First for Astern
New first season sire winners
Astern
Two of Darley’s first season sires produced new individual winners on Tuesday as Seradess (2 f ex Obsidian Dragon by Hidden Dragon) dead-heated with Cloudy (Frosted) in a thrilling finish to the Roll The Dice Racing 2YO Fillies Maiden Plate (1000m) at Bendigo. The former was a first winner for Astern (Medaglia D’Oro), who won the 2016 Golden Rose Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) and was subsequently second in the Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m). Trained by Mark Kavanagh, Seradess was ridden by Joe Bowditch who believed he had collared the Jamie Kah-ridden Cloudy as his mount joined that duo on the line. “You think you’ve beaten her (Kah) and she still gets you,” Bowditch told Racing.com. “She was very green, she took everything in today and had a good look around, so I would think she’ll improve a lot from that.” Bred by Quality Thoroughbred Breeding Joint Venture, Seradess was bought by her trainer from the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, realising $50,000 from the Mill Park Stud draft. She is the first winner from the stakes-placed Obsidian Dragon (Hidden Dragon), who is herself a three-quarter sister to the Listed scorer Danedina (Danehill Dancer). Astern covered 72 mares at a fee of $22,000 last year, while Seradess is one of 112 live foals to have come from his first crop.
Capitalist (pictured above)
Kalashnikov (2 c ex Rough Ride by Flying Spur) broke his maiden at the fourth attempt on Wednesday to provide first season sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) with his sixth individual winner. Trained by Paul and Peter Snowden, Kalashnikov took out the CG&E Maiden Plate (1100m) at Gosford under Jason Collett, defeating Godolphin’s Raoul (Kermadec) by a long neck. Double Ex (Exosphere), the $2.70 favourite, was the same distance behind in third. Kalashnikov is the second foal out of Flying Spur (Danehill) mare Rough Ride, who has produced two winners from two runners. Newgate Farm’s Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Capitalist already has a stakes winner to his name courtesy of Inglis Millennium (RL, 1200m) winner Profiteer. Capitalist covered 237 mares in 2020, his fourth season at stud, at a fee of $44,000 (inc GST).
Frosted
Cloudy’s (2 f ex Applegate by Exceed and Excel) dead-heat at Bendigo on Tuesday was the third individual Australian winner for Darley shuttler Frosted (Tapit). Trained by James Cummings, the Godolphin homebred ran third behind stablemate Ingratiating (Frosted) and General Beau (Brazen Beau) in the Maribyrnong Trial (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington on October 3, while she got off the mark at the fourth time of asking despite idling under Kah’s urgings. “She was just wandering around, she just needed another horse to take us a bit further,” Kah told Racing.com. “When the leader (Audrey Girl) stopped, she just wanted to do a bit wrong. The team placed her lovely today, she’s maturing every race. She was a bit fierce last start and today she was in a really good rhythm and comfortable. A dead-heat is better than nothing.” Cloudy is a half-sister to last season’s city-placed juvenile Favell (Street Boss), being out of Ottawa Stakes (Listed, 1000m) heroine Applegate (Exceed And Excel), who herself is a half-sister to Summer Cup (Gr 3, 2400m) winner Yulalona (Dubai Destination). Cloudy joins Ingratiating and Frost Flowers as southern hemisphere winners for Frosted, with all three having already achieved black type. Frosted covered 131 mares at a fee of $22,000 in 2020, while he is currently standing at Darley’s Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for a fee of US$25,000 (approx. AUD$31,650).
