Two for Gold Standard
New winners
Gold Standard (pictured above) – Spendthrift’s first season sire Gold Standard (Sebring) hit the target with just his second individual runner as Sheeza Belter (2 f ex Saxabelle by Saxon) took out the Magic Millions Plate (1100m) at Ascot Saturday. Sheeza Belter was a $50,000 buy for owner Justin Warwick out of the Mt Hallowell Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. She is the third winner out of Mt Hallowell’s two-time winner Saxabelle (Saxon), who is a half-sister to Special Kiseki (Special Bond), a producer of three stakes winners including Group 3 scorers Showy Chloe (Alfred Noble) and Special Reward (Demerit). Gold Standard, who stood last season at a fee of $5,500 (inc GST), has as his only other runner Golden Queen, who finished second at Sandown on debut for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Kobayashi – Midnight In Tokyo (2 f ex Orabelle by Casino Prince) gave her first season sire Kobayashi (I Am Invincible) a first individual winner when taking out the QTIS Two-Year-Old Maiden Handicap (1000m) on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. The Aquis Park homebred filly is the fourth foal out of winning mare Orabelle (Casino Prince) and is a half-sister to winner Fort Wayne (Uncle Mo). Orabelle is a half-sister to Listed winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard), being out of Robert Sangster Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Bel Mer (Bel Esprit). Kobayashi stood last season at Aquis Farm for a fee of $3,300 (inc. GST).
New Group 1 winners
Brody’s Cause – There was another easy winner on the Santa Anita card on Boxing Day as Kalypso (3 f ex Malibu Cove by Malibu Moon) won by four and a half lengths in the La Brea Stakes (Gr 1, 7f), giving Brody’s Cause (Giant’s Causeway) a first elite-level winner as a sire. A US$240,000 purchase as a yearling, Kalypso is the second foal out of Malibu Moon (A.P. Indy) mare Malibu Cove, herself a sister to Grade 2 winner Prospective. Brody’s Cause (Giant’s Causeway) stands at Spendthrift Farm for a fee of US$5,000 (approx. AU$6,880) in 2022.
Deep Impact – The Takashi Saito-trained Killer Ability (2 c ex Killer Graces by Congaree) gave sire Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) his fourth top-flight stakes winner when he won the Hopeful Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) at Nakayama on Tuesday. Killer Ability’s dam Killer Graces (Congaree) is a Grade 1 winner in the US and a half-sister to Grade 2 winner Chocolate Ride (Candy Ride).
Tapit – Flightline (3 c ex Feathered by Indian Charlie) ran out an easy winner of the Malibu Stakes (Gr 1, 7f) at Santa Anita on December 26 for trainer John Sadler. Ridden by Flavien Prat, the three-year-old colt soon led after leaving the stalls and made all to win by an eased-down 11 and a half lengths to provide his sire Tapit (Pulpit) with his 28th individual top-flight winner. A US$1,000,000 purchase as a yearling, Flightline is the second foal out of Grade 3-winning mare Feathered (Indian Charlie) and is a half-brother to winner Good On Paper (War Front). Tapit stands at Gainesway in 2022 for a fee of US$185,000 (approx. AU$254,680).
Tavistock – Jamie Richards and Opie Bosson went back-to-back in the world’s first Group 1 of the year as Entriviere (Tavistock) won the Sistema Railway (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie on Saturday. The win marked the seventh top-flight winner for her sire Tavistock (Montjeu) and was the first taste of Group 1 success for the five-year-old on what was only her 11th career start. Bred by Kevin and Kathleen Gray, Entriviere is from the family of triple Group 1 winner Maldivian (Zabeel) as well as Karaka Million (RL, 1200m) winner Xiong Feng (Iffraaj).
New stakes winners
Arrogate – Alittleloveandluck (3 f ex Points Of Grace by Point Given) became the first black-type winner for her late sire Arrogate (Unbridled’s Song) when she took the Ginger Brew Stakes (Listed, 8f) at Gulfstream Park on Saturday. The three-year-old filly, owned and trained by Michael Dini, is from a limited crop by the champion son of Unbridled’s Song (Unbridled), who died unexpectedly in 2020 at the age of seven after just three seasons at stud. Bred in Florida by Helen and Joseph Barbazon out of the Point Given (Thunder Gulch) mare Point Of Grace, Alittleloveandluck was acquired privately by Dini after she failed to meet her reserve when the hammer fell for US$135,000 at the 2020 Keeneland September Yearling Sale.
Better Than Ready – Lyndhurst Stud’s Better Than Ready (More Than Ready) scored a sixth individual stakes winner when Tiger Heart (3 g ex Fillydelphia by Bianconi) pounced on the Heavy 10-rated Doomben track to land the Magic Millions Vo Rogue Plate (Gr 3, 1350m) on Saturday. Tiger Heart was an $85,000 buy for Bevan Smith Bloodstock from the Aquis Farm draft at the 2020 Magic Millions March Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The gelding is the third winner from four to race out of Rough Habit Plate (Gr 3, 2020m) winner Fillydelphia (Bianconi). Better Than Ready, who currently sits as this season’s leading two-year-old sire by winners with six, stands for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Candy Ride – Chewing Gum (7 g ex Shared Heart by Forestry) gave his sire Candy Ride (Ride The Rails) a 101st individual stakes winner as he took out the Joe Hernandez Stakes (Gr 2, 6.5f) at Santa Anita on Saturday. The second foal out of winning mare Shared Heart (Forestry), Chewing Gum is bred and owned by Wertheimer and Frere. Candy Ride will stand the 2022 breeding season at Lane’s End for a fee of US$75,000 (approx. AU$103,185).
