It’s been a little while coming, and his opportunities haven’t been vast, but the stakes winner has arrived that Bombora Downs stud hopes will spark the interest to back their belief in their stallion Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs).
Winnasedge, a first-cropper for his rising 12-year-old sire, claimed Saturday’s Sir John Monash Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) at Caulfield to end a tantalising wait for Bombora and the four-year-old’s connections, after his two previous Group placings amid 16 starts.
Cliff’s Edge, who won two Group 2s and two Group 3s from 30 outings, has only had 22 runners from three seasons of starters.
This comes amid a neat 50 per cent winners to runners after essentially only two seasons of runners, since only two starters came in his debut season of two-year-olds, and with most of his stock hitting the track at three.
Cliff’s Edge’s first crop is tracking at 55.55 per cent, with 10 winners from 18 starters, while his second has provided just four runners so far, for one win.
And as a Danehill-free stallion - who’s also the only son of Canford Cliffs (Tagula) standing in Australia - Cliff’s Edge makes strong outcross appeal at his 2026 service fee of $6,600, says Bombora Downs owner Christoph Bruechert.
“It’s early days still and he’s not had that many runners, but I do think he’s a good stallion,” Bruechert told ANZ News.
“He did enough with his first few runners for me to think he’s a good horse. Whether or not we get to find that out is probably out of my hands at this point, but the only thing holding Cliff’s Edge back is opportunities.
“At one stage he was running at 66 per cent winners to runners for his first crop, which is good going. Now it’s at 55 per cent, which is still good going.
“There’s lots of stallions who get good opportunities and in large part the mares make the stallion. Cliff’s Edge probably hasn’t had enough runners to make me really think this, but in my guts I think he’s one of those horses who upgrades mares. He’s had very limited opportunities, but he’s done a good job.”
Cliff’s Edge joined Bombora Downs in the third of his six stud seasons so far, after two years at the now defunct Cornwall Park. After covering just 15 mares in his first two springs at the Mornington Peninsula farm, he served 23 in 2024 at $3,300 - and at a fertility rate of 90 per cent. The success of his earliest runners led to a fee doubling last spring, when he covered 17 mares.
While he’s still only had three two-year-old runners in total, first-croppers including Winnasedge, Escarpa and Verona Rupes - all now city winners - were quick to hit their straps on debuting as spring three-year-olds.
“It’s looking like his stock are early three-year-olds, as opposed to two-year-olds,” Bruechert said.
“At one stage he was running at 66 per cent winners to runners for his first crop, which is good going. Now it’s at 55 per cent, which is still good going
“They’ve taken a little bit of time to mature, obviously, and the market’s hard on that. But he’s getting them over the right distance. His winners have pretty much all been between 1000m and 1600m, mostly around the 1200m mark, so that’s the distance our market seems to like.
“The market does like them precocious. We can’t say his stock have been terribly precocious, but they’re worth the effort.
“I’m a big believer in winners to runners, and with what he had early on, he’s been ticking that box. At one stage he had nine winners from about 13 starters. Most stallions in their first crop struggle to get 50 per cent.”
Cliff’s Edge debuted as a May two-year-old, and scored three of his stakes wins at three, ranging in distance from Caulfield’s Manfred Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) to Moonee Valley’s Alister Clark Stakes (Gr 2, 2040m). Verona Rupes has hinted at the stallion’s versatility as his only winner beyond 1600m, also scoring over 2040m at Moonee Valley.
Bruechert’s farm operates at the lower end of the budgetary scale, with six sires whose “primary function” is to service the mares of those stallions’ owners.
“The market does like them precocious. We can’t say his stock have been terribly precocious, but they’re worth the effort
But he expects that first stakes victor Winnasedge will spark an increase in interest from commercial breeders in his sire for the coming spring.
That will bump up further if the gelding - who’s now won six of 16 starts including four in Melbourne city class - can score another black type win in the race identified by his trainer Nick Ryan for his next start, the Bletchingly Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield on July 25.
