Kia Ora Stud is thrilled to celebrate a career-defining performance by homebred entire Tropicus, who reached new heights with his victory in the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate (1100m) at Caulfield on Saturday.
Already a winner on three occasions, including two Group 3 victories, Tropicus delivered on his promise at the elite level with a performance of authority and class. Carrying 58.5kg and partnered by Craig Williams, he travelled strongly throughout before accelerating clear in the final stages to secure a decisive win.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud and Don & Judy Kelly, Tropicus is raced in the stud’s iconic blue silks and has secured his place at Kia Ora Stallions, where he will stand alongside Leading Second Season Sire Farnan, Captivant and Prague at the conclusion of his racing career.
By Too Darn Hot, Tropicus is out of Extensible, a Group-performed mare also bred by Kia Ora Stud. Extensible has produced two winners from two runners and is by Exceed and Excel, another graduate of the farm.
“The Oakleigh Plate has long been recognised as a stallion-making race, with the likes of Fastnet Rock, Snitzel, Starspangledbanner and Russian Revolution all on the honour roll, so for Tropicus to add his name to that list is extremely significant,” said Kia Ora Stud’s Bloodstock and Breeding Manager Shane Wright.
“What made his victory even more compelling was the authority of the performance. He carried 7kgs more than Snitzel and 6.5kgs more than Starspangledbanner when they won the race, yet still recorded the fastest winning time of any of those stallions on the Oakleigh Plate honour roll. He also ran faster than last year’s winner, Jimmysstar, despite conceding 4kgs. That speaks volumes about his natural speed and toughness.”
“He’s shown ability from the very beginning, winning on debut as a two-year-old, before progressing to claim Group victories at three and four. He has also been remarkably consistent, regularly featuring in the placings in some of Australia’s most competitive sprint races, which is exactly what you want to see in a high-class stallion prospect,” Wright concluded.
