Almanzor’s son Iberian Ruler hasn’t taken long to break his maiden from his new quarters.He was an easy winner over a middle distance at Lismore in his third appearance from Annabel Neasham’s stable after beginning his career with John O’Shea.Our homebred Iberian Ruler travelled boldly in fourth spot and one off the fence before rider Michael Hellyer urged him forward 700 metres from home.They took control at the top of the straight and waltzed clear to win by three and a-half lengths.“It was a big step up in distance for him, he hadn’t run over 2000 metres since April and we were a bit worried about the ground, but he ran really well and it’s a great result,” stable representative Craig Purcell said.Iberian Ruler was initially purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock for A$70,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and was subsequently secured for $70,000 by Go Racing when reoffered at New Zealand Bloodstock’s Ready to Run Sale.He is a son of the late Encosta De Lago mare Spring Venture who is out of the G2 Waikato Cup winner Lovetrista, a three-quarter sister to the G1 Spring Champion Stakes winner and sire Viking Ruler and to stakes winners Diamond Like and Kempinsky.

The well-related Call Me Al returned to competition in fine style on his home track.He was presented in tip top order by Ascot Park trainer Jo-Anne Dalton and the son of Almanzor raced up to his looks with a breakthrough victory over 1600 metres.He settled well off the pace and powered home from last at the top of the straight in the hands of Samantha Wynne to score in his first appearance for six months.We bred Call Me Al and congratulations to the Harper and Kilkelly families, our good friends who race the four-year-old.He is a son of the Fastnet Rock mare Sure Enough and she is out of a sister to the G1 Belmont Futurity Stakes winner and sire Whywhywhy and the family of the G1 Santa Anita Oaks winner Crisp.We also bred and sold a brother to Call Me All for $42,000 to John Corcoran at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale.He later realised $220,000 as a yearling at Karaka where he was offered by Grangewilliam Stud and purchased by Andrew Campbell Bloodstock and Busuttin Racing while we sold our Almanzor-Sure Enough filly to Queensland’s KPW Bloodstock earlier this year for $150,000.

Improved underfoot conditions at Taupo provided the ideal stage for Geriatrix to showcase his talent.The homebred son of Almanzor had started a short-priced favourite when fourth on debut last month at Avondale where he struggled in the heavy going.It was a different story on a good deck at Taupo for the Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained colt and he won with authority over 1300 metres in the hands of Warren Kennedy.Geriatrix settled a little worse than midfield before improving widest near the turn and lengthened stride impressively in the straight to be dominant on the line.“He improved a lot both mentally and physically between runs,” O’Sullivan said.“We would have been disappointed if he hadn’t have done that, he had been working like he would win.”Geriatrix has now earned a $12 quote for next month’s G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas with a decision pending on a trip to Christchurch.We sold the colt at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka where he had widespread admirers and was knocked down to agent Bruce Perry for $675,000.He is a son of the Showcasing mare Its Our Showtime, who is a half-sister to the G1 Railway Stakes winner Inspirational Girl and the family of Group winners Demonetization, Midnight Styling, Zingaling and Midnight Blue.Its Our Showtime, whose first foal Proscenium Arch has been a winner in Melbourne, recently produced a brother to Geriatrix.