Maurice
Maurice (Screen Hero) sired his second Australian winner in style on Friday as impressive debutant Mazu (2 c ex Chatelaine by Flying Spur) led home Conrad (Maurice) in a 1100-metre Canterbury Maiden to earn the former Japanese Horse of the Year a quinella. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Mazu showed plenty of promise in a Randwick trial last week and backed that up with a commanding front-running performance under Tommy Berry, who guided Mazu to a head win over Conrad. Jai Lei (Sebring) finished one and a quarter lengths back in third, while hot favourite Forbes (Capitalist) failed to finish in the picture. Mazu, a $180,000 Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Triple Crown Syndications, could be put on a path to the Golden Slipper, with the training partnership set to make a plan depending on how Mazu pulls up over the coming days. He is the fourth winner out of Chatelaine (Flying Spur) and is a half-brother to Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Headway (Charge Forward). Maurice, who shuttled to Arrowfield for three seasons between 2017-2019, is the sire of Japanese stakes winner Pixie Night. He stands at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of 8,000,000 JPY (approx. AU$100,000) in 2021.
Shalaa
Cheerful Legend (2 c ex Jemison by Commands) broke his maiden at the third attempt in the 1200-metre two-year-old handicap at Moonee Valley on Friday to provide Arrowfield shuttler Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) with his third Australian winner. The John Sadler-trained colt cruised to a two-length win over the James Cummings-trained Micro (Medaglia D’Oro), with Treporti (I Am Invincible) another two and a half lengths back in third. Cheerful Legend is a half-brother to dual Hong Kong Group 1 winner Contentment (Hussonet) and is the fourth winner from four runners for Commands (Danehill) mare Jemison. Shalaa, the sire of Breeders’ Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) and Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) winner Shaquero, is currently standing at Haras de Bouquetot in France for a €15,000 (approx AUD$23,300) stud fee.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
All Too Hard
Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard (Casino Prince) brought up his third individual Group 1 winner as Forbidden Love (3 f ex Juliet’s Princess by More Than Ready) burst through late to claim the Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Randwick on Saturday. A $150,000 purchase for Richard Freedman at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2020, Forbidden Love is out of the stakes-placed Juliet’s Princess (More Than Ready), who has a colt by Epaulette (Commands) at foot and was served by All Too Hard in 2020. All Too Hard stood for $27,500 in 2020.
Captain Of All
Group 1-winning sprinter Captain Of All (Captain Al) became a Group 1-winning stallion after his son Linebacker (3 g ex Thin Red Line by Redoute’s Choice) took out Saturday’s Cape Derby (Gr 1, 2000m) at Kenilworth. Trained by Vaughan Marshall, the gelding was winning for the second time in six starts as he beat favourite Rascallion (Vercingetorix) by a length and a half. The Gatekeeper (Dynasty) was another half a length away in third. Linebacker is out of the Group 3-placed Thin Red Line (Redoute’s Choice). Captain Of All stands at
Klawervlei Stud for a fee of R10,000 (approx. AUD$850).
Foxwedge
In a shock victory, Lunar Fox (3 c ex Grant’s Moon by Malibu Moon) became a fifth Group 1 winner for Foxwedge (Fastnet Rock) in the Australian Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Lunar Fox was a $40,000 purchase by TKO Racing from the Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale in 2019. His dam, Grant’s Moon (Malibu Moon), died in September last year, and has a yearling filly by Frosted (Tapit). Foxwedge stood the 2020 breeding season at Woodside Park Stud for a fee of $11,000.
New stakes winners
Azamour
The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained Paisley Park (6 g Musical Magic by Mozart) took out the Kaimai Stakes (Listed, 2000m) at Matamata on Saturday to provide the late Azamour (Night Shift) with his 43rd individual stakes winner. Fourth in the Taranaki Cup (Gr 3, 1800m) at his last start, Paisley Park shot to the front rounding the home turn before holding out all challenges to win by half a length from Central Districts visitor Pep Torque (Nadeem). Yatima (Savabeel) was the same margin adrift in third. “He is a true mile and a quarter horse, so it suited him perfectly today,” Richardson said. “Wiremu (Pinn, jockey) followed instructions to the letter as we wanted him to give him a dig out of the gates and race handy. He had to go early and thankfully he did that, as it was the winning of the race. I haven’t got any plans for him and will just let this all sink in as we celebrate tonight.” He continued: “The two wins today have given me one of the biggest thrills I’ve ever had in life. I’ve won races like the Matamata Cup here on my home track but there is just something special about taking out the feature event the club has and winning another big one, all on the same day.”
