Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Morphettville: G1 Robert Sangster S., $1,000,000, 1200m
Finding plenty up on the inside of the other runners Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) was a determined second time stakes winner - providing her Widden Stud based sire with his eighth Group 1 winner.
One of his 53 stakes winners, she was bred by Qatar Bloodstock who remain in the ownership. She was sold by Widden Stud to Phillip Stokes and Rick Connolly Bloodstock for $600,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is a half-sister to the Stokes trained dual Group 3 winner Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) out of the winner Bryony (Fastnet Rock), full sister to the G1 Diamond S. winner Heroic Valour who stands at Raheen Stud and half-sister to the G1 Doncaster H. hero Triple Honour (Honours List).
Again served last spring by Zoustar after producing a filly by him, Bryony is a granddaughter of the G2 Sedgwick Classic S. winner San Pauli Girl (NZ) (Western Symphony {USA}). It was a timely win for her dam sire Fastnet Rock whose retirement had just been announced.
G1 Australasian Oaks, $1,000,000, 2000m
Joining the likes of Zabeel (NZ), Sir Tristram (Ire) and High Chaparral (Ire) in being able to sire a Group 1 trifecta, Arrowfield Stud's The Autumn Sun proved that he has quite a few of his dam sire Galileo's (Ire) genes - his progeny doing very nicely over a bit of ground.
Vibrant Sun, Private Legacy and Coco Sun did him proud in this race, the winner showing plenty of heart when challenged over the final furlong.
One of her sire's four stakes winners - and his second Oaks winner on the back of Autumn Angel's success in Sydney recently - Vibrant Sun was bred by Canning Downs and purchased by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock with Mick Price Racing and Breeding for $260,000 at the 2022 Gold Coast Magic Millions.She is the second foal and second winner for the G3 Vamos S. winner Vibrant Rouge (Written Tycoon) whose closest stakes winning relation is her fifth dam's half-sister!
Vibrant Rouge was served last spring by Jonker having had a run of bad luck at stud, missing to Anders the previous season having lost (born dead) consecutive foals by Pierata and Deep Field.
Bred on a 3 X 4 cross of Danehill (USA), Vibrant Sun is also line-bred to Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) via Redoute's Choice and Try My Best (USA).
G2 Queen Of The South S., $250,000, 1600m
It was a deserved win on the back of consistent form for Seonee (Winning Rupert) and part of a good day at Morphettville for the Patrick Payne stable.
Bred by Frank Mitchell, she was purchased for $80,000 by Prime Thoroughbreds from the Yarraman Park draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
One of the four stakes winners for her speedy now WA based sire, Seonee is the second foal for the city placed Mowgli (Not A Single Doubt) whose half-brother Beat The Clock (Hinchinbrook) earned the title of Hong Kong Champion Sprinter on two occasions with his four elite level victories.
Served last spring by Hellbent and Brave Smash (Jpn), Mowgli foaled a filly by the former in August - unfortunately missing and slipping at her two previous seasons.
Hailing from the same family as the G3 Newcastle Gold Cup and G3 Gosford Gold Cup winner Silent Impact (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}), Seonee is line-bred to the wonderful mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) as is the G3 Up And Coming S. winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}).
G2 Tobin Bronze S., $250,000, 1200m
A crack at the G1 Goodwood H. may be on the cards for Skybird (Exosphere) on the back of this dominant performance - her fourth win from six starts and her second in stakes company.
One of the ten stakes winners Oaklands Stud based sire, a G1 Golden Rose winning son of Lonhro, Skybird is out of the winner Real Desire (Wanted) whose Listed winning grandam Snow Finch (Ire) (Storm Bird {Can}) is the grandam of the Champion Sire Snitzel.
The G1 Epsom H. winner Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) also hails from this prolific local family which has also produced the stakes winners Hinchinbrook, Captain Bax (Snippets), Snippets’ Lass (Snippets), Viennese (Redoute’s Choice), Arcaded (Street Boss {USA}), Rathlin (Fastnet Rock) and Private Eye (Al Maher).