“There’s two markets - the commercial market and then not much else after that,” Bruechert said. “The breed-to-race market has been diminishing over the last 20 years, to the point where there’s not a lot of it left, and the commercial market is extremely rigid. You don’t have to be far off the radar to be off the radar.
“But having a stakes winner should help Cliff’s Edge’s commercial appeal. I’m expecting a few bookings this week because of that.
“Plus, he’s never been expensive. We’re not giving him away, but I’d rather have the mares than the dollars.
“He’s got a bit more to do to attract more commercial interest. But from a breed-to-race point of view, he looks like one of the best horses on offer around the place, from a value for money perspective.
“And I would’ve thought that for commercial breeders, if they’ve got a mare and they haven’t decided which stallion to send him to, and they don’t want to spend much money, I think he’s worth a punt.”
Winnasedge pedigree
Show
Winnasedge pedigree
Pedigree information supplied by Arion Pedigrees
Bay or Brown Gelding
Foaled in 2021
Cliff's Edge
Sire
Anuddawinna
Dam
Canford Cliffs
Simulation
Magnus
Silver Jubilee
Tagula
Mrs Marsh
Snaadee
Wodgina
Flying Spur
Scandinavia
Quest For Fame
Jubilee Miss
Taufan
Marju
Danzig
Verbatim
Danehill
Snippets
Rainbow Quest
Sovereign Path
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CLIFF'S EDGE (AUS) (Bay 2014-Stud 2020). 8 wins-1 at 2-1200m to 2040m, A$1,181,860, MVRC Alister Clark S., Gr.2, Schweppes Crystal Mile, Gr.2, MRC Caulfield Classic, Gr.3, Manfred S., Gr.3, 2d MVRC Schweppes Crystal Mile, Gr.2, MRC PB Lawrence S., Gr.2, Moonee Valley Vase, Gr.2, VRC CS Hayes S., Gr.3, 3d MRC Bletchingly S., Gr3. Half-brother to SP Delago's Lad (2d VRC Maribyrnong Trial S., L). Sire of 22 rnrs, 11 wnrs, inc. SW Winnasedge (MRC Sir John Monash S., Gr.3) and of Escarpa, Verona Rupes, Marilyn's Edge, Edges Diamond, Mainmankash, Dr Davinci, Acantilado, Cianwood City, I Will Shine, Just Cliffy, etc.
1st dam ANUDDAWINNA, by Magnus. Unraced. Half-sister to Imperial Command. Dam of five named foals, four to race, three winners, inc:- WINNASEDGE (g by Cliff's Edge) 6 wins. See below. Needawinna (f by Trust in a Gust) 2 wins at 1000m, 1100m in 2025-26 in Aust. Prevention (f by Vino Rosso) Winner at 1200m in 2025-26 in Aust.
2nd dam SILVER JUBILEE, by Quest for Fame. Winner at 1400m, VATC Silvermoor H. Half-sister to CANNIBAL KING, Southern Poet. Dam of 11 foals, 8 to race, 4 winners, inc:- Imperial Command (Commands) 6 wins from 1200m to 2100m, A$233,403, MRC Slickpix Cup, WATC Westspeed Stayers' Bonus H., 2d MRC Kenvain H., 3d Kalgoorlie Cup, L, MRC Yalumba Masters H., Corps of Commissionaires H., MVRC CFMEU Albert Littler H., Albany Cup. Fixed Bayonets. 3 wins from 1100m to 1850m, STC Randwick Labor Club H., 2d AJC Coogee H., 3d AJC Cadbury Dairy Milk H. Mokobaesi Miss. 5 wins to 1400m, 3d MRC Denise's Joy H. Dam of- Next Generation. 6 wins-1 at 2-to 1200m, A$232,357, WATC Perth Racing Membership 2YO P., Fifth Leg H., James Boag's Premium H., 2d WATC Get the Tabtouch P., Perth Cup at Ascot Raceday 2YO P., CBUS Super H., 3d WATC Amelia Park 2YO P., Perth Racing Newsletter 2YO P., Tabtouch P., Sell Lease Property 2YO P. Monarch's Reign. 3 wins at 1600m in Aust. Silver Convention. Placed in Aust. In God's Name. Placed in Aust. Windsor Beacon. Placed in Aust.
