15 for Churchill
New first season sire winners
Churchill (pictured above)
Snaffles (2 c ex Annabelle Ja by Singspiel) gave his sire Churchill (Galileo) his 15th individual winner when he easily took the Irish EBF Auction Series Maiden (7f) at Down Royal on Friday for trainer Joseph O’Brien. Despite ducking left out of the stalls, Snaffles was settled in a prominent early position by jockey Shane Crosse and was travelling best of all approaching the final half of the race, quickening to lead inside the final furlong and coast clear of his rivals to win by five lengths from Nawraq (Buratino) in second with Gaire Os Ard (Teofilo) a further three-quarters of a length back in third. The tenth foal from two-year-old-winning dam Annabelle Ja (Singspiel), Snaffles is a half-brother to four winners including the Group 2-winning Libranno (Librettist), useful winner Al Muthana (Pastoral Pursuits) and Group-placed Unforgetable (Muhaarar). Bred by Lynch Bages, Camas Park and Arkle Bloodstock, the colt was an €11,000 purchase at the Goffs Autumn Online Yearling Sale in 2020. Churchill is standing at Coolmore Stud in Australia for the 2021 season for a fee of AU$22,000 (inc GST).
Ribchester
Beautiful Surprise (2 f ex Lovely Surprise by Shamardal) made a winning debut in a restricted maiden stakes over seven furlongs at Epsom on Monday, before Garachico (2 c ex Frine by High Chaparral) got off the mark at Evreux on Wednesday, becoming the 11th and 12th individual winners for Haunui Farm shuttler Ribchester (Iffraaj). Sent off the 9-4 favourite, Beautiful Sunrise defeated Shabano (Amaron) by a head, with Psychic Change (Due Diligence) a further two and a half lengths back in third. The Hugo Palmer-trained juvenile, who races in the colours of Dr Ali Ridha, owner of smart sprinter Gifted Master (Kodiac), is the second foal out of the winner Lovely Surprise (Shamardal), herself a daughter of Italian Group 1 winner Dubai Surprise (King’s Best). Meanwhile, Garachico (2 c ex Frine by High Chaparral) claimed a colts and geldings maiden over 1800 metres. Well beaten on last month’s debut at Deauville, Garachico improved to win by one and a half lengths over Heart Dream (Dabirsim). A €40,000 buy out of the Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale, Garachico is the third winner out of French Group 2 winner Frine (High Chaparral). Ribchester will stand at Haunui Farm in New Zealand this year for a fee of $15,000 (Plus GST).
Time Test
Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test (Dubawi) sired his sixth individual winner when Justice Protecol (2 c ex Red Blooded Woman by Red Ransom) got off the mark in a novice race over seven furlongs at Chelmsford on Thursday. Racing for the second time, the Ismail Mohmammed-trained colt beat favourite Axopar (Helmet) by a short head. Damascus Finish (Markaz) was a length and a half away in third. The colt’s dam, Red Blooded Woman is a half-sister to Group 3 winner California (Azamour) and Drumbeat (Montjeu), Group 1-placed in France and a winner in Singapore. Time Test will stand the 2021 season for a fee of $8,500 (Plus GST).
New Group/Grade 1 winners
English Channel
The Bill Mott-trained War Like Goddess (4 f English Channel – Misty North by North Light) extended her winning streak to six when easily landing the Flower Bowl Stakes (Gr 1, 11f) at Saratoga on Saturday and in the process provided her sire English Channel (Smart Strike) with his 12th individual elite-level winner. Despite pulling hard under Julien Leparoux in the early stages, the four-year-old filly managed to switch off the rail two furlongs out, taking the lead and kicking clear inside the final furlong to register a two and a quarter lengths success over Great Island (Scat Daddy) with My Sister Nat (Acclamation) a further nose back in third. “She’s a classy filly. You can do whatever you want and she’ll still give you that punch in the end,” said Leparoux. “It’s nice. It’s a sign of the good ones, for sure.” With her last five wins now all coming at graded level, War Like Goddess has racked up an impressive US$713,684 in her career to date, a huge return on her mere US$30,000 price tag as a two-year-old. War Like Goddess was bred in Kentucky by Calumet Farm. English Channel stands at Calumet Farm in Kentucky for a 2021 fee $27,500 (approx. AU$36,800).
