Ducimus was a clear winner of the 2022-23 WA First-Season Sires’ premiership with earnings of $273,541 and just as pleasing was the class factor of his aptly-named Ascot winner Eliteone.
Rivercrest Park stands the promising sire-son of Snitzel for Orbis Bloodstock who have sent another six well-bred mares across from New Zealand and Melbourne to support him this season.
Ducimus (pictured) sired his first winner when Leading Taddy streeted a Pinjarra nursery on Boxing Day. The Ash Maley-trained youngster crossed the field to lead under Holly Watson and then accelerated at the top of the straight to extend the margin to the best part of four lengths.
The second winner didn’t arrive until the final day of the Ascot season in May but it was worth the wait when Eliteone lengthened like a carnival horse on debut for trainer Simon Miller. Bred and raised by Rivercrest owner Steve Hoare, he was an $80,000 buy at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions for a syndicate managed by Mario Zito.
“He’s a beauty and when Holly (Watson) pulled the trigger, he went bang!” Miller declared following the last-to-first victory. “The plan was to let him find his feet and then use that V8 engine. He has a sprinter’s turn of foot but could also get over ground being such a leggy type.
“Eliteone was a belter as a yearling and overall I had been impressed with the first-crop by Ducimus during our sale inspections.”
Consistent filly Paris Calling put the finishing touches on a rewarding start for Ducimus with two wins and two placings in four starts during the winter season at Belmont. “She will be set for the 3yo feature races for fillies in the spring,” trainer Trevor Andrews said. “Ducimus is going well and this one is a lovely, tough filly.”
Winning jockey Shaun O’Donnell was just as positive about the future for Paris Calling after her second strike in June. “That was easy. We got a lovely cart into the race and she won with the handlebars down.”
Rivercrest Park resident God Has Spoken (Blackfriars) also enjoyed a successful late-season surge with 2yo gelding Ancient Guidance. He won for the third time in his last five starts at Belmont on Saturday banking a total of $194,670 for owner Scott Kirkup.
Rivercrest Park was the only stud to have two active stallions on the WA 2YO sires table in 2022-23. Ducimus stands for $4,400 and God Has Spoken for $3,300. Both fees (jnc GST).
