Kahma strikes as Bosson and Richards reunite
The rider and trainer, who began 2020 with a flourish of Group 1 wins, combine for their first feature score since March in Guineas
One of the most potent combinations in world racing, trainer Jamie Richards and rider Opie Bosson, reunited yesterday to lift another Group 1 trophy, this time with Kahma Lass (3 f Darci Brahma – Distinctive Lass by Orientate) in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) at Riccarton.
It was the first time since New Zealand’s Covid-enforced lockdown in late March that the duo had combined to taste Group 1 glory, with their previous joint victory coming with champion two-year-old Cool Aza Beel (Savabeel) in the Sistema Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) at Ellerslie.
Before that though, the pair had enjoyed a stellar start to 2020, taking the Telegraph Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) and the Bonecrusher New Zealand Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) with Avantage (Fastnet Rock), the Waikato Sprint (Gr 1, 1400m) and the Chipping Norton Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) with Te Akau Shark (Rip Van Winkle) and the Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) with Probabeel (Savabeel), in addition to Cool Aza Beel’s Sistema win.
Perhaps it was fortuitous then that their partnership should continue once more at the top level with Kahma Lass, owned by Sistema founders and Cambridge Stud principals Brendan and Jo Lindsay.
Sent out among a slew of runners in the market just behind the top two in betting, Tinker McPhee (Nostradamus) and Cornflower Blue (Savabeel), Kahma Lass was among the last out of the gates and settled beyond midfield on the rail in a race that lacked any real speed.
Last weekend’s New Zealand 2000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) winner Aegon (Sacred Falls) ended up in a similar position, but unlike her male counterpart, Kahma Lass did find herself unsettled by the slow tempo as she found herself on the heels of the pair in front.
However, as Bosson so often does, he weaved a passage between runners, getting onto the back of numerous rivals at just the right time before the seas parted at the top of the Riccarton straight.
Still with three lengths to make up in what was a sit-sprint affair, it took most of the straight for Kahma Lass to reel in the market fancies; first Tinker McPhee, and then Cornflower Blue.
South Island representative Miss Tycoon Rose (Written Tycoon) flashed home for Michael and Matt Pitman, producing an eye-catching run under Samantha Wynne to grab second, but it was Kahma Lass who scored by three-quarters of a length, adding her name to an honour roll that includes King’s Rose (Redoute’s Choice), Katie Lee (Pins), Daffodil (No Excuse Needed), Seachange (Cape Cross) and Tycoon Lil (Last Tycoon) in the last 25 years alone.
Cornflower Blue held down third, a nose behind Miss Tycoon Rose, with a further three-quarters of a length to Tinker McPhee in fourth.
A veteran of only four starts after yesterday’s win, Kahma Lass broke her maiden at her second start at Avondale before charging home to be beaten a nose behind De La Terre (Reliable Man) in the Soliloquy Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at Te Rapa.
“She’d done really well and had gone the right way since her Te Rapa run,” Richards said. “Her work had been very good and she arrived down from Matamata in good order with everything going to plan.
“We knew she was pretty sharp when she trialled up as a two-year-old but she had to get through some maturity issues.
“Today, it all worked out pretty well as they went no tempo. She was back getting on heels at the half mile but she got the run through them without having to come to the outside, which was probably the winning of the race.
“She’s a good filly and we had the right man on board as Opie told me he needed the (earlier) win in the Welcome Stakes on Avonallo which put him right.”
Richards, who brought up a second individual Group 1 winner for the Lindsays after Probabeel’s wins in the Surround Stakes and the Epsom Handicap (Gr 1, 1600m)
“We get a big thrill out of winning races for Brendan and Jo as they have been fantastic supporters,” he said. “That’s the great thing about Brendan and Jo, they let you give them time when it’s needed and they have reaped the rewards here.”