3rd dam JUBILEE MISS, by Sovereign Path. Placed in Aust. Dam of 11 named foals, all raced, 7 winners- CANNIBAL KING (Clear Choice) 5 wins-1 at 2-to 1400m, A$157,325, MVRC CS Hayes S., Gr.3, VATC Vain S., L, AJC City of Sydney RSL Bowlers 2YO H., 2d VATC Blue Diamond Prelude, Gr.3, Australian Racing Writers' P., 3d VRC Ascot Vale S., Gr.2, Victoria Racing Club S., Gr.3, VATC Blue Diamond Prelude, Gr.3, Autumn Sprint H., L, STC Bookmakers H. Southern Poet (Galveston) 6 wins to 1200m, 2d SAJC Foundation SA Trophy H., L, Crown H., Kymwood H., VATC Sandown Sprint H. Cinnamon Cove. 17 wins-1 at 2-to 1400m, A$184,035, VRC Flying Spur H., VATC Highland H., Future H., Tontonan H., 2d AJC PH Osborne 2YO H., STC Victoria Barracks 2YO H., BTC Transcontinental Hotel H., Qld Tatt's RC Express Post H., VATC Attley H., 3d AJC WN Parry-Okeden H., BTC Air Traffic Controllers H., Might & Power H., VATC Sovereign Red H., Century H. Jubilee Poet. 7 wins to 1400m, SAJC Toltrice H., Newmarket H., 2d SAJC Chievely H., 3d AJC Nile H. Miss Windsor. 5 wins to 1200m, A$82,551, AJC Lawsons H., STC PDL Electrical Products H., Parkroyal H., 2d MVRC Kirks Mixers H., STC Padstow H., Beverley Park H., 3d STC Dahlia H., AJC Tails H., STC Veilmond H. Dam of- Long Walk. 2 wins-1 at 2-at 1000m, 1200m, MVRC Essendon Honda H., Peter Murphy 2YO H., 2d MVRC Dominant 2YO P., City Pacific Finance Doncaster H., Tabaret After the Last H., MRC Shame 2YO H., 3d MRC Ken Hilton 2YO H., MVRC Membership Join Now H. Dam of- UATE (Ad Valorem) 4 wins-3 at 2-to 1250m, A$335,425, ATC Skyline S., Gr.3, Bronte 2YO H., Membership on Sale H., 2d ATC Sires Produce S., Gr.1, Maurice McCarten S., L, Canterbury Classic, L, Sharp Fly H., 3d Gosford RC Takeover Target S., L, ATC Kari Aboriginal Resources H., 4th ATC Lightning H., L. Rorke's Drift. 4 wins to 1200m, A$95,175, SAJC Pewsey Vale H., 2d VRC Fiesta Star H., 3d VRC Flemington 1840-2012 H., Tauto H. Deakes - The Situation (Sing.). Winner at 2, Otago RC Speight's Cider Young Gun 2YO S. Walk This Way. 4 wins to 1400m, 2d MVRC City Jeep Renegade H. Strong Values. Winner at 2, 3d WATC Westspeed 2YO H. Windsor Lodge. 5 wins to 1300m, 2d MRC Northwood Plume H. Coronations. Winner at 1250m, 3d MVRC Puckle Street Newsagency H. Dam of- Queen of Choice. 4 wins to 1400m, WATC Young Membership H., Sponsor a Race H., 2d WATC BBC Entertainment H., Non Race Day Functions H. Dam of- OWN THE QUEEN (Awesome Rock) 5 wins from 1400m to 2400m, A$505,570, WATC Western Australian Oaks, Gr.3, Ascot One Thousand Guineas, L, Natasha S., L, Lexus of Perth H., 2d WATC Starstruck Classic, L, MCA Polytrack H., 3d WATC Detonator S., L. Ortum Krisp. 3 wins from 1150m to 1600m, 3d WATC Furphy H. Raptor. 4 wins-2 at 2-from 1000m to 1800m in Korea. Nicole Windsor. 3 wins-1 at 2-from 1000m to 1700m in Korea. Daegun Mama. 2 wins at 1200m, 1400m in Korea. Cheonji Sinhwa. 