When a pedigree combines high profile imports Last Tycoon (IRE) and Kenmare (FR) with daughters of Golden Slipper winners Marscay and Vain it’s no surprise when the resulting foal has tons of class and plenty of speed. Winner of the Silver Slipper-Gr.2 at two, Written Tycoon lived up to his pedigree and is now carving out a successful career at stud in Victoria.
JUST 20 years ago Last Tycoon (IRE) became the first shuttle stallion to be crowned Champion Australian Sire, thanks in no small measure to his brilliant son Mahogany, Horse of the Year in 1993-94. However Last Tycoon was no one-horse wonder and his legacy is a lasting one, thanks to the continuing success of progeny from his high class sons and daughters.
Despite the dominance of the Danehill male line, Last Tycoon’s male line is still making its presence felt in Australasia, thanks to his son O’Reilly in NZ and grandson Written Tycoon in Australia. Last Tycoon’s title win in 1993-94 was followed by the Danehill (USA) era, that son of Danzig winning his first local sires’ title in 1994-5. He would win eight further times up to 2004-05, split in two successive seasons by Zabeel (NZ) (1997-1999). Danehill’s sons Redoute’s Choice (2005-06, 09-10), Flying Spur (06-07), Fastnet Rock (11-12) and Exceed and Excel (12-13) have continued this domination in the past decade, with a break for Encosta de Lago’s back-to-back titles (2007-09) and Lonhro’s win in 2010-11.
Although he is a grandson of Northern Dancer, as is Danehill, Last Tycoon and his line have proved a good match for Danehill blood and have also worked well with a variety of other sire lines, helping to keep the line active in current pedigrees. Written Tycoon (Iglesia-Party Miss by Kenmare (FR)) has played a vital role in this story and he now stands at Woodside Park in Victoria after a major share was purchased in 2013. The sale put the young sire’s value at $3m.
The handsome chestnut, who stands 16.1½ hands, began his career at Eliza Park in Victoria on a modest fee ($8250) in 2007 and became Leading Australian First Season Sire in 2010-11. In fact from 14 juvenile runners in Australia and NZ he had six first crop winners and from the 89 foals in that first crop he has now had 71 runners for 51 winners (158 wins) of $4.9m.
It’s pretty hard for a horse to make such an impact off a low fee base, but first crop youngsters such as Gr.1 placed Masthead, Written Consent and Trump pushed their sire ahead of much higher profile rivals to land the first season honours with five winners of $644,700, ahead of Ad Valorem (USA), Nadeem and Red Dazzler. This success has continued in subsequent seasons and in this season he is in the top 40 Australian sires with 59 winners of $2.12m (to mid-April).
His career stats are also impressive, with 106 winners from 171 starters (62%) for earnings topping $7.8m and a winning distance index of 1206m. His oldest runners are five this season and his record is sure to improve given the better quality mares sent in the past couple of seasons. He covered 107 mares at Eliza Park Queensland in 2012 on a $15,400 fee and 138 on his return to Victoria in 2013 ($13,750), while his biggest book was in 2010 when he got 198 mares.
Written Tycoon has five stakes winners led by Gr.2 winner Howmuchdoyouloveme (dam by Celtic Swing), winner of the MRC Caulfield Sprint-Gr.3, Healy Stakes-Gr.3, BRC Lightning-LR and Ramornie Handicap-LR. The BRC Gunsynd Classic-Gr.1 winner Trump (Black Minnaloushe) has also won more than $HK1m since being exported, the multiple Listed winner Grand Tycoon (Grand Royal) has won 10 races in Tasmania and multiple Listed winner It is Written (Danehill Dancer) has also placed at Gr.2 level. He’s a recent stakes winner in Victoria as is Written Up (Octagonal), winner of the Bendigo Guineas-LR in March.