Sea The Stars
Baaeed (3 c Sea The Stars – Aghareed by Kingmambo) gave his sire Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) his 15th individual elite-level winner and took his unbeaten streak to five when winning the Prix du Moulin (Gr 1, 1600m) at Longchamp on Sunday for trainer William Haggas. Ridden by Jim Crowley, the colt settled well in third throughout and was always travelling the best when asked for his effort two furlongs out, ultimately showing a good turn of foot to lead with a furlong to beat previous Group 1 winners Order Of Australia (Australia) and Victor Ludorum (Shamardal) by a length and a quarter and a short neck. “He just looked fresh and enthusiastic but won nicely and got in a bit of a fight today, which he’s never had to do before. He’s still learning and it’s all part of the learning process. He still had his old ears stuck forward, so I don’t think he was flat out,” said Maureen Haggas, wife of the winning trainer. Baaeed is the fifth foal out of the Listed-winning Kingmambo (Mr Prospector) who herself is out of dual Group 1 winner Lahudood (Singspiel). Multiple Group 1 winner Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) stands at Gilltown Stud for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AU$239,000).
New stakes winners
American Pharoah
Coolmore shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) sired his 20th individual stakes winner when his son Trust Our Journey (2 c ex Tribal Music by A P Warrior) struck in the Rosie’s Stakes (Listed, 5.5f) at Colonial Downs on Tuesday. Already twice-placed in stakes company, Trust Our Journey was winning for the second time in five starts when beating Tejano Twist (Practical Joke) and Wish Me Home (Midshipman). American Pharoah will cover his fifth book of Australian mares this season at a fee of $49,500 (inc GST).
Ardad
Eve Lodge (2 f ex Sandy Times by Footstepsinthesand) was a surprising winner of the Sirenia Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Kempton on Saturday for trainer Charlie Fellowes, giving Ardad (Kodiac) a second individual stakes winner as a sire. After chasing the leaders early on in the contest, jockey Jim Crowley asked his mount for an effort two furlongs out and she got to the lead a furlong from home, battling well at the finish to hold race favourite Wings Of War (Dark Angel) by a length with Hierarchy (Mehmas) a further half-length back in third. Owned by Mathis Stables, the filly finished midfield in the Albany Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Royal Ascot two starts back but has improved since then to make her mark stepped back up in class. A 12,500gns purchase as a yearling, Eve Lodge is a third foal and half-sister to winner Mirror Kisses (Requinto). Sire Ardad stood at Overbury Stud in 2021 for a fee of £4,000 (AU$7,400).
Burgundy
Bellacontte (3 f ex Devon Doll by Tavistock) got a deserved first success at stakes level when she got up late to score in the O’Learys Fillies Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Wanganui on Saturday to give sire Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice) his fifth individual stakes winner. Settled in midfield by jockey Sarah McNab, the three-year-old travelled well throughout the contest and took advantage when the gaps opened to run down pacemaker Unusual Countess (Unusual Suspect) with Ima Roca Bee (El Roca) finishing to good effect in third. “She has had a bit of a sore foot and so I wasn’t going to come here today, but after she galloped so well on Tuesday it changed my mind,” trainer Chrissy Bambry said. “I had said to Sarah to be positive on her and when she took that gap halfway down the straight it was the winning of the race.” Bellacontte will now be readied for a tilt at the Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Hastings in a fortnight. Bellacontte is owned by Singapore-based businessman Ben Kwok and comes from an extended family that includes Telegraph Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Tootsie (Pins) and stakes performers La Rose Noir (Centaine) and No Excuse Maggie (No Excuse Needed).
Drefong
Three-time US Grade 1 winner Drefong (Gio Ponti) sired his first stakes winner since taking up stud duties in Japan, as Geoglyph (2 c ex Aromatico by King Kamehameha) scored in the Sapporo Nisai Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) on Saturday. The two-year-old made a winning debut in June over the same trip and kept his unbeaten record intact when defeating Ask Wild More (Kizuna) by a convincing four-length margin. Tosen Vanno (Vanquish Run) finished third, a further one and a half lengths behind. Geoglyph is out of the stakes-winning, Grade 1-placed mare Aromatico (King Kamehameha). Drefong stands at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan.
