01 Sep See You Soon The Autumn Sun
Woodpark Stud’s star filly, See You Soon (Siyouni) has been retired after a short but glamorous career that included a fierce rivalry with filly Dame Giselle (I Am Invincible).
See You Soon was retired immediately after refusing to load for a barrier trial at Rosehill, after her scratching at the gates for last month’s Group 2 Silver Shadow Stakes (1200m).
She was to start favourite in that event in what would have been only her sixth race start.
She debuted with a victory in the Kirkham Plate (1000m) defeating Dame Giselle, then running second to that filly in the Golden Gift (1200m) at Rosehill.
She then came back after Christmas in her two-year-old year and kicked off her Group 1 Golden Slipper (1200m) campaign with a second, again to Dame Giselle, in the Group 2 Reisling Stakes (1200m). She then went on to finish eighth behind Farnan in the Slipper.
A third placing in the Group 2 Percy Sykes Stakes (1200m) was to be her last start and she will retire with earnings of just under $404,000.
Jean Dubois, trainer of the filly, said the morning of the trial that she will be retired and sent to Arrowfield for a date with young stallion, The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice).
“It’s a bit quick but it’s September now and we can’t waste any time, which is why after the first time she refused (in the Silver Shadow) we made some inquiries about who would be the right stallion for her and she’s going to be served by The Autumn Sun,” Dubois said.
There was some understandable frustration from Dubois and the rest of the team at Woodpark Stud.
“It is a shame with a filly like her and, of course, we could have spelled her but I don’t want to wait another year by trying again.
“We are happy with this mating as Galileo can give her a bit of stamina, which never hurts, and of course he is by a champion in Redoute’s. He will be commercial and he has all you need to be a good stallion and the mating is good.”
Dubois does all the matings personally at Woodpark Stud and has achieved some remarkable results since settling in Australia.
“We go through all the mating’s ourselves and it takes a long time but it is something you have to put the time in to get it right.
“We use a mix of stallions and really try to give our mares the best possible chance.”
See You Soon is by French stallion Siyouni (Pivotal) and is out of the Cherokee Run mare, Soneva. Soneva has been an excellent producer with this filly as well as The Blue Eye (Dubawi), who is a four-time Listed winner. Evason (Galileo) and Julian Rock (Invincible Spirit) are also some of the imported progeny Dubois has trained here in Australia.
