Leading syndicator Scott Darby loves Perth and no wonder after banking almost $5 million with star sprinter Overpass who is unbeaten in three starts at Ascot since April last year.
Overpass has won the first two editions of The Quokka (1200m) and a G1 Winterbottom Stakes in Darby Racing’s colours and they could be seen to advantage once again next Saturday, October 5, when Irish-bred stayer Iowa (Galileo) runs in the LR Kalgoorlie Cup (2300m).
There’s another Darby Racing link with WA through Geisel Park stallion Winning Rupert (pictured) who sired brilliant debutant Dashing Rupert to win the Doyles Seafood Restaurant Maiden (1000m) at Goulburn on September 13.
Trained by Annabel Neasham & Rob Archibald, Dashing Rupert went out a $1.30 favourite and had lengths to spare under a kind ride by Alysha Collett in Darby’s silks.
“He took time to mature and we don’t know the level of that field but you can’t do more than win the way he did,” Darby said. “He won a couple of barrier trials at Warwick Farm last month but it’s safe to say he saves his best for raceday.
“I was a part-owner in Winning Rupert and he was an absolute weapon on the track. Bjorn Baker said he’s the fastest horse he had ever saddled.
“He broke two track records in his first five starts and then trained on to win the (G3) Vo Rogue Plate at Eagle Farm.”
On the flipside, Darby has mixed emotions with Dashing Rupert’s dam Ringstrasse (Redoute’s Choice). She’s a winning three-quarter sister to Snitzel and was a $65,000 buy at the 2019 Inglis Digital Sale from Duncan Grimley’s Glastonbury Farms.
Ringstrasse was catalogued with a positive to Hellbent but slipped that foal and then missed to him the following year at Yarraman Park. Dashing Rupert and a colt by Time To Reign followed before Ringstrasse missed in 2022 and 23 off return November covers by Time To Reign.
A Snitzel-line sire standing at Kingstar Farm, Time To Reign’s first yearlings averaged seven times a $9,900 service fee at the majors this year. They’re forward types and include Darby Racing’s 2yo colt Crown The King who was placed in an 850m Randwick trial on Monday for Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott.
Ascot trainer Luke Fernie purchased Winning Rupert (Written Tycoon) in March and transferred the 10yo stallion from Queensland to Geisel Park. Fernie sealed the deal a few weeks after Winning Rupert’s brilliant 2yo filly Madhi Girl was runner-up to his gelding Big Shots (Sizzing) in the RL Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200m) at Pinjarra.
Geisel Park is standing Winning Rupert ($8,800), Manhattan Rain ($8,250) and All American ($4,400) alongside newcomer Aysar ($8,800) this season. For bookings or further information, contact stud manager Conor Dunlop on 0447 434 735.