Bodemeister
Arkansas Derby (Gr 1, 9f) winner Bodemeister (Empire Maker) took his tally of individual stakes winners to 20 when Wholebodemeister (3 f ex Wholelottashakin by Scat Daddy) scored for the third time in seven starts by taking out Gulfstream’s Davona Dale Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) on Saturday. Sent off an unfancied 52-1 chance, the Juan Carlos Avila-trained filly belied her odds as she came home six and a half lengths clear of her nearest pursuer, Crazy Beautiful (Liam’s Map), who in turn was another length and a half clear of third-placed Competitive Speed (Competitive Edge). Wholebodemeister is the sole winner from two starters for her dam Wholelottashakin (Scat Daddy), who produced an Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) colt this year and a Union Rags (Dixie Union) filly in 2020. Bodemeister stands at the Jockey Club Of Turkey’s farm for €12,500 (approx. AUD$19,585).
Capitalist
Capitalist (Written Tycoon) became the first freshman sire to reach two stakes winners for the season after Tycoon Humma (2 f ex Humma Mumma by Bel Esprit) came with a powerful finish to claim the Very Special Kids Plate (Listed, 1000m) at Flemington on Saturday. Trained by John McArdle, Tycoon Humma was a $240,000 purchase for Redgum Racing from the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in 2020. She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Saturday’s Bob Hoystead Handicap (Listed, 1000m) third Humma Humma (Denman) and has a yearling half-sister by Zoustar (Northern Meteor), who will go through the ring as Lot 87 during today’s opening session of the Premier auction. Tycoon Humma defeated the Godolphin-raced Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro) by a head, with Wanaroo (Wandjina) a further length and a half back in third. Capitalist, who stood last season at Newgate Farm for $44,000, tops the first season sire charts from Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) and barnmate Flying Artie (Artie Schiller). He is also the sire of Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) winner and Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) favourite Profiteer.
Constitution
Florida Derby (Gr 1, 9f) winner Constitution (Tapit) sired his 16th individual stakes winner when his son Annex (3 c ex You Make Me Sing by Unbridled’s Song) made it two wins from as many starts with a victory in the Palm Tree Stakes (Listed, 8.5f) at Gulfstream on Saturday. Trained by Bill Mott, the colt followed up his debut win at the same track when beating Scarlett Sky (Sky Mesa) by a head. Chess’s Dream (Jess’s Dream) was a length and three-quarters further behind in third. Bred in Kentucky by William Harrigan and Mike Pietrangelo, Annex was a private purchase after he failed to meet his reserve when consigned by Lane’s End to the 2019 Keeneland September Yearling Sale. He is the third foal and the only winner from three to race out of You Make Me Sing (Unbridled’s Song), who produced an Honor Code (A.P. Indy) colt in 2019 and an Honor Code filly in 2020. She was bred to Mitole (Eskendereya) for 2021. Constitution stands at WinStar Farm in Kentucky for $85,000 (approx. AUD$110,315).
Dubawi
Naval Crown (3 c ex Come Alive by Dansili) looks destined for better things after running out a commanding winner of the Meydan Classic (Listed, 1600m) on Thursday night, providing Darley’s super sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) with his 197th individual stakes winner in the process. Sent into an immediate lead by Mikael Barzalona, the Charlie Appleby-trained colt never saw another rival as he cruised home under a hands a heels ride, crossing the line a length and three quarters in front of his better fancied stablemate Master Of The Seas (Dubawi). Yurman (Asiatic Boy) was another eight lengths away in third. The winner caught the eye of the northern hemisphere bookmakers who made him a 25-1 chance for Newmarket’s 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m). Naval Crown is the first foal out of the Listed winning Dansili (Danehill) mare Come Alive and is from the further family of last year’s Australian Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Colette (Hallowed Crown). Dubawi once again stands at Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £250,000 (approx. AUD$444,300) this year.