Constitution – Law Professor (3 c ex Haunted Heroine by Ghostzapper) battled well to take the Mathis Mile Stakes (Gr 2, 8f) at Santa Anita on December 26 for trainer Michael McCarthy and give his sire Constitution (Tapit) a 30th individual stakes winner. Law Professor is the second foal out of stakes-winning mare Haunted Heroine (Ghostzapper), who herself is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Celestine. Constitution stands at WinStar Farm for a fee of US$85,000 (approx. AU$115,000) in 2022.
El Roca – Mali Ston (El Roca) put in a remarkable performance when winning the Rich Hill Mile (Gr 2, 1600m) at Ellerslie on Saturday, providing his sire El Roca (Fastnet Rock) with his fifth individual stakes winner. Mali Ston is out of the Black Minnaloushe (Storm Cat) mare Loviste and is a half-brother to winner Nasha Riva (Shocking). El Roca stands at Westbury Stud for a fee of $8,000 (plus GST).
Empire Maker – The Michael McCarthy-trained Queen Goddess (3 f ex Royal Story by Lemon Drop Kid) gave Empire Maker (Unbridled) a 68th individual stakes winner when she made all to win the American Oaks (Gr 2, 10f) at Santa Anita on Monday. Queen Goddess is the first foal out of stakes-placed mare Royal Story (Lemon Drop Kid), who herself is out of an unraced half-sister to Grade 1 winner Persistently (Smoke Glacken).
Eurozone – Bellereve Stud stallion Eurozone (Northern Meteor) sired his fourth individual stakes winner when Miss Conteki (5 m ex Tipsy Moment by Redoute’s Choice) returned to the winner’s enclosure with victory in the Summer Scorcher (Listed, 1000m) at Ascot on Saturday. Miss Coneki was a $55,000 weanling buy for Amelia Park from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2017 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale. Out of the unraced Redoute’s Choice (Danehill) mare Tipsy Moment, she is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Dreams Aplenty (Dream Ahead). Eurozone stood the last breeding season at a fee of $5,500 (inc GST).
Exceed And Excel – Bacchanalia (3 g ex Thalia by Medaglia D’Oro) completed a hat-trick of wins when taking out the Gosford Guineas (Listed, 1200m) on Wednesday, in what was a first stakes success for the Godolphin three-year-old. Out of Thalia (Medaglia D’Oro), Bacchanalia is a brother to Listed winner Aquitaine, while his dam is a half-sister to Magic Night Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) and Gimcrack Stakes (Listed, 1000m) winner Calliope (Exceed And Excel) as well as Group 3 winner Zethus (Exceed And Excel). Having not produced a foal since Bacchanalia, Thalia foaled to Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) last year. The win for Bacchanalia brought up a 191st individual stakes winner for Darley’s stalwart Exceed And Excel (Danehill), who stood last year at a fee of $132,000 (inc GST).
I Am Invincible – Tony Gollan claimed a stakes double on Saturday’s Doomben card as Salateen (4 m ex Salma by Encosta De Lago) won the concluding Nudgee Stakes (Listed, 1200m). In the red gatecrasher silks of Rosemont Stud, the four-year-old was winning for the third time in five starts since switching to Gollan having been purchased by Rosemont for $300,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. The four-year-old is a year-older half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Hilal (Fastnet Rock), with the mare being the third stakes winner from three to race out of Salma (Encosta De Lago). Salateen becomes the 72nd individual stakes winner for Yarraman Park’s I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit), who stands for a fee of $220,000 (inc GST).
Kitten’s Joy – Luck (5 m ex Gold Round by Caerleon) gave her sire Kitten’s Joy (El Prado) a 107th individual stakes winner when she ran out a ready winner of the Robert J. Frankel Stakes (Gr 3, 9f) at Santa Anita on Saturday. Bred by owners LNJ Foxwoods, who enjoyed Australian success on New Year’s Day through the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast) in the Chester Manifold Stakes (Listed, 1400m), Luck is the 14th foal out of Group 3-winning mare Gold Round (Caerleon). She is a sister to smart winner Golden Box and a half-sister to ten winners including Group 3 winners Goldwaki (Dalakhani) and Golden Valentine (Dalakhani), as well as to Listed winner Spectaculaire (Spectrum). Kitten’s Joy will stand the 2022 breeding season at Hill ‘N Dale Farm for a fee of US$50,000 (approx. AU$68,790).
