Aussie Stakes Double for Choisir

Choisir started the new Australian racing season in the best way possible with a two state stakes double, Uxorious (6g Choisir x Shiny Mai, by Keltrice) taking the Group III SAJC Spring Stakes in Adelaide and Kid Choisir (5g Choisir x Friendly Seas, by Mister C) saluting in the Listed WATC Belmont Newmarket in Perth. Warrnambool trained sprinter Uxorious made a successful hit and run raid to Adelaide on Saturday, scoring a commanding win. The Matthew Williams trained speedster has been in hot form over the winter and made it three wins from his past four starts, when he stormed clear to take the 1200 metre sprint by two lengths from Periduki. Passed in shy of his $35,000 reserve at the 2006 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Uxorious has now won seven out of 13 starts earning $287,088 and is from the Keltrice mare Shiny Mai. Although unplaced herself, Shiny Mai comes from good stock as her dam is a half-sister to Group II winner Muirfield Village and comes from the family of world champion sprinter Black Caviar along with Magnus, Scandinavia and Wilander. Already a stakes-winner having won the Listed Wangoom Handicap at Warrnambool back in May, Uxorious is the first Australian stakes-winner of the new season for Choisir, who was super popular with breeders last spring covering 211 mares including Shiny Mai, the dam of Uxorious. Former brilliant juvenile Kid Choisir recaptured his best form, improving on two recent second placings to take the Belmont Newmarket over 1200 metres by the best part of a length. Now trained by Alan McNamara, having started his career with Frank Maynard, Kid Choisir has the overall record of seven wins and five seconds from 19 starts with prizemoney of $379,450. A $40,000 purchase from the Lomar Park Stud draft at the 2008 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Kid Choisir is one of two winners for the Mister C (USA) mare Friendly Seas, who has a yearling filly by Choisir and is due to foal to Rock of Gibraltar this spring. Friendly Seas hails from Fred Peisah’s fabulous Social Smile (GB) family, her grand-dam Sea Holly, the dam of dual Group I VRC Newmarket Handicap winner Razor Sharp, Group II winner Steel Blade and stakes-winner Sail to Glory. Choisir stands this season at a fee of $33,000, while his champion son Starspangledbanner will cover his first book of mares at a fee of $44,000.