Exceed And Excel
Exceed And Excel sired two new stakes winners last week to take his tally to 189. Libre (3 f ex Pyrean by Teofilo) led home a one-two finish for her owner Gestut Brummerhof, as she defeated Marshmallow (Soldier Hollow) by a length to win the Baden Baden Cup (Listed, 1400m) at the German track on Wednesday. Finishing in third, one and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, was Kid Conte (Lemon Drop Kid). The filly was a 105,000gns buy for Gestut Brummerhof at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale in 2019. She is the first foal out of the Exceed And Excel (Danehill) mare Pyrean, who herself is a half-sister to the stakes placed Mathematician (Machiavellian) and Oracle (Danehill Dancer). Pyrean has a Caravaggio (Scat Daddy) two-year-old filly named Arodene, and a yearling colt by U S Navy Flag (War Front). On Sunday, Great Ambassador (4 g ex Snoqualmie Girl by Montjeu) landed York’s Garrowby Stakes (Listed, 6f). Trained by Ed Walker, the four-year-old was winning for the fourth time in 13 starts as he ran on well to beat Tabdeed (Havana Gold) by a length and a half. Fivethousandtoone (Frankel) was the same margin away in third. Great Ambassador is the fifth foal out of the Listed-winning Montjeu (Sadler’s Wells) mare Snoqualmie Girl. Exceed And Excel stands at Kelvinside for a fee of $132,000 (inc GST).
Frankel
Triple Time (2 c ex Reem Three by Mark Of Esteem) ran out a comfortable winner of the Ascendant Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Haydock on Saturday to give sire Frankel (Galileo) a 78th individual stakes winner. Trained by Kevin Ryan, the colt set out to make all under jockey Andrea Atzeni, setting a steady pace throughout and quickening inside the final three furlongs to always hold odds-on favourite Hafit (Dubawi) at the finish under a good front-running ride. Owned and bred by Sheikh Mohammed Obaid Al Maktoum, the ninth foal out of Reem Three is closely related to Group 1 winner Ajman Princess (Teofilo) and Group 2-winning Ostilio (New Approach), while also being a half-brother to four winners including Group 3 winner Cape Byron (Shamardal) and Listed winner Third Realm (Sea The Stars). The two-year-old has entries for the Royal Lodge Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) and Beresford Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) later in the season. Sire Frankel stood at Banstead Manor in the 2021 season for a fee of £175,000 (AU$324,000).
Galiway
Galileo’s (Sadler’s Wells) son Galiway sired his eighth individual stakes winner when Esope (3 c ex Polemique by Poliglote) got the better of his more fancied rivals to take out the Prix de Lutece (Gr 3, 3000m) at Longchamp on Thursday. The three-year-old colt was winning for just the second time at his 12th start as he defeated Tides Of War (Galileo) by a length and a half with Gabello (Galiway) a further head behind in third. The fifth foal out of the winning mare Polemique (Poliglote), Esope is a half-brother to the Group-placed winner Endorphine (Muhtathir). Galiway, the sire of Group 1 winner Sealiway, stands at Haras de Colleville in France for a 2021 fee of €12,000 (approx. AU$19,165).
Iffraaj
Kitty Marion (5 m ex Pretty Primo by Kyllachy) pulled out a game finish to narrowly prevail in the Goldene Peitsche (Gr 3, 1200m) at Baden-Baden on Saturday to give sire Iffraaj (Zafonic) an 81st individual stakes winner. After setting out to make all under jockey Vaclav Janacek, the five-year-old was challenged strongly entering the final two furlongs but responded generously to her riders’ urgings to hold off race favourite Majestic Colt (Clodovil) by a neck with the two pulling four lengths clear of Manjeer (Footstepsinthesand) in third place. Kitty Marion was sold by breeders Glebe Stud, J F Dean & Lady Trenchard to Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 28,000gns as a yearling but was then resold to Edgar Byrne for a mere 3,000gns at the Tattersalls July Sale in 2020. A third foal, her dam Pretty Primo is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and top young sire Wootton Bassett, who is also by Iffraaj. Former Haunui Farm shuttler Iffraaj stood at Dalham Hall Stud in 2021 for a fee of £20,000 (AU$40,900).