Makfi – Former Westbury Stud resident Makfi (Dubawi) sired his 43rd individual stakes winner when Expat (4 m ex Utmost Caution by Galileo) claimed the Belle Of The Turf Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Gosford on Wednesday. Out of Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mare Utmost Caution, Expat is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Mental Telepathy (Shocking). The mare has a two-year-old colt by Redwood (High Chaparral), a yearling filly by Akeed Mofeed (Dubawi) and a weanling colt by Ocean’s Fourteen (Ocean Park). Makfi stands at Shizunai Stallion Station in Japan.
Oamaru Force – Master Eight (4 g ex Curzon Dancer by Danehill Dancer) gained a first stakes success in the Bauhinia Sprint Trophy Handicap (Gr 3, 1000m) at Sha Tin. Trained by Frankie Lor, the four-year-old gelding justified strong 7-20 favouritism to beat Sight Success (Magnus) by half a length with Super Wealthy (Epaulette) a further neck back in third. The seventh foal out of winning mare Curzon Dancer (Danehill Dancer), Master Eight is a half-brother to winners Elzinga (Red Arrow) and Kedleston (Easy Choice).
Pierro – The Bjorn Baker-trained Parry Sound (6 g ex Aqua D’Amore by Danehill) sprung a surprise in winning the Summer Cup (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick on Boxing Day. A graduate of the Tyreel Stud draft, Parry Sound was a $90,000 buy for Domeland at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2017. He is one of six winners, and the first stakes winner, out of Futurity Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) winner Aqua D’Amore (Danehill), who in turn is a three-quarter sister to Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Petrology (Fastnet Rock). Aqua D’Amore has a brother to Parry Sound consigned for this month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, catalogued as Lot 753 in the Coolmore draft. Parry Sound becomes the 27th individual stakes winner for Coolmore Stud’s Pierro (Lonhro), who stood last season at a fee of $110,000 (inc GST).
Shocking – Saturday’s Royal Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Ellerslie saw a terrific finish as the Jamie Richards-trained Self Obsession (Shocking) provided Shocking (Street Cry) with his 16th individual stakes winner with victory in the final strides over Princess Lowry (Roc De Cambes). Ridden by Michael McNab, the three-year-old sat outside the pacemaker Set In Stone (El Roca) before taking it up in the home straight and battling well to win. Shocking stands for a fee of $8,500 (plus GST) at Rich Hill Stud.
Shooting To Win – The Star Thoroughbreds-owned Kubrick (5 g ex Alcatraz by Fastnet Rock) became the fifth individual stakes winner for Darley stallion Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) when the gelding won the Bernborough Handicap (Listed, 1600m) at Doomben on Boxing Day. The five-year-old, who claimed a sixth win from 31 starts, was winning for the third time in his last four starts and arrived off the back of a third-placed finish in the Brisbane Handicap (Listed, 1640m) earlier in December. Kubrick, who ran second in the J J Atkins Plate (Gr 1, 1600m) as a juvenile and won the $1 million Bondi Stakes (1600m) in 2019, was a $250,000 buy for Denise Martin’s Star Thoroughbreds from the Two Bays Farm draft at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale in 2018. From the first crop of Shooting To Win, Kubrick is out of Fastnet Rock (Danehill) mare Alcatraz, a three-quarter sister to Listed winner Chic Choice (Redoute’s Choice). The mare had missed in 2020 and 2021, however last year produced a foal by Shooting To Win’s brother, Deep Field (Northern Meteor). Shooting To Win stands at Darley’s Kelvinside stud for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Var – Anna Capri (4 m ex Zemfira by Daylami) gave her sire Var (Forest Wildcat) a 56th individual stakes winner when she scored in the Lebelo Sprint (Gr 3, 1000m) at Turffontein on Tuesday. The fourth foal out of winning mare Zemfira (Daylami), Anna Capri is a half-sister to winners Sherwood Forest (Philanthropist) and Will Scarlet (Soft Falling Rain).
Violence – There was a Bob Baffert-trained first and second in the Sham Stakes (Gr 3, 8f) at Santa Anita on Saturday as Newgrange (3 c ex Bella Chianti by Empire Maker) went on to beat race favourite and stablemate Rockefeller (Medaglia D’Oro) by two and three-quarter lengths under John Velazquez, with Oviatt Class (Bernardini) a further nose back in third. The win marked the 35th individual stakes winner for sire Violence (Medaglia D’Oro). The three-year-old was a US$125,000 purchase at the Keeneland September Yearlings Sale in 2020 for SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. The fifth foal out of unraced mare Bella Chianti (Empire Maker), Newgrange is a half-brother to three winners including Rockin Ready (More Than Ready) and Cosi Bella (Ghostzapper). Violence will stand the 2022 breeding season at Hill ‘N Dale Farms for a fee of US$25,000 (approx. AU$34,395).
Zed – The Rob Blacker-trained Tigertiger (6 g ex Hoorang by Zerpour) won for the fifth time in seven starts at Flemington on Saturday, and claimed a first black type success courtesy of victory in the Bagot Handicap (Listed, 2800m). A homebred for Ian Shaw, the six-year-old’s former trainer in New Zealand, Tigertiger becomes the 15th individual stakes winner for Grangewilliam Stud stallion Zed (Zabeel), who stood last season for a fee of $6,000 (plus GST).