Dusk Falls

This time last year we acquired a lightly framed horse named Gallic Chieftain. He raced a few times for OTI owners in France before coming to Australia with the Cups horses last spring.

Under the tutelage of Darren Weir, Gallic Chieftain has started his career in Australia superbly with his latest win being the Listed Winter Cup at Rosehill on July 1. He will now aim at feature spring races.

Dusk Falls is a very similar type to Gallic Chieftain. This 3YO grey gelding has performed exceptionally well in his career to date and appears to have all the credentials necessary to be a top stayer in Australia. After taking three races to reach his right distance range, he has proven to have all those credentials we seek for a top Australian stayer. He is the essence of a quality equine athlete.

Standing at around 16.1hh, Dusk Falls is a relatively lightly-framed grey individual. He has sound limbs, although a touch light of bone.  His feet are excellent. He has a deep chest cavity with a strong front end.  Like so many stayers, he looks a little light behind. He possesses a lovely temperament.

When racing, Dusk Falls can break quickly.  He has a high cruising speed but can sprint off the bend. It is a galloping action best described as efficient, with a stride of medium-to-long length.  He shows characteristics that will enable him to handle all racing surfaces.

From his last eight race starts, Dusk Falls has won two and finished 2nd twice.  In the first three races as a 2YO, the horse was at journeys well below his talent. At his first start as a 3YO at 1900m, he ran 2nd. He then ran a very promising 5th at 2100m before winning his next two starts at 2500m. In his last start, he finished well into 2nd over 2800m.

By the son of Galileo, New Approach, out of the Pivotal mare, In the Mist, Dusk Falls is exceptionally well bred. His pedigree shows that this is a classic European-family, littered with Group 1 performers.

Dusk Falls’ stallion, New Approach, was a Derby winner in England before going on to be a top sire.  Although still early in his breeding career, he has already produced over 30 stakes winners including the Group 1 winner, Dawn Approach.

In the Mist, a three-time winner has had three foals, all of which have been winners.  Her dam, Kenmist was a champion mare producing group performers including Group 1 winner Grey Lilas, who in turn is the dam of Golden Lilac, a winner of three Group 1 races.

The predominantly grey-coloured family is full of horses that have shown both speed and staying characteristics. It is evident that Dusk Falls has been the beneficiary of both characteristics.

Dusk Falls arrived safely to Australia in July and moved down to Darren Weir’s Warrnambool stable around mid-August. He has settled in very well there, with Darren reporting that he is already doing plenty of distance work through the sand combined with some swimming/surging as part of his work routine. He is doing everything asked of him at this stage of his preparation in good style.

The objective is to bring the gelding along slowly with the view of getting him to the races towards the end of the spring carnival. Given that he should have a rating around 85, we will allow him to progress through his classes through 2017 before spelling.

In the Autumn, we would hope that he would follow a very similar path to Gallic Chieftain, whereby the end of the Autumn, he could be seriously considered as a spring horse in the better-quality handicaps.

Given the quality of this horse and the opportunities that present for him in Australia, we believe he is an exceptional purchase.