Newcastle shines on historic Group 1 raceday
The historic running of two Group 1 races at the New South Wales provincial racecourse of Newcastle yesterday received a widespread tick of approval from racegoers, trainers, jockeys, owners and punters as both the Tancred Stakes (Gr 1, 2400m) and the Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1850m) registered winners and contests befitting their status as championship events.
The two races were among seven that were shifted from Rosehill’s Saturday card when that meeting was called off due to Sydney’s continuous wet weather. Rain throughout the first three races impacted a track that was already severely waterlogged while also causing safety issues from poor visibility.
Instead, the seven races on the abandoned card were sent to Newcastle for its first ever Group 1 fixture. While not as drastic a shift as when the UK track of the same name hosted the Vertem Futurity Trophy (Gr 1, 1m) in 2019, becoming the first British Group 1 to be run on the Tapeta all-weather surface after traditional host Doncaster was also washed out, it was still a significant moment as one of Australia’s most familiar racecourses stepped up to the top level for the first time.
With competitive racing on a Soft 7 surface – which was upgraded to a Soft 6 between the two Group 1 races – and a hint of the cream rising to the top, it was a successful introduction
“It’s a great idea to bring the races to Newcastle,” said Sydney’s champion trainer Chris Waller, who took out the Vinery Stud Stakes with Fangirl (Sebring). “We’ve got some great tracks in Sydney but this has really shown its worth and I’d be probably suggesting some investment in Sydney to get something similar because it’s such an important time of the year to be running good horses on good tracks. It brings the best formlines out in my opinion.”
Leading rider Hugh Bowman added: “To get things organised and have them race today I think is just fantastic because it keeps all the horses going towards other targets; those who have them, and the ones who were set for Saturday had their opportunity to shine. I just think the administrators don’t get a lot of thanks and from us all – the participants, we’d like to thank you very, very much.
“Newcastle raced beautifully, but considering how much traffic has been over it and the amount of wet weather – they may not have had exactly what we have had in Sydney but to race so fairly, it is remarkable. It is testing ground, I know it was rated a Soft 6 by the end of the day, but to me personally it felt a bit more testing but it’s going to suit some horses more than others and most horses had their chance.”
Cummings dynasty lands sixth Tancred with Duais
High-class mare Duais (4 m Shamus Award – Meerlust by Johannesburg) will forever be recorded in the history books as the maiden Group 1 winner at the Broadmeadow circuit, producing a breathtaking victory in the $1.5 million Tancred to go with her Australian Cup (Gr 1, 2000m) and Queensland Oaks (Gr 1, 2200m) successes.
The Edward Cummings-trained Duais has developed into a top-grade performer this preparation, demonstrating different tools in her arsenal that have taken her to another level.
While the Australian Cup was run at a relentless tempo and was set up nicely for her to produce a strong finish, Duais’ ability to sprint from the tail off a sedate pace and put her rivals away in a matter of strides meant that she was simply unmatchable in Australia’s premier mile and a half contest at weight-for-age. The Josh Parr-ridden mare crossed the line three and a half lengths clear of noted mudlark Stockman (Tavistock) with a further length to top New Zealand stayer The Chosen One (Savabeel) in third.
Duais’ time of 2:35.05 was officially a track record, merely because Newcastle has never staged a 2400-metre race before, instead racing over 2300 metres, 2325 metres, 2360 metres and 2365 metres. While the time may be slow by international standards, as would be expected on a rain-affected surface, it was an electric performance that suggests Duais is currently at the peak of her powers.
“She’d have run a mile-and-a half in the Australian Cup and it would have been a gap job like you just saw. The world is her oyster at the moment,” said an excitable Cummings. “She is a very talented filly, there is no doubt about that. I must admit, getting to the 1000-metre mark I saw Josh just starting to niggle her along, she had switched off a little too well.
“Even as Stockman started moving up three- and four-wide, I was talking to my right-hand man and he was like, ‘Come on Joshy, what are you doing mate? It’s time to get going!’ But she is a very special filly and she is doing things that only the best can do.”
While it was a first Tancred Stakes for Myrtle House Stables trainer Cummings, it was a sixth for the family as Edward joined an honour roll already populated by grandfather Bart – who won the feature with Natural Trump (Natural Bid), Trissaro (Sir Tristram) and Beau Zam (Zamazaan) – as well as father Anthony and brother James, who won one apiece with Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand) and Avilius (Pivotal) respectively.