An excited Brendan Lindsay added: “Wasn’t that fantastic? I could see she was going well at the top of the straight, but what a ride, it’s pretty bloody exciting. We thought we had a chance but there were plenty of good fillies in the race so we’re just delighted to end up on top.”
Purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for NZ$290,000 from the Curraghmore draft at last year’s Karaka Premier Yearling Sale, Kahma Lass is the sixth named foal, all winners, out of the Listed-placed Distinctive Lass (Orientate) and the third stakes winner.
Kahma Lass is a sister to ten-time winner in Singapore and Malaysia, Distinctive Darci, whose standout victory came in the Merlion Trophy (Listed, 1200m), a Singapore Group 2. She is also a half-sister to five-time Listed winner and Group 1-placed Kuro (Denman), as well as the Listed-placed Southern Lad (Ocean Park), and hails from a family full of speed.
Third dam Special (Habituate) remains one of the fastest horses to grace the Australian turf in the last half-century, breaking the track record in winning the 1988 Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m). It was a mark that would remain for 25 years, until Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) bettered the time in the 2013 Lightning.
Kahma Lass’ win also brought up an 11th Group 1 winner, and 50th individual stakes winner overall, for Darci Brahma (Danehill). The Oaks Stud resident, who raced in the Te Akau tangerine, stands for NZ$15,000 (plus GST) in 2020.
Vale Norzita: Bittersweet success for Carif
Carif’s win in yesterday’s Sandown Cup (Listed, 3200m), sporting the late Dato Tan Chin Nam’s colours – the black and white checks with yellow sleeves that have been triumphant in some of Australia’s greatest races – should have provided a moment of great satisfaction for Think Big Stud, especially given it came on the day that the legendary Bart Cummings would have turned 93.
Carif, a son of two of the best to ever carry those colours in the Cummings-trained So You Think (High Chaparral) and Norzita (Thorn Park), had long promised to take out a staying feature. He finished fifth in the Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) at three and then second in each of the ATC St Leger (2600m), Hotham Handicap (Gr 3, 2500m), Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 3, 2600m) and the Chairman’s Handicap (Gr 2, 2600m) at four.
For Arrowfield Stud, though, it was a bittersweet result after they announced the death of Norzita yesterday morning following a paddock accident.
The 11-year-old mare, who won the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) and was third to Sacred Falls (O’Reilly) and Pierro (Lonhro) in a vintage Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m), was purchased by Arrowfield for $1.7 million at last year’s Inglis Chairman’s Sale, in foal to Snitzel (Redoute’s Choice).
She foaled a Snitzel filly last year before she joined the stellar group of mares visiting The Autumn Sun (Redoute’s Choice) in his first season at stud.
Hours later, her first-born Carif finally broke through for a long overdue victory at stakes level, although perhaps not in the two-mile November feature that would once have been anticipated. However, it does potentially place the Peter and Paul Snowden trainee on a path towards the first Tuesday in November next year.
Striding up powerfully under Jamie Kah after what was a stoutly-run 3200 metres, Carif led home a quinella for So You Think, drifting out under pressure but doing enough to hold off South Australian Fillies Classic (Gr 3, 2500m) heroine Realm Of Flowers by a short neck.
French import San Huberto (Speightstown) bounced back from a disappointing Australian debut in the Geelong Cup (Gr 3, 2400m), finishing third, two lengths behind the winner.
Mark Zahra, who rode Realm Of Flowers, lodged an objection against Carif, but it was quickly dismissed.
Post-race, Peter Snowden suggested that gelding Carif may bring out the best in him for 2021, but it remains to be seen whether Norzita’s death may change those plans.
“It wasn’t the two-mile race that we were after but at least it was two miles and it was good to see him win,” he said. “Jamie rode him an absolute treat. Ten-out-of-ten ride.
“It was good to see him win. He even wanted to duck out and shake my hand towards the line but I said, ‘I’ll see you later’.
