Melbourne Cup Winner Protectionist Passes Away

by TTR AusNZ

Dual-hemisphere Group 1 winner Protectionist (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}–Patineuse {Ger}, by Peintre Celebre), who won the 2014 G1 Melbourne Cup for Australian Bloodstock, died recently at 13.

Australian Bloodstock, who raced Protectionist later in his career, said via X, “Sad to hear of the passing of 'our champ' Protectionist. A remarkable horse with such a strong character who meant a lot to so many people. #Lifechanger.”

Bred by Dr. Christoph Berglar, the bay won the G2 Hansa-Preis and G2 Prix Kergorlay for his breeder and trainer Andreas Wohler before being purchased by Australian Bloodstock. He later won the “Race That Stops A Nation” and switched stables to Kris Lees after that victory. Sent back to the Northern Hemisphere in 2016, he won three straight including the G2 Grosser Hansa-Preis and the G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin while under the care of Wohler, and retired to Gestut Rottgen with a record of 22-8-3-1 and $3,785,601 in earnings.

From four crops of racing age, the son of Broodmare of the Year Patineuse has sired 43 winners, including Group 2 winner Amazing Grace (Ger) and Group 3 winner Lambo (Ger). He also has two other listed winners to his name, as well as the G3 Silbernes Pferd third Lion's Head (Ger).

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Lastotchka Purchased By Australian Bloodstock With Melbourne Cup Aim

Multiple Group 3 winner Lastotchka (Fr) (Myboycharlie {Ire}) has been purchased by Australian Bloodstock and is under consideration for the G1 Melbourne Cup in November.

The 4-year-old filly most recently won the G3 Prix Gladiateur at ParisLongchamp earlier this month. She was raced by Ecurie Noel Forgeard, Pierre Bonnier, Earl Touchstone, Charles-Henri Bonnier and Philippe Stein prior to her acquisition. The daughter of Muthla (Fr) (Muhtathir {GB}) won the G3 Prix Belle de Nuit earlier in her career.

“We completed the deal last night,” Jamie Lovett of Australian Bloodstock told Racing.com on Wednesday.

“There's a few things to play out so we are leaving her in in Chantilly for more scans at the moment. She's passed the RV (Racing Victoria) trot-up and they've seen the X-rays so far.”

Of the former Jean-Marie Beguigne trainee's appeal, Lovett added, “We really liked the form. The thing that ticked the last box was that she's obviously won at a mile and a half but interestingly enough her two Group 3 wins were at 2800 metres and 3100 metres.

“She's bought for that race and she's come in with 51kgs. She's also good residual value as a multiple Group 3 winner with a lovely pedigree.”

Australian Bloodstock won the 2022 Melbourne Cup with Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), and he is currently top weight for the two-mile prize when the weights were released on Tuesday.

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New Energy To Continue Career in Australia

New Energy (Ire) (New Bay {GB}), the 40-1 runner-up behind Native Trail (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in the 2022 G1 Irish 2000 Guineas, will be gelded and will ultimately continue his career under the care of Ciaron Maher and David Eustace in Australia after being acquired by Jamie Lovett's Australian Bloodstock following a lengthy courtship.

Trained in England by Sheila Lavery for her brother John, the £65,000 Tattersalls Goresbridge breezer won his maiden at first asking in June 2021, his lone victory to date, but he has run with credit at group level, as he was eighth and not beaten far in last year's G1 St James's Palace S. while also finishing runner-up to Kinross (GB) (Kingman {GB}) in the G2 Park S. at Doncaster last September. Fourth as the 5-4 favourite on his seasonal return in the May 7 G3 Amethyst S. at Leopardstown, he was a latest third in the Listed Owenstown Stud S. at the Curragh May 21.

New Energy will be transferred to Harry Eustace and pre-trained in Newmarket before heading to Melbourne, where he will be trained towards a start in the G1 Cox Plate in the Australian springtime.

“He's probably the best performed horse we have ever bought,” Lovett told racenet.com.au.