The big question now is: what next? Does Duais step up to two miles for the first time in the Sydney Cup (Gr 1, 3200m), in which she is attractively handicapped with only 51 kilograms, or does she step back in distance for a mouthwatering Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) clash with Verry Elleegant (Zed), Zaaki (Leroidesanimaux), Anamoe (Street Boss), Montefilia (Kermadec) and potentially Hitotsu (Maurice) on the same day?
“What we do next is still up in the air,” Cummings admitted. “But on the ease of that win, you’d have to say she’s got at least one more in her and then she can take her pick in the spring.
“(The Sydney Cup) is definitely a consideration. I think on the strength of that win she will run it out, no dramas. But she could drop back easily. We haven’t changed much of her work, she is just a natural athlete, you can do whatever you like with her.”
Parr, who rarely rides below 55 kilograms, is willing to do whatever it takes to keep the mount on Duais should she go to the Sydney Cup on April 9.
“I will go as light as I need to go,” Parr said. “No doubt about it, she’s the most talented horse I’ve sat upon, she’s remarkable. You guys have seen her plenty of times now, she’s not gross in size but the power her stride has is incredible.
“You hear jockeys speak of having confidence in a horse and I’m starting to really respect that with this mare because she seems to just reassure me for every step of the way. Her turn of foot at the back-end of a mile-and-a-half is just incredible and she handled them quite easily.”
Fangirl another Group 1 winner in Ingham cerise
Twenty years ago, it looked as though the cerise colours of Bob and Jack Ingham were about to prevail in the Storm Queen Stakes – then the Arrowfield Stud Stakes – for the first time when Hosannah (Octagonal) raced to the lead, only for New Zealand raider Sixty Seconds (Centaine) to arrive in the final stride.
The 2000-metre Rosehill Group 1 for fillies remained one of the only Sydney features to elude the Ingham family, but that changed when Fangirl (3 f Sebring – Little Surfer Girl by Encosta De Lago) took the Vinery Stud Stakes, shortened to 1850 metres with the switch to Newcastle yesterday.
Settling handy under Bowman, the Waller-trained Fangirl engaged in a tenacious straight-long battle with Surround Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m)-winning stablemate Hinged (Worthy Cause). She emerged the winner by a long neck, the pair racing clear of boom Queensland filly Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino) who was beaten for the first time but lost no admirers with a late-charging third, although almost five lengths from the winner.
“It was a tussle,” Bowman said. “I got to Hinged very easy but I was mindful of timing my run because I could feel there wasn’t a lot left in the tank and when I finally did ask for full effort, I only got a neck in front and Brenton (Avdulla, on Hinged) came back to make that margin a little closer but she was so gallant. She’s a lovely filly and she’s been beautifully managed by the master.”
It was a turnaround in form for Fangirl after she had struggled to make ground when fourth as an odds-on favourite in the Phar Lap Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m), although that race’s winner Mr Mozart (3 c Snitzel – Euro Angel by Rip Van Winkle) put a strong pointer down just an hour before the Vinery when he took out the Doncaster Prelude (Gr 3, 1500m) against the older horses.
“So well deserved for her,” Waller said. “It has been a tough autumn for so many of the horses, especially the fillies. Chequered formlines, I get, but just what my team at home do to pick these horses up, especially young horses, and try and turn them around after perhaps a disappointing run last start is quite remarkable.”
Fangirl is a daughter of three-time stakes winner Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago), who herself ran last in this race in 2010 when sporting the all cerise. Waller himself confirmed that Fangirl was just the second Group 1 winner he’s had to race in the famous colours, joining Coolmore Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Japonisme (Choisir).
“The Inghams and the cerise colours are very special,” he said. “They brought me to tears a few times, I have matured a little bit since the early days when they came to me without a Group 1 winner.
“There haven’t been many Group 1 winners from my stable for them. Catkins came close but she didn’t win one, but Japonisme won a Coolmore, and this filly. There haven’t been too many but they are a great family to train for and they’re back in the big time.”
Bowman added: “It’s lovely to win a Group 1 in the all cerise. The Ingham family have been obviously huge in racing since before I was around and of course they’ve been with Chris and the team for so long, and I’ve ridden so many wonderful horses for them but I think this is my first Group 1 winner in them anyway.”
Fangirl became the eighth Group 1 winner for late Widden Stud stallion Sebring (More Than Ready) and the second middle-distance Group 1-winning filly by the sire for Waller, joining Australasian Oaks (Gr 1, 2000m) and Queensland Oaks heroine Egg Tart.