Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions
Race-Day Recap
Arrowfield Stud's exciting young sire The Autumn Sun sired the trifecta in the G1 Australasian Oaks with his daughter Vibrant Sun defeating her paternal sisters Private Legacy and Coco Sun.
The Mitch Freedman-trained Skybird (Exosphere) may now tackle the G1 Goodwood H. after an easy victory in the G2 Tobin Bronze S.
Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) returned to South Australia the first time since winning the Listed Lighting S. to claim the G3 John Hawkes S.
Bold Soul (Embellish) showed tenacity to hold a charging group of runners at bay to claim the G3 Chairman’s S.
Woodside Park's Rich Enuff sired his ninth stakes when his tough daughter Tiger Shark won the Listed Mick Dittman S.
Vibrant prevails in battle of Autumn fillies
An exciting finish to the G1 Austraasian Oaks saw Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun) hold off her paternal sisters Private Legacy and Coco Sun - giving Arrowfield Stud’s The Autumn Sun, his second Oaks winner and a trifecta in the Group 1 event.
Vibrant Sun displayed plenty of grit, leading virtually from barrier to box. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained filly first held the charge of the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}), and despite Mark Zahra losing the rein, Vibrant Sun kept fighting to win narrowly.
Zahra celebrated his 30th career Group 1 win on Vibrant Sun, telling Racing.com after the event, “I couldn’t have had her much slower in the run. I took my time to get there but she’s so tough.
“I dropped my rein half-way down the straight, and I was cursing that as I couldn’t pick it up because it was too long. I rode her out and she kept finding.”
Co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr added, “We’ve always liked Vibrant Sun. She won her maiden by 7l and then went to the Guineas. It’s been a massive job to get her here and what a gusty win by the filly.
“We’ve always liked Vibrant Sun. She won her maiden by 7l and then went to the Guineas. It’s been a massive job to get her here and what a gusty win by the filly.” -
“She was there to be beaten.” - Michael Kent Jnr
Vibrant Sun is the third foal and second live foal from the classy Written Tycoon mare Vibrant Rouge. She won eight races up to 1400 metres, including the G3 Vamos S.
She hasn’t had much luck at stud in subsequent seasons. Vibrant Rouge’s foals by Pierata and Deep Field were both born deceased. She was served by Jonker last season.
Vibrant Sun | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Vibrant Sun is her best runner, having also claimed the G3 Alexandra S. in addition to the G1 Australasian Oaks. The filly was a $260,000 purchase by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) and Mick Price Racing and Breeding from the draft of Canning Downs at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The filly is one of four stakes winners for The Autumn Sun, and his second Oaks winner from his first crop, with his daughter Autumn Angel winning the G1 Australian Oaks earlier in the autumn. The son of Redoute’s Choice stood the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
A 2024 fee is yet to be announced. However, early last week, Arrowfield Stud advised The Autumn Sun had sustained a pelvic injury in his paddock and is currently on box rest for an undetermined period of time.
The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
The statement read Arrowfield was hopeful The Autumn Sun will recover in time for the 2024 breeding season, but the decision will be guided by veterinary advice with a long-term focus on health and well-being.
Sangster winner catalogued for Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale
Climbing Star (NZ) (Zoustar) took advantage of the field sweeping wide around the turn to scamper up the inside, taking the shortest route home in the G1 Robert Sangster S at Morphettville on Saturday, to give jockey Lachlan Neindorf his first Group 1 win.
Trained by Phillip Stokes, the 4-year-old mare paid $26 to win, beating Annabel Neasham’s 3-year-old filly Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) by 0.3l with Jason Warren-trained 4-year-old mare Benedetta (Hellbent) in third.
“I'm trying to keep it together. It was a really good win. She stumbled at the start and I wanted to be a lot closer, and from that point on I thought, 'bugger this' I've blown the start so let's go back to the inside and try and ride a race. That's what we did and we got the favours,” said Neindorf.
“I was watching the race and I thought what happened, he was meant to get her to the outside. No horse has been in there all day so it's probably evened out towards the end of the day,” said Stokes.
“It's great for Lachie to get the win. Tommy (Stokes) and all the boys have done a terrific job with her and the team at Pakenham. We brought her over, took her back to Pakenham, brought her over and got her to peak on the day.
