Vault: 2018 Melbourne Cup, My Redeemer

BY the time the 2018 Melbourne Cup came around, David and Rose Geall were looking for a bit of revenge.

Their champion sprint bitch Up Hill Jill had taken on a super field of Cup hopes the year before, never once got into the race, and finished last behind Aston Dee Bee.

Up Hill Jill's baby brother My Redeemer (Fernando Bale-Where's Demonica) had come up with the rails and despite going off as third favourite, the box draw put him right into the race.

And he didn't let the Gealls down.

But, he had to hold out the favourite and superstar Black Opium first … and he did.

Following were dogs like Group greats She's Gifted, West On Augie, Degani, Poke The Bear … you get the picture.

Having already been a Group 1 star, and from the same mother of champion Up Hill Jill, My Redeemer didn't have to win the Melbourne Cup to make him a stud dog. He won it anyway, running away in the straight.

By the time David and Rose pulled the plug on his racing career, he had won 25 races and $669,000.

His brothers Fernando Drums (31 wins, $64,000) and Emerald Rainbow (28 wins, $111,000) could run “a bit” as well.

My Redeemer was popular at stud. Being one of the first sons of Fernando Bale to get his chance that was always going to happen.

In 2021, he is the sire of the winners of $1.8 million in stakes at a winners to runners strike rate of 18 percent, better even than his own father.

More and more of My Redeemer's progeny are getting to Group races and they are mostly showing great strength … just like their dad did running away from his Melbourne Cup rivals.

His standouts include Tiger Town (3rd G3 WA Young Star Classic) and hot Qlder Excuse Me Jack (Tville TR, 3rd G3 Tville Cup) and his litter brother Redemption Day (Eq TR Tville), Time For Peace (Pink Diamond Rookie), Whatever I Say (finalist G3 Destini Fireball), Fire Cloud (2nd WA-Brad Cship), My Redeem (3rd G3 SA Oaks), Idolize (finalist G3 Great Chase), Jimmy's Decision (finalist G3 Mandurah Cup, G3 WA Young Star Classic, the Listed The Peter Thomas, WA-Bred Cship), Sunshine Delight (Listed Rising Stars) and Unsee This (2nd G3 WA Young Star Classic).

Redeemer's stud fee will rise to $2750 in January.