First for Divine Prophet
New first season sire winners
Divine Prophet (pictured above)
Aquis Farm’s first season sire Divine Prophet (Choisir) sired his first two-year-old winner at Morphettville on Boxing Day when the Will Clarken-trained Bleriot (2 f ex Jetting To London by Jet Spur) won the two-year-old plate (1050m). After twice finishing runner-up, Bleriot won the $52,250 race by three quarters of a length over Elteecee (Pierro) with Cassowary (Stratum Star) another two and a half lengths away in third. Connections of Bleriot also collected an additional $160,000 from Aquis Farm for winning a Saturday two-year-old metropolitan race prior to 2021 Magic Millions race day. He was purchased by Clarken and J S Bloodstock Consultancy for $160,000 from Aquis from the Book 2 session of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale last year. Divine Prophet, who stood for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST) at Aquis Farm in the Hunter Valley in 2020, has 12 lots catalogued at the upcoming Magic Millions sale.
Frosted
Darley shuttler Frosted (Tapit) brought up his 18th winner but just his second in the southern hemisphere when Frost Flowers (2 f ex Itameri by Exceed And Excel) scored impressively at her first start at Flemington on New Year’s Day. Ridden by Jamie Kah, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Frost Flowers was utterly dominant in her defeat of Tayla’s Moment (Shalaa) and I Am Enchanting (I Am Invincible), with the one-and-a-half-length margin perhaps not a true measure of her victory. Frost Flowers is the fourth foal to race and the fourth winner for Itameri (Exceed And Excel) and looks likely to follow in the footsteps of her older half-brother Hanseatic (Street Boss), who finished second as favourite in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) last year. Itameri traces back to blue hen Scandinavia (Snippets), her second dam. She produced a filly by Exosphere (Lonhro) in August, but sadly died three days later. Frosted stood at Darley’s Northwood Park in Victoria for $22,000 (inc GST) in 2020.
Swear
Continuing the strong start to the season for freshman sires, Spendthrift Australia’s Swear (Redoute’s Choice) also had his first winner on Boxing Day, with talented colt Faulds (2 c ex Patricia’s Gem by Mineshaft) winning on debut at Geelong. The most expensive yearling by the sire sold in 2020 at $80,000 from the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale when offered by Widden Stud, Faulds was bought by Swear’s trainers Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes. Faulds, who was well-backed to start at $3.20, won the two-year-old maiden (1100m) by one and a quarter lengths over Pegasi (Star Turn) and Micro (Medaglia d’Oro). Swear stood for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST) last year at Spendthrift Australia’s Victorian operation.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Animal Kingdom
Duopoly (3 f ex Justaroundmidnight by Danehill Dancer) proved triumphant in her first start at the highest level, winning the American Oaks (Gr 1, 10f) at Santa Anita on Boxing Day by two lengths to provide Animal Kingdom (Leroidesanimaux) with his third individual elite-level winner. Trained by Chad Brown, the three-year-old showed the way throughout under Flavien Prat, defeating Going To Vegas (Goldencents) into second, with favourite Sharing (Speightstown) finishing two and three-quarter lengths behind the winner in third. Animal Kingdom, winner of the 2011 Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f), is standing privately at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan in 2021.
Just A Way
Danon The Kid (2 c ex Epic Love by Dansili) took out the Hopeful Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Nakayama on Boxing Day to provide Just A Way (Heart’s Cry) with his first elite-level winner. The Takayuki Yasuda-trained Danon The Kid, who is unbeaten from three starts, saw off Orthoclase (Epiphaneia) by one and a quarter lengths. Yoho Lake (Deep Impact) was a further half-length behind in third. Just A Way, a triple Grade 1 winner under the care of Naosuke Sugai, has 153 winners from 265 runners, with seven of those being stakes winners. He was crowned Japanese champion freshman sire in 2018 and stood at Shadai Stallion Station for a fee of 4,000,000 JPY (approx. AUD$50,200) in 2020.