Fastnet Rock
Chris Waller has unearthed another talented juvenile in his armoury thanks to O’President (2 c ex O’Marilyn by O’Reilly), who built on the promise of his four-length win at Canterbury last month when taking out the Skyline Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick on Saturday. The victory provided Coolmore stalwart Fastnet Rock (Danehill) with his 170th individual stakes winner, while the stallion enjoyed a quinella as the Team Hawkes-trained Hilal finished a length a quarter adrift in second. Capitvant (Capitalist) was the same margin away in third. A $520,000 purchase from the Inglis Australian Easter Sale for James Bester Bloodstock from the Kia Ora Stud draft, O’President is the second winner from Group 1-winning juvenile O’Marilyn (O’Reilly). O’Marilyn is herself a half-sister to top-tier winners Headturner (Anabaa) and Anacheeva (Anabaa) as well as Group 2 winner Kroner (Viking Ruler), being from the blue hen Monroe Magic (Zabeel).
Ghostzapper
Fearless (5 g ex And Why Not by Street Cry) maintained his unblemished record at Gulfstream Park when landing the Gulfstream Park Mile Stakes (Gr 2, 1m) on Saturday to provide Ghostzapper (Awesome Again) with his 82nd individual stakes winner. The five-year-old gelding, who was having his first start in eight months, made it three from three at the Florida track when defeating Avant Garde (Tonalist) by three-quarters of a length. Performer (Speightstown) was another two lengths back in third. A half brother to the stakes winner Just Whistle (Pioneerof The Nile), Fearless was offered at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton July Horses of Racing Age Sale but went unsold for $120,000. He is the second stakes winner of the three offspring of And Why Not (Street Cry) to race to date. Ghostzapper stands at Hill ‘N Dale Farms in Kentucky $85,000 (approx. AUD$110,300).
Goldencents
Phantom Currency (5 g ex Phantom Rising by Mr Greeley) provided Goldencents (Into Mischief) with his tenth individual stakes winner when landing Gulfstream’s Mac Diarmida Stakes (Gr 2, 11f) on Saturday. The Brian Lynch-trained five-year-old defeated favourite Tide Of The Sea (English Channel) by three-quarters of a length, with Moon Over Miami (Malibu Moon) another half a length back in third. The win was a fifth in 13 starts for Phantom Currency, who two starts previously had finished down the field in the Clark Stakes (Gr 1, 9f) at Churchill Downs. Bred in Kentucky by Sally Thomas and New Dawn Stable, Phantom Currency became the first stakes winner for the mare Phantom Rising (Mr. Greeley), who has three winners from her five foals to race. Goldencents, the sire of multiple Grade 2 winner By My Standards, stands at Spendthrift’s US base for $15,000 (approx. AUD$19,500).
Iffraaj
Forest Of Dean (5 g ex Forest Crown by Royal Applause) reversed the form with his old rival Felix (Lope De Vega) to take out the Winter Derby (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Lingfield on Saturday, handing Iffraaj (Zafonic) his 75th individual stakes winner. The John Gosden-trained Forest Of Dean had finished behind Felix in his two outings since returning from a long absence this winter, including when running third in the Winter Derby Trial (Listed, 1m 2f) over the same course and distance three weeks ago. However, he stepped forward from that run again under a canny tactical ride by Rab Havlin, who stole a march on his four rivals entering the straight and was never in danger thereafter. Felix ran second, beaten three-quarters of a length, while the progressive Father Of Jazz (Kingman), who returned the 6–4 favourite, was another length back in third. Now the winner of five of his 13 starts, Forest Of Dean is the fourth foal out of the winning mare Forest Crown (Royal Applause), who herself is a half-sister to Racing Post Trophy (Gr 1, 1m) winner Crowded House (Rainbow Quest). Iffraaj had earlier sired his 74th individual stakes winner when Western Empire secured the Lex Piper Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Ascot. The Grant and Alana Williams-trained three-year-old ran fourth in the Western Australian Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) in November, while he had previously been Listed-placed on three further occasions, but he secured his day in the sun with a resounding five and a half-length win over Flash Ducati (Blackfriars). Castillio Del Lago (Alfred Nobel) was a further neck back in third.
