Second for Churchill
New winners
Churchill (pictured above) – Coolmore shuttler Churchill (Galileo) sired his second Australian winner as the Chris Waller-trained Conqueror (2 c ex Dixie Chick by Star Witness) made a winning debut in the Schweppes Plate (1100m) at Randwick. Just a week on from siring his first Australian winner when Robusto, also trained by Waller, won at Warwick Farm, Conqueror always travelled well under Hugh Bowman and powered down the straight to win by a half-length going away. A $180,000 purchase for Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency from the Byerley Stud draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale last year, Conqueror is the first foal of the winning Star Witness (Starcraft) mare Dixie Chick. Churchill covered 160 mares at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST) last year.
Impending – Darley stallion Impending (Lonhro) sired his first Australian winner when Sir Bailey (2 f ex Jameka by Myboycharlie) built upon his promising debut third to score at the second time of asking over 1300 metres at Sandown Hillside. Fittingly, the colt is trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the same stable who guided his dam, Jameka (Myboycharlie), to six victories, including three at Group 1 level. The colt finished strongly to the line to beat his debut conqueror Merchant Prince (Written Tycoon) by a length and a quarter with a further three-quarters of a length back to pace setter Water Bomber (Headwater). Jameka has a yearling colt and weanling filly by Dundeel (High Chaparral) and was covered by the three-time Group 1 winner Ghaiyyath (Dubawi) last spring. Impending stood at Darley Victoria in 2021 for a fee of $22,000.
New stakes winners
Animal Kingdom – Former Arrowfield shuttler Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) sired his 16th individual stakes winner when his son Skelm (7 g ex Lajoie by Spinning World) ran out a comfortable winner of the Torney Night Cup (Listed, 2500m) at Moonee Valley. The Terry Kelly-trained seven-year-old, who finished second in the Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day, won for the seventh time in 42 starts as he beat favourite Daqiansweet Junior (Sweet Orange) by three lengths. South Pacific (Galileo) was a further length away in third. Skelm is one of seven foals out of the once-raced Lajoie (Spinning World), herself a sister to the Group 1 winner and late stallion Thorn Park. Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) and Dubai World Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Animal Kingdom now stands exclusively at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan for an undisclosed fee.
Capitalist – Second-season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) brought up his seventh individual stakes winner – five of which as two-year-olds – when I’mlovin’ya (2 f ex Loveyamadly by Bel Esprit) won the Talindert Stakes (Listed, 1100m) at Flemington. The United Syndications-owned homebred filly was making her second career start having finished sixth in the Blue Diamond Preview (F) (Gr 3, 1000m) at Caulfield on January 26. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained juvenile defeated I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) filly Waltz On By by three-quarters of a length, with Lambda (Snitzel) filling the placings, two and a quarter lengths behind the winner. I’mlovin’ya joins fellow United Syndications-raced stakes winner Immortal Love (Snitzel) as black-type winners out of their Listed-winning dam Loveyamadly (Bel Esprit), who was purchased by Peter Creighton as a yearling in 2010 for $60,000. Loveyamadly, a half-sister to four stakes winners, including Group 3 winner Written Beauty (Written Tycoon), has a yearling colt by Rubick (Encosta De Lago) and a filly foal by So You Think (High Chaparral) while she was covered by King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) last year. Capitalist stands at Newgate Farm for a fee of $99,000 (inc GST).
Darci Brahma – The Oaks Stud-based sire Darci Brahma (Danehill) chalked up his 55th stakes winner when the Joshua Shaw-trained Hinepara (7 m ex Harinui by Generous) landed the Avondale Cup (Gr 2, 2400m) at Ellerslie. The seven-year-old mare defeated Group 1 winner Concert Hall (Savabeel) by half a length, while Mohaka (Nadeem) was a further two lengths adrift in third. Hinepara is out of Harinui (Generous), making her a half-sister to Listed-placed Waikaha (Towkay). Darci Brahma has eight lots catalogued at Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, which gets underway on March 7.
Duramente – Arrivo (3 c ex Esmeraldina by Harlan’s Holiday) won the Kokura Daishoten (Gr 3, 1800m) to become the third individual stakes winner for his late sire Duramente (Harlan’s Holiday). The Haruki Sugiyama-trained four-year-old defeated Rambling Alley (Deep Impact) by one and three-quarter lengths, with Cadenas (Deep Impact) a neck away in third. The entire has now won four of his last five starts, with victory in the Dannoura Stakes (Listed, 1800m) on January 15 following a seventh-placed finish in the Kikuka Sho (Gr 1, 3000m) in October. Bred by Northern Racing, Arrivo is the second foal out of Kanto Oaks (Listed, 2100m) and Ttukseom Cup (1400m) winner Esmeraldina (Harlan’s Holiday). Duramente died at the age of nine in September last year.