“He is a really nice horse. He’s a great type to look at. It’s just a shame that things have taken so long. I don’t like to tell him that he’s going to get gelded but it just might be the making of the horse. He gets a bit more genuine and he can knuckle down and do his job. He’s a great worker, sound as a pound, he’s a good eater, everything you want to see in a staying horse but he just lacks a turn-of-foot and that might come.”
Not only was it a poignant win for Carif with Norzita’s passing, but it also came on the day that his fourth dam Summoned (Crowned Prince) was recognised with the Summoned Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m), won by Carif’s stablemate Missile Mantra (4 m Smart Missile – Wecansay Mak by Starcraft).
Summoned, one of the great blue hens who produced Zeditave (The Judge), Square Deal (The Judge), Alannon (Noalcoholic), Zedagal (The Judge) and Pampas Fire (Prince True), is the matriarch of a family that includes the likes of Melito (Redoute’s Choice), Pariah (Redoute’s Choice), Greys Inn (Zabeel), Smart Call (Ideal World), Jet Spur (Flying Spur), Military Rose (General Nediym) and Zac Spirit (Flying Spur).
Now, Carif can add his name to the list of stakes winners produced by the family, with the promise of more to come.
He was the first of two stakes winners for Coolmore’s So You Think yesterday, with the enigmatic So Si Bon (7 g So You Think – Black Minx by Lonhro) adding the Eclipse Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) to his record.
So You Think stands for $38,500 (inc GST) in 2020.
The day’s other staying feature, the Zipping Classic (Gr 2, 2400m), went to German import Sound (8 h Lando – Sky Dancing by Exit To Nowhere), also ridden by Kah.
It was Sound’s first Australian win and was the culmination of a preparation in which the Mike Moroney-trained stayer appeared more likely than ever to add to his record.
Sound entered after the narrowest of defeats in the Hotham Handicap (Gr 3, 2500m), edged out by compatriot Ashrun (Authorized) by a short head, and was sent off as $5 second favourite yesterday.
Run at a dawdle for the first half of the race, with Jason Maskiell aboard rank outsider Levendi (Pierro) slowing the tempo to little more than a canter, almost every horse struggled to settle through the early stages.
The only jockey to attempt to shake things up was Kah on Sound, whipping around the field from beyond midfield to sit outside Levendi from the 1200 metres.
It was arguably that one move that won Sound the race as, when the sprint went on down the long Sandown stretch, it was simply impossible for any horse to concede that sort of tactical advantage to the eight-year-old.
At the line, he held a length and a quarter margin on Brimham Rocks (Fastnet Rock), with Cranbourne Cup (Listed, 2025m) winner Future Score (Cape Cross) continuing his honest form in third.
“It was a great ride, it really was,” Moroney said. “Levendi took her into the race which was lovely because I think the other day, one time she rode her, she said that she got left alone in front for too long but he carted us for long enough to give our horse a chance today which is great.
“He certainly did deserve that. It is probably just the last 18 months that he’s started to look well. He came over from Germany and we had a season before we ran him in the Melbourne Cup and it looked that way, too. It took him a while to really condition up but he has now. He’s got really strong.
“We were just disappointed that we got left in New Zealand after the Auckland Cup, stranded there, because he missed the Sydney autumn as well. Bit disappointing but he’s going terrific and he deserved that.
“They are six months behind but that still makes him seven and a half. He’s bred that way too. It is a slow maturing family. I still think he’s got another good preparation in him.“
Sound is the ninth of ten foals to race out of Italian Listed winner and 2010 German Broodmare of the Year Sky Dancing (Exit To Nowhere). Among her other foals is German Horse of the Year Scalo (Lando), Group 3 winner Sexy Lady (Danehill Dancer) and Group 3 placegetter Scolari (Monsun).
The extended family also includes Lisa Danielle (Wolf Power), 2012 American Broodmare of the Year, and her son, two-time American Horse of the Year Wise Dan (Wiseman’s Ferry), as well as stout types Call The Wind (Frankel), Dominant (Cacique), Glorious Sinndar (Sinndar) and Assign (Montjeu).
