Category Archives: Premium Updates

Queensland Derby prospect for Purrealist

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Purrealist (Tale Of The Cat – Surrealist, by Kenny’s Best Pal) will have a chance to sire a Group 1 winner after Hawkspur (Purrealist – Mollyhawk, by Catbird) comprehensively won Saturday’s Group 3 Grand Prix Stakes (2200m) at Doomben.

The Grand Prix Stakes traditionally serves as a lead-up to the Group 1 Queensland Derby (2400m). Hawkspur also claimed the Group 3 Rough Habit Plate (2100m) on May 11 to press his claims as one of the favourites to win the June 8 feature.

Jim Cassidy rode Hawkspur for Sydney trainer Chris Waller. Cassidy gave Hawkspur a sweet passage on the back of the early leader Fiesty Belle (Casino Prince – Fientina, by King Of Kings) before striding clear over the final 300 metres to score a decisive 2-1/4-length win.

Waller said Cassidy’s handling of Hawkspur would be a key factor in the gelding’s bid to win the Queensland Derby in a fortnight.

“If Jimmy rides Hawkspur like that in the Derby he will win it,” Waller said. “Jim has ridden Hawkspur perfectly at his last two starts and he has won both.

“He is a horse we set for the winter and he has come up to the mark.”

Hawkspur is the sole stakes winner for Purrealist, who began his career at the Makybe Stud before moving to Chatswood Stud for the 2012 breeding season.

Purrealist will stand for $5500 (inc GST) in the 2013 breeding season.

Group 3 win for Casino Prince filly at Doomben

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Casino Prince (Flying Spur – Lady Capel, by Last Tycoon) filly Sookie (Casino Prince – Purple Blood, by Encosta De Lago) boosted her value immeasurably ahead of her upcoming sale with her success in Saturday’s Group 3 Glenlogan Park Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.

Sookie is part of the huge draft of racehorses, yearlings and broodmares that make up the dispersal auction for the troubled Patinack Farm organisation on the Gold Coast, which starts on May 27.

The three-year-old filly settled behind the speed before overhauling the pacesetter Bound To Blush (Strategic – Run For Roses, by Danehill) to score by three-quarters of a length, becoming the fourth stakes winner for Patinack Stud sire Casino Prince.

“She’s a nice honest filly,” Sookie’s trainer John Thompson said. “The three-year-olds just keep beating the older horses.

“I dare say she pushes on through the mares’ races to the Tatts Tiara.”

Bloodstock agent Rick Connolly bought Sookie for $60,000 out of the Oakwood Farm draft at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Meanwhile, another three-year-old bound for the Patinack Farm reduction sale, Peron (Husson – Faster Pussycat, by Flying Spur) blitzed her opposition to win the Novotel Brisbane Airport Class 6 Plate (1350m).

Peron roared home late to beat his older rivals Tax Evader (Ad Valorem – Zebithea, by Barathea) and Keep It Moist (Ferocity – Brangaine, by Desert Prince).

Connolly also bought Peron for $80,000 at the 2011 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale.

Group 2 winner for Northern Meteor in BRC Sires’

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Widden Stud’s young stallion Northern Meteor (Encosta De Lago – Explosive, by Fappiano) continued his wonderful debut season when his son Zoustar (Northern Meteor – Zouzou, by Redoute’s Choice) claimed Saturday’s Group 1 BRC Sires’ Produce Stakes (1350m) at Doomben.

Zoustar was one of Northern Meteor’s 12 individual winners in a stunning debut season before the Chris Waller-trained colt became the sire’s second victor in stakes company and his first to win at Group 2 level.

Smart handling from veteran jockey Jim Cassidy played a large part in Zoustar’s success after he guided the youngster to a prominent position on the rail from barrier 10 soon after the start.

Cassidy pushed Zoustar through an inside run to beat his stablemate Vilanova (Commands – Our Valpolicella, by Red Ransom), who fought on remarkably well for second after racing wide throughout the $250,000 contest. Northern Meteor also provided the third placegetter Bound For Earth (Northern Meteor – Bulla Borghese, by Belong To Me).