Manhattan Rain
Manhattan Rain (Encosta De Lago) sired his 16th individual stakes winner on Saturday when Hail Manhattan (4 g Beggin by Benicio) took out the Tattersall’s Member’s Cup (Listed, 1600m) at the Sunshine Coast. The Peter and Will Hulbert-trained winner finished three-quarters of a length to the good of David Vandyke’s Dissolution (Snitzel), with Sir Barnabus (Rothesay) a further neck back in third. Hail Manhattan was winning for the sixth time in 18 starts, albeit for the first time in black–type company, and he has now won all three outings in February.
Moshe
Former Sun Stud resident Moshe (Bel Esprit) sired his second stakes winner as Mosh Music (6 m ex Dirt Music by Jeune) stamped her credentials for the Adelaide Cup (Gr 2, 3200m) on Monday by taking out the Roy Higgins Quality (Listed, 2600m) at Flemington on Saturday. Trained by Archie Alexander, Mosh Music bounced back from a disappointing last-start seventh in the Moonee Valley Night Cup (Listed, 2500m) – in which she pulled a shoe – to beat Sin To Win (Sir Percy) by a length and a quarter, with another three-quarters of a length to Stars Of Carrum (Fiorente) in third place. “We saw the nominations for this race and they didn’t look overly strong, but even though it wasn’t in our plan – we were supposed to go (direct) to the Adelaide Cup – we took a little diversion and we’ll be going to the Adelaide Cup now,” Alexander said. Winning jockey Mark Zahra, who will retain the ride at Morphettville, added: “I reckon she’ll stay. In the run today I barely touched the bridle the whole way. She was so relaxed and when I needed her to quicken, she did.” Moshe, a brother to Black Caviar, was exported to Indonesia in 2019.
Sea The Stars
Sea The Stars (Cape Cross) registered his 74th individual stakes winner courtesy of a victory by his son Star Safari (5 g ex Intimhir by Muhtathir) in Meydan’s Dubai Millennium Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) on Thursday. The Charlie Appleby-trained gelding was winning for the fourth time in seven starts as he beat Bedouin’s Story (Farhh) by a length and a quarter. Halimi (Teofilo) was a further length back in third. Star Safari is the first foal out of French winner Intimhir (Muhtathir), who herself is out of a winning sister to German Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winners Schiaparelli (Monsun) and Samum (Monsun). Sea The Stars stands at Gilltown Stud in Ireland for a fee of €150,000 (approx. AUD$230,770).
Snitzel
Arrowfield Stud stallion Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) recorded a new stakes double across the Tasman on Saturday, with Sword Of State (2 c ex In the Vanguard by Encosta De Lago) becoming his 108th individual stakes winner when producing a commanding performance to take out the Waikato Stud Slipper (Gr 3, 1200m). The result followed the win of Four Moves Ahead in the Sweet Embrace Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Randwick, who was the 107th individual stakes winner for the stallion. Third in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) second time out on New Year’s Day, the Jamie Richards-trained Sword Of State produced a clear career best when downing stablemate and Karaka 2YO Million (RL, 1200m) winner On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) by six and a half lengths on Saturday. Dragon Biscuit (Choisir) was a further half a length away in third.