Stakes placed runners by the sire include Masthead (Redoute’s Choice), who was third in the Blue Diamond-Gr.1 and fourth in the Golden Slipper-Gr.1 before export to Singapore where he has also been successful, Andre Roo Hoo (Flying Spur), runner-up in the Maribyrnong Plate-Gr.3, Prestigious Miss (Honor Grades), runner-up in the Hawkes Bay Guineas-Gr.2, Write Cheek (Jetball), Written Consent (Octagonal), Anelene (Bellotto), Alezan Thunder (Thunder Gulch), Gaps in Me Knees (Kenny’s Best Pal) and Press Report (Dolphin Street). He also has good winners from daughters of Mighty Avalanche, West Point, Keltrice, Marscay, Groom Dancer, Palace Music, Danehill Dancer, Flying Spur, El Moxie, Shovhog, Honours List, Toy Pindari, Omnicorp, Encosta de Lago, Jetball and Desert Sun.
Several of his better runners include inbreeding to Marscay, Vain and Kenmare and to noted broodmare Best in Show (grandam of Last Tycoon’s sire Try My Best and also fourth dam of Redoute’s Choice). Written Tycoon also appears effective with mares featuring the blood of Sir Tristram, Star Kingdom, Danehill and that horse’s sire Danzig.
Bred by Daandine Pastoral Company in Queensland, Written Tycoon won on debut at Randwick at two for trainer Grahame Begg, coming from fifth on the turn to score by 2.25 lengths, running the 1100m in 1:04.25. It took a good youngster to beat him next start when he was second to outstanding filly Fashions Afield over 1200m at headquarters, with the likes of subsequent Golden Slipper winner Stratum, Manton and Media in his wake. He scored his biggest win at his third start when he had a length to spare over Domesday and with Flying Pegasus, Dr Green and Jet Spur next in the Silver Slipper Stakes-Gr.2 at Rosehill. Once again he came from third at the turn to run 1:11.98 for the 1200m on a dead track.
At three Written Tycoon resumed in the San Domenico Stakes-Gr.2 (1000m) at Randwick, coming from well back to be runner-up to Media (1.25 lengths) and with subsequent Oakleigh Plate winner Snitzel in third and Stratum fourth in 57.47. He was also second in the Satellite Stakes-LR (1100m) at Canterbury, beaten a length by Crimson Reign, and he also ran fifth in The Shorts-Gr.3 (to Bentley Biscuit). He retired with two wins and three seconds in 11 starts for earnings of $289,325.
His sire Iglesia (Last Tycoon (IRE)-Yodells by Marscay) also came out of the blocks flying, winning his first three starts at two, culminating with success in the Silver Slipper-Gr.2 and also running fourth behind Prowl in the Golden Slipper-Gr.1. As an older horse he won the Standish Handicap-Gr.3 down the Flemington straight 1200m in a course record 1:07.16 by 2.5 lengths and retired with six wins. Iglesia, a son of the VRC Wakeful Stakes runner-up and VRC Oaks-Gr.1 third Yodells, a daughter of Golden Slipper winner Marscay, was bred by Geoff and Beryl White’s Bhima Pty Ltd and initially raced in their colours.
Yodells won four races and is a sister to Listed winner Yodelay and half-sister to Gr.3 winner Burglar of Bamff and is a daughter of the Paris Review (USA) (by Noholme) mare Yodelling Lady and Alpine Pass by Bogan Road (a son of Wilkes (FR)). His fifth dam Fairy Dream is a daughter of Star Kingdom (IRE) and Yodells is inbred 3mx4mx5f to this champion sire. After his good juvenile year, Iglesia was unraced at three and later sold. Iglesia created headlines on January 1, 2001 when his new connections landed a huge plunge on the speedster when he won the Standish Handicap in record time. A winner of six races (1100m-1300m) and with four thirds in 20 starts for earnings of $472,501, Iglesia retired to Neville Stewart’s Oaklands Stud in 2001 on a $6000 fee.
