Race Day Recap
The Ciaron Maher-trained Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) demolished a high-class field in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. at Randwick.
Autumn Angel provided her Arrowfield-based sire The Autumn Sun with a maiden Group 1 victory in the G1 Australian Oaks.
Circle Of Fire (Almanzor) landed with a bang on his third start in Australia, taking out the G2 Chairman’s Quality a week ago, and found no problems in backing up in Saturday’s G1 Sydney Cup for Ciaron Maher.
The Chris Waller-trained and Cambridge Stud-owned Joliestar (Zoustar) returned to racing with a sensational performance in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint.
The Jason Warren-trained Benedetta (Hellbent) booked a ticket to the G1 Robert Sangster S. with a gutsy performance in the G3 R N Irwin S.
Darley's Harry Angel celebrated a fourth stakes winner with his progressive son War Machine, who claimed the Listed Bendigo Guineas.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Wee Nessy (Snitzel) further franked the form of last Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith S. winner Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) in Saturday’s G2 Sapphire S. at Randwick.
Chris Waller was assured of victory in the $1 million G1 Queen of the Turf S., even if it took a moment to split marginal favourite Zougotcha (Zoustar) from the diving Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).
Pride Of Jenni demolishes Queen Elizabeth field
You could be forgiven for wiping your eyes in disbelief as Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) pulled further and further clear in the running of the 2024 G1 Queen Elizabeth - in a performance that will last long in the racing nation’s collective memory.
Travelling some 30l clear of the field at one point down the back straight under Declan Bates, the 6-year-old mare clocked sub-12-second fractions for much of the running of the 2000-metre contest, and her advantage was still an incredible 6.54l at the line, despite slowing somewhat in the home stretch.
Her nearest pursuer was last-start G1 Ranvet S. winner and odds-on favourite Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), whilst Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) filled third spot
Asked if he’d ever seen or ridden in a race like this before, Bates said: “I don’t think many people have, to be honest.
“Anytime I ride her I’ve felt I’ve got her into a nice rhythm and I was quite happy - today I was never happy, I just felt she was doing it her way, and she knows best I think.”
Speaking in a state of disbelief, and having just notched a quick-fire Group 1 double following the Sydney Cup, winning trainer Ciaron Maher said, “I’ve never seen anything like that, ever.
Connections of Pride Of Jenni | Image courtesy of The Imag
“That’s the biggest win I’ve ever seen, let alone had anything to do with.”
Following a breakthrough spring in which she won her first two Group 1s, the Empire Rose S. and Cantala S., Pride Of Jenni was a convincing winner of the All-Star Mile at her latest start, but few could have predicted such a performance on Saturday from the Trelawney Stud-bred mare, who was a $100,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase in 2019 by Cape Schanck Stud.
“That’s the biggest win I’ve ever seen, let alone had anything to do with.” - Declan Bates
Angel provides Autumn with maiden Group 1
Three star fillies fanned the famous Randwick turf, battling to the line to secure success in the G1 Australian Oaks. Two of them - Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) and Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) had already tasted Group 1 glory, while the third Autumn Angel (The Autumn) was lining up in a Group 1 for the first time.
Orchestral looked to have the G1 Australian Oaks in the bag as they raced towards the finishing line but finishing strongly together was the G1 VRC Oaks victress and Autumn Angel. The latter on the seven-day backup dug deep to deny Orchestral, who was denied second place by Zardozi.
Autumn Angel, ridden by Mark Zahra, was placed in the G3 Adrian Knox S. last Saturday on a Heavy 9. She was narrowly beaten by Good Banter (NZ) (Tavistock) giving her an 8kg advantage.
It was the second Group 1 success in seven days for Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, who also tasted victory with the smart 2-year-old Eneeza (Exceed And Excel) in the G2 Percy Sykes earlier on the Randwick program.
Co-trainer Moody told 7HorseRacing, “Autumn Angel has done that well all week, she’s been bucking around, and I was terrified I hadn’t done enough with her.
