Pre-sale chatter
Half way through the breeze-ups for the upcoming 2022 NZB Ready To Run Sale, the timing of Australian winning performances by Kiwi-breds is immaculate. Saturday, October 1, was enormous but since last Wednesday, the Kiwis just keep pouring it on and vendors could be excused for getting excited about the possibilities.
Last week’s edition focused on Rich Hill Stud’s super run, their Proisir (Choisir), Vadamos (Monsun) and Shocking (Street Cry) all firing simultaneously. Not to be left out, their Satono Aladdin (Deep Impact) struck gold last Wednesday in the Blue Sapphire Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) when the unbeaten Grand Impact made a big statement.
From the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jr stable, the colt began his race career in July at Geelong as a late two-year-old where, leading from the jump, he was eased down late after blowing the race apart half way down the straight.
At Sandown in early August he again sped to the front but from the 300 metres had his opponents in trouble, bolting clear to again score easily. Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) favourite, Mr Maestro (Savabeel) was sixth.
Proving that he doesn’t need to lead, Grand Impact sat outside the pace in the Blue Sapphire yet when Ben Melham pushed the button inside the 300 metres, the colt ran clear to score easily. Next stop is the Coolmore Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) down Flemington’s straight six on October 29 where he may meet The Everest (1200m) winner, also unbeaten, Giga Kick (Scissor Kick).
There is just one Satono Aladdin entered for the sale, Lot 236 from Archer Park.
Russell Warwick, at Westbury Stud, also has reason to be confident leading into the sale. Tarzino (Tavistock), sire of the two Group 1 three-year-old winners from last season, Gypsy Goddess and Jungle Magnate, has 11 lots up for offer and seven of them are in the Westbury Stud draft.
Redwood (High Chaparral) is sire of up–and–coming star Sharp ‘N’ Smart, brave winner of the Gloaming Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) at Warwick Farm last Wednesday.
From the top of the straight he shared the lead to the 200 metres but lost it near the 100 metres. Hugh Bowman asked the question and the gelding came back at the leader from the 50 metres and got the bob right at the line in a game effort.
Both Grand Impact and Sharp ‘N’ Smart are from mares by Westbury’s Swiss Ace (Secret Savings).
Of the 14 Redwoods in the sale, 13 of them are to be offered by Westbury.
More to be said
Wednesday’s Coongy Cup (Gr 3, 2000m) went the way of the lightly raced Gunstock (Tavistock) who added a second Group 3 (both at Caulfield) in an interrupted seven-race career. It was an easy win for the four-year-old who is back, better than ever, after knee surgery.
Plenty has been written about the loss of Tavistock (Montjeu) and the late stallion keeps reminding us. However, there is more to be said and with three Tavistock colts up for grabs next month his current results are very timely. Apart from Gunstock he was represented by four more winners last Saturday including stakes winner number 39, Red Badge Spring Sprint (Gr 3, 1200m) winner Times Ticking. Another Tavistock, Tavis Court, was third in the same race.
Although it has lost its stakes status, the Randwick St Leger (2600m) carries prize-money of $500,000 and winner Stockman (Tavistock) is now headed for the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m). Blacklog (Tavistock) and Pudding (Tavistock), winners at Eagle Farm and Morphettville respectively, kept Tavistock to the fore. Chances are that all three Ready To Run lots will be in great demand as this is the last chance to get one.
Westbury had more to celebrate on Saturday when Renaissance Woman (Reliable Man) took her record to two wins in six starts when landing the Ethereal Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m). She showed true staying ability and will head to the VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m) two days after the running of the Melbourne Cup.
“Over 2500 metres in the Oaks she will only get better,” said winning trainer Bjorn Baker. “I was very confident during the week. She had form around [Thousand Guineas winner] Madame Pommery and she went super. She is a really promising filly and I think she is only going to get better.”
