Competition hots up as talented three-year-olds clash at Rosehill
Heavyweight owners Coolmore and Godolphin well represented in Group 3s in Sydney
Coolmore and Godolphin are poised for a heavyweight clash amidst a mouth-watering three-year-old card at Rosehill today, highlighted by $3 million colt Kandinsky Abstract (Zoustar), who makes his reappearance in the San Domenico Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m).
As the covers come off a bristling array of horseflesh embarking on their second seasons, Kandinsky Abstract – bought by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year as the equal third-highest priced yearling in Australian history – is one of seven runners down to resume in the $250,000 dash.
Fresh from his debut Canterbury maiden win in May, the Chris Waller-trained brother to Group 1-winning star Sunlight is set to confront Godolphin colts Corniche (Fastnet Rock), who was spelled after winning the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) rather than contesting the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), and Barber (Exceed And Excel), the Golden Gift (1100m) winner who started favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), following his win in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (Gr 3, 1100m)
One race earlier, today’s longer three-year-old feature, the Up And Coming Stakes (Gr 3, 1300m) shapes as another compelling contest as the Coolmore-Waller camp’s $1 million Easter colt Caballus (I Am Invincible) heads the market in a field featuring Godolphin’s much-vaunted topweight Tom Kitten (Harry Angel).
Caballus was desperately unlucky last start when a half-length third over today’s course and distance to another Up And Coming rival in Kintyre (Hallowed Crown), after winning his second start over exciting filly Estriella (I Am Invincible).
Bookmakers last night had Caballus, who’ll jump from gate four for James McDonald, favourite at around $3.30, just ahead of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott’s Les Vampires (Pierro), with Tom Kitten at $12 despite whispers from the Godolphin camp that he’s the most improved of their array of star three-year-olds this term.
Kandinsky Abstract, to whom McDonald has committed for the spring, was last night a $5.50 chance just behind Corniche in an open market for the San Domenico. It’s headed by Waterhouse-Bott’s First Light Racing colt The Instructor (Russian Revolution), the Blue Diamond Preview (C&G) (Listed, 1000m) winner who resumed with a fighting half-length third in The Rosebud (Listed, 1100m) at Rosehill two weeks ago, behind Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible).
Connections of Kandinsky Abstract were yesterday still holding open the option of scratching the colt this morning, due to his wide gate (10) in a field that stood at 12 horses last night, and with Rosehill possibly favouring front-runners with its rail out six metres.
But the greater likelihood was that he would run, especially if there were any scratchings from those drawn inside him.
If he starts, most eyes will be on Australia’s top–priced yearling of 2022, who’s had a slightly unusual beginning considering his status. He debuted not in Saturday class but in a Canterbury midweek maiden, on May 3, having not had his first barrier trial until mid-April.
After winning his debut, on a Soft 7, by a length he was mentioned as a candidate for the last two-year-old Group 1 of the season, Eagle Farm’s JJ Atkins Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) , but was instead turned out for a spell. He reappeared on the first day of this season with an unhurried fifth in a Canterbury barrier trial, before winning a Rosehill trial by a long–neck over Butch Cassidy (Written Tycoon), who’s a $15 chance against him today.
“We’ve known he’s been a nice horse all along, and had him in the top side of the system,” said John Kennedy, racing manager at Coolmore, who head the syndicate racing the colt that includes Sir Peter Vela and Coolmore’s partner Derrick Smith, and which mirrors the team behind Golden Slipper winner Shinzo (Snitzel).
“He debuted at Canterbury purely because that race came up at the right time for him. Plus, it was unusual weather for that time of year and we were worried we’d be running out of decent ground for him to race on.
“We spoke about the JJ Atkins, but we also had two other colts going there who were a bit ahead of him on fitness. We knew Kandinsky Abstract was a good horse and we knew there were some good races ahead for him as a three-year-old, so we thought we’d keep him behind.”
The precious colt had now “filled out a bit but kept his shape”, Kennedy said, and was “starting to look like a man”.
“We’re starting to see a different side of him. He’s starting to wake up and he’s really starting to enjoy his work,” he said. “He’s shown improvement every week since he’s come back. He’s got a great attitude, and is moving very well. James McDonald did a piece of work with him recently and he was very happy with him. He wants to stay with him no matter what target he goes for.
