Quiet achiever Ustinov has made a great start to the new season, the Moorookyle Park Thoroughbreds resident represented by four winners in the last few weeks.
In fact four of the regally bred stallion's last ten runners have been winners – and winners of different types too.
Whilst talented mare Albonetti was able to win first
up over 1511m at Morphettville on Saturday August 16, Laconic Lad was
successful over 2200m at Bendigo.
Meanwhile two of Ustinov's tough New Zealand based sons Hunky Dory and Jack Romanov have won chasing events – putting on display the breed's durability, soundness and versatility.
The latter is a major factor with the Ustinov breed, the handsome bay represented by a unique double late last month with Jack Romanov winning a 4000m steeplechase whilst the promising Amun Ra was successful over 1100m at Waikiki.
The Lee Somervell trained colt, who was just two when winning just his second start, is highly regarded and has big aims.
"We've got a lot of time for Amun Ra," Somervell reported, "and I would like to think that he is a genuine prospect for the Guineas races."
"You wouldn't have thought he would make a two-year-old, but he's just gone from strength to strength," he continued.
"He can only get better and he has got a serious future."
Haslington is another of Ustinov's recent winners and what a great horse he has been for connections, the eight-year-old winning 13 races and finishing in the placings on a further 26 occasions from 91 starts.
"Ustinov's progeny are just so tough," enthused Moorookyle Park's Nioka Wozny who was proud to show off her favourite horse at the stud's recent open day.
"Everyone commented on how great he looks," she said of the 16-year-old who got up onto his hind legs to show off in front of the admiring crowd.
"He is in fantastic shape," Wozny said, "full of good spirits and extremely healthy."
Wozny is looking forward to her third season with Ustinov and has been very pleased so far with the stock he has been producing since returning to Victoria in 2012.
"He is a magnificent looking horse and he passes on his own attributes, including his presence, to his progeny," she said.
Group One placed at two and three, and a Group Two winner of the AAMI Vase on W.S Cox Plate day, Ustinov was high quality – which is not surprising considering his pedigree.
A horse who has sired a Group One winner, the Telegraph Handicap winner Vonusti, Ustinov is by Mr Prospector's outstanding son Seeking The Gold – sire of 91 stakes winners.
And his dam of course needs little introduction – Let's Elope, one of the greats of the Australian turf.
Successful off the track as well as on, the four times Group One winner produced six winners from as many to race – and four of those talented gallopers earned black type.
Whilst Yes I Will and Caught Courting were stakes placed, her last born son Outback Joe outstayed and out-toughed his rivals in this year's Group Two Adelaide Cup.
He is, along with the three times Group placed Let's Make Adeal – Let's Elope's granddaughter – being set for a spring campaign aimed at Flemington on that first Tuesday in November.
Ustinov stands the 2014 season at a fee of $4400 (incl gst).