Intello
A win for Waldbiene (3 f ex Waldjagd by Observatory) in the T von Zastrow Stutenpreis (Gr 2, 2400m) gave sire Intello (Galileo) a 17th individual stakes winner. Ridden by jockey Alexander Pietsch for trainer Waldemar Hickst, the three-year-old raced in the rear of mid division but improved with a couple of furlongs to go racing alone on the far side of the track. Brought back into the main pack, the filly made relentless headway inside the final furlong to lead and extend away at the finish to win comfortably with Walkaway (Alderflug) a length and a half back in second. Race favourite Isfahani (Isfahan) was a further nose back in third. Bred by Scea Haras De Saint Pair, Waldbiene, a half-sister to Listed winner Urwald (Le Havre), was a €110,000 purchase for Panorama Bloodstock at the Arqana Deauville Sale in August 2019 and is a sixth foal out of Group-placed dam Waldjagd, herself a half-sister to German Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Waldpark (Dubawi). Later in the week, Intello sired his 18th individual stakes winner courtesy of a victory by Dawn Intello (4 c ex Gadalka by Giant’s Causeway) in the La Coupe de Maisons-Laffitte (Gr 3, 2000m) at Longchamp. Trained by Andreas Schutz, Dawn Intello was winning for the third time in 11 starts to date as he defeated Seachange (Siyouni) by three-quarters of a length. Kenway (Galiway) was another length away in third. There was further success for Intello later on the card on Sunday when Bubble Smart made her stakes breakthrough with a win in the Prix Gladiateur (Gr 3, 3100m). Intello stands at Haras du Quesnay in France for a 2021 fee of €10,000 (approx. AU$15,935).
Kheleyf
Keyflower (3 f ex Heather Flower by Lope De Vega) gave her sire Kheleyf (Green Desert) his 22nd individual stakes winner when she took the Prix Occitanie (Listed, 1900m) on Saturday at La Teste De Buch. Ridden by jockey Eddy Hardouin, the three-year-old scored by three-quarters of a length from outsider Lingering Dream (Oasis Dream) with race favourite Trixia De Vega (Lope De Vega) a short-neck further back in third. Bred by Haras De Magouet, the filly was a €22,000 (AU$ 35,000) purchase for MAB AGENCY and is the second foal out of unraced dam Heather Flower, who herself is out of a winning sister to Prix De l’Arc De Triomphe (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Hurricane Run (Montjeu). Kheleyf stood at Haras De Faune in the 2021 season for a fee of €1,800 (AU$2,800).
Lope De Vega
Lope De Vega (Shamardal) sired his 85th individual stakes winner when his son Rodaballo (4 c ex Short Affair by Singspiel) came out on top in a tight finish to the Kronimus Oettingen Rennen (Gr 2, 1600m) at Baden-Baden on Sunday. The four-year notched his fifth win in eight starts as he completed a hat-trick with victory over Jin Jin (Canford Cliffs) and Liberty London (Maxios) by a short head and a neck. Lope De Vega, the sire of 13 elite-level winners, stands at Ballylinch Stud for a 2021 fee of €125,000 (approx. AU$199,185).
Makfi
Former Westbury Stud stallion Makfi (Dubawi) secured his 39th individual stakes winner when his daughter Chilly Filly (4 m ex Cherry Danon by Rock Of Gibraltar) won the Wackenhut Fillies Cup (Listed, 1800m) at Baden-Baden on Saturday. The Brummerhof Stud-bred and owned four-year-old defeated Stella (Neatico) by three-quarters of a length with the pair drawing clear of Papua (Mastercraftsman), who finished a further three lengths in arrears. Makfi stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Markaz
A gutsy effort by Corazon (2 f ex Disko by Kodiac) to win the Prix D’Arenberg (Gr 3, 1000m) at Longchamp on Thursday saw Markaz (Dark Angel) notch his first stakes winner as a sire. The George Boughey-trained filly showed good speed to race in the front rank and dug deep for jockey Mickael Barzalona when she came under pressure three-out. Corazon battled to grasp the lead through the final furlong and held the runner-up and race favourite Dizzy Bizu (Caravaggio) by a neck, with third-placed Illustrating (Showcasing) a further short-neck behind. Corazon debuted in July with a solid fourth over five furlongs on the Wolverhampton Tapeta surface and opened her account next time over the same distance on Lingfield’s Polytrack before proving the switch to turf and a step up in class in Paris to be well within her compass. The filly’s dam, Disko (Kodiac), was a juvenile winner with enough quality to run fourth in a Newmarket Listed contest. Her second dam, Dissonance (Rossini), is a sister to the Firth Of Clyde Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) winner Golden Legacy (Rossini). It is also the family of Prix de Meautry (Gr 3, 1200m) third Stake Acclaim (Acclamation). Markaz stood the 2021 season at Derrinstown Stud at a fee of €3,000 (approx. AU$4,800).