Should Renaissance Woman succeed, it would be the second VRC Oaks winner for Reliable Man (Dalakhani), the first being Miami Bound. Renaissance Woman brought up stakes winner number 20 for the stallion whose stakes winning females outnumber the males 12 to eight. Like Swiss Ace mares, this may suggest that Reliable Man mares might be worth future investment.
Westbury will offer eight lots by the stallion out of a total of 13 catalogued.
Put him on the payroll
New Zealand Bloodstock’s Andrew Seabrook might consider putting Andrew Forsman on the payroll following the trainer’s sterling recent results in Australia. Forsman is certainly doing his bit to promote the local product in front of our biggest market.
His small but effective team are kicking goals at stakes and metropolitan level headed by Mr Maestro (Savabeel) whose Caulfield Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) win sets him up nicely for the Victoria Derby on October 29.
Two of Mr Maestro’s hat trick of wins took place at Flemington, including a decisive victory in the Listed Super Impose Stakes (1800m). On pedigree the extra distance of the Derby should not present too many problems. His dam is a Group 2–placed winner of six and a half-sister to Lion Tamer (Storming Home), who was, coincidentally trained by the Baker-Forsman partnership. Lion Tamer won the 2010 Victoria Derby so Forsman knows the score in that department.
The Kiwis have the Victoria Derby and Oaks well in their sights. Wins in both might create a stampede to Karaka.
The day of Mr Maestro’s Flemington Listed win, Forsman also saddled up Edward Manifold Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) winner She’s Licketysplit (Turn Me Loose) to make it two wins on the nine-race card. The filly lined up in Wednesday’s Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and showed her usual fight for third. She is very determined.
Saturday at Caulfield Forsman went one better, providing three winners on the card. In addition to Mr Maestro, Aegon (Sacred Falls) returned to winning form with a hardy nose victory in the Moonga Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) while in race two, Saint Bathans (Maurice) landed a handicap over 1700 metres.
Aegon’s return is pleasing. His form at three was superb, winning his first five races including the New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m) and a super win in the Karaka Million 3YO Classic (RL, 1600m) in a slashing 1:33.78 where he beat the very good filly Amarelinha (Savabeel).
Taken to Sydney, he impressed on his Australian debut when winning the Hobartville Stakes (Gr 2, 1400m), defeating a strong field, before going through a bad patch. A little more than a year ago he finished a promising fourth in the Memsie Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m), and perhaps was on the way back, but lost form again.
Forsman takes up the five-year-old’s story. “He has just been a very immature horse. Whatever he did as a three-year-old was all on ability and we just had to give him a little bit of time and now he has come back to it and hopefully he can go on.” said Forsman. “I am just rapt to get this one out of the way and see him back to his best form. We brought him over here just because of lack of options at home and it is hard for a smallish horse to carry big weights. The set weights and penalties of the race today suited and mentally he seems a happy horse that is in the zone.”
In the zone
Meanwhile, back home at Hastings, the Forsman team backed up Mustang Valley (Vanbrugh) from the Arrowfield Stud Plate (Gr 1, 1600m), run just seven days earlier at Matamata. Her run for second was overshadowed by La Crique (Vadamos) but she came through the race unscathed so, wisely, connections lined her up in the Livamol Classic (Gr 1, 2040m).
The four-year-old had the race shot to bits soon after they straightened and the closer she got to the post the further in front she went. It was a dominant performance.
Starting the far bend in sixth she moved closer and from the 800 metres went three wide to be handier. Travelling well, she cruised up to third rounding into the straight, and starting the run home took over. Balanced, she shot clear, had three lengths on them at the 200 metres and although kept up to her work widened the gap for an easy five–length win.
“They didn’t go overly quick and I was in the perfect spot,” said winning rider Michael McNab. “So approaching the 700 metres I was going that well that I let her half-cart from there and it was more or less game over. She had a great turn of foot, whereas some horses sort of coast and plateau in that ground, but she just sprinted really well.”
