War Legend (NZ)

We haven't seen a better prospect as a first season sire that shuttle sire Rip Van Winkle who serves his southern book at New Zealand's Windsor Park who has formed a strong alliance with international breeding conglomerate Coolmore with considerable success via Montjeu and High Chaparral and current rising star stallion Mastercraftsman.

Rip Van Winkle, a son of European champion sire Galileo, could prove best if our judgment is on the mark. From 37 colts and fillies that made our final list at Karaka Premier this year, a staggering 12 were by the freshman sire and, with other good judges admiring them as well, competition was hot for his progeny. However, we managed to secure three from the main book and two more from Select with our No.1 pick this colt which possessed all the right physical traits expected from the internationally-proven Galileo x Danehill cross.

The dam of this half brother to four previous winners is a Danehill daughter of Australasia's 1996-97 Champion juvenile filly Good Faith which has succeeded at stud with two high class sprinters Tully Dabe and Mygoodgrace. This is the famous Hollingsworth family developed in England which produced last year's English Oaks winner and one here not too long ago either - 2009 AJC Oaks and NZ 1000 Guineas winner Daffodil.

To our eye, this colt looks likely to come to fruition as an autumn 2yo and then progress as a potential Guineas horse. He simply exuded class and we, just as simply, had to have him and, luckily with many Hong Kong buyers missing because of the clash with Chinese New Year, we managed to secure him when in other years he would almost certainly been out of our league.