“I think when we bought [G1 Melbourne Cup winner] Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}), he'd had 11 starts and run fourth in an Arc, this bloke has had 11 starts but run second in an Irish Group 1 classic, the 2000 Guineas, his form card is exceptional and we think with gelding and Maher/Eustace, we can find some improvement.

“He has been on everyone's radar. We couldn't get near him last year as the stable [Sheila Lavery] had stallion aspirations for him, but he's a 4-year-old now and we kept chasing him and finalised a deal last week, he was paid for on Tuesday.”

Lovett is comfortable that New Energy will pass the stringent veterinary examinations in Victoria.

“He was A1 on X-rays, scans and scopes, so we would have to be pretty confident he will pass all the tests that are required,” he told racenet.

Sheila Lavery told PA Sport: “They've been trying to buy him for over a year and in the end it just made economical sense for the owner to sell him.

“They've some very deep pockets and I was at a bit of a crossroads with him. It makes economical sense for the owner for him to go to Australia, so I'm delighted for John but heartbroken to see him go.

“I'm gutted. I didn't think I'd be as upset as I am, but it's the right thing and it's the right business decision. I've been very privileged and proud to train him.”

Ballylinch Stud's New Bay is the sire of three winners from as many to race in Australia, including the Chris Waller-trained New Mandate (Ire), winner of the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup this past April. New Bay's three top-level scorers include 3.6-million gns Tattersalls November seller Saffron Beach (Ire).

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Protectionist Colt Powers To Rising Stardom In Germany

Gestut Rottgen's homebred 2-year-old colt Aspirant (Ger) (Protectionist {Ger}–Aussicht {Ger}, by Haafhd {GB}), who holds an engagement in Krefeld's Nov. 13 G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen, went postward as the 16-5 second choice for Sunday's one-mile Preis der Holschbach Immobilien Gruppe at Dusseldorf and returned home with a 'TDN Rising Star' after disposing of his rivals in impressive fashion. Aspirant was professional from the gate and broke well to gain a narrow advantage going into the first turn. Comfortable on the lead throughout this debut, he was nudged along at the top of the straight and powered clear under urging inside the final quarter mile to easily outclass Alpenjager (Ger) (Nutan {Ire}) by an impressive 3 1/2 lengths.

“I'm a little bit surprised that he won so easily,” trainer Markus Klug admitted to GaloppOnline after welcoming back the first of his two winners on the card. “Even though his siblings [Akribie and Ariolo] were good 2-year-olds, he is a late-foaled son of Protectionist and didn't come into training until very late. So, of course, we have to be tentative with him at first.”

Aspirant is the fifth foal and scorer produced by a winning daughter of G3 Hamburger Stutenpreis victrix Anna Thea (Ire) (Turfkonig {Ger}). The April-foaled bay is a half-brother to G2 Diana-Trial winner Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}) and last term's G3 Herzog von Ratibor-Rennen runner-up Ariolo (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}). Descendants of Anna Thea also include this term's G2 Derby Italiano hero and G1 Grosser Preis von Berlin third Ardakan (GB) (Reliable Man {GB}), G2 Union-Rennen victor Aspectus (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), stakes-winning G1 Criterium de Saint-Cloud runner-up Willie The Whipper (GB) (Whipper) and G1 Preis der Diana (German Oaks) third Andrea (Ger) (Dashing Blade {GB}).

2nd-Dusseldorf, €7,000, Mdn, 9-11, 2yo, 8fT, 1:39.18, g/s.
ASPIRANT (GER), c, 2, by Protectionist (Ger)
1st Dam: Aussicht (Ger), by Haafhd (GB)
2nd Dam: Anna Thea (Ire), by Turfkonig (Ger)
3rd Dam: Anstandige (Ger), by Star Appeal (Ire)
1ST-TIME STARTER. O/B-Gestut Rottgen (GER); T-Markus Klug. Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, €4,200. *1/2 to Akribie (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), GSW-Ger, $123,658; and Ariolo (Ger) (Reliable Man {GB}), GSP-Ger. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.

 

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