3 minute read

Gelding hands Written Tycoon ninth Group 1 winner.

Having finished an agonising second in last year's renewal of the Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m), the Toby and Trent Edmonds-trained Tyzone (6 g ex Rezonet by Hussonet) went one better on Saturday and in the process took Written Tycoon's (Iglesia) - who will stand at Arrowfield Stud in 2020 - tally of Group 1 winners to nine. 

Starting at $14, Tyzone charged down the middle of the track to beat Madam Rogue (Zoustar) by a head with a long head to Niccanova (Nicconi) in third.

Tyzone ran 1:20.43 seconds which broke the 1400 metre course record that had been set one race earlier by Rothfire (Rothesay).

The gelding was picked out of a field as a foal by Kenmare Lodge, who subsequently sold him for $60,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale in 2015 and the operations owner Kellie Bond told Racing And Sports Bloodstock that when the gelding was making up ground in the straight she feared he would meet the same fate as he did in last year's renewal. 

"About two furlongs out I started cheering and I thought, maybe it is going to be a repeat of last year, but he was pretty exceptional," said Bond. 

"We thought last year that the Group 1 would never be his, so it is a pretty big reward he has managed to win one. Everyone always thought he was up to Group 1 quality, but we weren't sure he was ever going to get lucky again - it is just amazing really.

"He probably has to win it the hard way, but it was incredible."

The win handed Cameron and Kellie Bond's operation - who've been preparing breeze-up horses for about a decade - with their first top-flight winning graduate and Bond could not hide her delight after the famous win.

"It's been a big thrill," said Bond. "We started business maybe ten years ago from a racing background and he was a horse we found in the paddock as a foal and we reared him. It's our first Group 1 graduate, which is great for us as we are only a small farm and it's a family business. 

"Tom Hedley, who owns the horse, has been a great supporter of ours and it was very deserving that he should get the Group 1 as he has been very good to us. There will be plenty of celebrations tonight!"

The victory also handed Trent Edmonds - who entered into a partnership with his father Toby this season - with his first Group 1 win. 

"I am just a johnny-come-lately but people like Dad slog along for years trying to win big races," he said.

"I am so thrilled for him. We felt Tyzone could win the Stradbroke after his second last year.

"We had looked at giving him a long spell but in the end he has raced in the spring and the summer.

"He isn't very big and when he got in with only 52kg we were really buoyant. But then he drew very wide and we were a bit deflated.

"People kept telling us not to worry about barriers at Eagle Farm and they were right."

Tyzone will now have a break before heading back south for the spring carnivals in Sydney and Melbourne.

"Who knows we might even be back for another Stradbroke next year," Edmonds said.

Tyzone is one of three winners out of three time-winning Hussonet (Mr Prospector) mare Rezonet, who is herself a half-sister to stakes-placed Spirit Eagle (Not A Single Doubt). 

The gelding's third dam is Group 2 winner Society Bay (Zephyr Bay) and she produced eight winners including Group 2 winner Society Beau (Bigstone) and Listed winner Sandblaster (Sandtrap), while she is also the grandam of Group 1-winning pair Irish Fling (Darci Brahma) and Final Destination (O'Reilly). 

Rezonet's three-quarter sister by Winning Rupert (Written Tycoon) was purchased by Mishani Enterprises for $30,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale and the mare died last year. 

Written Tycoon's other Group 1 winners include Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) Written By and Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Capitalist, who stand at  Widden Stud and Newgate Farm respectively. Of his 34 stakes winners nine - or 26 per cent - have won at Group 1 level. 

Written Tycoon will stand this season at Arrowfield Stud - in partnership with Woodside Park - and he will be offered to breeders at a fee of $77,000 (inc GST).