Bred by HP Thoroughbreds, Skybird was sold by them to her trainer for $110,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (Highway Session). Real Desire was served by Pierro last spring, not producing a foal the previous season. Her Deep Field yearling colt was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock for $260,000 at the Inglis Classic.
G3 John Hawkes S. (Formerly D C McKay S.), $150,000, 1100m
In the winner's circle for the first time since taking out the Listed SAJC Lightning S. in July 2022, Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) was game to the line at his first run since late last year.
Bred by the Parker family and withdrawn from two sales (Gold Coast Magic Millions and Inglis Melbourne Premier), he is one of the 12 stakes winners for his Newgate based sire.
He is the fourth foal and fourth winner for the unraced Tamarind Lane (Stratum), half-sister to the G1 Goodwood H. winner Zip Zip Aray (Bellotto {USA}) and the Listed Proud Miss S. winner Zipanese (Bellotto {USA}).And half-sister to the dam of the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Communist (Russian Revolution).
A descendant of the terrific mare Froth (NZ) (Faux Tirage {GB}), Extremely Lucky hails from a wonderful Australasian family whose members include the big race winners Niconero (Danzero), Nicconi, Interstellar (NZ), Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Horlicks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}) and General Nediym (Nediym {Ire}).
Served last spring by Jacquinot, Tamarind Lane foaled a colt by Maurice (Jpn) in August having not had a great deal at her previous few years at stud.
G3 Chairman's S., $150,000, 2000m
Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) enhanced upon his already impressive record, this win his fifth from eight starts as he heads to the G1 South Australian Derby in great form.
Bred by Te Keeti Bloodstock and sold by them to HN Auret for $20,000 in Book 2 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, the promising 3-year-old is the sole stakes winner for his Cambridge Stud based G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winning sire, a son of Savabeel.
He is the only winner for the retired broodmare Twin Soul (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) whose dam is a half-sister to the G1 Dubai Duty Free winner Right Approach (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}) and to the dam of the South American two times G1 winner Victor Security (Arg) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).
Bold Soul hails from the same branch of the internationally prolific Feola (GB) (Friar Marcus {GB}) family as the great stallion Deep Impact (Jpn) who shares the same fourth dam - Highlight (GB) (Borealis {GB}) as Twin Soul.
Also from this family is Round Table (USA), dam sire of Sir Tristram (Ire) to whom Embellish is line-bred 3 X 4.
G3 Breeders' S., $150,000, 1200m
Accelerating whilst drifting out, Growing Empire (Zoustar) created a big impression recording his second win at stakes level - and doing so easily with his winning margin a soft 4 and a half lengths. Bred by P Hodgens, Werrett Bloodstock and Encompass International, Growing Empire was sold by Vinery Stud to Yulong for $700,000 at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
One of the 53 stakes winners for his Widden Stud based sire, he is a half-brother to the Group 3 placed Flemington and Caulfield winner Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible) out of the stakes placed multiple city winner Miles Of Krishan (Snitzel) whose half-sister Il Quello Veloce (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) earned the title of NZ Champion 2YO.
Another of her half-sisters in Donna Cattiva (NZ) (Captain Rio) is a stakes winner and this is also the family of the recent G3 Black Opal S. winner Holmes A Court (Capitalist).
Miles Of Krishan's Listed Vanity S. winning grandam Classy Twiggy (Twig Moss {Fr}) is the dam of the high class broodmare Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose) whose five stakes winners include the Group 1 sprinters Tiger Tees (NZ) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Terravista (Captain Rio).
Miles Of Krishan was served last spring by I Am Invincible having foaled a full sister to Growing Empire in late October. Her yearling is a filly by I Am Invincible.
Te Rapa: G2 Travis S., NZ$150,000, 2000m
The first leg of a winning stakes double for her late sire (and bred on the same cross), Apostrophe (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) made it two Group wins in a row on the back of her G3 Manawatu Breeders S. success three weeks ago.