Savabeel
The consistent Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Concert Hall (6 m ex Classix Legacy by Carnegie) broke through at the highest level on Boxing Day when taking out the Cambridge Stud Zabeel Classic (Gr 1, 2000m) at Ellerslie to become the 21st individual Group 1 winner for her sire Savabeel (Zabeel). The six-year-old mare, who was runner-up in the Captain Cook Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at her previous start, defeated Supera (Savabeel) by a long neck with In A Twinkling (Fastnet Rock) another long-head away in third. Savabeel stood at Waikato Stud for a fee of NZ$100,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
Speightstown
Charlatan (3 c ex Authenticity by Quiet American) pulverised the Malibu Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) field at Santa Anita on Boxing Day, notching a four and a half-length success over Express Train (Union Rags) to provide Speightstown (Gone West) with his 20th individual elite-level winner. Returning to the races for the first time in almost eight months, Charlatan turned what was billed as an exciting showdown with favourite Nashville (Speightstown) into a dazzling solo performance as he drew away from Express Train in the straight, with Collusion Illusion (Twirling Candy) a further half-length behind in third. Nashville could only finish fourth of the six runners. WinStar stallion Speightstown is the sire of 120 stakes winners and will stand for a fee of US$90,000 (approx. AUD$116,400) in 2021.
Street Boss
Fair Maiden (3 f ex Shieldmaiden by Smart Strike) provided Street Boss (Street Cry) with his seventh elite-level winner when landing the La Brea Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Santa Anita on Boxing Day. The Godolphin homebred was sent off an outsider but rallied down the straight to win the three-year-old fillies event by two and a quarter lengths, securing her first Graded victory. The Bob Baffert-trained pair of Golden Principal (Constitution) and Merneith (American Pharoah) finished second and third respectively, with favourite Finite (Munnings) well beaten in fourth. Darley stallion Street Boss, who has 43 individual stakes winners to his name, is standing for US$15,000 (approx. AUD$19,380) in 2021.
New stakes winners
American Pharoah
Coolmore shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) sired his 13th individual stakes winner on Saturday when Kentucky Pharoah (3 c ex Strut The Course by Strut The Stage) won the Dania Beach Stakes (Listed, 1m) at Gulfstream Park. A maiden winner over the same course and distance on December 19, the progressive three-year-old impressed with the way he put three lengths on runner-up Fighting Force (Air Force Blue), with Cave Hill (Frosted) another three-quarters of a length back in third. American Pharoah covered 94 mares at a fee of $55,000 during his fourth Australian breeding season in 2020, while he will stand at Coolmore’s Ashford base in Kentucky at USD$100,000 (approx. AUD$130,000) in 2021. With his first northern hemisphere-bred crop having just turned three, American Pharoah’s stakes winners are topped by top-tier victors Harvey’s Lil Goil and Van Gogh, the latter having been crowned Cartier champion two-year-old colt following his four-length success in the Criterium International (Gr 1, 1600m) at Saint-Cloud. American Pharoah has 22 lots catalogued for the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Better Than Ready
Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) produced his fifth individual stakes winner when Apache Chase (3 g ex Silken Whisper by Diesis) took out the Vo Rogue Plate (Gr 3, 1400m) at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The Desliegh Forster-trained gelding beat Gotta Kiss (Not A Single Doubt) and Oscar Zulu (Epaulette). Purchased for $50,000 out of the Eureka Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Apache Chase is the second stakes winner out of the American-bred Silken Whisper (Diesis) The leading Queensland stallion stood at Lyndhurst Stud for a fee of $30,000 (inc GST) in 2020.
Fastnet Rock
Coolmore’s Fastnet Rock sired another stakes winner, his 167th in total, when Rocket Spade (3 c ex Affairoftheheart by Fusaichi Pegasus) took out the Auckland Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Trained by Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott, Rocket Spade beat Jason Belltree (Ferlax) and On Display (Showcasing) as he registered his second win in five starts. Purchased for $425,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Rocket Spade is the first black-type winner out of the stakes-placed mare Affairoftheheart (Fusaichi Pegasus), a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Soriano (Savabeel) and Group 3 scorer Kaiser Franz (Savabeel). Fastnet Rock stood for a fee of $165,000 in 2020.
