Second for Hellbent
New winners
Hellbent – Yarraman Park Stud’s first-season sire Hellbent (I Am Invincible) brought up his second individual winner when Hell Hath No Fury (2 f ex Diamond Cove by Octagonal) broke her maiden at Pakenham. Sporting owner Brae Sokolski’s tartan silks, the Danny O’Brien-trained Hell Hath No Fury justified odds-on favouritism in scoring by three-quarters of a length over Denied (No Nay Never), with Zloties (Snitzel) a further half-head away in third. A $160,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase last year, she is the tenth foal to race – and the tenth winner – out of Tasmanian Listed winner Diamond Cove (Octagonal), with Hell Hath No Fury’s most prominent sibling being Group 3 winner Montauk (More Than Ready). Diamond Cove was served by Kitchwin Hills’ Graff (Star Witness) in October. Hellbent stood for $22,000 (inc GST) in 2021.
New stakes winners
Capitalist (pictured above) – Sebonack (2 c ex Profound Wisdom by Al Samer) earned himself a spot in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) as he scored a debut victory in the Chairman’s Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m) at Caulfield. Providing his sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon) with a fifth individual stakes winner, the Hawkes Racing-trained two-year-old is now the equal second favourite for the feature juvenile contest at Caulfield on February 26. Sebonack went on to score by one and a quarter lengths from Nanagui (Sebring) with Kiko (Capitalist) a further half-length away third. Purchased by Spendthrift Australia for $260,000 from the Sledmere Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year, Sebonack is the first winner out of the winning mare Profound Wisdom (Al Samer), who was covered by Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) last spring. Former champion two-year-old Capitalist stands at Newgate Farm for a fee of $99,000 (inc. GST).
Dubawi – Sovereign Prince (3 g ex Gamilati by Bernardini) handed his sire Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) a 221st individual stakes winner when causing a minor upset in the Jumeirah Classic (Listed, 1600m) at Meydan. Trained by Charlie Appleby and ridden by James Doyle, the three-year-old gelding battled well in the home straight to get the better of Mr Professor (Profitable) by a length and a quarter. The winner’s stablemate, New Science (Lope De Vega), who was sent off the red-hot favourite, was unable to quicken a further length and three-quarters back in third. The fourth foal out of Group 2-winning mare Gamilati (Bernardini), Sovereign Prince is a brother to the useful winner Gold Stick and a half-brother to the two-year-old winner Nasimi (Shamardal). Dubawi stands at Darley’s Dalham Hall Stud for a fee of £250,000 (approx. AU$479,190).
Ghibellines – The Sally McKay-trained Palmetto (3 g ex Carolina Island by Darci Brahma) defied a drift in the market to claim his first stakes success in the Dunedin Guineas (Listed, 1500m) at Wingatui. The three-year-old came with a swooping late run to give his sire Ghibellines (Shamardal) a fifth individual stakes winner. Palmetto had previously made an impressive debut at Riccarton back in June at his only two-year-old start, but then failed to score in five subsequent runs. However, he was an eye-catching finisher behind the ill-fated Mackenzie Lad (Vespa) in the Gore Guineas (Listed, 1355m) on his most recent outing and was able to build on that last weekend, storming home down the middle of the track for Shankar Muniandy to beat Shameless Tart (Shamexpress) and Master Marko (Contributer). Palmetto is the second foal out of winning Darci Brahma (Danehill) mare Carolina Island and is closely related to the Group 1 winners With You (Dansili), We Are (Dansili), and Call The Wind (Frankel). Ghibellines stands at White Robe Lodge for a fee of $5,000 (Plus GST).
Gold Standard – The Luke Fernie-trained Sheeza Belter (2 f ex Saxabelle by Saxon) pulled off a remarkable last-to-first victory in the Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) at Pinjarra to give her sire, Gold Standard (Sebring), a first individual stakes winner from what was also his first winner. Registering a fourth winner on the day for jockey Clint Johnston-Porter, the two-year-old filly came with a late run down the centre of the track to beat She’s Greysful (Vert De Grece) by a length, with Street Parade (Lucky Street) a further one and a quarter lengths back in third. Bred by Mt Hallowell Stud, Sheeza Belter failed to make her $50,000 reserve at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale but now has two wins and a second from three starts to her name with earnings of $222,400. She is the third winner from as many to race out of the winning mare Saxonbelle (Saxon), a half-sister to the Group 3 winners Special Reward and Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel) as well as the Listed winner El Rijes (Eternity Range). Gold Standard stands at Spendthrift Farm for a fee of $5,500.
