First for Churchill
New winners
Churchill (pictured above) – Coolmore’s 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m)-winning shuttler Churchill (Galileo) produced his first southern hemisphere-bred winner when the Chris Waller-trained Robusto (2 c ex She’s Clean by Redoute’s Choice) cantered away with the Two-Year-Old Plate (1300m) at Warwick Farm om Tuesday. Ridden by James McDonald in the cerise silks of Ingham Racing, Robusto beat Williamsburg (Snitzel) by three and three-quarter lengths to break his maiden at the third time of asking. A homebred for Ingham Racing, Robusto is the third foal out of Group 3 winner She’s Clean (Redoute’s Choice), a three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed Floyd (Snitzel) and half-sister to Group 3 runner-up Notorious One (Animal Kingdom). She’s Clean has a Deep Field (Northern Meteor) yearling filly and was covered by Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) last year. Churchill, who sired three juvenile stakes winners from his first northern hemisphere crop, shuttles to Coolmore Australia where he stood the 2021 breeding season for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Pariah – Nalabelle (2 f ex Rivadorf by Danewin) got her sire Pariah (Redoute’s Choice) off the mark with a first individual winner as she cruised to an eight-length success at Wagga on Thursday. Trained by Nick Olive and ridden by Jeff Penza, the two-year-old filly built upon her debut fourth to record an all-the-way win over Semper Invictus (Rubick) with a further head back to Nymagee (Palentino) in third. Pariah has had just five runners to date, with the best of those being the Annabel Neasham-trained Swiss Exile, who ran third in the BJ McLachlan Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and Phelan Ready Stakes (Listed, 1000m). Nallabelle was purchased by Nick Olive Racing from the Noralla Stud draft for $32,000 at Book 2 of the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the second foal and first runner for the Commands (Danehill) mare Rivadorf, herself a sister to the stakes winner Dorf Command. Pariah stands at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST).
The Mission – The Mission (Choisir) regained his lead at the top of the first season sires by winners late on Saturday when Mishani Embrace (2 f ex Fallen For You by Show A Heart) broke through at the seventh time of asking in the two-year-old plate at Toowoomba, giving the Aquis Farm stallion his fifth individual winner. The Les Ross-trained Mishani Embrace finished fifth in the first two-year-old race of the season Australia-wide in September, followed by a pair of thirds and a treble of seconds. Dropping back from 1400 metres to 1100 metres and with blinkers applied for the first time, the chestnut filly never looked in doubt, opening up to score by a widening eight lengths. Bought back for $2,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Mishani Embrace took her earnings past $65,000 with Saturday’s win. The Mission sits atop the first season sire table by winners, with his quintet placing him one clear of Heroic Valour (Fastnet Rock), Invader (Snitzel) and Russian Revolution. The Mission stood for $8,800 (inc GST) in 2021.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Shamexpress – Windsor Park Stud’s Shamexpress (O’Reilly) registered his first Group 1 winner on Saturday when Coventina Bay (6 m ex Coventina by High Chaparral) took out the Herbie Dyke Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Te Rapa. Heavily backed late after early favourite The Chosen One (Savabeel) knocked himself on the way to the course, Coventina Bay relished every metre of the journey, racing past leader Vernanme (O’Reilly) to score by three-quarters of a length with The Chosen One the same margin away in third. Passed in for $20,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Coventina Bay took her earnings past $550,000 with Saturday’s success. Shamexpress stood for $6,000 (plus GST) in 2021.
New stakes winners
Acclamation – The market principals could never land a blow in the Curlin Stakes (Listed, 2000m) on the Meydan dirt on Friday, with 20-1 shot Appreciated (6 h ex Wise Investor by Belong To Me) fending off the sustained challenge of Sanad Libya (Tapiture), who returned 22-1, in what proved a boilover. The Doug O’Neill-trained winner continued the fine form of his American handler, who last week saddled Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) to Group 2 success, and in the process became the fifth individual stakes winner for US stallion Acclamation (Unusual Heat). The official margin was a neck, while Big Team (Speightstown) finished a further three and a quarter lengths adrift in third as the top three in the betting – Salute The Soldier (Sepoy), Dubai Icon (New Approach) and Rebel’s Romance (Dubawi) – never threatened. Having his 32nd start and his first in the UAE, Appreciated made a sweeping move round the home turn and had just enough in reserve under Fernando Jara. Despite his limited success in the breeding shed, Acclamation has produced Grade 2 winner Acclimate as well as the Grade 1-placed Take The One O One.