I Am Invincible
Yarraman Stud’s I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) sired both his 61st and 62nd individual stakes winners over the festive period. Victory number 61 came courtesy of Vamos Bebe (4 m ex Hurtle Myrtle by Dane Shadow), who took out the Hallmark Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Ellerslie on Boxing Day. Trained by Jamie Richards and owned by Trelawney Stud’s Brent, Cherry and Faith Taylor, Vamos Bebe defeated runner-up Vigor Winner (Declaration Of War) by half a length with Madam Hass (Per Incanto) another three-quarters of a length away in third. A sister to the dual Group 3-winning colt Holyfield and out of the Group 1-winning mare Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), Vamos Bebe was a $200,000 purchase by agent Paul Willetts from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. On New Year’s Day, I Am Invincible sired his 62nd individual stakes winner when Imperatriz (2 f ex Berimbau by Shamardal) got the better of her more fancied rivals in the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) at Ellerslie. One of three in the race for Jamie Richards, she beat the Tony Pike-trained Stormy (Telperion) with the Richards-trained favourite Sword Of State (Snitzel) in third. Purchased for $360,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Imperatriz is the first foal to race out of the Group 2-placed mare Berimbau (Shamardal).
Into Mischief
Fresh off securing a second straight title as North America’s leading sire, Spendthrift Farm’s Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) recorded his 84th individual stakes winner when Life Is Good (3 c ex Beach Walk by Distorted Humor) took out the Sham Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Won by trainer Bob Baffert with eventual Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (Gr 1, 10f) hero Authentic (Into Mischief) last year, Life Is Good also comes from the Baffert barn and entered the Sham Stakes having won a maiden at Del Mar in November. Sent out the shortest of short-priced favourites, Life Is Good was hardly asked for an effort by Mike Smith as he led from pillar to post; even with stablemate Medina Spirit (Protonico) bearing down fast, it was still a comfortable three-quarter length margin at the finish, with a further 13 lengths to Parnelli (Quality Road) in third. Life Is Good is the first stakes winner from two foals to race out of Distorted Humor (Forty Niner) mare Beach Walk and comes from the same family as Australian Group 3 winner Spectroscope (Medaglia d’Oro). Into Mischief will stand at Spendthrift Farm for US$225,000 (approx. AUD$292,500) in 2021.
Makfi
English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) winner Makfi (Dubawi) sired his 35th individual stakes winner when his daughter Needle And Thread (3 f ex Fleece by Daylami) struck for the Stephen Autridge and Kris Shailer training partnership in the Valachi Downs Royal Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day. Sporting the colours of race sponsor Kevin Hickman, Needle And Thread finished four and a half lengths clear of Lily’s Lady (Contributer) who just edged out Il Affare (Dundeel) in the battle for second. Needle And Thread is a sister to three-time Group 1 runner-up Savile Row, who is also Valachi Downs’ foundation stallion. The much travelled Makfi now stands at the Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan where his 2021 fee has been set at ¥2,200,000 (approx. AUD$27,600).
Nathaniel
Darby Racing’s European import Spirit Ridge (6 g ex Tates Creek by Rahy) appears to have a bright future after he made it two wins from four starts since arriving in Australia when winning the ATC Summer Cup (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day. He was also the 22nd stakes winner for Newsells Park Stud stallion Nathaniel (Galileo). Trained by Mark Newnham, Spirit Ridge improved on two second placings this campaign to win the Group 3 race, defeating Best Of Days (Azamour) and Black On Gold (Sebring). Spirit Ridge, who won twice in the UK before being secured by Darby Racing, won his first Australian start on the Kensington track at Randwick in May before being spelled ahead of a summer campaign. Dual Group 1 winner Nathaniel will stand for a fee of £15,000 (approx. AUD$26,500) this year.
Savabeel
Waikato Stud flagbearer Savabeel (Zabeel) has been in red-hot form in recent weeks.
Eight Carat Classic (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Amarelinha (3 f ex Hopscotch by O’Reilly) – an ANZ Bloodstock News Maiden of the Week – became the 108th individual stakes winner for Savabeel on Ellerslie’s Boxing Day card, only two races after the champion sire had Brando (3 c ex Saoirse by Iffraaj) take out the Uncle Remus Stakes (Listed, 1400m) to post his first victory at stakes level. The pair are trained by Te Akau Racing’s Jamie Richards. Savabeel was one again among the feature race winners on New Year’s Day when Savy Yong Blonk (5 m ex Ampin by Pins) finally made the breakthrough in stakes company with a victory in the City Of Auckland Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), becoming the 109th individual stakes winner for the son of Zabeel (Sir Tristram). Bred and owned by Gartshore Bloodstock, Savy Yong Blonk is a year-older sister to Autumn Classic (Gr 2, 1800m) winner Adelaide Ace. Savabeel stood for a fee of NZ$100,000 (Plus GST) in 2020.
