Oratorio was a top class racehorse
Avontuur Thoroughbred Farm’s world leading sire Oratorio was represented by his 41st individual stakes winner when She’s Complete won the 1600m Oak Tree Juvenile Fillies Turf at Del Mar last Monday.
On Saturday Oratorio’s son Mourinho ran a cracker to finish runner-up behind The Cleaner in the A$250 000 Gr2 Dato Tan Chin Nam Stakes run over a mile at Moonee Valley.
The Del Mar success means that it is a second year in a row that the race has fallen to an Oratorio filly – with Clenor having won it in 2013.
Formerly based in Ireland, the talented 2yo She’s Complete has now won or placed in three of her four outings.
She is the latest high-class 2yo sired by Oratorio – also the sire of exceptional juveniles Banchee (Champion 2YO Filly), Gp1 Dewhurst Stakes winner and runner up Beethoven and Fencing Master, and King Torus (Gp2 Superlative Stakes, Gp2 Vintage Stakes), as well as the juvenile stakes winners Cape Factor, Clenor, and Viztoria.
Oratorio’s success as a top sire of 2yos comes as no surprise as he was an exceptional juvenile himself.
His four victories at two included the Group 1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere and he also ran second to champion Shamardal in the Group 1 Darley Dewhurst Stakes.
Oratorio’s six stakes winners in 2014 include G1 Hong Kong Gold Cup winner Military Attack and graded winners Orator’s Daughter (Gr3 Jacaranda Handicap) and Scream Blue Murder (Gp3 Phoenix Sprint Stakes).
A triple Group 1 winner and European Champion, Oratorio’s offspring have earned over $33 million in prize money to date.The son of Danehill covered his first South African book last season, and his first local foals have been delighting all breeders lucky enough to have them.
Oratorio, who stands at Avontuur for a 2014 fee of R100 000, has produced some stunning foals and will cover a quality book again this season.
