3 minute read

The run of Magic Millions graduates in feature juvenile races has stretched to South Africa with exciting youngster Ottimo recording a Group 2 win at Clairwood.

A member of the Ivan Moore stable, Ottimo was awarded the G2 Umkhomazi Stakes after a successful protest against the horse first past the post in a highly competitive contest.

The win is the second in three starts for the son of Danehill's Irish bred son Oratorio and his first at black type level.

The colt, bred by Flame Tree Stud, was purchased by Andy Williams' World Wide Bloodstock for $65,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The win was a timely pedigree boost for his half brother by Choisir who is catalogued for next month's Magic Millions National Yearling Sale.

The colt is being prepared by Ashleigh Thoroughbreds and will in the Southern Cross Breeders draft.

Ottimo is one of two stakes winners for the 100 per cent winner producer Figure Of Eight - a well related daughter of Octagonal.

As well as Ottimo, Figure Of Eight is the dam of the South African G2 winner Eight Street, a seven time winner from the Charles Laird stable.

Like Ottimo, Eight Street was plucked by his South African connections from the Gold Coast sale ring for $40,000.

Figure Of Eight, who raced just twice, is a half sister to the Japanese based G2 winner Meisho Beluga.

Ottimo's sire Oratorio is now the sire of 19 individual stakes winners including NZ G1 winner Banchee and Australian stars Manawanui and Torio's Quest.