One of her much missed sire's 50 stakes winners, Apostrophe was bred by Greenwich Stud and sold by Cambridge Stud to B Smith and R Wellwood for $60,000 at the 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale.
She is one of the three winners (from as many to race) for the Sandown winner Cape South (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) who has also produced the Queensland based multiple city winner Southern Stock (NZ) (Tavistock).
Served last spring by Vadamos (Fr) having foaled a filly by Ace High (NZ), Cape South missed the previous season with her 2-year-old Southern Warrior (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) being a member of the Dean Wiles stable.
Cape South is a half-sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks winner Pure Harmony (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and to the dam of the Listed Anzac Day S. winner Outdo (Exceed And Excel).Also from this family are the Group winners Deianira (Ire) (Taufan {USA}), Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB} and Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended).
Bred on the highly successful Tavistock/Zabeel (NZ) cross, Apostrophe boasts duplications of the excellent mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
G3 Easter H., NZ$150,000, 1600m
Racing clear late after making a big run out wide, Snazzytavi (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was impressive recording her fifth win from ten starts and her first at stakes level. Bred by Suncroft Bloodstock and racing in the colours of Cambridge Stud's Lindsay family, Snazzytavi is stakes winner number 50 for her late sire.
The 26th stakes winner for the Tavistock/Zabeel (NZ) combination, she is out of the Listed New Zealand S. Leger winner Ritzy Lady (NZ) (Zabeel) whose Group 3 placed daughter Le Societe (Anbaa {USA}) produced the Listed Geelong Classic winner Grand Pierro (Pierro). Served last spring by Divine Prophet having had the previous year off - her two previous foals being yet to be named sons of Ace High - Ritzy Lady can count amongst her relations the G1 CF Orr S. winner Manuel (Commands). Snazzytavi boasts crosses of the terrific mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Selene (GB) (Chaucer {GB}).
G3 Cambridge Breeders S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Never in any doubt with this easy all the way victory, I'munstoppable (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) was in the winner's circle for the third time from just eight starts.
A home-bred for the Maclachlan family's Masterpiece Enterprises, she is the 19th stakes winner for her Haras du Logis Saint-Germain (Deauville) based who shuttled to Windsor Park Stud on six occasions.
She is the first foal for the two times winner Sisterella (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) whose dam is the Group 2 placed four times winner Arabian Nights (NZ) (Almutawakel {GB}).
Hailing from the family of the outstanding mare Park Top (Ire) (Kalydon {GB}), I'munstoppable has quite an intense pedigree - within five generations boasting crosses of five stallions - Green Desert (USA), Sadler's Wells (USA), Northern Dancer (Can), Mr Prospector (USA) and Machiavellian (USA). And she carries a strain of Sadler's Wells' three-quarter brother Nureyev (USA), making her line-bred to Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) who had a massive day as a line-breeding subject.
Served last spring by U S Navy Flag (USA), Sisterella had the previous year off having lost her 2022 Proisir filly. Her 2-year-old Lachie (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) also ran at Te Rapa Saturday - debuting with an encouraging fourth.
Eagle Farm: Listed Princess S., $300,000, 1600m
Part of a good day for comeback jockey Vlad Duric who spent many successful years in Singapore, Waikato Girl (NZ) (Savabeel) was game getting up along the rails in the final strides.
It was the first stakes win from seven starts for the Michael Freedman trained 3-year-old who was bred by Pencarrow Stud and sold by them to Mick Wallace for $600,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
The 145th stakes winner for her Waikato Stud based sire, she is out of the Group 1 placed, Group 3 Meld S. winner Scintillula (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who has also produced by Savabeel the Group 2 placed Butter Chicken (NZ).
Served last spring by Proisir having at her two previous seasons produced full siblings to Waikato Girl - a colt last year and a filly the year before, Scintillula also has a Savabeel 2-year-old - Tempestry (NZ) a yet to race member of the Chris Waller stable.