Burgundy – The late Cambridge Stud stallion Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice) brought up his eighth individual stakes winner when Maven Belle (2 f ex Doyenne by Kilimanjaro) took out Saturday’s Platinum Homes 2YO Classic (Gr 3, 1200m) at Te Rapa. The race, which had been postponed a week, still attracted a field of nine, with the Jamie Richards-trained Maven Belle sent out as the $1.80 favourite. And even with the delay, she was able to stamp herself as a filly of promise, winning by a length and a half over Val Di Zoldo (War Decree) with a further length and a half to Charmario (Charm Spirit) in third. It was a big day at Te Rapa for the family, with her dam Doyenne’s (Kilimanjaro) half-sister Levante (Proisir) taking out the BCD Group Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) later on the card. Burgundy died in 2019.
Capitalist – A week on from bringing up his fifth individual stakes winner, Newgate Farm’s Capitalist (Written Tycoon) made it six when Marine One (3 c ex Golconda by Snitzel) took out the Rubiton Stakes (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield. Jumping up from a defeat in Benchmark 70 (1100m) grade last month, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Marine One was backed into favourite and swept up accordingly, defeating Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) by a length and a quarter with a short-head back to Sword Of Mercy (Sebring) in third. Purchased for $500,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Marine One is the first stakes winner out of Golconda (Snitzel), a filly who was precocious enough to win the Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) but classy enough to stretch out to the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) and finish third. Capitalist’s 2021 fee was set at $99,000 (inc GST).
Choisir – The late Coolmore stallion Choisir (Danehill Dancer) celebrated his 101st individual stakes winner when Snapdancer (5 m ex Snapdragon by Galileo) strolled clear to take Saturday’s Triscay Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Randwick. Trained by the powerful Maher/Eustace team, Snapdancer was not for catching, recording a two and three-quarter length success over British import Promise Of Success (Dansili) with the honest Electric Girl (Declaration Of War) a further long neck away in third. A $180,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, Snapdancer is the first foal out of Snapdragon (Galileo) to win at stakes level, with the mare having produced five other winners, including Group 3-placed Drago (Danehill Dancer). Coolmore Stud stalwart Choisir died in December.
Frankel – Juddmonte Farm’s superstar stallion Frankel (Galileo) brought up his 84th individual stakes winner – his ninth in Australia – when Argentia (3 f ex Princess Coup by Encosta De Lago) swept home from last to take out the Kevin Hayes Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) at Caulfield. Argentia, an impressive Flemington winner at her only start at two, was lacklustre at her only start in the spring but she bounced back in style by scoring a last-stride win over Scorched Earth (Nicconi). The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained filly is the second stakes winner out of four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago), joining retired Hong Kong Group 3 winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute’s Choice). Frankel is standing at Juddemonte’s Banstead Manor in Newmarket for a career high fee of £200,000 (approx. AU$380,114) in 2022.
Giant’s Causeway – Late Coolmore Stud stallion Giant’s Causeway (Storm Cat) sired his 195th individual stakes winner when the Brian Lynch-trained Classic Causeway (3 c ex Private World by Thunder Gulch) landed the Sam F Davis Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Tampa Bay Downs on Saturday. Last seen finishing second in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (Gr 2, 8.5f) on November 27, Classic Causeway began his three-year-old career in the best possible way when he defeated Shipsational (Midshipman) by a comfortable three and three-quarter lengths. Volcanic (Violence) was another length away in third. Bred and raced by Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke M Cooper, the three-year-old colt is out of Listed winner Private World (Thunder Gulch), who has produced four other winners. Giant’s Causeway died in 2018.
Harbinger – Shadai Stallion Station resident Harbinger (Dansili) sired his 21st individual stakes winner when Presage Lift (3 f ex Supreme Gift by Deep Impact) preserved her unbeaten record in The Daily Hai Queen Cup (Gr 3, 1600m) at Tokyo. The three-year-old landed her only start as a juvenile the same course and distance in October and she showed on Saturday she could be a major player this season with a neck win over Stars On Earth (Duramente). Belle Cresta (Duramente) was a further three-quarters of a length back in third. Presage Lift is one of five winners out of Grade 3-placed Supreme Gift (Deep Impact), making her a half-sister to Grade 3 winner All At Once (Makfi).
