Rosemont’s VOBIS success!

It was a double day of celebrations for Rosemont Stud with Mr Quickie’s popular win in the Hygain VOBIS Gold Heath over 2000 metres, along with Iconoclasm taking out the last, in the Newmarket Grandwest VOBIS Gold Sprint, worth $280,000.

A son of Shamus Award, Mr Quickie has now justifiably earned the top spot in the lead up to the Group 1 South Australian Derby.

Able to make amends for an uncharacteristic last start defeat, Mr Quickie accelerated well off a slow tempo to easily account for his older rivals in the $280,000 contest.

Trained by Phillip Stokes, having started his career with Darren Weir, he praised the composure of jockey Ben Allen and believes the three-year-old will have no trouble stepping up to the 2500m of the Derby in a fortnight.

“I left it up to Benny and he gave him a great ride, I was thrilled with the way the horse relaxed today. He’s a good racehorse, he just tries. He is giving every indication that he’ll run the Derby distance,” Stokes said.

While proud Victorian sponsors of the race, horse feed producer, Hygain, will also be looking ahead to the Derby as they played a significant part in the victory, with connections post-race making a point that Mr Quickie is “fuelled on Hygain”.

Bred and sold by Rosemont Stud, Mr Quickie was a $115,000 Magic Millions purchase for Dalziel Racing.

He is the first foal of Special Favour, a General Nediym winner at 2200 metres from Group 2 winner My Tusker, whose grand-dam is champion Kiwi mare Horlicks, who won the Japan Cup in world record time.

Horlicks many notable descendants include Melbourne Cup winner Brew and Group I ATC Australian Derby winner Fiumicino, giving every indication that classic success is well suited for Mr Quickie.

While the second success of the day, the son of Rosemont’s Toorak Toff, Iconoclasm, the Stradbroke may well be firmly on the radar after taking out the Newmarket Grandwest VOBIS Gold Sprint.

A recent stable acquisition for trainer Danny O’Brien, Iconoclasm has earned a trip north for the Group 1 Stradbroke Handicap in June.

Having contested a trio of Group 1 races at the end of his last campaign, Iconoclasm is destined for the elite level once more via two lead-up races in Brisbane.

“Danny’s got a couple of more runs planned for him in Queensland,” stable representative Ben Gleeson said.

“He may go two-week breaks between runs, and that leaves us well spaced for six weeks leading into the Group 1 Stradbroke.”