Sound is from Lando’s (Acatenango) second to last crop, with the stallion euthanised at his birthplace, Gestut Hof Ittlingen, three months after the Zipping Classic winner was foaled.
Deal’s earnings pass a Sweet million with Hunter win
North of the Murray, the John Thompson-trained Sweet Deal (6 m Casino Prince – Dorothy Evelyn by Royal Academy) became the second winner of the $1 million The Hunter (1300m) at Newcastle with a strong win under Nash Rawiller yesterday, capping a career that saw her score her first win at the Broadmeadow track.
Introduced last year when won by Savatiano (Street Cry), The Hunter is one of two million-dollar races at provincial NSW tracks, in addition to next week’s The Gong (1600m) at Kembla Grange.
Sent out as a $10 hope in the 15-runner field with Ranier (Lonhro) the $6 favourite to give trainer James Cummings and Godolphin a perfect two-from-two in The Hunter, Sweet Deal tracked up in an ideal position midfield on the rail.
Leader Special Reward (Demerit) kicked powerfully at the top of the straight and looked to be going strongly, but Rawiller allowed Sweet Deal to improve along the inside, only going around one horse – the pacesetter.
In the end, Rawiller’s tactical nous and his trademark strongman riding style proved the difference as Sweet Deal scored by a length over Special Reward. Asiago (Medaglia d’Oro), who raced outside the winner and came with a searching run out wide, finished third, two lengths behind Thompson’s mare.
It was an emotional win for the typically stoic Rawiller, with Sweet Deal having been the ticket towards rebuilding his career in Sydney after he was suspended for 15 months by Hong Kong stewards.
“She was my first Saturday city winner back after Hong Kong, obviously after 15 months on the sidelines, and she’s just kept raising the bar as we’ve gone along,” Rawiller said.
“It’s great to see her bounce back. She’s had a Group 3 win before and to come back and win a $1 million race, it’s not just exciting but it’s a great thrill to do it on her.”
Sweet Deal, who won her maiden at Newcastle as a three-year-old in September, 2017, after twice being stakes-placed at two, also won the Tibbie Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) at the track last year. She added to her resume with wins in the Triscay Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) and the Toy Show Handicap (Gr 3, 1100m) this year.
Yesterday’s win takes her earnings to $1,357,020, having won ten of her 37 starts. She was a $67,500 purchase by Boomer Bloodstock from the draft of Lincoln Farm at the 2016 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale and Mick Talty of Edinglassie Stud, where Sweet Deal was born and raised, cut a delighted figure in the aftermath.
“From an early age I felt that she was a filly that was going to mature into a good race mare and John Thompson and his team have done a wonderful job with her,” he said.
“Sweet Deal was bred by Pip Cooper, who is a fantastic supporter of our farm, so this is a particularly satisfying result and I think there might still be better to come from her in the autumn.
“She is another quality racehorse to carry our ‘target’ brand which is again going to be well-represented at each of the Classic, Premier and Easter Yearling Sales in 2021.”
Thompson said that one final goal remained for Sweet Deal before she retires to stud next spring.
“She will have a spell now and there is a lovely mares series during the autumn for her to have a crack at a Group 1 one last time,” he said, referring to races like the Coolmore Classic (Gr 1, 1500m) and the Coolmore Legacy (Gr 1, 1600m).
Sweet Deal’s dam Dorothy Evelyn (Royal Academy) had not been served for three seasons after producing the eventual stakes winner in 2014, but produced another foal by Casino Prince (Flying Spur) – this time a colt – in 2018.
Vinery Stud’s Casino Prince stands for $5,500 (inc GST) in 2020, with Sweet Deal his third million-dollar earner after All Too Hard and Lim’s Cruiser. A number – including Escado, Hooked and Mighty Lucky – fell just short of the million-dollar mark.