“They’re two lovely colts and it’s all looking good for two weeks time at Eagle Farm,” Waller said.

“I was trying desperately to keep them apart and I thought about running Zoustar at Randwick but I changed my mind when it became heavy.”

“Full credit to Jim Cassidy for ending up with a good trail on Zoustar while the second horse had to do a bit of work.

“I think that was difference between winning and running second. The runner-up was posted three wide through no-one’s fault and he’s done a great job as well.”

Iskander Racing paid $140,000 for Zoustar out of the Kulani Park draft at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. The two-year-old was a successful pinhook for Kulani Park after it secured the promising performer for $85,000 as a weanling a year earlier.

Commands colt takes Doomben 10,000

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Darley’s head trainer Peter Snowden described the speed of the Group 1 Doomben 10,000 (1350m) as “ridiculous” but he was not complaining after Commands (Danehill – Cotehele House, by My Swanee) colt Epaulette (Commands – Accessories, by Singspiel) claimed Saturday’s weight-for-age event.

Local favourite Buffering (Mossman – Action Annie, by Anabaa) and BTC Cup winner Your Song (Fastnet Rock – Zembu, by Fuji Kiseki) poured on the early pressure before Epaulette came from beyond midfield to score his second victory at Group 1 level in emphatic fashion. Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock – Express A Smile, by Success Express) ran well at her first outing in Coolmore’s silks to grab second ahead of Buffering, who held on for third.

“It was a ridiculous speed really and coming to the corner I was quietly confident he would pick up the leaders,” Snowden said. “They set it up for the backmarkers and he was Johnny on the spot.”

Epaulette won the Golden Rose (1400m) as spring three-year-old before he began his autumn preparation with a solid second to champion mare Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) in the Group 1 TJ Smith Stakes (1200m) at Randwick in April.

However, Epaulette disappointed Snowden and Darley with his midfield effort behind Black Caviar’s half-brother All Too Hard (Casino Prince – Helsinge, by Desert Sun) in the Group 1 All Aged Stakes (1400m). The effort forced Snowden to rethink Epaulette’s training ahead of his first appearance of the Brisbane winter carnival in the Doomben 10,000.

“We call it boot camp out there where he did a bit of jumping which was something new for him,” Snowden said. “He had a bit of down time after the All Aged and it worked wonders for him.

“I was going to keep the winkers on him but (jockey) Kerrin (McEvoy) was firm in his belief that the visor would be a better option and he pulled the right rein.”

Epaulette’s Doomben 10,000 victory left him one Group 1 short of matching his three-quarter brother Helmet’s (Exceed And Excel – Accessories, by Singspiel) tally of wins at the highest level, which will leave Darley with an interesting array of decisions at the end of the younger sibling’s racing days as the operation considers whether to stand both horses at stud.

Sadly, the Doomben 10,000 was the last outing for dual Group 1 winner Ranginrangdoo (Pentire – She Wishes, by Kenfair) after the Chris Waller-trained gelding sustained serious leg injuries before the home turn. Vets had no option other than to euthanize the grand galloper.

Dual Scone stakes success for Flying Spur

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Classy mare Satin Shoes (Flying Spur – Star Satire, by Volksraad) scored a deserved victory when she produced a fighting performance in the Listed Ortensia Stakes (1100m) at Scone.

Satin Shoes posted her previous victory at Caulfield in October 2011 but the grand mare finished second in four Group 2 events, including the Challenge Stakes and Premiere Stakes, in the period between her successes.

The Flying Spur (Danehill – Rolls, by Mr Prospector) mare trialled well leading up to the Ortensia Stakes, which was her first run back from a freshen following the Group 2 Sapphire Stakes on April 13.

In-form rider Blake Shinn partnered Satin Shoes, riding her positively to take a forward position on the back of the early leader Zaratone (Zariz – Comeback Queen, by King’s Theatre) before hitting the lead halfway down the long Scone home straight.

Satin Shoes showed plenty of heart to defeat the consistent Anise by a neck while Border Rebel (Johannesburg – Frontier, by Flying Spur) finished strongly for third.