Unfortunately his stud career was brief and he left 289 winners from 455 starters (63.5%) for earnings topping $20m in just six seasons, the final two at a fee of $22,000. His 11 stakes winners included the Gr.1 winner Nova Star (Luskin Star), winner of seven races and almost $900,000. Others with black type winners were Helideck (Prince Salieri), Humma (Western Symphony), Sanderson (Fuji Kiseki), Diamondsondinside (Semipalatinsk), Foolish (Black Zephyr), Lebrachaun (Runyon), Lucky Leak (Tsarbaby), Ramiro (Kaoru Star) and Sophia Babe (Ashkalani). Iglesia was put down in December 2006 after developing laminitis as a result of breaking a back leg the previous month.
He was a son of outstanding racehorse and sire Last Tycoon (Try My Best-Mill Princess by Mill Reef), a triple Gr.1 winner who was able to transmit that talent in the breeding barn, leaving 730 winners (72SW) of more than $112m. To Australian racegoers he is remembered as the sire of Horse of the Year Mahogany (19 wins, eight at Gr.1 level and $3.98m including the AJC and VRC Derbys, Lightning Stakes (twice) and Caulfield Guineas), one of the key runners who ensured Last Tycoon was Leading Sire in Australia in 1993-94.
There were other stars in the south too including Tracey’s Element (AUS) (four Gr.1 wins in South Africa, and dam of Australian 2009-10 Horse of the Year Typhoon Tracy), Triple Gr.1 winner Tycoon Lil (NZ Oaks, Canterbury Guineas), Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 winner Lady Jakeo, NZ Gr.1 winner and champion sire O’Reilly, South African Gr.1 winners Tytols and Super Sheila, Blue Diamond Stakes-Gr.1 winner and sire Knowledge and AJC The Galaxy winner and sire Magic of Money.
Last Tycoon also sired Hong Kong Gr.1 winner Privilege (10 wins and $2.8m), Japanese 1000 Guineas winner Arrow Carry as well as European Gr.1 winners like Poliuto (sire), Lost World, Taipan, four-times Gr.1 winner Bigstone (IRE) (sire), triple Gr.1 winner Ezzoud, Lady of Chad (Prix Marcel Boussac) and St James’s Palace Stakes-Gr.1 winner and English Derby runner-up Marju (IRE), a very successful sire in Europe.
Last Tycoon’s sire, the Dewhurst Stakes-Gr.1 winner Try My Best (Northern Dancer-Sex Appeal by Buckpasser), is a brother to dual classic and Dewhurst winner El Gran Senor and they are grandsons of the US Broodmare of the Year Best in Show. Last Tycoon’s dam, Mill Princess, won in France and is a half-sister to the Irish Derby winner Irish Ball and to Irish Bird (Sea-Bird), the dam of Assert (Irish Derby, sire), Bikala (French Derby, sire) and Eurobird, Irish St Leger, third Irish Oaks). Last Tycoon’s second dam Irish Lass (Sayajirao-Scollarta by Niccolo dell’Arca) won the Prix de Minerve and is a sister to classic winner Lynchris (Yorkshire Oaks, Irish Oaks, St Leger). Last Tycoon’s eight wins included the King’s Stand Stakes-Gr.1 (5f), Sprint Championship-Gr.1 (5f) at York and the 1986 Breeders’ Cup Mile-Gr.1 (8f, his first attempt beyond 1000m) for owner Richard Strauss and trainer Robert Collett. Last Tycoon has also become an influential broodmare sire.
Last Tycoon was voted Champion Sprinter of Europe and Co-Champion Miler (both at three), he won eight of his 13 starts. He stood his first season for Coolmore in Ireland in 1987 and was Leading Freshman Sire in Europe, began stud duties in Australia in 1989 and Japan in 1995. He also spent a season in NZ. He died at Arrow Stud, Japan in retirement, aged 23 after standing at a number of farms there.
City winner Party Miss, the dam of Written Tycoon and three other winners, is by French 2000 Guineas winner and twice Champion French Sire Kenmare (FR) (Kalamoun-Belle of Ireland by Milesian), who came to Australia as an older horse but still left the flying Keltrice and Kenvain (bred on the same Kenmare/Vain cross as Party Miss) plus the likes of Kenfair (from a sister to Marscay), Baryshnikov, Joie de Grise and Kenbelle in the south.
