompson joined forces again on day three of Inglis Classic to secure a colt by Champion Miler Real Steel (Deep Impact), from the French Cape Cross Mare, Zerkela.
Trained by John Thompson, Randwick
Offered as Lot 742 and purchased from the leading nursery at Arrowfield Stud, this colt fetched the top price during the ‘Highway’ Session when selling for A$200,000.
His price certainly reflects the quality this colt possesses and as well as being a fantastic physical, he boasts an excellent international pedigree.
He is from the first Southern Hemisphere crop by international G1 winner and G1 performer in Japan, Real Steel (Deep Impact) who is a brother to 2021 G1 Breeders’ Cup F&M Turf, QEII Cup and Hong Kong Cup winner Loves Only You.
This colt is the second foal out of the Cape Cross mare, Zerkela who won over 2000m in France.
Notably, Cape Cross has been an excellent broodmare sire with his daughters producing 14 G1 winners, inc; Russian Camelot, Australia, Laurens, Shuka and Tarnawa.
His grand-dam is a winning half-sister to supreme European Champion Zarkava, now an outstanding broodmare; and his dam is closely related to G3 winner Zarshana. All descend from the legendary 1959 British Horse of the Year Petite Etoile, Timeform-rated 134 at two and three.
Ownership opportunities are available to race him with DGR and John Thompson, please get in touch with Duncan for more information.
Duncan's Comments
“While we avoid the mega sales toppers, co-sharing a sale topper of the Inglis Classic Highway Session at $200,000 is something we feel comfortable about. Our previous association with a Classic Sale topper resulted in Caulfield Guineas winner God's Own with Bart Cummings and Dato Tan. Through Think Big Stud, Dato's family have become involved in this colt with Bart's long time foreman John Thompson who is now a leading trainer in his own right. We look forward to a continued successful and historical union.”