Street Cry
The front running Volcanic Sky (6 g ex Short Skirt by Diktat) did just enough under Frankie Dettori to land the Nad Al Sheba Trophy (Gr 3, 2800m) at Meydan on Thursday and become the 132nd individual stakes winner for the late Street Cry (Machiavellian). Now the winner of four of his 19 starts, Volcanic Sky clung on from the fast finishing Global Heat (Toronado) to score by a short head. Brilliant Light (Sea The Stars) made it a 1-2-3 for Saeed bin Suroor, finishing a length and a quarter behind the winner in third. Volcanic Sky is one of five winners out of Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) third Short Skirt (Diktat), who herself was successful in Group 3 company twice. Street Cry soon moved his tally to 133 when Zainhom (7 g ex Kaseema by Storm Cat) overcame a seemingly disadvantageous draw in stall 14 to strike in the Meydan Challenge (Listed, 1400m). The Shadwell homebred was winning for just the third time in 32 starts.
Super Easy
Super Easy (Darci Brahma) sired his sixth individual stakes winner on Saturday when Bonny Lass maintained her unbeaten record to take out the Matamata Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m). A comfortable debut victory at the same track back in January saw the Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained youngster installed a warm $2.10 favourite for the race and she didn’t disappoint under a heady ride by Craig Grylls, who brought up a winning treble on the day with the success. The fast-finishing Fonsalette (Belardo) grabbed second, beaten three-quarters of a length, with Beldarra (Hinchinbrook) a further neck back in third. “She is just so professional and she is tough,” Richardson said. “She actually lost her back legs at the start, so to pick herself up and get into the position she did was quite remarkable. When she was in front, I was looking for Lance O’Sullivan’s filly (Novashow) as I thought she was the horse to beat. I was just hoping we had enough to hold them all out and thankfully we did.”
Tavistock
Hot favourite Solaia (Toronado) could only muster second in Saturday’s Ascot 1,000 Guineas (Listed, 1800m) as Brave Angel (3 f ex Svita by Success Express) claimed top honours to provide late Cambridge Stud stallion Tavistock (Montjeu) with his 27th individual stakes winner. Solaia was sent off the $1.60 market leader having won the Challenge Stakes (Listed, 1500m) on February 13, but it was $21 chance Brave Angel who posted a career best for trainer Simon Miller and jockey Peter Knuckey, turning around a four-length deficit with Solaia having run sixth in the Challenge herself. She had earlier finished third in the Champion Fillies Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) on November 14. Pure Devotion (So You Think) finished a further length adrift in third, leading home a 3-4-5 for Grant and Alana Williams. Tavistock died in December 2019 having suffered complications from an injury he had earlier sustained in a field and he is best known as the sire of Group 1 winners Volkstok’n’barrell and Werther.
The United States
The United States (Galileo), a Group 1-winning brother to the high-class fillies Hermosa and Hydrangea, got his stud career off to the dream start on Saturday when Drakenstein Stud’s homebred Sheela (2 f ex Trip To India by Trippi) made a winning debut in the Storm Bird Stakes (Listed, 1000m) at Turffontein in South Africa. The filly is out of Trip To India (Trippi) hailing from the family of European Group 1 winners such as Continent (Lake Coniston) and Zambezi Sun (Dansili). The globe-trotter began his racing career with Aidan O’Brien in Ireland before he transferred to the stable of Robert Hickmott to race for Nick and Lloyd Williams. He added his name to Galileo’s 89 Group/Grade 1 winners when landing the 2016 running of the Ranvet Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m).
Zebedee
Progressive sprinter Lord Riddiford (6 g ex Beacon Of Hope by Barathea) took his form to new heights with a gutsy success in the Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed, 5f) at Lingfield on Saturday, becoming the 12th individual stakes winner for late Tally Ho Stud resident Zebedee (Invincible Spirit). In a strongly-run affair, Lord Riddiford stalked the pace-setting Ornate (Bahamian Bounty) before pouncing in the straight. He fended off the sustained late challenge of the favourite Moss Gill (No Nay Never) by a neck. Blue De Vega (Lope De Vega) was a further three-quarters of a length adrift in third. Lord Riddiford has now won nine of his 34 starts for prize-money of £134,742 (approx. AUD$243,500).