Honor Code – Cavalry Charge (5 g ex Sweet Talkin – Candy Ride) produced a shock win in the Fair Grounds Stakes (Gr 3, 9f) at the US track on Saturday, in the process becoming the tenth individual stakes winner for his sire, Honor Code (A.P. Indy). In defeating Adhamo (Intello) and Halo Again (Speightstown) by a head and the same, the five-year-old has now won four of his last starts and takes his career record to five wins from 15 starts. A US$375,000 buy for Masiello and West Point Thoroughbreds, Cavalry Charge is out of the Candy Ride (Ride The Rails) mare Sweet Talkin, herself a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Adieu (El Corredor). Honor Code is standing at Lane’s End Farm for a fee of US$20,000 (approx. AU$28,000).
Leontes – Leontes (King Kamehameha) sired his fifth individual stakes winner when T O Royal (4 h ex Meisho Ohi by Manhattan Cafe) took out the Diamond Stakes (Gr 3, 3400m) at Tokyo. Winning his fourth race from as many starts this preparation, the four-year-old pulled two and a half lengths clear of Run For The Roses (King Kamehameha) in second, with a further half-length back to Tosen Cambina (Deep Impact) in third. T O Royal took his overall record to five wins from nine outings by landing the staying prize, having run fourth in the Hai Aoba Sho (Gr 2, 2400m) on his only other start in black-type company last May. He joins Justin Rock, Another Lyric, Ripresa and Industria as stakes winners for Leontes.
Nostradamus – The Darren McAuliffe-trained Clairvoyance (4 m ex Dance On Air by Perugino) added a first stakes race to her CV when she landed the Pinjarra Classic (Listed, 1300m) in Western Australia and in the process handed the Rosemont Stud-based sire Nostradamus (Medaglia D’Oro) his first stakes winner. Last seen winning a Benchmark 72 over 1200 metres, the four-year-old mare pulled four and a quarter lengths clear of second-placed Coming Around (Gingerbread Man). Son Of Bacchus (Playing God) was a further length away in third. Clairvoyance is out of six-time winner Dance On Air (Perugino) and she is herself a half-sister to Listed scorer Caprizzi Strip (Distorted Humor). Nostradamus stood at Rosemont Stud for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST) last year.
Rebel Raider – Promising filly Barb Raider (3 f ex Graebarb by Host) claimed a first stakes win when landing the Vanity Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Flemington. The Jerome Hunter-trained filly prevailed by three-quarters of a length ahead of Cardigan Queen (Sebring), while Ancient Girl (Turn Me Loose) was a further neck in arrears in third. Barb Raider placed third in the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) behind Yearning (Snitzel) in October and followed up with a fifth in the Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Flemington, which prompted her trainer to swerve the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) in favour of a spell. Returning first-up for her autumn campaign, Barb Raider will head to Sydney to target the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Rosehill on March 26. A homebred for Graeme Gathercole, Barb Raider is the first foal out of Host (Hussonet) mare Graebarb and is the first stakes winner to appear under the first three dams. Graebarb was covered by Prized Icon (More Than Ready) in the spring.
Speightstown – Olympiad (4 h ex Tokyo Time by Medaglia D’Oro) blitzed his rivals in track-record time to salute as the evens favourite in the Mineshaft Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Fair Grounds. The Bill Mott-trained four-year-old defeated Silver Prospector (Declaration Of War) by two and a quarter lengths, with Miles D (Curlin) a further length back in third. A US$700,000 purchase for Solis/Litt and the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale from the Gainesway draft, Olympiad takes his record to four wins from seven starts and looks set for another crack at elite level having run fourth in the Cigar Mile Handicap (Gr 1, 8f) in December. Out of the Graded-placed Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) mare Tokyo Time, Olympiad becomes the 128th individual stakes winner for his WinStar Farm stallion Speightstown (Gone West), who is standing the 2022 season for a fee of US$90,000 (approx. AU$125,500).
