Millstream Farm’s well performed young stallion Ato was represented by his first winner when his first crop son Opaque made a winning debut over 1000m at Borrowdale on Sunday.
Opaque defeated another Ato first-timer Tanganyika into third place.
Opaque, who was bred by Summerhill Stud, races for Newbury Racing –who raced the colt’s sire with such success.
Ato’s first winner has an interesting pedigree –he is not only by a son of Royal Academy in Ato, but Opaque is out of Angora, a daughter of Royal Academy son Tamburlaine.
To date, Ato has had six runners of which three have either won or finished in the money.
Bred by Maine Chance Farms, Ato was superb athlete, who banked over $1.6 million in prize money. The talented bay won nine times, with his wins including the 2012 G1 Krisflyer Sprint, where Ato’s beaten opponents included G1 Dubai Golden Sheehan winner Krypton Factor.
Ato was named Champion 4YO in Singapore for 2012.
He shares his Breeders’ Cup Mile winning sire Royal Academy with more than 160 stakes winners. A dual champion sire in Brazil, Royal Academy enjoyed G1 success all over the world, with his notable big race winners including Breeders’ Cup Mile hero Val Royal, 1000 Guineas victress Sleepytime, Sussex Stakes winner Ali-Royal, French 1000 Guineas star Zalaiyka, and dual Irish St Leger winner Oscar Schindler.
In South Africa, Royal Academy is best known as sire of July winning champion Eyeofthetiger and Cape Guineas hero Express Way, as well as Cheveley Stud’s exceptional broodmare Mystic Spring.
Ato is out of the top-class racemare Another Legend, who won six times including the G2 All Along Stakes.