Over many years, DGR Thoroughbred Services’ Duncan Ramage has forged a distinguished career as a Bloodstock Agent. The extensive list of successful racehorses and breeding stock Duncan has purchased is testament to this fact.

The impressive line-up of horses that Duncan has been involved with include racetrack greats like So You Think, First Seal, Saintly, Viewed, Dariana, Faint Perfume and Norzita (to name a few).

What is more impressive is the longevity and success that these families go on to achieve—many of the prominent racehorses under Duncan’s current management hail from families he has acquired for clients.

Saturday’s esteemed ‘Derby Day’ at Royal Randwick hosts a brilliant card of top-class racing. Duncan will no doubt be watching eagerly as five prominent runners in which he has been instrumental with will get their chance to etch their name in the history books.

The first of those runners is Donnachiara, a three-year-old filly by Eurozone who will line up in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes for trainer Anthony Cummings. She recently claimed back-to-back wins and blitz her rivals by six lengths during her most recent success at Gosford in late February.

Bred and owned by Think Big Stud, Duncan purchased both her sire Eurozone (G2 winner & multiple G1 placed) and dam Reglisse. The former was a $180,000 purchase from the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale, and Duncan purchased her dam Reglisse for $87,500 at the 2011 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.

Taking on Donnachiara in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes is John Sargent trained three-year-old filly Stick ‘Em Up. A daughter of leading young sire Dundeel, Duncan purchased her for $110,000 at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale from Lime Country Thoroughbreds on behalf of Tunku Ahmad’s Westcode Syndicate.

Quality stayer Carif (pictured on the front cover) will take his place in the G2 Chairman’s Quality over 2600m. Last seen running fifth in the G1 Tancred Stakes, the four-year-old entire is by 10-time Group One winner So You Think, out of Champion Filly Norzita.

Bred and raced by Think Big Stud and Tunku Ahmad’s Westcode Syndicate, Duncan purchased both Carif’s sire and dam from Windsor Park Stud’s NZB Karaka Yearling draft.

Duncan has also had a hand to play in two runners that will contest the $1 million G1 Australian Derby; Chains Of Honour and Get The Idea.

Regally bred Chains Of Honour is by Redoute’s Choice out of G1 Vinery Stud Stakes and G1 VRC Oaks winner Faint Perfume. Owned and raced by Sun Stud, he is trained by Gerald Ryan and has won three from six-race starts and more than $200,000 in prizemoney.

Duncan purchased his multiple Group One winning grand dam Danendri as a yearling and devised the mating which resulted in Chains Of Honour (Faint Perfume was sold for $700,000 to Sun Stud while in foal).

John Sargent trained So You Think gelding Get The Idea will also get his chance to claim Group One glory in the G1 Australian Derby for breeder/owner Think Big Stud. A winner of two of four race starts, his dam Cavita was purchased by Duncan for $45,000 at the 2007 Inglis Easter Broodmare Sale.

Purchased to enrich Think Big Stud’s broodmare band, Cavita has been a valuable broodmare acquisition. She has produced Stakes placed/seven-time winner The Peak and now promising staying prospect Get The Idea.

Venturing out of NSW, Phillip Stokes trained So You Think gelding Good Idea will race in the Geoff Murphy Handicap at Caulfield.

Bred and owned by Think Big Stud and Alan Jackson, Good Idea is a half-brother to G1 Australian Derby hopeful Chains Of Honour (Redoute’s Choice – Faint Perfume). 

He is a progressive staying type that has won five starts and was most recently seen placing second in the G2 Adelaide Cup.

At Morphettville under the guidance of Mike Price and Michael Kent Jnr, DGR purchased three-year-old Savabeel gelding Craftmanship will take his place in the Listed Port Adelaide Guineas.

Purchased for $360,000 from Little Avondale Stud’s 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling draft, Craftmanship was successful in winning the Listed Hill Smith Stakes and ran in the G1 VRC Derby. He was purchased for Think Big Stud and a syndicate of owners.

The day of racing presents an exciting opportunity for a talented group of runners across three states in Australia.

“It’s certainly very exciting to see such a large number of horses I have been involved with contesting such prestigious races on what is going to be a massive day of racing nation-wide,” said Duncan Ramage.

“I look forward to watching each of them run and wish their connections the very best of luck.”