Gun Runner – Early Voting (3 c ex Amour D’Ete by Tiznow) gave his burgeoning sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride) an eighth stakes winner when he won the Withers Stakes (Gr 3, 9f) at Aqueduct. The three-year-old colt beat Un Ojo (Laoban) by four and a half lengths with a further head back to Gilded Age (Medaglia D’Oro) in third. Early Voting is the third foal out of Tiznow (Cee’s Tizzy) mare Amour D’Ete, an unraced sister to the Grade 2 winner Irap and a half-sister to US champion sprinter Speightstown (Gone West). Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm for a fee of US$125,000 (approx. AU$176,830).
Heart’s Cry – Elusive Panther (4 h ex Elusive Cat by King Kamehameha) formed part of a stakes double in Japan for his sire Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence), who brought up stakes winners 54 and 55. Elusive Panther captured an elusive Graded success when he was triumphant in the Tokyo Shimbun Hai (Gr 3, 1600m), while Matenro Leo (3 c ex Saratoga Venus by Brian’s Time) was successful in the Kisaragi Sho (Gr 3, 2000m) at Chukyo. Elusive Panther had won his last three races leading into the Grade 3 assignment at Tokyo, having finished tenth in the Satsuki Sho (Gr 1, 2000m) in April last year. The four-year-old defeated race favourite Fine Rouge (Kizuna) by a length and three-quarters, with the market third-elect Karate (To The Glory) rounding out the places. Heart’s Cry (Sunday Silence) retired from stud duties in 2021.
I Am Invincible – Peter and Paul Snowden were celebrating yet another big two-year-old winner as Cythera (2 f ex Helena’s Secret by Five Star Day) made a winning debut in the Lonhro Plate (Listed, 1000m) at Randwick. The win also gave her sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit) a 75th individual stakes winner. Ridden by Tommy Berry, the filly went on to beat the $2.50 favourite Lady Laguna (Overshare) by a head with a further one and a quarter lengths back to long-time leader Spacewalk (Exosphere) in third. The Snowden team currently has a strong set of juveniles in the yard, headed up by the recent Magic Millions 2YO Classic (RL, 1200m) runner-up Russian Conquest (Russian Revolution). Cythera was a $420,000 purchase by IRON and George Moore Bloodstock from the Highgrove Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale last year. A half-sister to Widden Stud’s Australia Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner and William Reid Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Thronum (Snitzel), Cythera is the sixth winner from as many to race out of the late US mare Helena’s Secret (Five Star Day). I Am Invincible, who currently lies second in the general sires table as he bids for his first champion sire title, stands at Yarraman Park Stud for a fee of $220,000 (inc. GST).
Into Mischief – The Swale Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Gulfstream went the way of My Prankster (3 c ex My Wandy’s Girl by Flower Alley) as he gave his champion sire Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) a 107th individual stakes winner. The three-year-old colt went on to beat Dean Delivers (Cajun Breeze) by a half-length with a further two and a half lengths back to Of A Revolution (Maclean’s Music) in third. The third foal out of Grade 2-winning mare My Wandy’s Girl (Flower Alley), My Prankster is a half-brother to the winner He’s Super Lucky (Super Saver). Into Mischief stands at Spendthrift Farm for a fee of US$250,000 (approx. AU$353,660).
