Redoute’s Choice, who has trailed Encosta De Lago and Street Cry for most of the season on the leading sire’s list, has virtually got up in the last few strides to snatch victory in the shadows of the post.

A remarkable achievement for the son of Danehill who defeated Encosta De Lago for the title with Lonhro edging out Street Cry for third place.

Of the top six sires by money earnings, five were Australian bred which speaks volumes for the locally bred product.

There have been lots of changes in breeding methods since the early sixties when imported sires were the dominant factors while the local product was shunned.

Breeders became disillusioned about the local sire when Heroic failed to produce a son anywhere near his own image.

Heroic was an outstanding racehorse besides he topped the sire’s list in seven successive years his sons that followed let him down rather badly.

His son Royal Step did sire the great mare Flight. That was really his only worthwhile contribution while Ajax sired the dual Derby winner Magnificent.

He never trained on at four but there could have been  an excuse for that he did have to contend with Bernborough at weight-for-age and that would have  tested even Phar Lap.

After that episode with Heroic breeders were only looking for imported blood.

They were not prepared to gamble with the local product in the fear it would reduce and underline the value of their mares.

The tide turned in the mid sixties when Stanley Wootton threw caution to the wind installing Todman at stud in the lush Hunter Valley.

Wootton quickly sensed there could be a resurgence to the locally bred sire as Patrick Concannmon was doing so well in South Australia with Matrice.

Redoute’s Choice is almost 14 years of age, do we look for one of his numerous sons now standing at stud as a likely successor.

It has been an extraordinary sire line over numerous generations to Polymelus but with time all wells will run dry.