Breeding & Racing Magazine

1st Winner For Ampulla Sire Moscow Ballet

Victoria's Ampulla Lodge-based Irish-bred 9YO stallion Moscow Ballet (Sadler's Wells-Fire The Groom, by Blushing Groom) recorded his 1st winner with his 1st-runner when 2YO colt Pure Blue scored by 10-lengths on debut over 1000m in Rome. Moscow Ballet (a 3/4-brother to Coolmore-owned former NZ Cambridge Stud shuttler Stravinsky) won the 2004 UK Listed Hampton Court Stakes (10 furlongs) at Royal Ascot & also placed in both the 2003 UK Gr2 Royal Lodge Stakes (8 furlongs) at Ascot & 2004 US Gr1 Secretariat Stakes (10 furlongs) at Arlington Park; he then raced in Hong Kong in January-February 2005 before a 6-months spell & 8 starts in Australia. Moscow Ballet retired to stud in 2006 at Italy's Allevamenti della Berardenga, where he stood 2 seasons (his oldest Northern Hemisphere progeny are now 2YOs) before beginning duties at Ampulla. He covered 51 mares last season & is due to stand at $3,300 this year.