Veteran sire holds lead

Press, 25 February 1988, Page 35

Veteran sire holds lead

The veteran Australian sire, Century, whose son, Rubiton, was the star of spring racing across the Tasman, is clinging to a narrow lead on the Australian sires’ list with the season half completed. His stock have won just over sAustl.6 million, putting him $200,000 ahead of Sir Tristram which is shooting for his fifth Australian siring title in succession. Another New Zealand-based sire, Zamazaan, is third, his stock having earned just over $1 million and should

Beau Zam figure prominently in rich races coming up, such as the Tancred Stakes, he could yet top the list. Zamazaan, now a 22-year-old, has never been leading sire in Australia. Sir Tristram has had over 100 starters in Australia so far this season. This is the first time for several years however that he has not had a Group One winner, or the winner of more than $500,000, by this stage of the season.

Sir Tristram is credited with 28 Group One winners, more than any other stallion in the world. Among the mares in foal to Century this season is the former Riecarton mare, Butternut, which won the Moonee Valley Gold Cup two years ago and then ran fifth in the Melbourne Cup. She has a foal by True Statement, an American-bred and raced great-grandson of Star Kingdom through Noholme 11.