Heart’s Cry – Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence) chalked up his 56th individual stakes winner courtesy of Danon Beluga’s (3 c ex Coasted by Tizway) win in the Tokinominoru Kinen (Gr 3, 1800m) at Tokyo. Unbeaten in his only start at two, Danon Beluga got his Classic year off to the best possible start when he defeated Geoglyph (Drefong) by a length and a half with Be Astonished (American Patriot) the same distance away in third. The three-year-old colt was purchased by Danox Company for ¥160,000,000 (approx AU$1,942,518) at the JRA Select Yearling & Foal Sale in 2019 and he is out of Listed winner and Grade 1-placed mare Coasted (Tizway). Heart’s Cry – who counts 2019 Cox Plate (Gr 1, 2040m) winner Lys Gracieux among his 56 stakes winners – was pensioned from stallion duties last year.
More Than Ready – Evergreen stallion More Than Ready (Southern Halo) brought up his 213th individual stakes winner when More Than Exceed (6 g ex Exceedingly Regal by Exceed And Excel) took out the Thomas Lyons Stakes (Listed, 1400m) at Elwick in Hobart. The gelding defeated Mandela Effect (Turffontein) by a quarter of a length and Justacanta (Per Incanto) was another three-quarters of a length away in third. A $260,000 purchase from the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale, More Than Exceed was sold to current part-owner Alan Sheppard for just $6,000 through Inglis Digital in August last year. He is the first stakes winner for the Listed-placed Exceedingly Regal (Exceed And Excel). More Than Ready shuttled to Vinery Stud for 19 seasons, but did not return in 2020 and he is serving his 22nd American season at WinStar Farm for USD$50,000 (approx. AUD$70,000) in 2022.
Myboycharlie – Miss Charlie Brown (3 f ex Red Fever by Red Ransom) gave her sire Myboycharlie (Danetime) a 23rd individual stakes winner as she swooped late to win the Strutt Stakes (Listed, 2100m) at Hobart. The Adam Trinder-trained three-year-old settled midfield for most of the race before making her move on the home turn, staying on strongly to claim victory near the post to beat Ashmania (Wordsmith) by a quarter-length with a further length back to Bundle Of Fun (Written Tycoon) in third. A $62,000 purchase by Trinder out of the Bowness Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Sale, Miss Charlie Brown is out of the unraced Red Ransom (Roberto) mare Red Fever and is a half-sister to five winners including Bedrock Dreams (Bon Hoffa) and Fundido (Lonhro). Myboycharlie stood for €10,000 at the Jockey Club Of Turkey in 2021.
Night Of Thunder – Godolphin fielded the first five in the betting in Friday’s Business Bay Challenge (Listed, 1400m) on the turf at Meydan and it was the white cap of Pat Cosgrave who came home in front aboard Storm Damage (4 g ex Sundrop by Sunday Silence), providing former Darley shuttler Night Of Thunder (Dubawi) with his 27th individual stakes winner. A talented gelding who was dropping in grade having run fourth in the Al Fahidi Fort (Gr 2, 1400m) over the same course and distance on January 21, Storm Damage enjoyed a smooth passage on the speed before kicking clear in the stretch. He led home a 1-2-3 for Godolphin and a 1-2 for trainer Saeed Bin Suroor, beating Mutafawwig (Oasis Dream) by three and a quarter lengths, with a further neck back to the Charlie Appleby-trained Modern News (Shamardal) in third. Night Of Thunder shuttled to Australia for one season in 2016, covering 96 mares at a fee of $16,500 (inc GST), and in that crop he produced Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) hero Kukeracha and Moonee Valley Vase (Gr 2, 2040m) winner Cherry Tortoni. A Godolphin homebred, Storm Damage is a three-quarter brother to Listed winners Nature’s Colours (Poet’s Voice) and Whitman (Poet’s Voice), being out of US Grade 3 winner, and UK Group 3 winner, Sundrop (Sunday Silence).