Mikki Isle
Mikki Isle (Deep Impact) sired his third individual elite-level winner when Namura Clair (2 f ex Sun Queen by Storm Cat) made it two wins in three starts with a victory in Sunday’s Kokura Nisai Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). Trained by Kodai Hasegawa, Namura Clair beat Sri Pada (Mikki Isle) by two lengths. Anegohada (Kizuna) was another length and a quarter away in third. Mikki Isle stands at Shadai Stallion Station for a 2021 fee of ¥2,500,000 (approx. AU$30,545).
Motivator
Hamish (5 g ex Tweed by Sakhee) defied a 442-day absence to take the September Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 4f) at Kempton for trainer William Haggas to provide sire Motivator (Montjeu) with his 34th individual stakes winner. The gelding had finished a solid fourth on his first foray into Group company in the Hardwicke Stakes in June 2020 (Gr 2, 1m 4f) but had not been seen since. However, Hamish, bred by William’s father Brian Haggas, tracked the leaders throughout the contest and showed his staying power to get up near the finish and deny long odds-on favourite Hukum (Sea The Stars) by a neck. Fox Tal (Sea The Stars) was a further half-length back in third. A first foal, Hamish’s dam was herself a winner over a mile and a half and half-sister to Listed winner/Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) fourth Vow (Motivator), Australian Group 1 winner Beaten Up (Beat Hollow) and Group 3 winner Harris Tweed (Hernando), all of which were also trained by William Haggas and bred by his father Brian. Sire Motivator stood at Haras De Quesnay in 2021 for a fee of €7,000 (AU$11,000).
Pivotal
Pivotal (Polar Falcon) was among the winners at Longchamp on Sunday when Varkesha (4 f ex Varana by Sea The Stars) gave him his 173rd individual stakes winner with a comfortable success in the Prix de la Cochere (Listed, 1600m). Ridden by Christophe Soumillon for Alain De Royer-Dupre, the four-year-old filly was out of the gates well and made all to readily see off the late challenges of British-raider Maamora (Dubawi) by a length and a quarter with Layla (Lope De Vega) another length and a quarter further behind in third. Bred and raced by the Aga Khan, Varkesha is the first foal of the Listed-placed winning mare Varana, who herself is a half-sister to French Oaks (Gr 1, 2100m) winner Valyra (Azamour). Former Cheveley Park stallion Pivotal was pensioned earlier this year at the age of 28.
Proisir
Soldier Boy (3 g ex Forty Love by Ekraar) caused a minor upset when winning the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) on Saturday at Wanganui to give sire Proisir (Choisir) a sixth individual stakes winner. Trained by Gavin Sharrock, the three-year-old was making his first start since catching the eye when coming home nicely in the Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Awapuni in April. Ridden by jockey Kate Hercock, Soldier Boy broke well from barrier eight and was restrained to sit in behind a steady pace before being produced to lead rounding the bend and remaining there until the line to comfortably beat race favourite Yeaboi (Belardo), with the debutant Princess Biddy (Unencumbered) shaping nicely back in third. “He went some nice races as a two-year-old without winning, but I knew he was only going to get better at three,” Sharrock said. “He was ready to go today off the back of some good hard gallops but will take a heap of improvement.” Future targets will now be plotted for the gelding, who is bred and owned by Gavin O’Dea, with races like the New Zealand 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and possibly the step up in trip for the New Zealand Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) on the agenda. Proisir stands at Rich Hill Stud this season for a fee of $12,500 (Plus GST).
Siyouni
Acer Alley (2 f Siyouni – Willow View by Lemon Drop Kid) pulled off a big shock when winning the Prix la Rochette (Gr 3, 1400m) as the outsider of the six-runner field at Longchamp on Sunday to give her sire Siyouni (Pivotal) his 53rd individual stakes winner. Tracking the pacemakers under Olivier Peslier, the filly was asked for her effort coming inside the final two furlongs and she made a sustained run to lead in the final strides to win going away, half a length in front of second Making Moovies (Dabirism) with El Bodegon (Kodiac) a short neck further back in third. Bred and raced by Merry Fox Stud Limited, Acer Alley is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Digital Age (Invincible Spirit), while her dam is an unraced half-sister to Group 1 winner Cursory Glance (Distorted Humor). Siyouni currently stands at Haras de Bonneval for a fee of €140,000 (approx. AU$223,000).
