New Group Three Winner Choisir

Choisir added a new stakes-winner to his tally when improving colt Rockshaft (2c Choisir x Bella Jewel, by Rory's Jester) scored a dashing win in the Group III SAJC Marsh Breeders Stakes at Morphettville on Saturday. Rockshaft was sent across to Adelaide by Robert Smerdon after breaking his maiden in facile fashion at Wodonga by three and a half lengths on February 21, the gamble paying dividends with the handsome chestnut racing up on the pace to win the 1200 metre sprint by a long neck. A homebred for Peter Howell and his family, Rockshaft is the first foal of the smart Rory’s Jester juvenile winner Bella Jewel, who was also bred and raced by the Howells and is a half-sister to stakes-winner Marveen and stakes-placed Stoneblack and Jestajewel. Bella Jewel is from the immediate family of Group I winning filly Danglissa tracing back to legendary broodmare Dark Jewel, the dam of Golden Slipper winner Baguette and Group I stars Cabochon and Heirloom. Bella Jewel has a weanling colt by Fastnet Rock and was covered last spring by Rock of Gibraltar. Rockshaft is the 27th stakes-winner for successful sire Choisir and is one of nine winners by him from Rory’s Jester mares. The cross proving successful with four of those nine winners being stakes horses with Rockshaft joining the ill-fated stakes-winning sprinter Battlefield as well as stakes-placed Jesse’s Girl and Silent But Deadly. Choisir also featured in New Zealand where his three year-old son Historian (3g Choisir x Cyclonic, by Marauding) ran a brave second to the favourite Jimmy Choux in the Group I New Zealand Derby over 2400 metres. Historian, a $40,000 from the NZB Select Yearling Sale is yet to run a bad race with two wins, four placings and a fourth from just seven starts with prizemoney of $417,125.