Street Boss – In a battle of the undefeated three-year-olds, the Enver Jusufovic-trained Pinstriped (3 g ex Snitzel Blitz by Snitzel) came out on top over Pascero (Pierro) in the CS Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m), as the pair denied Group 1 winner Captivant (Capitalist) at Flemington. Both horses had won their opening two starts, with Pinstriped arriving off the back of victory in the $175,000 Vobis Gold Carat (1200m) last month, while the First Light Racing-owned Pascero recorded a dominant victory at Sandown last time out. Pinstriped won by half a length over Pascero, with Captivant a length and a quarter behind the winner in third. Pinstriped, the second foal out of Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) mare Snitzel Blitz, was an $80,000 buy for Jusufovic and Gary Mudgway at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2019. The gelding, who derives from the family of Group 1 winners Arazi (Blushing Groom) and Noverre (Rahy), became the 60th individual stakes winner for his sire Street Boss (Street Cry), who stands at Darley’s Kelvinside property for a fee of $55,000 (inc GST).
Toronado – Toronado (High Chaparral) enjoyed a dual-hemisphere stakes double to bring up his 22nd and 23rd individual stakes winners. Corner Pocket (5 g ex Baize by Commands) ran out victorious for the eighth consecutive race as the Lindsey Smith-trained five-year-old won The Elms Handicap (Listed, 1400m) at Flemington to take the first step up to stakes level in his stride. Since winning his maiden at Hamilton in November 2020, Corner Pocket has gradually moved through the ranks, winning metropolitan races at Sandown, Caulfield and Moonee Valley before his first stakes victory on his return this autumn. The five-year-old won by three-quarters of a length over Morvada (Mossman), with Mr Brightside (Bullbars) a further length adrift in third. A successful pinhook result for Musk Creek Farm, Corner Pocket was purchased by the Victorian operation as a weanling for $75,000 before being traded for $175,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when purchased by Smith in conjunction with Boomer Bloodstock. Shortly after, Legionario (6 h ex Break Time by Dansili) got his head in front just shy of 16,500 kilometres further north when taking out the Prix Saonois (Listed, 1600m) at Cagnes-Sur-Mer. The six-year-old had to fight hard for his success, fending off Shafaaf (Medaglia D’Oro) by a short-neck, with a further half-length back to Doctor Carl (Fastnet Rock) in third. Toronado stands at Haras De Bouquetot in France for the northern hemisphere covering season and shuttles to Swettenham Stud in Victoria for the remainder of the time. He is best known as the sire of top-tier winners Masked Crusader and Tribhuvan.
Written Tycoon – Yulong Stud-based sire Written Tycoon (Iglesia) sired his 45th individual stakes winner courtesy of Bundle Of Fun’s (3 f ex Alcatraz by Fastnet Rock) victory in the Tasmanian Oaks (Listed, 2100m) at Launceston. The Adam Trinder-trained three-year-old filly defeated stablemate Miss Charlie Brown (Myboycharlie) by a comfortable length and three-quarters, while odds-on favourite Honeycreeper (Teofilo) was another half a length away in third. Bundle Of Fun was purchased by Price Bloodstock Management for $300,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year. She is out of Alcatraz (Fastnet Rock), making her a half-sister to fellow Listed winner and Group 1-placed Kubrick (Shooting To Win), and hails from the same family as top-flight winners Fairy King Prawn (Danehill), Easy Rocking (Barathea) and Cosmic Endeavour (Northern Meteor). Champion sire Written Tycoon stood his first season at Yulong in 2021 for a fee of $165,000 (Inc GST).
New Group 1 / Grade 1 winners
Galileo – Russian Emperor (5 g ex Atlantic Jewel by Fastnet Rock) produced a dominant performance to win the Hong Kong Gold Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) at Sha Tin and in doing so became the 93rd individual elite-level winner for his late sire Galileo (Sadler’s Wells). The Douglas Whyte-trained Russian Emperor defeated stablemate Savvy Nine (Anodin) by four and a quarter lengths, while the five-year-old handed champion Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro) a second consecutive defeat, as he trailed home five and a half lengths adrift in third. Russian Emperor finished second in last season’s Hong Kong Derby (Listed, 2000m) and more recently ran third in the Stewards’ Cup (Gr 1, 1600m) and Hong Kong Cup (Gr 1, 2000m), beaten only by Japanese raiders Loves Only You (Deep Impact) and Hishi Iguazu (Heart’s Cry) in the latter in December. Russian Emperor is out of Australian star mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock), a winner of ten of her 11 starts, including the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and Caulfield Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).