“He’s in flying form, and the whole team are very happy with him. It’s just that the wide draw at Rosehill is going to be a concern for him, but I imagine he’ll take his place and we hope something else comes out overnight and gets him in closer.”
The $1 million Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Rosehill on September 23 remains the main target for Kandinsky Abstract, although Kennedy said shorter races like the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Flemington on Derby Day were another option, for a colt who “has a lot of speed”.
With Waller yesterday returning to Australia after a brief overseas trip, his assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth gave another insight into the handling of a $3 million colt, saying Kandinsky Abstract’s “awful draw” today had made delaying his resumption until another midweek race next Wednesday, at Warwick Farm, a slight possibility.
“But I’m not sure where it takes you from there, and if you get beaten there as a valuable colt you haven’t really achieved much,” Duckworth said on social media.
“There’s a slight leaning towards running [today]. If he can win, he’s going to be a superstar, because with the rail out over 1100 metres at Rosehill from gate 11, he’s going to be exceptional to win. But if he can run a nice second or third and set himself up for a beautiful campaign, it’s probably worthy of running.”
Coolmore will also resume the Waller-trained Armed Forces (I Am Invincible) in the San Domenico. The colt was a close second to the highly-rated Cifrado (Encryption) in in the Champagne Classic (Gr 2, 1200m) at Doomben in May, and was a $41 shot last night.
Godolphin’s best hope appears Corniche, who won the Skyline in February but was withdrawn from the blue team’s Golden Slipper Stakes brigade and sent for a spell. Instead, Godolphin started a trio in the Slipper including Barber, who had been among the early favourites after winning the Golden Gift and Blue Diamond Prelude in his first two starts, before running ninth in the Blue Diamond and the Slipper.
Corniche, who has gate six for Nash Rawiller today, warmed up by winning one barrier trial, at Hawkesbury, and running second in another at Randwick behind multiple stakes-winning stablemate Zapateo (Brazen Beau). Barber has the outside barrier for Josh Parr and a point to prove if he is to recapture his early form, with two moderate trials forcing him out in today’s market.
James Harron’s colts syndicate – buoyed by the highly-regarded Mexico (Capitalist) shaking his maiden status in slashing style at Gosford on Thursday – has two San Domenico runners in Waterhouse-Bott pair Butch Cassidy and Introducing (Trapeze Artist).
The latter is the best fancied after resuming with a dogged neck second to smart filly Tiz Invincible in The Rosebud.
“Introducing was really pleasing that day, with the way he gave a good kick and then fought back under pressure,” Harron said. “He’s come back this preparation a lot more mature mentally and physically. The form’s there. He’s just got to keep progressing.
“And Butch Cassidy has come back very well. We’ll use this race as an idea of where we program him.”
Meanwhile, Caballus was a warm favourite to raise I Am Invincible’s 99th global stakes-winner in the Up And Coming, after being badly blocked in the straight when third last start.
“He was very unlucky not to win,” Kennedy said. “The form is good from his maiden win, beating Estrialla who was very unlucky at Group 2 last weekend, so we’re looking forward to him showing his best this time.
“He’s got a good draw, is in very good form, and is a horse we like an awful lot. He arguably should’ve won his first three starts, but we’re just hoping tomorrow goes our way and we should see him show his best.”
Tom Kitten hasn’t been seen since a strong-finishing fourth in the ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) in April, which followed his win in the Fernhill Mile (Listed, 1600m), also at Randwick, two runs after a Warwick Farm maiden win over today’s trip. Reports from the Godolphin camp suggest the son of Harry Angel (Dark Angel) has bloomed into an especially imposing three-year-old, as suggested by a recent Hawkesbury barrier trial win.
Gary Portelli saddles his Slipper winner Fireburn’s younger half-brother Kintyre, after his last start Rosehill victory. But he agrees with the market’s assessment his stablemate Encap (Capitalist) – a fast-finishing second to Les Vampires at Warwick Farm last start – is the better chance.
“He’s a good horse,” Portelli said of Encap, who has barrier nine for Brett Prebble. “He’s got a great turn of foot, he can really let down, and he hits the line. Les Vampires is second favourite in this race, but if it was a bigger track last start we’d have run him down and we wouldn’t even be talking about Les Vampires.
“I think Encap’s a huge chance. If things go well in the early stages of the race, he’ll be right in the finish.”