15 for Belardo
New first season sire winners
Belardo
Haunui Farm shuttler Belardo (Lope De Vega) sired his 15th individual winner on Wednesday when Desert Boots (2 g ex City Chic by Street Cry) got off the mark at the fourth time of asking in the seven-furlong nursery at Lingfield. Trained by Mark Johnston, the juvenile showed a good attitude in the closing stages of a messy race to fend off the challenge of Cuban Cigar (Havana Gold) by a neck, with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Decadent (Mehmas) in third. Belardo, who will have his first southern hemisphere two-year-olds this season, has already produced five stakes winners in the northern hemisphere, with Rockfel Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) scorer Isabella Giles the pick of the bunch. Darley recently announced the son of Lope De Vega (Shamardal) will stand at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for an unchanged fee of €10,000 (approx. AUD$16,150) in 2021.
Rebel Dane
Glen Eden Stud’s Rebel Dane (California Dane) produced his first winner from just two runners after Subterranean (2 c ex Caves by Bernardini) made a mess of his rivals at Doomben on Saturday. Sent out as the $3.90 favourite after finishing third on debut at the Sunshine Coast, when he became the first runner for his sire, the Matt Dunn-trained Subterranean was not for catching on Saturday in the 1200-metre quality to kick off the Doomben card. Ridden by Michael Cahill, Subterranean stretched away to score by three and a quarter lengths over the fast-finishing Collay’s Spirit (Charm Spirit), with You’ll Be Mist (Headwater) hanging tough for third, a further nose away. Bred and raced by Steve Grant under his Grant Bloodstock banner, Subterranean is the first foal out of Caves (Bernardini), a four-time winner at Geelong, Seymour, Woolamai and Hanging Rock, who was purchased for just $1,000 by Kenny Lowe’s Carpe Diem operation at the 2017 Inglis Melbourne Spring Thoroughbred Sale. Offered on Inglis Digital in January, 2019, Caves was passed in for $5,500. Remaining in the care of Grant Bloodstock, she produced another colt by Rebel Dane last year before producing a third colt, this time by Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock), in 2020. Rebel Dane stood at Glen Eden Stud in Victoria for $5,000 (inc GST) in 2020.
Rommel
Ultimate Command (2 f ex Weona Lady by Lonhro) provided Rommel (Commands) with his first winner when landing the two-year-old plate over 1000 metres at Ascot on debut on Saturday. Trained by Neville Parnham, who also had Rommel under his care, Ultimate Command led all the way to defeat stablemate Flying Missile (Cable Bay) by half a length, with Astrape (Snitzel) a further one and a quarter lengths behind in third. Ultimate Command was a $15,000 purchase from Mogumber Park at this year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. In his race career, Rommel took out the Western Australian Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) and the Zeditave Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) before retiring to stud and he now stands at Mogumber Park for a fee of $4,400 (inc. GST).
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Distorted Humor
Varda (2 f ex She’ll Be Right by Sky Mesa) earned Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) his 18th individual elite-level winner when taking out the Starlet Stakes (Gr 1, 8.5f) at Los Alamitos on Saturday. The Bob Baffert-trained filly headed stablemate Kalypso (Brody’s Cause) inside the final 100 yards and pulled clearly nicely under Drayden Van Dyke to put a length and half between the pair. Nasreddine (Nyquist) finished a further four lengths behind in third. Distorted Humor, who stands for a private fee at WinStar Farm, has now sired 159 individual stakes winners during his stud career and is now seeing success as a grandsire.
Dundeel
Truly Great (5 g ex Truly Special by Jeune) took out Saturday’s Kingston Town Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) in great fashion, defeating Inspirational Girl (Reliable Man) by two lengths to provide Dundeel (High Chaparral) with his fifth individual elite-level winner. Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) finished a further length behind in third. Six-time Group 1 winner Dundeel, who has also sired Atyaab, Castelvecchio, Yourdeel and Super Seth to elite-level success, stands at Arrowfield Stud for $66,000 (inc. GST).
King Kamehameha
The late King Kamehameha (Kingmambo) brought up his 12th individual Group or Grade 1 winner when Chuwa Wizard (5 h ex Chuwa Blossom by Durandal) took out the Champions Cup (Gr 1, 1800m) on the Chukyo dirt on Sunday. Trained by Ryuji Okubo, Chuwa Wizard has switched between JRA and NAR tracks and had won the JBC Classic (Listed, 2000m) and the Kawasaki Kinen (Listed, 2100m), both domestic Grade 1 races run on the local government-run NAR circuit. However, Sunday’s dominant win over Gold Dream (Gold Allure), Inti (Came Home) and odds-on favourite and defending champion Chrysoberyl (Gold Allure) was his first Group 1 on the JRA circuit. King Kamehameha, who was pensioned at the start of 2019, died in August last year.