From Caulfield, Forsman added: “We knew she was going well but to see her do that was pretty special as I didn’t think it would unfold the way it did. I wasn’t really that nervous and was just hoping she would go like we thought she would, but in the end, she was completely dominant. In the past few weeks, she has kept getting better and better and has thrived with the racing.”
Thoughts between a possible Australian campaign or a spell will depend on how the mare pulls up. One question that might be asked is: How good is La Crique?
Mustang Valley is the first foal and first to race from her dam Cream of the Crop (New Approach). The dam has since foaled a Charm Spirit (Invincible Spirit) filly in 2020, a Darci Brahma (Danehill) filly in 2021 and visited Hello Youmzain (Kodiac) last spring. Mustang Valley’s third dam, Buenos Aires (Rainbow Quest), is a half-sister to the champion Might And Power (Zabeel).
Group 1 breakthrough
For Mustang Valley’s sire Vanbrugh (Encosta De Lago), the Livamol result was a breakthrough and is exactly the type of result our industry needs to attract new owners and breeders.
All stallions have to start somewhere and Windsor Park Stud had their hands full the year that Vanbrugh first stood. Going through a rebuilding program, the stud had Vanbrugh competing against fellow freshmen Turn Me Loose (Iffraaj) and Rageese (Street Cry) that same season, 2017. Taking on one new stallion is challenging enough but three first season stallions at one time is mind-boggling.
That was five years ago and two of the three have already made their mark with Turn Me Loose off to a wonderful start, siring five stakes winners and four further stakes performers in his first two crops including his star filly, the feisty fighter, She’s Licketysplit.
Vanbrugh has had a tougher road due simply to numbers. Mustang Valley is one of 36 first crop foals (now four-year-olds) followed by 16 three-year-olds and just 11 current two-year-olds.
By contrast, Turn Me Loose had 103 foals in his first crop (four-year-olds), 83 three-year-olds and 54 current two-year-olds. There are five two-year-olds by Turn Me Loose up for sale at Karaka, but none by Vanbrugh.
That contrast looks stark when comparing runners and winners. Turn Me Loose has had 82 to the races for 31 winners whereas Vanbrugh has had just 25 runners and 11 winners.
As well as Mustang Valley, Vanbrugh has been represented this season by the Wanganui Guineas (Listed, 1340m) winner Sheez Dominant who ran away with the Guineas in fine style.
Windsor Park’s Rageese has some catching up to do but no one knows where or when the next top horse will emerge. There is plenty of time for Rageese to fulfil the stud’s original hopes. Breeders gave up on Scissor Kick (Redoute’s Choice) and he was cut from the Arrowfield Stud roster. The latter has been banished to Morocco yet bolted to the top of the Australian sires list after his Giga Kick took out The Everest at Randwick. You never know, so watch this space.
Easy
From the same 2018 crop is Bonny Lass (Super Easy) who returned to the races on Sunday, landing Rotorua’s Sweynesse Stakes (Gr 3, 1215m), to take her fine record to six wins (including three stakes successes) and two Group 1 placings in just 11 starts.
Bonny Lass is one of our better sprinters and at her last start at three was impressive in the Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m) from a wide draw. Racing three wide throughout was not enough to stop her.
In the Sweynesse she was shuffled back to fifth rounding into the straight but accelerated nicely from the top of the straight, found a gap one off the fence and drove through into second at the 150 metres. Once she reached the lead she was in control to the line.
On Sunday she sent a strong message. Future targets are the Group 1 Railway Stakes (1200m), to be run at Te Rapa, and the Telegraph Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) in January.
Spirit
A shout out to the industry people of Victoria who are in the middle of dealing with horrendous, once-in-200-year flooding. The spirit of these folk is amazing. The all-in cooperation and concern for their fellow breeders is extremely heartwarming. It‘s all hands to the rescue and while some of the stories can only be imagined, they are experiencing real life tragic situations. All are a credit to humanity.