Smart Missile
More Prophets (5 m ex Set To Skelter by Reset) landed the Mona Lisa Stakes (Listed, 1350m) at Wyong on Friday to give her sire Smart Missile (Fastnet Rock) his 22nd individual stakes winner. The John Thompson-trained mare took her career tally to five wins from 14 starts, with her latest success following a victory in a Benchmark 78 at Caulfield on August 21. More Prophets charged down the outside under James McDonald to lead close home and scored by a neck from Bring The Ransom (Sebring), with third-placed Great News (Uncle Mo) three-quarters of a length behind. Offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2018 Classic Yearling Sale, More Prophets, who is expected to tackle the Tibbie Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Newcastle at her next start on September 17, was passed-in at $100,000. She is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible), being out of the 1200-metre winner Set To Skelter (Reset), a full-sister to Listed winner Module. Twin Hills Stud’s Smart Missile is standing the 2021 season at a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST). McDonald dominated the Wyong card with four wins.
Starspangledbanner
Starspangledbanner’s (Choisir) Flotus (2 f ex Floriade by Invincible Spirit) romped to victory in Ripon’s Champion Two-Year-Old Trophy (Listed, 6f) last Monday, becoming the 21st individual stakes winner for the Rosemont Stud stallion. Owned by Jean-Ettiene Dubois, the trainer of Todman Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Aylmerton (Siyouni), as well as Ben Kwok, Flotus won by four and a half lengths over Hellomydarlin (Galileo Gold), with Atomic Lady (Kodiac) six lengths behind the winner in third. A €65,000 foal, the Simon and Ed Crisford-trained Flotus was purchased for 125,000gns at the Tattersalls October Book 1 Yearling Sale and is the seventh individual stakes winner this calendar year for Starspangledbanner, which includes Saratoga Derby (Gr 1, 9.5f) winner State Of Rest, and the Rosemont-owned Brooklyn Hustle, winner of the Dane Ripper Stakes (Gr 2, 1300m) at Eagle Farm in June. Starspangledbanner will stand for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) this season.
Stay Gold
Meiner Fanrong (6 h Stay Gold – Meine Theresia by Roses In May) made a belated breakthrough in stakes company when the six-year-old took out the Niigata Kinen (Gr 3, 2000m) to provide the late Stay Gold (Sunday Silence) with his 55th individual stakes winner. Trained by Takahisa Tezuka, Meiner Fanrong was winning for the fifth time on his 30th start as he beat Tosen Surya (Lohengrin) by half a length, Third place went to Clavel (Epiphaneia).
Time Test
Little Avondale Stud’s Time Test (Dubawi), whose book for 2021 was announced as full last week, sired his second and third individual stakes winners last week. Rocchigiani (2 c ex Ronja by El Corredor) remained unbeaten when stepping up to Group 3 level on just his second start on Wednesday, winning the Renate und Albrecht Woeste Zukunftsrennen (Gr 3, 7f) at Baden Baden. The Peter Schiergen-trained colt defeated Arnis Master (Tai Chi) by a length and a half, with Calif (Areion) third, a further two lengths in arrears. On Thursday, Romantic Time (2 f ex Percy’s Romance by Sir Percy) stuck to the far rail and charged home from deep to land the Dick Poole Fillies’ Stakes (Listed, 6f) at Salisbury. Hollie Doyle drove the juvenile to finish a length ahead of second-placed Pearl Glory (Cotai Glory), with third-placed Crazyland (Kodiac) a further short-head behind in the 12-runner contest. The victory was Romantic Time’s third at her sixth start. The filly, out of a half-sister to the Listed-placed Top Tug (Halling), is the first foal out of her dam, Percy’s Romance, who is a maiden daughter of the Oh So Sharp Stakes (Listed, 7f) winner Top Romance (Entrepreneur), herself a half-sister to the multiple Group-race placed National Anthem (Royal Academy). Time Test stood the northern hemisphere at the National Stud at a fee of £8,500. His southern hemisphere fee is NZ$8,500 (inc. GST).
Toronado
Mouillage (3 c ex Hazely by Cape Cross) gave Toronado (High Chaparral) his 17th individual stakes winner as a sire when successful in the Prix Millkom (Listed, 1600m) at La Teste de Buch on Friday. The Jean-Claude Rouget-trained colt tracked the lead in second under Jean-Bernard Eyquem and took all but the final half-furlong of the home straight to grind his way to the lead and land his fourth victory from 11 starts. Mouillage was a neck in front of the runner-up Leopards Park (Siyouni) with the pace-setting Izlaz (Epaulette) a further length behind in third. Rouget purchased the winner for €37,000 from Normandie Breeding at the 2019 Osarus September Yearling sale. His dam, Hazely (Cape Cross), was a two-time winner at around two miles and is out of the dual Californian Listed winner Sentimental Value (Diesis) who is a half-sister to six winners in Japan. Toronado stood the northern hemisphere season at Haras de Bouqetot at a fee of €8,000 and is standing the southern hemisphere at Swettenham Stud for a fee of $45,000 (inc. GST).
