Return To Conquer retired
Unbeaten Group 1-winning two-year-old Return To Conquer (Snitzel) has been retired from racing and is set to embark on a stud career.
Purchased by Te Akau principal David Ellis for $1.3 million from Blue Gum Farm’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, Return To Conquer remained unbeaten in four stakes appearances.
His perfect record boasts victories in the Counties Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1100m), Colin Jillings 2YO Classic (Gr 3, 1200m), Matamata Slipper (Gr 3, 1200m) and a highlight win in the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m).
“We thought he was the best Snitzel colt in the sale when we bought him,” Ellis said. “He turned out to be a terrific colt. Unfortunately, he’s not been able to race at three, but he’s by the right sire and has the right pedigree to make a stallion. There are a few parties interested in standing him.” Co-trainer Mark Walker praised the colt’s talent and professionalism.
“It was the first time in my 30-year career I started a two-year-old in a Listed race,” said Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson.
“Every one of his starts were in stakes races and to win them all shows the calibre of horse he was. We thought he was well up to Melbourne class, hence we took him to our stable at Cranbourne, but he injured himself in his first jump-out in the spring.
“He has an unbelievable temperament and is very clean-winded. I think he’ll make a high-class sire; he reminds me of Sword Of State.”
Return To Conquer is out of unraced Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Vaujany – a sister to dual stakes winner Ghisoni (Lohnro).
The colt’s granddam is three-time stakes winner and Group 1 placegetter Portillo (Red Ransom), making him a relative of last season’s Creswick Stakes (Listed, 1200m) winner Renosu (Exceed and Excel) and Group 3 scorer Larkspur Run (Shamardal).