Cover image courtesy of Yulong
The good run being enjoyed by Yulong's well-credentialled first season stallion Pierata continued at Doomben on Wednesday with the Chris Munce-trained Carravilla recording an impressive debut victory.
Double figure odds off a Doomben trial fourth, the promising filly was a little green but still strong to the line saluting by 1.25l.
Carravilla - who was sold by Goodwood Farm to Munce Racing for $130,000 at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale - is one of the 115 live foals in Pierata's first crop.
She is his 17th runner and fifth winner for the G1 All Aged S. winner who has been represented by five stakes performers including the G3 Chairman's S.-winning, G1 Golden Slipper S. runner-up Coleman and the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Tobeornottobe.
Chris Munce was taken by the style of Pierata's yearlings and was happy to put his hand up for this filly who he said, “had a good walk and a nice look about her.”
“I liked the Pieratas, they are all good types and Carravilla is a very nice filly.”
“She is going to get stronger as she matures but she is just naturally talented and she picked up everything very quickly - she is very exciting.”
Chris Munce | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I am not sure where she goes to from here,” he continued - “whether we pick out a race for her over the carnival or put her in the paddock, I will see how she comes through this run.”
One of the bidders on Carravilla at the sales was Laurel Oak's Louis Mihalyka who, along with Goodwood Farm, Rhiannon Bloodstock and D and C Jeffery, bred the filly out of their mare Tinto Fino (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
Liking her enough to buy her back, Mihalyka did however underestimate her sales ring value - dropping out as she surpassed the six-figure mark with the thought that on type and pedigree she would take a while to make it to the track.
Carravilla as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
But here she is as an April 2-year-old not only racing, but winning - “a pleasant surprise!” said Mihalyka who had missed the race whilst in transit - figuring out that something good had happened as his phone began to ping.
With Pierata's best form coming at three and beyond, Mihalyka did not send a mare to him in the hope of producing an early type - noting that Tinto Fino hails from “a family of slow-maturers.”
“It is a good mating but physically I thought this filly would take a decent amount of time,” he said - happy to be proven wrong as reports from the stable suggested that “she was ahead of schedule.”
“It is a good mating (with Pierata) but physically I thought this filly (Carravilla) would take a decent amount of time... happy to be proven wrong as reports from the stable suggested that, ‘she was ahead of schedule’.” - Louis Mihalyka
Mihalyka had cause to be very excited about Carravilla's dam Tinto Fino who he purchased for $110,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
A member of the Chris Waller stable, she was also expected to need time but she too debuted as an April 2-year-old though sadly without the same luck.
“I was in India at the time so I remember exactly where I was when watching that race,” Mihalyka said, the memory sticking as the run contained so much promise.
Finishing off strongly having raced wide in an 1100-metre maiden at Echuca, Tinto Fino had her owners excited with talk of Queensland winter carnival races in store.
Louis Mihalyka | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
But that joy quickly turned to dismay as Tinto Fino was found to be sore after the race - the first text Mihalyka receiving in India alerting him to a possible fracture in the knee, the second a few hours later even more serious.
“She had shattered her knee and saving her life was the only possibility, there was no chance of her ever racing again.”
Twelve months of rehabilitation followed; Tinto Fino at times a bit sore and sorry but fast-forward to now and she is sound and well - and making a lovely contribution.
Although Mihalyka admits that there was concern that nothing much was really happening for her; Tinto Fino due to be listed for sale with her 2022-born North Pacific filly had to be put down just last week.
“I'd say we will have a change of heart now,” he said, noting that not only is Carravilla promising, but so is Tinto Fino's 3-year-old Edited By (Written By) - that Michael Freedman-trained colt winning his last two starts at Newcastle.
Edited By | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Scratched from a couple of recent black-type assignments after drawing wide gates, Edited By was also a good sales result for Laurel Oak; fetching $280,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Whilst not in the ownership of Carravilla, she is a gift that will keep on giving to her breeders who were persuaded by Aquis - then home to Pierata - to pay a bit extra for a lifetime breeding right rather than just securing one nomination.
“That looks to be a valuable asset now,” Mihalyka said, happy to have used that right in a very good way - Tinto Fino last spring foaling a colt by Pierata whilst the 2021 nomination was used with Mull Over (So You Think {NZ}).