“Jimmy Cassidy used to ride her and said she was better ridden with a sit but I was convinced that she runs her best races when you allow her to roll,” Conners said.

“I told that to Blake and he rode her a treat.”

Satin Shoes fetched $700,000 at the 2010 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale but the grand four-year-old’s latest win took her stakes tally past the $800,000 mark.

The daughter of Flying Spur won the Group 2 Silver Slipper (1100m) as a two-year-old while she was also successful in the Listed Widden Stakes and Listed Quezette Stakes (1100m).

The Anthony Cummings-trained mare Arctic Flight (Flying Spur – Scandinavia, by Snippets) started Flying Spur’s successful day at Scone when she claimed the Listed Dark Jewel Classic (1400m).

Already valuable as a sister to Group 1 winner and emerging stallion Magnus ((Flying Spur – Scandinavia, by Snippets) and hailing from the same family of champion sprinter Black Caviar (Bel Esprit – Helsinge, by Desert Sun), Arctic Flight joined Cummings’s Randwick-based stable at the start of her current preparation after beginning her career as part of the Mick Price yard at Caulfield.

Jockey Peter Robl sent Arctic Flight to the lead early in the Dark Jewel Classic before she fought desperately over the concluding stages to beat the Pivotal mare Pipette (Pivotal – Amaryllis, by Sadler’s Wells) to win by a half-head while Miss Stellabelle (Dehere – Sam’s Belle, by Spinning World) was third.

Arctic Flight’s victory left Flying Spur as the sire of 89 stakes winners.

Two-state stakes double for Choisir

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Trainer Steven O’Dea’s decision to add blinkers to Sir Moments paid off when the talented youngster produced a powerful performance to win the Listed Dalrello Stakes (1200m) at Doomben, beginning a Saturday stakes double for Coolmore Stud stallion Choisir (Danehill Dancer – Great Selection, by Lunchtime).

Sir Moments had little luck during his first-up sixth in the Listed Ken Russell Memorial but O’Dea said the gelding would benefit from the use of blinkers. The son of Choisir began only fairly but recovered to settle midfield for jockey Michael Cahill but Sir Moments had to withstand a buffering to improve into the race in the straight.

Sir Moments was bumped heavily passing the 200 metres but the interference failed to stop the two-year-old’s bid for victory over the final furlong as he ran over the top of the front-runners to score a comfortable victory by three-quarters of a length.

“They crawled along early and he was held up behind them I thought he wasn’t going to get the room,” O’Dea told Sky Racing World. “I was a bit worried when he was back on the fence, shades of the Gold Coast a fortnight ago.

“I was worried when he was buried away midfield on the fence and he did get bashed up a bit trying to work into the clear. In the end, it was a good win.

 “I can’t wait to get him to longer races on the bigger track at Eagle Farm.’’

O’Dea will give Sir Moments a chance on the spacious Eagle Farm circuit when he runs in the Group 1 JJ Atkins over 1600 metres in two starts time, which will follow his next assignment in the The Phoenix (1400m) on June 1.

Proven Thoroughbreds paid $40,000 for Sir Moments at the 2012 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale. The juvenile’s win earned connections a $64,000 winner’s cheque took his earnings to more than $85,000.

The Anthony Cummings-trained Diamond Earth (Choisir – Face Of The Earth, by Strategic) became Choisir’s 53rd stakes winner when the filly claimed the Listed Denise’s Joy Stakes (1100m) at Scone.

Diamond Earth settled fourth, just off a smart tempo, early in the Denise’s Joy Stakes before powering home to beat Omniscnient (Exceed And Excel – Omens, by Octagonal) and She’s A Stalker (Ferocity – Vintage Class, by More Than Ready) by a length.

Diamond Earth has proven a terrific money-spinner for connections. The three-year-old cost Cummings $60,000 at the 2011 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale but her latest success took Diamond Earth’s earnings to more than $600,000 despite the Denise’s Joy Stakes being her maiden Stakes victory.

Testa Rossa gelding claims Scone Cup

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THE Victorian trained Speediness came early and then held on to land Friday’s $200,000 Emirates Park-sponsored Scone Cup (Liste d, 1600m).