Lope De Vega – The Saeed Rashed Bin Ghadayer-trained Hypothetical (5 h ex Peut Etre by Whipper) made all to win the Firebreak Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Meydan and provide former shuttler Lope De Vega (Shamardal) with an 89th individual stakes success. Ridden by Mikael Barzalona, the five-year-old kicked clear inside the final furlong to beat Strongconstitution (Constitution) by three and a quarter lengths with the joint-favourite Tuz (Oxbow) a further half-length back in third. Purchased by Stroud Coleman Bloodstock for 550,000gns (approx. AU$1,107,338) at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2018, Hypothetical was formerly trained in the UK by John Gosden but moved to Bin Ghadayer in January last year. He is the second foal out of the Group-placed mare Peut Etre (Whipper), who herself is a half-sister to the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Precieuse (Tamayuz). Lope De Vega stands at Ballylinch Stud for a fee of €125,000 (approx. AU$202,630).
Optimizer – The Sweetest Chant Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Gulfstream went the way of Opalina (3 f ex Go Kitten Go by Kitten’s Joy) as she gave her sire Optimizer (English Channel) a first individual stakes winner. The three-year-old filly went on to beat Ambitieuse (Medaglia D’Oro) by three-quarters of a length with a further one and a quarter lengths back to Miss You Ella (Declaration Of War) in third. The fourth foal out of the winning mare Go Kitten Go (Kitten’s Joy), Opalina is closely related to the Listed-placed winner Red Hornet (English Channel) and is a half-sister to the winner Miss Dawn (Americain). Optimizer stands at Calumet Farm for a fee of US$2,500 (approx. AU$3,540).
Practical Joke – Girl With A Dream (3 f ex Henley by Corinthian) gave her sire Practical Joke (Into Mischief) a seventh individual stakes winner when she won the Forward Gal Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Gulfstream. The three-year-old filly beat Radio Days (Gun Runner) by a length with a further six and a quarter lengths back to Last Leaf (Not This Time) in third. Girl With A Dream is the fourth foal out of the Corinthian (Pulpit) mare Henley, who is a half-sister to the Grade 2 winner Mr Commons (Artie Schiller). Practical Joke stands at Coolmore for a fee of US$35,000 (approx. AU$49,510).
Quality Road – Quality Road sired his 54th and 55th individual stakes winners last week. Friar’s Road (5 h ex My Sugar Bear by Giant’s Causeway) ran out an easy winner of the San Marcos Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) at Santa Anita. Trained by Michael McCarthy and ridden by Flavien Prat, the five-year-old was kept just off the early pace in third before being set down for the drive in the home straight, breezing past his rivals to beat Bob And Jackie (Twirling Candy) by four and a quarter lengths with a further head back to Say The Word (More Than Ready) in third place. Friar’s Road was a US$500,000 (AU$710,405) purchase as a yearling and is the fourth foal out of winning mare My Sugar Bear (Giant’s Causeway) making him a half-brother to three winners, including the stakes-placed Vevina (More Than Ready). Quality Road stands at Lane’s End Farm for a fee of US$150,000 (approx. AU$213,121). The Endeavour Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Tampa Bay Downs was won by Bleecker Street (4 m ex Lemon Liqueur by Exchange Rate). The four-year-old mare went on to beat Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) by one and a half lengths with a further three-quarters of a length back to Stunning Princess (Cairo Prince) in third. The second foal out of the stakes-placed mare Lemon Liqueur (Exchange Rate), Bleecker Street is a half-sister to the winner First Rate (Honor Code). Quality Road stands at Lane’s End Farm for a fee of US$150,000 (approx. AU$212,200).
Race Day – White Abarrio (3 c ex Catching Diamonds by Into Mischief) gave her sire Race Day (Tapit) a seventh individual stakes winner when he won the Holy Bull Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Gulfstream. The three-year-old colt beat Simplification (Not This Time) by four and a half lengths with a further head back to Mo Donegal (Uncle Mo) in third. White Abarrio is the first foal out of the Into Mischief mare Catching Diamonds, herself a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner Cool Cowboy (Kodiak Kowboy). Race Day will stand his second year at stud in Korea in 2022.