Sepoy
Pandemic (4 g ex Cataclysm by Marauding), a half-brother to Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel), broke through for an important stakes win in the MRC Christmas Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day, his sire Sepoy’s (Elusive Quality) 21st. The James Cummings-trained gelding, a winner of five of his 11 starts, defeated Brave Song (Your Song) and William Thomas (Nicconi). Sepoy, the sire of Group 1 winner Alizee, stood for $7,700 (inc GST) at Darley’s Northwood Park in Victoria in 2020.
Shocking
Rich Hill Stud resident Shocking (Street Cry) has another talented stakes winner on his record after Kiwi import Defibrillate (6 g ex Our Chickaroonie by Groom Dancer) won the MRC Lord Stakes (Listed, 1700m) at Caulfield on Boxing Day. The lightly raced six-year-old gelding, who is now trained by Patrick Payne after starting his career with Graham Richardson, became the 12th stakes winner for his sire when recording his sixth victory from ten starts as he defeated Paradee (Epaulette) and Pancho (Dissident). Shocking is also the sire of New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Fanatic, Group 2 winner Surprise Baby, Chocante and Hassler. He stood for a fee of NZ$8,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
Star Witness
Widden Stud resident Star Witness (Starcraft) sired two new stakes winners over the festive period. Threeood (5 m ex Sencircles by Street Sense) scored a valuable maiden stakes win in the $160,000 Belle Of The Turf Handicap (Gr 3, 1600m) at Gosford on Tuesday to provide her sire with his 16th individual stakes winner. The Joe Pride-trained five-year-old, a Tricolours Racing and Syndications-owned mare, was given the run of the race behind the leader by jockey Rachel King and proved too strong for runner-up Oakfield Missile (Not A Single Doubt) by a length. Selica (Makfi) was third. Explosive Witness (6 g ex Rocket Baby by Danzero) subsequently took out the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (Gr 3, 1000m) at Sha Tin on New Year’s Day to become stakes winner number 17 for the sire. The progressive gelding, who is now trained by John Size, registered his fifth win in total, and his fourth since arriving in Hong Kong when beating Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) and Big Party (Exceed And Excel). Dual Group 1 winner Star Witness stood for a fee of $22,000 in 2020.
Tavistock
The late Tavistock (Flying Spur) sired his 25th individual stakes winner when his daughter Tralee Rose (4 m ex Star Of Tralee by Zabeel) posted a runaway win in the Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day. The Symon Wilde-trained mare pulled seven lengths clear of runner-up Sin To Win (Sir Percy) to register the biggest winning margin in the race this century, with third-placed Saint Eustace (Tavistock) another length and a quarter away in a well stretched-out field. Purchased by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock for $50,000 out of the Cambridge Stud draft at the 2018 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Tralee Rose is the sole winner from two to race out of the stakes-placed mare Star Of Tralee (Zabeel). Star Of Tralee has a two-year-old colt by Tavistock and a colt foal by Russian Revolution (Snitzel). She was covered by Kermadec (Teofilo) in November. Tavistock, who stood at Cambridge Stud, died in 2019 at the age of 14.
Wanted
Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Wanted (Fastnet Rock) sired his fifth individual stakes winner when his son Sirius Suspect (6 g ex Sirius Miss by Galileo) continued his good run of form this campaign by taking out the Standish Handicap (Gr 3, 1200m) at Flemington on New Year’s Day. Now in the care of Saab Hassan, Sirius Suspect defeated Albumin (Foxwedge) by a length and a quarter with Defiant Dancer (Foxwedge) a short head away in third. Sirius Suspect is one of four winners from as many to race out of the Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mare Sirius Miss, a $120,000 purchase at the 2006 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. Sirius Miss has a yearling filly by Press Statement (Hinchinbrook) and was covered by Toronado (High Chaparral) last spring. Wanted stands at Clear Mountain Fairview for a fee of $5,500 (inc GST).