Despite being a last start Listed winner two starts back in Melbourne, Speediness (5 g Testa Rossa – Fine Glass, by Flying Spur) was sent off a $13 chance. The gelding won the race with a sharp turn of foot into the straight to sweep into the lead and then hold the persistent challenge of the French-bred $7.50 joint favourite Mouro (Grand Slam), by a half-head with Kaypers (Cape Cross) a half-length further away in third place.

Winning trainer Colin Scott said Speediness thrives in the New South Wales Hunter Valley. “I don’t what it is but the horse likes it here. When he came up here as a three-year-old he licked his bin out the first night,” Scott said.

Speediness had his share of training problems and is the star of a small team, being Scott’s only winner over the past 12 months.

“He’s been a god-send to me this horse. That’s what you’re in the industry for,” Scott said, adding, “He’s a very, very good horse. When he does everything right he can match it with the best.”

Scott paid tribute to jockey Christian Reith, who explained that he allowed the horse to stride forward earlier than planned because Speediness had built momentum and was travelling too well.

“I had a lapful of horse at the 600 metres. He would’ve won better if I had have waited until the straight,” Reith said, “but I had to (go) because I was doing too much in myself. He sprinted very well and hung on well.”

“He began like a bullet and nothing’s really making ground today.”

Speediness sold for $18,000 as a yearling when consigned by Bombora Downs at the 2009 Inglis Premier Sale. After Friday’s win, his record stands at six wins and six placings from 21 starts for earnings of $482,122.

Zabeel trio shooting for Doomben Cup prize

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Champion weight-for-age galloper Might And Power (Zabeel – Benediction, by Day Is Done) became the sole Doomben Cup winner sired by Zabeel (Sir Tristram – Lady Giselle, by Nureyev) in 1998 but the Cambridge Stud marvel has three representatives in the 2013 edition of the Group 1 feature.

Lights Of Heaven finished second to German-bred galloper Mawingo (Tertullian – Montfleur, by Sadler’s Wells) in last year’s Doomben Cup but did take out the normal lead-up to the $500,000 event when the Peter Moody-trained mare was successful in the Group 2 Hollindale Stakes (1800m) at the Gold Coast on May 4.

The Hollindale Stakes has provided 15 of the last 23 Doomben Cup winners, including the last four – Scenic Shot (twice), Metal Bender, and Mawingo while nine won both events.

The 2012 Group 1 South Australian Derby winner Zabeelionaire (Zabeel – Kisumu, by Carnegie) and smart New Zealand mare Zurella (Zabeel – Doneze Girl, by Volksraad).

Below is the field for Saturday’s Group 1 Doomben Cup.

No Horse Trainer Jockey Barrier Weight Sire
1 MANIGHAR (FR) Peter G Moody Brad Rawiller 9 59kg Linamix
2 DANLEIGH Chris Waller Michael Walker 6 59kg Mujahid
3 GINGA DUDE (NZ) Graeme Boyd Larry Cassidy 3 59kg Istidaad
4 FORETELLER (GB) Chris Waller Jim Cassidy 4 59kg Dansili
5 LAMASERY David Vandyke Glen Colless 14 59kg Commands
6 ZABEELIONAIRE (NZ) Leon Corstens Stephen Baster 7 59kg Zabeel
7 LIGHTINTHENITE John O’Shea Nicholas Hall 13 59kg Galileo
8 BEATEN UP (GB) Chris Waller Leith Innes 1 59kg Beat Hollow
9 LIGHTS OF HEAVEN (NZ) Peter G Moody Luke Nolen 5 57kg Zabeel
10 SECRET ADMIRER Grahame Begg Michael Rodd 12 57kg Dubawi
11 FIBRILLATION Tim Martin Michael Cahill (late alt) 8 57kg Diatribe
12 ZURELLA (NZ) Shaune Ritchie Jonathan Riddell 10 57kg Zabeel
13 PIMMS TIME (NZ) Guy Lowry Damian Browne 11 57kg Pins
14 HIPPOPUS (NZ) Gai Waterhouse Chris Munce 2 56.5kg High Chaparral

 

13th Stakes winner for O’Reilly in Adelaide

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NZB RELEASE – In-form stallion O’Reilly sired his 13th stakes winner of the season on Saturday when Keyarna Blue (NZ) won her first race at stakes level at just her fourth start in the A$100,000 Listed Laelia Stakes (1600m) at Morphettville.

