WOW! Lots to write about from recent racing over in WA, right at home at Wenty, down at The Meadows and over in NZ.

First, Sunset Spitfire (Mepunga Blazer-Sunset Jessie by Fabregas) continues to stamp himself a huge young stud influence for Dave Hobby who has three in next week’s G2 WA Derby.

The standout, of course, is Sunset Frazier (Sunset Spitfire-Sunset Octavia by Fernando Bale) already runner-up in The Sandgroper and a finalist in the G1 Perth Cup.

Dave Hobby continues to impress as a designer of pedigrees. He was one of the first to link Fernando Bale and Barcia Bale.

When Sunset Spitfire retired to stud, he was always going to be a MUST for all those daughters of Fernando Bale waiting for him in Dave’s kennel.

That’s because Sunset Spitfire’s dam is by Fabregas and he and Fernando Bale have already proven themselves to have such a fabulous “nick”, proven often to G1 level.

But, Sunset Spitfire, being a grandson of Barcia Bale, was also going to bring in the proven cross with Fernando as well.

But, when Dave put Sunset Octavia to Sunset Spitfire, it also introduced a 2x2 of Sunset Jessie and Push It the dams respectively of Spitfire and Octavia. They are both bred on the Bombastic Shiraz/Collision cross, Bombastic Shiraz balanced via son and daughter, and Collision through two daughters.

Dave also put Pixie Monelli (Fernando Bale-Sahannah Monelli by Barcia Bale) to Sunset Spitfire and it has produced a fine litter headed by Sunset Hornet who won in 29.71 at Cannington on Saturday night and is twice a Listed finalist.

Again we brought in the proven Fabregas/Fernando Bale “nick” but this time Dave produced a litter with a 3x3 double and balance of Barcia Bale at the top and bottom of the pedigree. It is a 3x3 balanced theme found in such greats as Token Prince (to Waverly Supreme), Worth Doing (to Temlee) etc.

UP AT Wenty, Saint Trico (Hard Style Rico-Mascot Miss by Fabregas) was putting his hand up as a top class prospect when winning in 29.60 for Andy and Jodie Lord.

He is yet another of the progeny of Hard Style Rico out of a daughter of Fabregas. Others include The Phoenix winner Schillaci and G1 placed Ducati Roy.

The success of this match is based on the 4x4 of littermates, Path To Power and Witch Magic (Awesome Assassin-Star Witch). We all know bringing in littermates can upgrade for racetrack success.

DOWN at The Meadows on Saturday night, Vicki Wisener produced This Train (Aston Rupee-Imminent Reality by Knocka Norris) to win in a flying 29.86. It was his second win in three starts.

Rupee was always going to be able to produced offspring of this class … and better.

What should make all breeding enthusiasts take note is the 4x2 cross of littermates Elite Oriental and Knocka Norris.

This Train has legend Paua To Burn as his 4 th dam.

WAY over in NZ, Chief Dribble led throughout to win the G2 Kingston Cup and Opawa Susan proved too strong in the G1 NZ Oaks last Friday.

Chief Dribble (Shima Shine-Slinky Inky by Oaks Road) is the current boom NZ stayer. His damline is that of Barry Smith’s “Mepunga” family. In fact, Chief Dribble is almost a brother to Barry’s latest G1 star Mepunga Shine (Shima Shine-Mepunga Molly by Fernando Bale).

Chief Dribble and Mepunga Shine, are of course, both by Shima Shine. But they also have Mepunga Diva in their direct damline the third dam of both. Of course, they all trace back to Benji’s Babe a half sister to legend Brett Lee.

Opawa Susan (Fabregas-Our Anna by Barcia Bale) was impressive winning the NZ Oaks.

Her 2nd dam is Token Kay who is bred on the Big Daddy Cool/Token Prince cross.

This is hugely successful when linked to Fabregas.

Proven examples of this include No Donuts (G1 Sale Cup, G1 Temlee etc).

The powerful cross here is between Bearability (sire of Fabregas’ 3 rd dam) and Big Daddy Cool who are bred on an identical cross.

Others with the Fabregas/Big Daddy Cool cross include He’s Gifted (G2 Qld Futurity, 3 rd G1 Melb Cup), Comacho (3 rd G2 Maitland Cup, finalist G1 Peter Mosman), Shot Clock (top class Alb Pk performer), Are Jip (multiple Group placed), etc.