First Win for Makybe Diva Brother

Bought for $1,2 million at the 2009 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, this colt was the most expensive winner in Australia over the weekend.

He is the Redoute’s Choice colt Shadowofexcellence, who cast off maiden status with a thoroughly impressive three and a half length win over 1850 metres at Newcastle on Saturday as a short priced favourite.

Prepared by John Hawkes and his sons for Patinack Farm and the colt’s breeder Tony Santic, Shadowofexcellence is the fourth winner from super producer Tugela (USA) and is a three-quarter brother to triple Melbourne Cup winner Makybe Diva, a full brother to Group II winner Musket and a half-brother to Group III winner Valkyrie Diva.

Stakes-placed in the spring from just three starts, Shadowofexcellence (pictured as a yearling) seems to throw more to the staying side of the family and will no doubt be aimed towards the Group I AJC Australian Derby if he is good enough to get there and in a year when the three year-olds seem very even, he may well be up to the task.

The current yearling from Tugela will be offered by Makybe at the 2011 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the Redoute’s Choice filly to hit the sale ring as Lot 96.

Aside from the great champion Makybe Diva and superstar sprinter Starspangledbanner, Tony Santic’s Makybe breeding operation continues to throw up a stream of high quality stakes horses with progressive stayer King Diamond the latest stakes-winner to be bred and sold under the well known banner.

An $80,000 purchase for Slade Bloodstock from the Makybe draft at the 2008 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, King Diamond is by Danewin from the Zabeel mare Kali Smytzer and has won five of 13 starts and $278,268 in prizemoney, posting his first Black Type win on Saturday in the Listed VRC Roy Higgins Quality over 2600 metres.

Story: Tara Madgwick BreedNet