FIRST FOR BUSHRANGER

And so it begins! Bushranger has produced his first winner in Europe, justifying his favouritism for the Champion First Season Sires’ title. Following is a report from Racing Post.

Eliza Park shuttler, Bushranger, became the first of this year’s European freshman sires to produce a winner after his daughter Outback Lover, won at Wolverhampton on Wednesday.

Ridden by Darren Egan, the Stan Moore-trained filly made all to win by a length and three-quarters from first-timer Memory Styx, a daughter of Clodovil.

Bushranger stood his first season in 2010, following two seasons on the track which included a pair of juvenile Group 1 victories - in the Prix Morny and Middle Park Stakes - earning the son of Danetime the title of champion juvenile in England and France.

Bought as a yearling for 100,000gns, Bushranger’s yearlings have been equally well-received, with five selling for six figures in 2012. Jeremy Noseda parted with 220,000gns to secure his most expensive offering, a Tattersalls Book 1 colt out the Polish Precedent mare Polish Belle.

Wednesday’s win justifies the favouritism bestowed upon Bushranger after Stan James opened their leading first-season sire market.

Stan James’s Joseph Burke said: “It’s been all one-way money since we opened the betting last Friday and Bushranger is now 11-8 clear favourite, from an initial quote of 9/4, in the battle for the first-season sire title by number of individual winners.

“He’s been the only stallion backed into any significant degree in the prize-money list, from 8/1 into 6/1.

“It’s early days yet though and it's a long way to go until November 9, but he’s made a decent start.”

Go you good thing!