Wandjina
Express Pass (5 g ex Pass The Parcel by More Than Ready) gave Wandjina (Snitzel) his third individual stakes winner when the Nick Ryan-trained gelding scored the biggest win of his career so far in the Chautauqua Stakes (Listed, 1200m) on Saturday. The five-year-old was placed on debut in the Redoute’s Choice Stakes (Listed, 1200m) before finishing a close third in the Danehill Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) a couple of starts later, and he takes record to five wins from 17 starts with victory. Ridden by Jye McNeil for the first time, the unfancied $15 chance scored a comfortable two-length success from race favourite Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) with the big-priced Irish Flame (Zed) a further three-quarters of a length back in third. “The race mapped well and Jye rode him a treat,” Ryan said. “We can see what this horse can do on his day. He ran third in a Danehill as a three-year-old and he’s got a good finishing burst and we saw it today.” A third foal from winning dam Pass The Parcel (More Than Ready), the gelding is a half-brother to six-time winner Express Courier (Foxwedge) and three-time winner Wrapsody (Hinchinbrook). Bred by Pepac Atf Ept, Express Pass was bought by JJ Consultants/Nick Ryan Racing for $38,000 at the Inglis Melbourne VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale in 2018. Wandjina currently stands at Larneuk Stud for a fee of $8,800 (inc GST) in 2021.
War Command
Artistic Rifles (5 g ex Chatham Islands by Elusive Quality) provided jockey Andrea Atzeni with a stakes race double when landing the Superior Mile Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Haydock for up-and-coming trainer Edward Bethell. The win also marked an eighth individual stakes winner for sire War Command (War Front). After breaking well out of the stalls, Atzeni took his mount to the lead early on and the pair established a good four length break on the field with only three furlongs to go and despite the best efforts of second placed Bell Rock (Kingman) and third placed My Oberon (Dubawi), they could not catch the five-year-old. Bred by Lynn Lodge Stud, Artistic Rifles was originally sold by the stud for €60,000 (AU$95,500) but the gelding was picked up for just 5,000 guineas at the Tattersalls August sale for owner Zaro Srl. A seventh foal, he is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Balty Boys (Cape Cross), six furlong winner Shore Step (Footstepsinthesand) and all-weather winner Catsbury (Teofilo). Sire War Command stood at Haras De Gelos in 2021 for a fee of €3,500 (AU$5,500).
Wootton Bassett
Coolmore’s shuttle sire Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) sired his 22nd individual stakes winner when Wootton Asset (3 c ex Love Liu by Librettist) landed the Virginia Derby (Gr 3, 9f) at Colonial Downs on Tuesday. Now the winner of three of his ten starts, Wootton Asset, who started his career with two victories in France, beat Slicked Back (Quality Road) and It Can’t Be Done (Temple City) by three-quarters of a length and a length and three-quarters. Wootton Bassett will cover his first book of Australian mares this season at a fee of $71,500 (inc GST).
Zoustar
Zoustar’s (Northern Meteor) Zouzarella (3 f ex Zazparella by Al Maher) ran home an impressive two-length winner of the Atlantic Jewel Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Moonee Valley on Saturday, remaining unbeaten from two starts as she stepped up to stakes level with consummate ease and became the 24th individual black-type winner for her Widden Stud stallion. The Cambridge Stud-owned filly, a $250,000 buy from the Glastonbury Farms draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, defeated Larkspur Run (Shamardal) with Literary Magnate (Written Tycoon) third, two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner, as they stacked up behind, leaving favourite Argentia (Frankel) nowhere to go on the inside, and could only finish eighth. She is the second named foal out of Al Maher (Danehill) mare Zazparella, a winner of six from 42 starts in her racing career, and sister to the stakes placed Almachino, while she is a half-sister to Inglis 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) third Let’s Get Nauti Gal (Harbour Watch). Zoustar stands for a fee of $154,000 (Inc GST) this year.