2 wins at 1300m in Korea. Silver Jubilee. Winner. See above. Birdcage Walk. 4 wins from 1400m to 1600m, 2d VRC Poitrel H., STC Fort Denison H. Hannibal Lecter. Placed in Aust. Miss Poet. Placed in Aust. Dam of- Zero Point. 5 wins-1 at 2-from 1300m to 2600m, A$91,390, AJC Turf H., Futures H., 3d AJC McGrath Holden H., STC Nivea Visage Girls Day Out H., Hahn Premium Light H., Sydney Business Connection H., 4th Queensland Cup, L. Poetic Racer. 3 wins at 1000m, 1200m in Aust. Feu d'Artifice. Placed in Aust. Producer. Cheap Thrill. Raced once. Dam of- King Size. 11 wins in Philippines.
4th dam GET SET, by Stupendous. Winner at 1¼m. Half-sister to Arrival. Dam of 7 foals, all raced, 3 winners, inc:- Track Royal. 8 wins-1 at 2- in GB and Norway.
5th dam
Get There, by Gratitude. Winner at 2, Epsom Ladas S., 3d Epsom
Acorn S., L. Half-sister to FORTUNE'S DARLING, GALLOP ON,
Arrival (Henry the Seventh) 3 wins at 2, 3d Newbury St Catherine's S., L. Dam of- Broken Date. Winner at 1600m in Aust, 2d Goodwood Priory Park P. Dam of- La Zanzara. Winner at 1600m in Aust. Dam of- Bonzara Gold. Winner at 1400m in Aust. Dam of- SHINTA MANI (Viscount) 8 wins from 1600m to 2300m, A$496,370, Kalgoorlie Cup, L, 2d WATC Natasha S., L. Producer.
Race Record: 16 Starts 6-1-3 A$558,240. 6 wins to 1200m, A$558,240, to 2025-26, MRC Sir John Monash S., Gr.3, VOBIS Gold Dash, Sportsbet H., Senet Gambling Law Experts H., 2d MRC Wagstaff Group H., 3d SAJC Tobin Bronze S., Gr.2, MVRC Red Anchor S., Gr.3, VRC Brian Beattie H. |
Bruechert said the “exceptionally well-mannered” Cliff’s Edge stamped his stock, physically and mentally.
“He’s a bit deceptive in size,” he said. “He’s a bit over 16 hands, but he’s neatly put together and quite well balanced, and doesn’t look so big.
“His progeny are in same mould - neat horses - which is what I personally like.
“He’s got a great temperament, he’s great in the shed and good in the paddock - he’s just a cool dude to work with. Anyone on the farm can go up and catch him.
“And his progeny, from the dealings we have with them up until yearling stage, they’re in the same sort of mould.
“He’s a good looking horse and his babies can run. There’s nothing to not like about him as far as I’m concerned.”
Bruechert said Saturday’s stakes victory for Winnasedge had brought a satisfying piece of validation for the faith he’d had in his farm’s leading stallion.
“It’s a good start, so I’m very pleased with that. To do what he’s done off the numbers he’s had has been pretty damn good,” he said.
“Right from his first runners, I have felt pretty confident about the horse, though I was starting to think, ‘When’s it going to happen?’
“I do believe in him, but I’m only one man, so I’ve got to get other people to agree with me. But results like Saturday’s should help.”




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