From Cologne to Colac

Anteros, from a pedigree point of view, is the most interesting winner of the weekend. The German-bred gelding comes from a European royal family, as we noted in a story we filed on The Thoroughbred website in February 2009, which we reproduce below following Anteros’ win at Caulfield on Saturday. The picture is of Anteros as a yearling in Germany.

How does a member of Germany’s thoroughbred royalty find his way to the western district of Victoria? The story starts in Port Lincoln when tuna fishing magnate-cum-racehorse owner Tony Santic asked his bloodstock agent, John Foote, to find a horse at the Baden-Baden Yearling Sales in Germany in 2005.

Foote, who bought the broodmare Tugela (in foal with Makybe Diva) for Santic at a Tattersall’s Sale in England, paid 100,000 euros (on current value: AU$193,650) for an athletic colt by leading sire Big Shuffle (USA) (h 1984, Super Concorde (USA)-Raise Your Skirts (USA), by Elevation (USA)) from the outstanding producing mare Aerleona (IRE) (m 1988, Caerleon (USA)-Alata (IRE), by Le Levanstall (IRE)).

Aerleona is the dam of five Stakes winners (eight winners from eight starters), including the outstanding multiple Group winner and promising sire Areion (by Big Shuffle). Germany is known for its preference for breeding stayers, but the Aerleona offspring, particularly Areion, are at their best over sprint distances.

Santic imported his German colt to Australia in October 2005 with the aim was to win a Group 1 and then stand the import at stud. The youngster was initially trained by Danny O’Brien, who didn’t give Anteros his first run until a 1200m maiden at Moonee Valley in December 2007, and the expectations were high as Anteros – despite being a northern hemisphere 3YO against local 4YOs and over – stepped out a $3.60 favourite, only to finish sixth. After a series of niggling problems, O’Brien was forced to spell the colt without another run.

Anteros returned in July 2008 to win a maiden first-up at Echuca, but the promise of better things didn’t eventuate, although Anteros was placed in his next three runs around the provincials. It was decided that Anteros wasn’t going to make a Group horse, or a stallion prospect, and he was offered for sale. The first interest came from Queensland but that fell through after Anteros pulled a hamstring finishing third at Cranbourne (1400m) on September 14.

In stepped former media man Anthony Mithen, whose new life in racing includes running the family property Rosemount Stud at Ceres, not far from Santic’s showplace farm, Makybe, just outside Geelong. Mithen, with encouragement from Colac trainer Mark Young, syndicated Anteros with a group of friends.

Young said he would only take the 5YO if the horse was gelded. The operation was completed and Anteros debuted for his new stable with a terrific late-finishing second behind Tis Folly, in a fast 57.86 secs for the 1000m, at Warrnambool on January 11.

Mithen has no visions of grandeur with his purchase. “We are expecting he will make Saturday city class,” he said. “Importantly, three or four of the blokes who took a share have raced four or five horses over the last 10 years and never had a winner until Anteros won at Terang.”

Mithen paid tribute to Young, who also trains the Newmarket Handicap contender Secret Flyer in which Mithen also has a share. “Mark was keen on Anteros as soon as he saw him. He wanted him gelded, and when the horse came to the stables, he made it a sackable offence if any member of the staff patted the horse,” Mithen said.

“Mark felt that a horse with his pedigree and history, had probably been pampered all his life, so it was a bit of tough love.”