“She stumbled at the start and I wanted to be a lot closer, and from that point on I thought, 'bugger this' I've blown the start so let's go back to the inside and try and ride a race. That's what we did and we got the favours.” - Lachlan Neindorf
“We don't have to go there (the G1 Goodwood H.). We'd have to be happy with her to do that, but if she pulls up well, we'll look at it.”
Climbing Star became the eighth Group 1 winner for Zoustar, who now has 54 stakes winners. This season, Zoustar has enjoyed the success of dual Group 1 winner Zougotcha, G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Ozzmosis, and G1 Thousand Guineas winner Joliestar. His sire son Zousain has six winners led by Group 3 winner Drifting from his first crop this season, while Ozzmosis recently retired to Newgate Farm where he will stand for $44,000 (inc GST).
A half-sister to Group 3 winner Sansom (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Climbing Star is the fourth foal of debutant winning mare Bryony - a fitting Group 1 win for Fastnet Rock as a damsire on the same day as his retirement was announced. Bryony was a $700,000 purchase by Qatar Racing’s David Redvers at the 2013 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale and won on debut before fading to last in her only other start.
Climbing Star (NZ) | Image courtesy of Atkins Photography
Bryony is a full sister to G1 Diamond S winner Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock) and a half-sister to Triple Honour (NZ) (Honours List {Ire}) who won seven races including the G1 Doncaster H. Heroic Valour stands at Queensland’s Raheen Stud
Climbing Star was a $600,000 purchase by Phillip Stokes Racing and Rick Connolly Bloodstock from Widden Stud at the 2021 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. She is currently catalogued as Lot 433 in the Magic Millions Broodmare Sale.
Zoustar stands at Widden Stud. He served last season at a fee of $220,000 (inc GST). A 2024 fee has yet to be announced.
Goodwood goals for Skybird?
Talented filly Skybird’s (Exosphere) best career performances have come over 1600 metres, but the 1200 metres of the G2 Tobin Bronze S. held no fears as the Mitch Freedman-trained filly shot to success down the Morphettville straight.
Partnered by her regular rider Beau Mertens, Skybird was 1.9l ahead of Moesha (I Am Invincible) and Pivot City (Not A Single Doubt).
Freedman told Racing.com, “We had specific plan in place, to either run in the Tobin Bronze or the G1 Robert Sangster S. we felt the Sangster was a bit hot, so came here with the prizemoney on offer.
“If Skybird pulls up well, she may return here and contest the G1 Goodwood H. I think so.. I can’t see why she can’t if everything is well.
“I know there’s plenty of improvement to come and she’ll get the weight advantage. I do think we will find Skybird’s best distance is around 1300 to 1400 metres.
“She’s a very good filly with plenty of upside.”
“She’s (Skybird) a very good filly with plenty of upside.” - Mitchell Freedman
Skybird is the third foal from Real Desire, a winning daughter of Wanted. Skybird is the best of her three foals, all of which have won races. Skybird won the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic in the spring and was placed in the G1 The Thousand Guineas.
The daughter of the G1 Golden Rose hero, Exosphere hails from an outstanding family that includes four-time Champion Sire Snitzel, the late Hinchinbrook, the Group 1 winners Private Eye (Al Maher) and Rediener (Redoute’s Choice).
Real Desire’s colt by Deep Field was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $260,000 from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Skybird was also a graduate of the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale in 2022. Offered by HP Thoroughbreds, Skybird was purchased for $110,000 by Mitch Freedman Racing.
Skybird | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Skybird’s sire, Exosphere, stood the 2023 breeding season for $6600 (inc GST) at Oaklands Stud. A 2024 season fee has yet to be announced.
Extremely Lucky back in town
Returning to the care of Will Clarken and Niki O’Shea after being transferred to Chris Waller, Extremely Lucky (Extreme Choice) found his best form to win the G3 John Hawkes S. (formerly the G3 DC McKay S.)
Ridden by Jamie Kah, Extremely Lucky upset a classy field of sprinters. Finishing second was the charging Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) followed by What You Need (Supido) and Grey River (Al Maher). Meanwhile Sghirripa (Lonhro) held fifth.