Oasis Dream – In winning the Al Shindagha Sprint (Gr 3, 1200m) at Meydan on Friday, Meraas (5 g ex Rehn’s Nest by Authorized) became the 129th individual stakes winner for Juddmonte Farms’ stallion Oasis Dream (Green Desert). The five-year-old gelding came into the race off the back of a victory over course and distance on December 23 and he built on that performance when defeating Canvassed (Shamardal) by three-quarters of a length. Al Tariq (Oasis Dream) was a further half a length away in third. Meraas is one of two winners and first stakes winner for Group 3 winner Rehn’s Nest (Authorized), who finished second in the 2013 running of the Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m). Oasis Dream stands at Juddemonte’s Banstead Manor for a fee of £20,000.
Russian Revolution – Newgate Farm’s Russian Revolution (Snitzel) registered a milestone first stakes winner and a fourth winner overall as Revolutionary Miss (2 f ex Purcentage by Onemorenomore) scored an impressive victory in the Blue Diamond Prelude (F) (Gr 2, 1100m) at Caulfield. Runner-up at her first two starts, including a distant second in the Widden Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) last time out, the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Revolutionary Miss swept home to take the fillies’ lead-up to the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) by three-quarters of a length over Blue Diamond Preview (Gr 3, 1000m) heroine Miss Roseiano (Exceed And Excel). English Riviera (Deep Field) held down third, a length and a half behind the winner. Offered by Sledmere Stud at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Revolutionary Miss was purchased for $195,000 by Triple Crown Syndications; her brother was offered at this year’s edition of the same, fetching $250,000 to the bid of Danny O’Brien. Russian Revolution stood for $44,000 (inc GST) at Newgate Farm in 2021.
Snitzel – Four-time leading sire Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) chalked up his 118th individual stakes winner and 45th juvenile stakes winner when Lofty Strike (2 c ex Overreach by Exceed And Excel) kept his unbeaten record intact in the Blue Diamond Prelude (C&G) (Gr 3, 1100m). The Julius Sandhu-trained Lofty Strike, a winner of his only start at Flemington, produced the same turn of foot to sweep home late, defeating Semillion (Shalaa) by a length and a half with a further half-length to Daumier (Epaulette) in third. A $280,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase, he is the first stakes winner from two foals to race out of 2013 Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel). Snitzel stood at Arrowfield Stud for $165,000 (inc GST) in 2021.
Stay Gold – The Godolphin-raced African Gold (7 g ex Blixen by Gone West), at the tender age of seven, took out his first stakes race when he landed the Kyoto Kinen (Gr 2, 2200m) at Hanshin on Sunday and in the process became individual stakes winner number 55 for the late stallion Stay Gold (Sunday Silence). Having the 27th start of his career, the gelding defeated Tagano Diamante, who is incidentally by Stay Gold’s son Orfevre, by a length and a quarter. Sanrei Pocket (Jungle Pocket) was another neck away in third. African Gold is out of Listed-placed Gone West (Mr. Prospector) mare Blixen making him a half-brother to multiple top-flight winning champion African Story (Pivotal).
Street Sense – A blistering early pace in the UAE 2000 Guineas (Gr 3, 1600m) played into the hands of the fast-finishing Azure Coast (3 c ex Divine Rule by Empire Maker), who provided former Darley shuttler Street Sense (Street Cry) with his 84th individual stakes winner when coming from the clouds to take out the Group 3 on the Meydan dirt. The Pavel Vaschenko-trained Azure Coast flew home under Antonio Fresu to take his record to three wins from as many starts. The Uruguayan-trained pairing of Kiefer (Drosselmeyer) and Quality Boone (Daniel Boone) ran second and third, beaten two lengths and a further nose respectively. Street Sense is best known as the sire of Twin Hills Stud resident Hallowed Crown, while Azure Coast is the sole winner out of an Empire Maker (Unbridled) sister to US Grade 3 winner Soaring Empire and half-sister to dual US Grade 2 winner Hungry Island (More Than Ready), who was also placed three times in Grade 1 company.
Testa Rossa – Twenty-two years to the day after Testa Rossa (Perugino) scored his third Group 1 win in the Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), the former Vinery Stud stallion brought up his 67th stakes winner when This’ll Testya (6 m ex Camille’s Girl by Flying Spur) scored an upset win in the Cyril Flower Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ascot. Regarded as a general 25-1 chance, the Mitchell Pateman-trained This’ll Testya gave the former jockey his first stakes winner as a trainer and was soft at the end, eased down by rider Lucy Warwick to prevail by a length and a half over Kissonallforcheeks (Written Tycoon). Another outsider, Carocapo (Husson), was third. Offered as part of the Dawson Stud draft at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, This’ll Testya was purchased for $52,000 by part-owner Mark Nelson. Testa Rossa served his final book of mares in 2018.