The Pat Hyland trained Keyarna Blue (O’Reilly x Oh Blue Angel) was the second stakes winner at the Morphettville meeting for Karaka with Linton also successful in the Group 3 R.A. Lee Stakes.

A three-year-old filly, Keyarna Blue had two starts earlier in the season and broke maiden ranks at her last start fresh up at Kilmore by almost four lengths. Although Saturday’s winning margin was only a half-length, it was just as impressive as the filly raced last in the 12 horse field and came with a late rails run to take a soft win under kiwi jockey Michael Walker.

Keyarna Blue is O’Reilly’s 66th stakes winner and continues a wonderful season for the Waikato Stud sire. Thus far this season O’Reilly has sired the Group 1 Newmarket Handicap winner in Shamexpress, Group 1 Doncaster Mile winner in Sacred Falls plus group/stakes winners including Silent Achiever, Mosse, Thy, O’Fille, Annie Higgins and High Fashion.

Keyarna Blue was bred by Jackson Bloodstock, is raced by Mr R Anderson & Mrs D Anderson and has won two of her four starts for A$77,200. The three-year-old was purchased by Kieran Moore Bloodstock Pty Ltd from Little Avondale Stud at New Zealand Bloodstock’s 2011 Karaka Select Sale for $66,000.

The win also continued Little Avondale Stud’s success having bred Kekova who won the Listed Great Easter Stakes last weekend at Riccarton. Little Avondale also bred Xanadu who won the Group 1 Thoroughbred Breeders’ Stakes last month.

BTC Cup winner to stand at Widden Stud in 2013

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WIDDEN STUD RELEASE – Brilliant three year-old Fastnet Rock colt Your Song has assured his future at one of Australia’s most successful studs with a stunning five length Group I victory in the BTC Cup at Eagle Farm last Saturday.

Resuming from a spell, the Anthony Cummings trained colt turned in an explosive performance to thrash a quality field and win the 1200 metre weight-for-age sprint in a breeze from seasoned Group I performers Rain Affair, Buffering& Sea Siren.

He has long been seen by most major studs as a potential stellar sire prospect since his two impressive wins as a two year old and his 2nd placing behind Pierro in the Group III Run to The Rose defeating Group I winners Epaulette and All Too Hard.

A homebred for Gooree Stud, Your Song will now follow in the footsteps of Mr Eduardo Cojuangco’s previous star colt and now leading young sire Northern Meteor in retiring to Widden Stud for the 2013 season.

Widden Stud are thrilled to secure the services of Your Song, the 13th individual Group I winner by his champion sire Fastnet Rock from a peerless international female family, his dam Zembu was a $450,000 Inglis Easter purchase for Gooree whose dam Wanice is a half-sister to the Champion racehorse and multiple Group I sire Fantastic Light.

Additionally, Your Song’s glittering international pedigree spawns an impressive dynasty of stakes-winners around the world, tracing back to Kamar, whose descendants include Group I winners Flashing, Alpha, Desert Lord, Cape Town, Golden Attraction, Seaside Attraction, Turbulent Descent, Swift Temper, Music Show and Gorgeous.

“He’s a colt that has the pedigree, the good looks and that Group I winning brilliance. Fastnet Rock is Australia’s dominant sire so to have the opportunity to stand arguably his most dominant son is incredibly exciting.” said Antony Thompson.

“Physical attributes are all important in a sire and in Your Song we could not be taking on a more impressive individual. It was interesting listening to the post-race comments from Saturday which back up our view that he is one of the best looking Fastnet Rock sons to look through a bridle.”

Your Song will have two more starts in the Group I BRC Doomben 10,000 on May 25 and the Group I BRC Stradbroke Handicap on June 8 with a fee to be announced on his retirement to Widden this season.