Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
For this instalment of The Thoroughbred Report's ‘Stable Tours’ series, we spoke with Troy Corstens, who trains alongside his father, Leon Corstens and Will Larkin, under the Malua Racing banner. Malua Racing operates out of stables at Flemington and Geelong, while also utilising its facility, Malua Bangtail.
As is standard for this series, TTR AusNZ asked Corstens if any first-season sires have progeny that have impressed the stable. “I’ve got two stallions that I’m very happy with at the moment,” Corstens shared.
Troy Corstens | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I’ve got a couple of colts by King’s Legacy; both are very sharp, and one’s particularly good.”
Among the King’s Legacy colts purchased by Malua Racing is an unnamed colt from the Lonhro mare, Laugh A Little. This colt received a significant pedigree update last Saturday when his half-sister, A Little Deep (Deep Field), was victorious in the Listed Chautauqua S.
The colt was purchased for $100,000 by Yorker Lodge from the Holbrook Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
King’s Legacy | Standing at Coolmore
Another King’s Legacy colt in the Malua Racing stable is from the Denman mare, Duhallow. Duhallow won twice and is the dam of Listed Furphy Trophy S. winner, Princess Duhallow (Shalaa {Ire}).
This unnamed colt was a $160,000 purchase by Redwall Bloodstock from Riversdale Farm's draft at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. He was later reoffered at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale but did not meet his $250,000 reserve.
Corstens is also impressed with the progeny of Rosemont Stud’s Hanseatic. “I’ve got a couple of Hanseatics that I like. They’re both quite forward, and I expect them to be racing before Christmas.”
“I’ve got a couple of Hanseatics that I like. They’re both quite forward, and I expect them to be racing before Christmas.” - Troy Corstens
Malua Racing has a Hanseatic colt out of the Redoute’s Choice mare, Vocalise, who won as a 2-year-old and was fourth in both the G2 Magic Night S. and the G3 Sweet Embrace S. Vocalise hails from the family of multiple Group 1 winner Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).
The Hanseatic colt was bred by Corstens alongside Flemington Bloodstock and Harvey Racing and Breeding. Corstens also bred the second Hanseatic, a filly from the late Starcraft (NZ) mare, Sell In May (NZ).
The filly comes from the family of G1 Coolmore Classic S. victress Aloha (Encosta De Lago), the dam of Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Libertini (I Am Invincible), as well as her full brother Hawaii Five Oh, a dual Group 3 winner who is also Group 1-placed and has begun his stud career at Vinery.
Talented colts
On Saturday, Corstens' promising colt Aardvark (Capitalist) is set to resume in the Listed Poseidon S. at Flemington. As a 2-year-old, the son of Capitalist claimed victory in the Listed Talindert S. at the same venue and finished third in the Listed Debutant S..
Corstens outlined Aardvark's campaign: “He’ll run on Saturday. Aardvark has come through everything well. I’ve given him quite a few trials. He didn’t handle the wet track at Cranbourne, but he trialled really nicely at Flemington."
Aardvark | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
He continued, “I know where our next step will be; I’m going straight into the Danehill S., and the Coolmore Stud S. is where I’m aiming."
Another exciting colt in the Malua Racing stable is Bittercreek (Snitzel). The well-related colt won the G2 Spirit of Boom Classic as a 2-year-old and placed in the G1 JJ Atkins S. over a mile.
The son of Snitzel also placed in the Listed Valley Pearl S. and the Listed Talindert S., finishing fourth in the G2 Sires’ Produce S.
“I know where our next step will be; I’m going straight into the Danehill S., and the Coolmore Stud S. is where I’m aiming.” - Troy Corstens
Corstens shared the plan for Bittercreek: "He'll kick off in the G2 Danehill S. He trials again this coming Friday and will then head to that race. I reckon he's a 1200 to 1400-metre horse at this stage, so that's the plan for the spring – to stay in that range."
He added, "Bittercreek will run in the Danehill, then the Coolmore Stud S., and finally the Sir Rupert Clarke S. After that, we’ll make a decision on his autumn campaign."
Warhorse continues as several promising runners emerge
Despite not having won a race since the G2 Ascot Gold Rush in 2022, The Astrologist (Zoustar) is the kind of horse every owner dreams of. The 8-year-old has taken his connections around the world, placing in top races like the G1 Al Quoz Sprint S. and the G3 John of Gaunt S. at Haydock in England.
The son of Zoustar has also placed twice in the G1 Newmarket H. and G1 Goodwood H., in addition to winning eight races and earning nearly $3 million in prizemoney. Corstens revealed that The Astrologist will contest the G2 Bobbie Lewis S. on Saturday, saying: “He’s been the stalwart of the stable and has been fantastic.
The Astrologist
“If I could have a few more like him, it’d be great. He’s always been consistent. He does need to win again as it’s been a while, but he’s always racing against top sprinters and is doing a really good job.”
Corstens also spoke about Baraqiel (Snitzel), a half-brother to G1 Australian Oaks winner Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun), who is also raced by Nathan Bennett’s Bennett Racing.
Baraqiel has won his first four starts and finished third in his latest outing. Corstens said, “Baraqiel is a very promising horse. He’ll run on Saturday, and he’s won four from five.”
“Baraqiel is a very promising horse. He’ll run on Saturday, and he’s won four from five.” - Troy Corstens
The son of Snitzel is dual-nominated for Saturday, in the 1100-metre TAB We’re On and the G2 Bobbie Lewis S.
Another horse to watch is Lady In Pink (Pariah). Corstens remarked, “She’s a very promising mare for the spring. Supercilious, who ran on Saturday, is another nice horse, I think.”
The 4-year-old mare Lady In Pink, who holds a nomination for the $9.8 million Golden Eagle, has won four races over distances from 1200 to 2000 metres. Meanwhile, Supercilious (Written Tycoon), who won as a 2-year-old, placed in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley on Saturday.
Lady In Pink as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Supercilious was also placed in the G3 Sires' Produce S.. She is from the Listed Merson Cooper S. winner Golconda (Snitzel), who was placed in the G1 VRC Oaks and is the dam of G1 Rubiton S. winner Marine One and his full brother Cannonball (Capitalist), a Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed runner.