Mineshaft
Mineshaft (A. P. Indy) sired his seventh individual elite-level winner when True Timber (6 h ex Queen’s Wood by Tiznow) trounced the field in the Cigar Mile Handicap (Gr 1, 1m) at Aqueduct on Saturday, earning a first Grade 1 success for jockey Kendrick Carmouche. The six-year-old landed his first win in stakes company at the 20th attempt and did so in fine style. After taking the lead with two furlongs to run, the Jack Sisterson-trained entire put five and a half lengths between him and runner-up Snapper Sinclair (City Zip), with Performer (Speightstown) another neck behind in third. Saturday’s win also ended a 13-race losing streak dating back to 2018 for True Timber. Mineshaft, the sire of 52 stakes winners, will stand at Lane’s End for a fee of US$15,000 (approx. AUD$20,200) in 2021.
Redwood
On a mammoth day for Westbury Stud, stalwart Redwood (High Chaparral) registered his first individual Group 1 winner as Rock On Wood (6 g ex Rock On Rye by Catcher In The Rye) took out the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Trentham on Saturday. Redwood stood for NZ$8,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
New stakes winners
Cable Bay
Shuttler Cable Bay (Invincible Spirit) sired his third individual stakes winner when Collinsbay (2 c ex Kinematic by Kyllachy) made a successful debut for new trainer Luciano Vitabile with a victory in Sunday’s Criterium Di Pisa (Listed, 1500m). Formerly trained in Britain by Richard Hannon, the juvenile posted his first win in eight starts when beating Flag’s Up (War Command) and Zuglin (Power). Having done his previous racing in the colours of The Queen, Collinsbay fetched 50,000 guineas when sold at Newmarket’s Horses in Training Sale earlier in the year. Cable Bay stands at Woodside Park Stud for a fee of $9,900 (inc GST).
Deep Field
Isotope (3 f ex Great Dansaar by Choisir) provided Deep Field (Northern Meteor) with his seventh individual stakes winner when taking out the Mode Plate (Listed, 1200m) in emphatic style at Doomben on Saturday. The Tony Gollan-trained three-year-old was making his second start this preparation, after finishing runner-up at Doomben last month, and produced a stunning turn of foot under an effortless Ryan Maloney ride to defeat Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt) by three lengths. Paredo (Better Than Ready) was a further head behind in third. Isotope, who finished runner-up in the Champagne Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) in May, was purchased by Gollan, John Foote and Black Soil Bloodstock for $170,000 from the Daandine Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Deep Field, the sire of Group 2 winners Cosmic Force, Dig Deep and Xilong, stands at Newgate Stud for $55,000 (inc. GST).
Deep Impact
The late Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) sired his 165th individual stakes winner when Lei Papale (3 f ex Shells Lei by Kurofune) extended her unbeaten run to five with a victory in Saturday’s Hanshin Challenge Cup (Gr 3, 2000m). The Tomokazu Takano-trained filly rewarded her many supporters who sent her off warm favourite as she beat Bravas (King Kamehameha) and Hindu Times (Harbinger) by a length and a half and half a length. Lei Papale is a sister to the Group 2 winner Shining Lei.
Dubawi
Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) edged closer to a double century of stakes winners when his son Firnas (7 g ex Crystal Music by Nureyev) kept his good run on form going with a victory in The Entisar (Listed, 2000m) at Meydan on Thursday night. Lining up off the back of his recent success over the course and distance, the seven-year-old gelding fought hard in the closing stages to see off the challenge of the more-fancied Saltarin Dubai (E Dubai) and register a fourth win in 12 career starts to date, in the process providing his sire with his 193rd individual stakes winner.
Lilbourne Lad
Johnny Drama (5 g ex Quelle Histoire by Whipper) kept his winning run going as he registered his fourth successive victory when making a successful debut in stakes company at Kempton on Wednesday evening. The five-year-old gelding was winning for the sixth time in 17 starts to date as he beat favourite Sinjaari (Camelot) by a short head in the Wild Flower Stakes (Listed 1m4f). Sextant (Sea The Stars) was a length away in third. The victory provided the former Rathbarry stud resident Lilbourne Lad (Acclamation) with his fourth individual stakes winner.
More Than Ready
Important Mission (6 g ex Laura’s Pleasure by Cactus Ridge) put the benefit of a recent run to good use when he swooped late to post an unlikely win in the Garhoud Sprint (Listed, 1200m) at Meydan on Thursday night. The six-year-old gelding looked woefully outpaced for much of the race before hitting top gear in the final stages to notch his fifth career win and in the process provide More Than Ready (Southern Halo) with his 206th individual stakes winner. Behavioral Bias (Shackleford) finished second, with Bochart (Dubawi) in third. Former shuttler More Than Ready will stand at WinStar’s Kentucky farm for a fee of US$65,000 (approx.AUD$87,350) in 2021.
Mukhadram
Mukhadram (Shamardal) sired his third individual stakes winner when his son Badram (3 c ex Baratella by Orpen) took out Sunday’s Premio Pisa (Listed, 1600m). The Ricardo Santini-trained three-year-old was winning for the fifth time in seven starts as he got the better of Va Tutto Bene (Hallowed Crown) and Oleksander (Teofilo). Group 1 winner Mukhadram will stand at Societa Agricola di Besnate for a fee of €4,500 (approx. AUD$7,350) in 2021.