Her 2-year-old by Rebel Dane had not raced at that stage but we all now know her as Fireburn who has made her way to Japan on the back of her big-race successes in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and the G1 Sires Produce S.
Mull Over produced a handsome colt by Pierata, one bought-back by Laurel Oak for $460,000 at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Lot 171 - Pierata x Mull Over (colt) | Image courtesy of Inglis
A half-sister to the multiple city winner Monasterio (NZ) (Savabeel), Tinto Fino hails from the family of the outstanding race and broodmare Triscay (Marscay) - meaning that Carravilla can boast amongst her relations the Group 1 winners La Baraka (Euclase), Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern, as well as the tough Group 1 campaigners Demerger (Saithor {USA}) and Defier (Dehere {USA}).
Rich Dottie another smart juvenile for Written Tycoon
Yulong's good day continued at Caulfield where one of the four debutants contesting the juvenile contest showed not only talent but heart getting up along the rails to put her nose out where it counted.
That horse is Rich Dottie whose Champion Sire Written Tycoon is a Yulong resident - and she races in the stud's bottle green and white colours.
Bred by Evergreen Rich, she was sold by them to Yulong for $260,000 at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The Grahame Begg-trained filly was sent out favourite on the back of good Cranbourne jump-out form and she did a great job from barrier one with jockey Michael Dee noting that, “the inside barrier can be a bad recipe for a first starter.”
“But she was very professional - she jumped super clean and travelled nicely. When the gap opened up she was a little bit hesitant at first, being close to the fence with a horse on the outside she was quite green - but once she got her head through she was very strong over that last 100 metres.”
Rich Dottie as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She is only going to improve,” he continued - “she has got a lot of talent.”
Begg was pleased with Dee's ride, noting that “he didn't rush her, he just let her find her feet and she relaxed well enough for her first start. I am sure she will take great benefit from this run and I think that there are betting things in store for her.”
Rich Dottie is the first foal produced by the Hawkesbury and Warwick Farm winner Dorothy Of Oz (Redoute's Choice) who was also bred by Evergreen.
And also an Evergreen resident is Dorothy Of Oz's dam, the terrific mare Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) who was purchased by the stud for $3 million at the 2009 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Rich Dottie won over 1000 metres at Caulfield Heath on Wednesday | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The winner of twelve races - four of those at Group 1-level, Princess Coup earned the titles of New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, New Zealand Champion Older Female and Stayer and New Zealand Bloodstock Filly Of The Year.
A highly successful broodmare with eight winners from nine to race, Princess Coup is the dam of the Hong Kong-based Group 3 winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice) and the dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}) as well as the dams of the Listed winners Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) and Stonecoat (Pierro).
Missing last year to Extreme Choice, Princess Coup has an Exceed And Excel filly who Evergreen's Tony Bott is excited about.
“Princess Coup always does a great job and she is typical of what she produces - she is going to mature into a really lovely filly.”
“Princess Coup always does a great job and she (Exceed And Excel filly) is typical of what she produces - she is going to mature into a really lovely filly.” - Tony Bott
With a policy of taking most of their horses to the sales - happy to let the market decide which ones they should keep (such as the exciting I Am Invincible juvenile Anode who was passed in at last year's Magic Millions) - Princess Coup's daughter may be one of the exceptions.
“Our only change to the policy of taking horses to the sale is a filly like her,” Bott said - in other words, keeping a daughter of a champion stallion and an older, much cherished, high-performing mare.
Bott is happy with how Princess Coup's daughters have been faring at stud and is hopeful of good things in store for Dorothy Of Oz with her good start.
“I was talking to Grahame Begg the other day and he mentioned how pleased he was with her, that she looks like she may be a stakes filly.”
“I was talking to Grahame Begg the other day and he mentioned how pleased he was with her (Rich Dottie), that she looks like she may be a stakes filly.” - Tony Bott
“Dorothy Of Oz showed ability but she was not quite black type but with her breeding we think she can do the job at stud.”
And Bott has been giving her every chance to do so, Dorothy Of Oz in foal to Zoustar after foaling a Frankel (GB) filly in August.
“She is a very nice type who will most likely to go the sales, hopefully by that time her half-sister will have continued on well.”