“Well done to Mark (Zahra), brilliant ride. Also, well done to my whole team and Wylie Dalziel. I’ve bought Wylie, a Group 1 winner, owned a Group 1 winner together but never trained a Group 1 winner for him until now.
Autumn Angel | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s taken us on a wonderful ride. It is nice to be rewarded because we could have gone to the G1 VRC Oaks in the spring where she would have been the logical favourite, but we felt she wasn’t ready.”
Autumn Angel is the fifth foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare Angel Of Mercy, who won six races, including the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup and the Listed James HB Carr S.
Angel Of Mercy is from the family of the brilliant Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky), a victress of the G1 Emirates S., the G1 Myer Classic, the G1 Queen of the Turf and the G1 Toorak H.
Peter Moody and Mark Zahara | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The filly is the first Group 1 winner for The Autumn Sun, a son of Redoute’s Choice, who won five Group 1 races. He retired to Arrowfield Stud and to date has been represented by four stakes winners.
Additionally, The Autumn Sun’s Listed-winning daughter Coco Sun won at Bendigo, putting together two consecutive victories.
The G1 Australian Oaks is the fourth career victory for Autumn Angel, who claimed the G2 Kewney S. and the G3 Ethereal S. earlier in her career. The filly was a $230,000 purchase by Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Zougotcha holds on in fiercely run Queen Of The Turf
Chris Waller was assured of victory in the $1 million G1 Queen of the Turf S., even if it took a moment to split marginal favourite Zougotcha (Zoustar) from the diving Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel).
Zougotcha had enjoyed a smooth run in third behind 3-year-old filly Tropical Squall (Prized Icon), and made a seemingly unchallenged move up the rail. However, as Atishu charged from behind, just 0.04l separated the Waller-trained pair at the line, with familiar opponent Semana (Winning Rupert) 1.24l back in third.
Now a triple Group 1 winner, the 4-year-old Zougotcha’s (relatively) lean spell in the spring was down to trying her at sprint distances erroneously, Waller has previously admitted. However, she’s now three-from-three in 2024, and is building an impressive resume having taken out the G1 Coolmore Classic a month ago.
“We gave her a decent break after she didn’t come up in the spring and put her in the right races and she’s just gone bang, bang, bang,” Waller said, having now notched 161 Group 1s.
“Atishu, she’s tough, another stride and it might have been different celebrations,” he added.
Zougotcha | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“A mile is probably a stretch, especially here at Randwick,” winning jockey James McDonald said. “But, her will to win is phenomenal and that’s what gets her over the line.”
Bred by Widden Stud, Zougotcha is a sister to Listed winner Persuader and was picked out from their draft by Chris Waller and Guy Mulcaster Bloodstock at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where she cost $500,000.
With Widden retaining a share in the mare, she is owned in a partnership led by Noel Greenhalgh, for whom she has now won close to $2.5 million.
Joliestar back with a bang
The Chris Waller-trained Joliestar (Zoustar) hadn’t raced since winning the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield in November last year. However, the 3-year-old filly set a case that she arguably returned bigger and better with a sensational victory in the G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint at Randwick.
Joliestar, ridden by Jamie Kah, launched late to deny Hedged (Capitalist), while Libertad (Russian Revolution) was 1.4l away in third. They were followed by a high-class group of colts - Corniche (Fastnet Rock), Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}), Schwarz (Zoustar), Ozzmosis (Zoustar) and Red Resistance (Russian Revolution).
The filly carries the black and yellow checks of the renowned New Zealand nursery Cambridge Stud, who purchased her for $950,000 from the draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Joliestar is the fifth foal from the G2 Roman Consul S. victress and Group 1-placed Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock). She is a daughter of the Group 3 winner Legally Bay (Snippets), the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Merchant Navy.
Circle Of Fire a second Group 1 for Almanzor in emotional Sydney Cup
Circle Of Fire (GB) (Almanzor {Fr}) landed with a bang on his third start in Australia, taking out the G2 Chairman’s Quality a week ago, and found no problems in backing up in Saturday’s G1 Sydney Cup for Ciaron Maher.