Munnings
Sharp Starr (3 f ex Mindy Gold by A.P. Indy) justified favouritism in the Go for Wand Handicap (Gr 3, 1m) at Aqueduct on Saturday, with the victory earning Munnings (Speightstown) his 43rd individual stakes winner. The Horacio DePaz-trained Sharp Starr got the better of Portal Creek (Shanghai Bobby) by a neck, with the pair pulling well-clear of Nonna Madeline (Candy Ride), who was 12 lengths back in third. The victory was the second straight at Aqueduct for Sharp Starr, who is owned by Barry Schwartz and bred by Stonewall Farm. Coolmore’s Munnings, the sire of two elite-level winners in El Deal and I’m A Chatterbox, is already fully booked for the 2021 breeding season.
Orfevre
Shadai Stallion Station resident Orfevre (Stay Gold) sired his 11th individual stakes winner when Ocea Great (4 c ex Blue Danube by Bahri) posted a narrow victory in the Sports Nippon Sho Stayers Stakes (Gr 2, 3600m) on the Nakayama turf on Saturday. Trained by Masatatsu Kikukawa, the four-year-old was winning for the fifth time in 16 starts when beating Tagano Diamente (Orfevre) by a head. Favourite Pont Des Arts (Heart’s Cry) was a length and a half away in third. Dual Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) runner-up Orfevre stood for a fee of ¥3m (approx. AUD$38,785 ) in 2020.
Sea The Stars
Boerhan (4 g ex Greenisland by Fasliyev) preserved his unbeaten record in the UAE and became the 71st individual stakes winner for Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) when he took out the National Day Cup (Listed, 1600m) at Abu Dhabi on Friday. Formerly trained in Newmarket by William Haggas, the four-year-old is now in the care of Nicholas Bachalard, and he built on the promise of his first-up success over course and distance last month when getting the better of a thrilling three-way finish under Ryan Curatolo. Medahim (Kodiac) ran second, beaten a short-head, with the same margin back to Mailshot (Hard Spun) in third. The outstanding Sea The Stars, sire of Stradivarius, Crystal Ocean, Sea Of Class and Taghrooda among a plethora of top-tier winners, will stand at the Aga Khan’s Gilltown Stud in Ireland for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AUD$245,000 in 2021.
Showcasing
Former Haunui Farm resident Showcasing (Oasis Dream) brought up stakes winner number 47 at Ellerslie on Saturday when the Jenna Mahoney-prepared Opalescence (3 f ex Fairy Story by Pentire) took out the Bonecrusher Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m). Opalescence is her family’s first stakes winner in five generations, although fifth dam Homespun (Round Table) produced Group 1-winning stayer Mashaallah (Nijinsky) and is also the matriarch of a family that includes top-level victors Union Strike (Union Rags), Avenge (War Front), Local Talent (Northern Dancer), Mark Of Esteem (Darshaan), Hard Not To Love (Hard Spun) and Secret Spice (Discreet Cat). Showcasing, who last shuttled to New Zealand in 2017, will stand at Whitsbury Manor Stud in Hampshire for £45,000 (approx. NZ$85,750) in 2021.
Tavistock
She’s Alight (5 m ex Keep Alight by Keeper) took out the Jungle Dawn Classic (Listed, 1400m) at Ascot on Saturday to bring up Tavistock’s (Montjeu) 24th individual stakes winner. Lining up in stakes company for the first time, She’s Alight battled well to just hold off the field in a bunched finish, with nine rivals finishing within two lengths of the winner. The five-year-old mare, who grabbed the lead with 200 metres to run, defeated Special Choice (Redoute’s Choice) by a short head, with Chantrea (Puissance de Lune) a further head behind in third. She’s Alight provided two-time winning mare Keep Alight with her first stakes winner. All seven of Keep Alight’s progeny that have graced the racecourse have won. Tavistock, who stood at Cambridge Stud, died aged 14 last year.
Telperion (pictured above)
Westbury Stud’s first season sire Telperion (Street Cry) produced his first individual stakes winner with his first runner when Stormy (2 c ex Silent Night by Swiss Ace) took his record to two victories from two starts in Saturday’s Wakefield Challenge Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Trentham. Telperion stood for NZ$5,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
Written Tycoon
Written Tycoon (Iglesia) sired his 41st individual stakes winner when Kissonallforcheeks (3 f ex Rosie Rocket by Blackfriars) impressively took out the Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic (Listed, 1400m) at Ascot on Saturday. The Daniel Morton-trained three-year-old stormed down the outside under a well-timed ride from Brad Parnham, who earlier partnered Ultimate Command to success, to defeat Solaia (Toronado) by one and a half lengths. Western Empire (Iffraaj) was close behind in third. Bought from Newhaven Park for $120,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Kissonallforcheeks has won four of her eight starts and went one better than her Listed runner-up finish in the Burgess Queen Stakes (1400m) at Ascot last month. Her sire Written Tycoon, who stands at Woodside Park Stud for $77,000 (inc. GST) has had a magnificent 2020, with the likes of Pippie, Ole Kirk and Odeum all scoring at the highest level.