His daughters have left 800 winners of $166m and their 72 stakes winners include 12 at Gr.1 level, notably the Australian sprint champ Virage de Fortune, Hong Kong star Helene Pillaging, current star Boban, Brazilian Horse of the Year Sal Grosso and Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Lit de Justice (by El Gran Senor). Kenmare is inbred to the family of flying filly Mumtaz Mahal and her sire The Tetrarch, both transmitters of speed.
Next dam, the good city winner Miss Entertainer, is by Golden Slipper winner Vain, whose sire Wilkes (FR) appears twice in the pedigree of Written Tycoon, the other link being Bogan Road. One of Miss Entertainer’s daughters, Loyal Lyric (Sovereign Red), is the dam of dual Gr.1 winner Anthems (Palace Music) and grandam of triple Gr.1 winner Yell (Anabaa).
Next dam Viveza is by champion sire Better Boy (IRE) and from good winner Emerald Fire (Summertime (GB)-Tiffany by Mid-Day Sun). Written Tycoon’s sixth dam is Gr.1 winner Stretto (NZ) (Hunting Song (GB)), an outstanding performer whose wins included the Welcome Stakes and Railway Handicap in NZ and Warwick Stakes in Australia.
She is a half-sister to champion High Caste (NZ), winner of 35 races including the Epsom Handicap, Caulfield Guineas, C.F. Orr Stakes and Linlithgow Stakes (three times). This is family number 18 and it came to Australia with the arrival of great foundation mare Manto (GB) in the mid-1820s. The purchase of Written Tycoon is part of a new business plan for Woodside Park, which is now under the control of owner Mark Rowsthorn and has experienced bloodstock identity Murray Tillett as bloodstock manager. “The biggest change has been to alter the nature of the business from that of a private farm to a commercial one,” Tillett said.
“The acquisition of Written Tycoon to stand at Woodside has been a massive step forward on the breeding side and is a horse who has been immensely popular with Victorian breeders and this popularity has seen Written Tycoon become one of Australia’s hottest stallions via the deeds of CAPITALIST,RICH ENUFF,LUNA ROSSA,MUSIC MAGNATE,HOWMUCHDOYOULOVEME,SUPER CASH,TYCOON TARA,WINNING RUPERT etc.
The Colt purchased is from the Woodman mare Our Hollywood Miss who herself has produced 3 winners from her only 4 foals to race including the Metropolitan winning filly Silk And Diamonds. He comes from an absolutely outstanding family that includes the likes of Champion Mare RESEARCH who won no fewer than 4 GROUP 1 races including the AJC Derby,AJC Oaks,VRC Oaks,AJC Flight Stakes AND also won the GROUP 2 VRC Wakeful Stakes AND the STC Storm Queen Stakes. RESEARCH was voted an Australian Horse Of The Year and a Champion 3YO in Australia and was multiple GROUP 1 and GROUP 2 placed. His pedigree also boasts speed via a GROUP 1 VATC Blue Diamond winner in BLAZING SADDLES who also won the GROUP 2 VRC Maribyrnong Plate and GROUP VATC Merson Cooper Stakes, IMPEDE who won the GROUP 2 STC Storm Queen Stakes and the GROUP 3 AJC Surround Stakes as well as SHACKLE who won the VATC Tranquil Star Stakes-GROUP 3,the LISTED VRC Dalgety Bloodstock Stakes and LISTED VATC Heath Stakes as well as placed in such races as the VRC Oaks-GROUP 1,Australasian Oaks-GROUP 1,VRC Edward Manifold Stakes-GROUP 2 and also the VATC One Thousand Guineas-GROUP 1.
There are multiple horses through all dams having either placed OR won at GROUP or LISTED level as we can see via the Colts pedigree and more recently we have seen important pedigree updates that include the recent addition to Black Type via Duke Of Brunswick and in January saw another Metropolitan winner at Caulfield via Princess Of Queens both of whom are trained by our trainer in MICK PRICE. Mick knows the family and knows just how tough the family is-a quality that is all important in producing success and enjoyment on the track which we hope will be in store for everyone when this guy makes his future race track debut!