In a masterfully simple ride, visiting jockey Andrea Atzeni sat just off the pace, reeled in Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) as he entered the home straight, and kicked clear in the closing stages to finish 2.07l clear of Athabascan (Fr) - who is also by Almanzor (Fr).
Flying in for the ride from Hong Kong, Atzeni had been in Australia twice recently to visit his close friend and compatriot Stefano Cherchi, and post-race turned his attention to the late jockey’s family who were on-course at Randwick.
“It’s my first time riding in Sydney,” Atzeni said. “I’ve been here twice in the last few weeks… unfortunately not for a good reason.
“You think you’re prepared for something like this but, when it comes to it, you’re never prepared.”
Bred and raced in the UK by The Queen, Circle Of Fire becomes a second Group 1 winner for Almanzor - who shuttles between Haras d'Etreham in France and Cambridge Stud - following G1 Victoria Derby winner Manzoice, who himself finished a distant 14th in this race.
Andrea Atzeni, Ciaron Maher and Will Bourne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Fourth over a similar trip at last year’s Royal Ascot in the G2 Queen’s Vase, Circle Of Fire had just six starts in the UK, joining the Maher stable as a 4-year-old this year.
“It’s unbelievable, isn’t it?” Maher said. “I met Andrea after Royal Ascot last year in Sienna, in Italy, and he said he was going to Hong Kong and if I could find him a ride.
“He said I took my time,” Maher laughed. “But, it’s funny how things work out… with what’s happened in the past fortnight, the fact that he could come out here and ride the horse (is) phenomenal.”
Benedetta Sangster bound!
Jason Warren’s classy 4-year-old mare Benedetta (Hellbent) is G1 Robert Sangster S. bound after winning the G3 RN Irwin S. at Morphettville S. on Saturday.
Benedetta, ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, dug deep to beat the in-form Climbing Star (Zoustar), while Press Down (Press Statement) was 1.4l away in third. It was the seventh win from 13 starts for Benedetta, who had won the G3 Cockram S. earlier in her career and was recently fourth in the G1 Newmarket H. and the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
The daughter of Hellbent is the best runner from the Domesday mare Whatalovelyday, a victress of three races. Benedetta was a $75,000 purchase by Eales Racing Syndications from the draft of Mill Park Stud at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
War Machine grinds them at Bendigo
The lightly raced War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) gave his Flemington-based trainer Mike Moroney a boost by winning the Listed Bendigo Guineas after being hospitalised earlier in the week with lung and breathing issues
War Machine, ridden by Jordan Childs, won a 2l winner from Elphinstone (Street Boss {USA}) and Modown (Toronado {Ire}) in the 1400-metre contest. It was the third consecutive victory for the son of Harry Angel (Ire), having won at Cranbourne and Kyneton, respectively.
The 3-year-old gelding is from the Hussonet (USA) mare Caserta, who is from the family of Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Hooked. War Machine is the fourth stakes winner for the Darley’s Harry Angel (Ire).
War Machine failed to meet his reserve of NZ$100,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling when offered by Ardsley Stud. He was reoffered by Ardsley Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale but again passed in short of his NZ$100,000 reserve.
Nessy franks Lightning form
Wee Nessy (Snitzel) further franked the form of last Saturday’s G1 TJ Smith S. winner Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) in Saturday’s G2 Sapphire S. at Randwick. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 4-year-old mare had finished third to the ‘TJ’ winner last-start in the G3 Birthday Card S.
On Saturday, Wee Nessy, partnered by Jamie Kah, found the better of Ballroom Bella (Russian Revolution) and Miss Hellfire (Hellbent). The G2 Sapphire S. is the second stakes success for the daughter of Arrowfield Stud’s Snitzel, having claimed the Listed William Crockett S. in 2022.
Wee Nessy is the fourth foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare Later Gator (NZ). She won twice and was placed in the Listed Black Opal S. In addition to Wee Nessy, Later Gator is the dam of the Group 2-placed Snapback (Snitzel) and Adios (Snitzel), a Group 3 placegetter.
The mare was a $400,000 purchase by Flying Angels and ARJB from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