Uncaptured – Canadian-bred stallion Uncaptured (Lion Heart) was handed his tenth stakes winner when the Laura Cazares-trained Yes I Am Free (6 g ex Yes It’s Valid by Yes It’s True) took out the Gulfstream Park Turf Sprint Stakes (Gr 3, 5f) on Saturday. The six-year-old gelding surged home strongly, eventually beating Richy (Suntracer) by three and a quarter lengths, while Belgrano (War Front) was another head away in third. Purchased by Justin Casse for US$135,000 (approx AU$189,181) at the 2018 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company Open Horses of Racing Age Sale, Yes I Am Free is out of four-time winner Yes It’s Valid (Yes It’s True) – a daughter of multiple Listed winner Valid Forbes (Valid Appeal).
Uncle Mo – Adare Manor (3 f ex Brooklynsway by Giant Gizmo) gave her sire Uncle Mo (Indian Charlie) a 79th individual stakes winner when she won the Las Virgenes Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Santa Anita. Trained by Bob Baffert and ridden by John Velazquez, the three-year-old filly romped to victory to beat Queen Of Thorns (Violence) by 13 lengths with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Miss Everything (Tiznow) in third. Adare Manor is the first foal out of the Grade 3-winning mare Brooklynsway (Giant Gizmo), who herself is out of an unraced half-sister to the stakes winner Effie Trinket (Freud). Uncle Mo currently stands at Ashford Stud for a fee of $160,000 (approx. AU$224,940).
Wordsmith – Friday’s running of the Tasmanian Derby (Listed, 2200m) went the way of the Patrick Payne-trained The Nephew (3 g ex Husson’s Kiss by Husson), as he gave his sire Wordsmith (Testa Rossa) a seventh individual stakes winner. Ridden by Brendan McCoull, the three-year-old went off the well-backed 6/4 favourite for the 2200-metre contest at Hobart after his Benchmark 70 (1850m) win just six days earlier. Travelling well throughout in a wide position, the gelding was set down in the home straight and stayed on strongly to beat Ashy Boy (Star Witness) by three-quarters of a length with a further half-length back to Dodgy One (Reliable Man) in third. A $40,000 purchase by Prime Thoroughbreds out of the Armidale Stud draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, The Nephew is out of the winning Husson (Hussonet) mare Husson’s Kiss.
Zelzal – The Haras de Bouquetot-based sire Zelzal (Sea The Stars) was provided with his second individual stakes winner on Saturday when the Graham Motion-trained Ouraika (3 f ex Sleek Gold by Dansili) narrowly prevailed in the Sweet Life Stakes (Gr 3, 6.5f) at Santa Anita. The French-bred three-year-old filly stayed on strongly to beat Urban (Quality Road) by a head with Kitty Kitana (Bobby’s Kitten) a further length and a half back in third. Ouraika is one of four winners out of winning Dansili (Danehill) mare Sleek Gold, who is herself a daughter of Group 3 scorer Ya Hajar (Lycius), making Ouraika a half-sister to Listed winner Prince Of All (Iffraaj). Zelzal – whose oldest crop are three-year-olds – is also the sire of Listed scorer Zelda.
Zoustar – Zoushine (4 m ex Ravenous Lass by Stratum) gave her sire Zoustar (Northern Meteor) a 26th individual stakes winner when she scored a first black-type success in the Kevin Sharkie Bow Mistress (Gr 3, 1200m) at Hobart. Having her first run back since finishing third in a Benchmark 72 (1200m) at Morphettville in October, the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained four-year-old made her challenge on the turn and stayed on well at the finish to beat Award Winner (Exceed And Excel) by a half-length under Barend Vorster, with a further length back to Bons Abroad (Bon Hoffa) in third. A $380,000 purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing out of the Mill Park Stud draft from Book 1 of the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Zoushine is out of the winning Stratum (Redoute’s Choice) mare Ravenous Lass and is a sister to the winner Just Stars. Zoustar stands at Widden Stud during his time in the southern hemisphere and is currently serving his fourth book of mares at Tweenhills Farm and Stud, his northern hemisphere home.