Bott admits to have being in two minds when selling Rich Dottie, remembering that “we had an opinion of her but Written Tycoon was just on the cusp of becoming the stallion he is today - I think by his standards now she was a cheap yearling.”
“We had an opinion of her (Rich Dottie) but Written Tycoon was just on the cusp of becoming the stallion he is today - I think by his standards now she was a cheap yearling.” - Tony Bott
Evergreen also had influence in the 2-year-old race at Canterbury, that race won in easy style by Trafalgar Square (Churchill {Ire}) whose unraced dam Amnesiac (Excellent Art {GB}) was bred by them.
Retired after just the one trial, she has been sold a few times since - most recently changing hands for just $600 online - purchased by Dr Kerby Siemsen, a Queensland-based horse enthusiast.
The dam of just two other foals (both by Inference), Amnesiac looks to have a smart one in the shape of this David Payne-trained filly who was sold firstly online for $19,000 and then again by Telemon Thoroughbreds to the stable for $110,000 in Book 2 of last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Always well-regarded by Payne, Trafalgar Square tired after working hard from a wide gate at her debut in the Golden Gift at Rosehill in November - again covering ground when resuming with a close up Gosford maiden third before tackling stakes class; fifth in the G3 Kindergarten S., won by Espionage (Zoustar).
David Payne
“She has been a bit unlucky,” Payne told the media,” and I think, being by Churchill, she will be looking for the mile now.”
Payne described Trafalgar Square as a horse with “a nice future” and jockey Chad Schofield agreed.
“It was a very soft win. She jumped quickly, travelled beautifully in the box seat - came of the leader's backs and put them away in a couple of strides.”
“It was a very soft win. She (Trafalgar Square) jumped quickly, travelled beautifully in the box seat - came of the leader's backs and put them away in a couple of strides.” - Chad Schofield
“She had a bit of a look around but was strong through the line. She is small and petite but she doesn't feel small when you are riding her, she's got a bright future.”
Trafalgar Square had a couple of relatives sell well at the recent Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale - a Snitzel filly out of Prompt (Exceed And Excel) purchased by the Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate for $400,000 whilst a Zoustar filly out of Prompt's Group 1 daughter Prompt Response (Beneteau) was secured by James Harron for $2.2 million.
Super Seth strikes in a blueblood quinella
Earlier in the day Waikato Stud's G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth was represented by his fifth first-crop winner when Super Photon (NZ) made a successful debut at Arawa Park.
It was a nice race for Waikato with a one/two finish, also breeding the runner-up Magice (NZ) (Savabeel).
Well supported having shown talent at the trials, Super Photon joined in our wide half way down the straight, racing clear to win in smart fashion.
The most expensive purchase in the field, Super Photon was sold by Waikato to Stephen Marsh Racing, Dennis Foster, Bourbon Lane and Dylan Johnson Bloodstock for $380,000 at last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Super Photon (NZ) clears away at Rotorua on Wednesday | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
He is the fourth foal to race - and the fourth winner - for the Group 3-placed winner Chandelier (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose high class son Mo'Unga (NZ) (Savabeel) won the G1 Rosehill Guineas and the G1 Winx S.
Paying another visit to Super Seth last spring, Chandelier foaled a Savabeel filly in August having missed to that same horse the previous year.
Waikato's Mark Chittick is hoping that Super Photon is part of a big week for Super Seth whose 2-year-olds have him excited.
“You could not have asked for a better start for him,” he enthused. “Not only are they winning but they are shaping as supreme athletes and we are all anxiously awaiting his first Group 1 runner on Saturday.”
“Not only are they (progeny of Super Seth) winning but they are shaping as supreme athletes and we are all anxiously awaiting his first Group 1 runner (Linebacker) on Saturday.” - Mark Chittick
That horse is the G1 Champagne S. favourite Linebacker (NZ) who backed up an easy Hawkesbury maiden success with a smart win in the G3 TL Baillieu H. at Rosehill in late March.
Meanwhile Chittick is all smiles with Super Photon looking to be well and truly above average.
“The stable have a high opinion of him and have a Listed race at Te Rapa on Anzac Day marked out for him.”
Chittick was impressed with the manner of Super Photon's win - “he had to come off the fence and show a bit of professionalism, a good effort for a first starter.”