Co-trainer Will Clarken told Racing.com post-race, “He’s a horse that we spruiked. Our stable is one that really believes in data and Extremely Lucky is clearly the best benchmark of the horse’s we’re trained with that stuff, but he never got there (Group 1 class).
“Maybe he never will. Today (Saturday) he got the right circumstances. I am a bit of a believer that if you’re working with a horse and things aren’t going right it is hard to correct at the time. When he went to Waller’s (Chris) I got a bit of time to think about the things I would have done differently and what I’d do now to fix it.
“I know how to train a horse a lot better now. We will give him a bit of time and see how he comes through. He went into today extremely underdone.”
“He’s a horse that we spruiked. Our stable is one that really believes in data and Extremely Lucky is clearly the best benchmark of the horse’s we’re trained with that stuff, but he never got there (Group 1 class).” - Will Clarken
The son of Extreme Choice was spoken of as being a Group 1 class runner after an impressive victory in the Listed Lightning S. at Morphettville. However, Extremely Lucky was unplaced in the G1 Moir S. at the end of that preparation.
Sent to the Rosehill stables of Waller, Extremely Lucky failed to fire a shot. His best efforts being fifth-place finishes in a BM88 and BM100.
Extremely Lucky is the fourth foal from the Stratum mare Tamarind Lane, who was unraced. She is a daughter of Eastern Charm (King’s High) who is a half-sister to Nicola Lass (Scenic {Ire}), the dam of the Group 1 winners Nicconi and Niconero (Danzero).
Extremely Lucky (red silks) | Image courtesy of Clarken Racing
Eastern Charm is the dam of Zip Zip Aray (Bellotto {USA}) won the G1 Goodwood H. in 2002. Extremely Lucky was withdrawn from both the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Extreme Choice will stand the 2024 breeding season for $275,000 (inc GST) at Newgate Farm.
Bold Soul holds off Assault
After fighting off Air Assault (Justify {USA}), the Patrick Payne-trained Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) had to dig deep to hold off the swarm in the G3 Chairman’s S.
Bold Soul, ridden by Jacob Noonan, narrowly held the outsider Just Berrilliant (Justify {USA}), while Air Assault held third from Tulsa King (Kermadec {NZ}) in the 2000-metre final lead up for the G1 South Australian Derby.
It was the fifth victory from eight starts for the son of Embellish (NZ). He had previously claimed the Listed Tasmanian Derby and the Listed Launceston Guineas.
Bold Soul’s dam Twin Soul (Ire), a daughter Singspiel (Ire) finished fourth in the Listed Daisy Warwick S., the Listed Buckhounds S. and the Listed River Eden S.
Bold Soul was a NZ$20,000 purchase by H N Auret from the draft of Te Keeti Bloodstock at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale.
The gelding is the star performer for Cambridge Stud’s Embellish (NZ), a son of the great Savabeel. Embellish will stand for the 2024 breeding season at $5000 (plus GST).
Tiger Shark provides Rich Enuff with new stakes winner
April has been a huge month for Rich Enuff and the good fortune continued at Eagle Farm with 3-year-old filly Tiger Shark winning the Listed Mick Dittman Plate over 1000 metres for trainer Natalie McCall and jockey Bailey Wheeler. Fellow 3-year-old fillies Hip Hip Hurrah (Snitzel) and Party For Two (Sidestep) finished second and third.
A winner of four of her eleven starts, Tiger Shark took her earnings over $260,000. A $15,000 weanling purchase by Paul Kingsford Bloodstock from the Springmount draft at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale, Tiger Shark is the second foal of winning Exceed And Excel mare Langoustine, who is a daughter of Listed winner Zubbaya (Dubawi {Ire}), making Langoustine a half-sister to Group 3-placed Moko (Impending).
Springmount have sold all of Langoustine’s four live foals as weanlings including her current 2-year-old year Miss Toronado (Toronado {Ire}) who made $105,000 to the bid of Intel Bloodstock.
Tiger Shark is the ninth stakes winner for Rich Enuff from 215 runners (4 per cent stakes winners to runners). This month, Rich Enuff’s 2-year-old filly Siren Assault won the G3 Gimcrack S. in Perth in early April, while 3-year-old gelding Oscar’s Fortune won the G3 Roma Cup then ran third in The Quokka.
Rich Enuff stands at Woodside Park for $13,200 (inc GST) in 2024.