Scintillula is a full sister to the Listed winner The Major General (Ire) and the dual Group 3 winner Cuis Ghaire (Ire) who produced the G1 Al Quoz Sprint winner Danyah (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).
A descendant of the great mare Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}), Waikato Girl is bred on a 5 X 5 cross of Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her son Nureyev (USA) and grandson Sadler's Wells (USA).
Listed Brisbane Mile Quality H., $300,000, 1600m
Part of an imported quinella for the Annabel Neasham stable, Mighty Ulysses (GB) (Ulysses {Ire}) did a good job recording his first local win at just his second start.
A winner in the UK of the G3 Sovereign S. and the Listed Henry Cecil S., he was bred by Hascombe and Valiant Stud and was originally sold as a yearling for 170,000 gns to Blandford Bloodstock at the Tattersalls October Sale.
He is one of the six stakes winners for his Cheveley Park based dual Group 1 winning sire, a son of Galileo (Ire). His dam is the Listed Dick Hern S. winner Token Of Love (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) whose stakes placed dam Nyarhini (GB) (Fantastic Light {USA}) is out of the stakes winner Nuryana (GB) (Nureyev {USA}).
Mighty Ulysses hails from the same branch of the Courtessa (GB) (Supreme Court {GB}) as the Group 1 winners Golden Horn (GB) and Rebecca Sharp (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}).
Courtessa's famous granddaughter Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) also enjoyed success today with her descendant Stanley Express (Starspangledbanner) taking out the VOBIS Showdown at debut. Mighty Ulysses carries a cross of Nureyev (USA) and one strain of that stallion's three-quarter brother Sadler's Wells (USA).
Listed Dittman Plate, $160,000, 1000m
Rising in class and saluting at nice odds, Tiger Shark (Rich Enuff) proved to be one of today's bargain buys - the new stakes winner sold by Springmount to Paul Kingsford Bloodstock for just $15,000 at the 2011 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Bred by ML Flannery and A Hall, she is the ninth stakes winner for her Woodside Park based sire. She is the second foal for her Darley bred dam Langoustine (Exceed And Excel) - a winner at Bendigo and Kembla Grange. Also dam of the yet to race 2-year-old Miss Toronado (Toronado {Ire}), a member of the Tom Conlan stable, Langoustine is out of the Listed Alexandra S. winner Zubbaya (Dubawi {Ire}).
Tiger Shark is one of the six Rich Enuff winners from eight runners out of mares by Exceed And Excel - and the second stakes winner, the other being today's Ascot placegetter Siren Assault.
Ascot: Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic, $125,000, 1400m
Strong out wide reeling in the short priced favourite Laced Up Heels (Toronado {Ire}), Sapphire Street (Street Boss {USA}) broke through for her first stakes success.
The 71st stakes winner for her Darley Victoria based sire, she is a home-bred for Oakland Park Stud, racing in the colours made famous by their star galloper Northerly (Serheed {USA}).
She is the second foal and second winner for Necklet (Snitzel) - who was also bred and raced by Oakland and who ran second in this same race six years ago.
Not served last spring having foaled a Shooting To Win colt, Necklet has a yearling filly by Blue Point (Ire).
Also dam of the city winner Tiffany Street (also by Street Boss), Necklet is a half-sister to the stakes placed The Front Bar (Sessions) out of the unraced Visited (Viscount) whose half-sister Beaded (Lonhro) won the G1 Doomben 10,000 - producing the G3 Nivison S. winner Resin (Exceed And Excel).
Visited is also a half-sister to the G3 Up And Coming S. winner Rarefied (Commands) and this is an old Woodlands Stud family with Sapphire Street able to claim amongst her relations the Group 1 winners Undue (Commands), Solar Circle (NZ) (Star Way {GB}), Freemason (Grand Lodge {USA}), Mental (Lonhro) and Shaybisc (Biscay).