Rommel – Pixie Chix (3 f ex Snow Pixie by Snitzel) gave her sire Rommel (Commands) a first individual stakes winner when she won the Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy (RL, 1200m) at Pinjarra. The three-year-old filly is trained by David Harrison, who also won the contest last year. Pixie Chix found a narrow gap under Pat Carbery to burst through and beat Gorgeous Gossip (I’m All The Talk) by a half-length with a further one and quarter lengths back to Black Fantasy (Blackfriars) in third. “It’s great for all the girls, and it’s all come together today,” Harrison said. “That is the way you have to ride her because she can’t really get the 1200 metres. She needs to be cuddled up and ridden for luck. Paddy rode her a treat. He pushed his way out and found a run between horses.” Pixie Chix was purchased by John Chalmers Bloodstock for $20,000 from the Mogumber Park draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. She is the first foal of the unraced Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice) mare Snow Pixie and is a brother to Snowdome, who has finished second in his two starts to date. Rommel stands at Mogumber Park for a fee of $4,400.
Shocking – Kilowatt (8 g ex Princess Latifah by Flying Spur) took the step up to stakes class in his stride when posting a career-best victory in the Dunedin Gold Cup (Listed, 2400m) at Wingatui to give his sire Shocking (Street Cry) an 18th individual stakes winner. The Kelvin and Aimee Tyler-trained gelding has scored ten wins for his yard since moving from Jacob McKay in 2017, including the Summer Cup (1600m), Gore Cup (1800m), Tapanui Cup (2000m) and two editions of the Wyndham Cup (2000m). Ridden by Brandon May, the eight-year-old made his move out wide and rallied up to third turning for home before striding clear down the straight to record a two-length win over Riviera Rock (Road To Rock) and Asathought (So You Think). The fifth foal out of unraced Flying Spur (Danehill) mare Princess Latifah, Kilowatt is a brother to the winner Franklin Lane and a half-brother to the winner Haluva Storm (Hussonet). Shocking currently stands at Rich Hill Stud for a fee of $8,500 (Plus GST).
Vadamos – Spycatcher (4 c ex Damask by Red Clubs) provided his Rich Hill Stud shuttle sire Vadamos (Monsun) with a fourth individual stakes winner as he scored in the Kachy Stakes (Listed, 6f) at Lingfield. Trained by Karl Burke and ridden by Clifford Lee, the four-year-old entire made headway down the outside of the field in the home straight and ran on well to beat Lord Of The Lodge (Dandy Man) by a neck at the line. The 15-8 favourite Good Effort (Shamardal) was a further one and a quarter lengths back in third. Purchased for 90,000gns (approx. AU$179,500) as a two-year-old by John and Jake Warren at the Tattersalls Craven Breeze-Up Sale in 2020, Spycatcher is the fifth foal out of the Red Clubs (Red Ransom) mare Damask. He is a half-brother to the winners Reel Bizzy (Kodiac), Gorokai (Kodiac), and Laydee Victoria (Sir Prancealot). Vadamos currently stands at Coolmore for a fee of €6,000 (approx. AU$9,720), while he stood the southern hemisphere season in New Zealand for a fee of NZ$12,500 (Plus GST). The sire’s La Crique landed a Group 3 success at Trentham last week, while his stakes-performed juvenile With Your Blessing was a midweek victor at Randwick.
Xtravagant – Xtravagant Star (2 f ex She’s A Danica by Sebring) produced a dominant performance in the Inglis Millennium (RL, 1100m) at Randwick to put herself right in contention for either the Blue Diamond or Golden Slipper, with trainers Tony and Calvin McEvoy to decide which route she takes. The juvenile filly became the second individual stakes winner for her sire, Newhaven Park Stud sire Xtravagant (Pentire), the first being her brother, He’s Xceptional. Xtravagant Star unleashed a smart turn of foot up the home straight to beat the $3.30 favourite Paris Dior (Pierro) by one and a half lengths under Chad Schofield. The previously unbeaten Sejardan (Sebring) was another short-head away in third. Bred and part-owned by Seymour Bloodstock, Xtravagant Star was a $150,000 purchase for McEvoy-Mitchell Racing and Damon Gabbedy’s Belmont Bloodstock out of the Newhaven Park draft at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale last year. She is the fourth winner from as many foals out of the Sebring (More Than Ready) mare She’s A Danica. Two-time Group 1 winner Xtravagant stands at Newhaven Park Stud for a fee of $11,000 (inc. GST).