Rawiller roars as Elite Street upsets Trekking
Godolphin sprinter fourth again in Winterbottom but Darley tastes success with son of Street Boss victorious
A decision by Brad Rawiller to test the waters in Perth ahead of a full-time move to Western Australia has paid dividends at just his second weekend in the state, taking out the Winterbottom Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) on Elite Street (4 g Street Boss – Elite Ateates by Exceed And Excel) at Ascot yesterday.
Sent out at 30-1 in a race dominated by $1.75 hotpot Trekking (Street Cry), the Dan Morton-prepared Elite Street had few admirers as he stepped up to stakes company for the first time at just his eighth start.
It was just a year ago, on the Winterbottom Stakes undercard, that the chestnut made his first racecourse appearance, finishing fourth to We’ve Got Dreams (Universal Ruler) in the Tourism WA Trophy (1000m) for three-year-olds. It was later discovered that he had chipped both knees in running.
Returning for start two in late May at Pinjarra as an odds-on favourite, he again finished fourth, but that was the last time he wasn’t first past the post. Since June, between Belmont and Ascot, Elite Street has put together a string of six wins, although he was subsequently disqualified from a Belmont 1200-metre win in July having tested positive for Heptaminol.
And so it was that he entered with a picket fence, marred by a D in the form guide but still clearly a horse with plenty of upside.
Jumping from a wide gate, Elite Street was quickly away but was restrained by Rawiller to sit midfield, three-deep but with cover. Meanwhile, to his inside, Trekking was enduring a torrid run, with William Pike struggling to bring the dual Group 1 winner back underneath him.
Sitting quiet as a church mouse, Rawiller kept Elite Street out of trouble as the race developed inside him, waiting until the field had straightened and he was widest of all before asking for more from his charge.
With momentum on his side, Elite Street bounded up with purpose alongside 11-year-old marvel Rock Magic (Redoute’s Choice), with the pair coming away at the 100 metres. On this occasion, youth trumped experience as Elite Street put a margin on Rock Magic shortly after.
However, one last challenge was still to come. Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice), the Colonel Reeves Stakes (Gr 3, 1100m) winner, had sluiced through between runners from well back before switching over Elite Street’s heels to make one final bid.
The line, though, loomed too soon, with Elite Street taking the bulk of the $1 million prize pool. The margin to Celebrity Queen at the wire was a neck, with a length back to Rock Magic, who filled third in the Winterbottom for the third time at his fifth run in the race.
Just like last year, Trekking finished fourth, running on solidly from well back but also clearly outsprinted by Celebrity Queen. It was the culmination of a difficult interstate campaign in which he started in the Moir Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m) in Melbourne, travelled north to Sydney for The Everest (1200m), returned to Melbourne for the Manikato Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) six days later and then shipped west.
While success in the Winterbottom continues to elude Godolphin, their breeding operation had plenty to celebrate after Victorian-based Street Boss (Street Cry) notched his sixth Group or Grade 1 winner globally, as well as his 42nd individual stakes winner.
Elite Street provided Street Boss with his second Australian Group 1 winner, following Newmarket Handicap (Gr 1, 1200m) hero The Quarterback, and continued a strong 2020 for the stallion. He had Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) runner-up Hanseatic earlier this year, while his current two-year-olds – headed by Merson Cooper Stakes (Listed, 1000m) victor Anamoe – look to be his strongest crop yet.
Street Boss stood for $27,500 (inc GST) at Darley’s Northwood Park in 2020.
Bred and raced by Robert and Ann Anderson’s Anita Vale Stud in partnership with Morton’s parents, Len and Annette, Elite Street was retained to race after he was withdrawn from the 2018 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale with knee issues.
He is the only winner from two foals to race out of Elite Ateates (Exceed And Excel), a five-time winner across Queensland, New South Wales and South Australia. She has a yearling by Dundeel (High Chaparral), a foal by Written By (Written Tycoon) and she is in foal to Spendthrift Farm’s American shuttler Omaha Beach (War Front).
As her name suggests, she is out of the terrific sprinting mare Ateates (Zeditave), a four-time Group 2 winner and a Group 1 placegetter. Ateates is a sister to Newmarket Handicap winner Ruffles, while the family also includes stakes winners Notonyourlife (Sebring), Boss Lane (Dubawi) and True Glo (Brief Truce).
Elite Street’s tenacious victory in the Winterbottom gave Rawiller his 25th Group 1 winner and while the Perth feature may not hold the same prestige as some of the other races he has won, like the Golden Slipper Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m), the Caulfield Cup (Gr 1, 2400m) or the Newmarket Handicap, it is unlikely there will be one as meaningful.
In case there were any doubts, a Frankie Dettori-style star jump from the gelding proved just how much it meant to the 42-year-old, whose most famous interaction with Morton before yesterday was in relegating his stable star Scenic Blast (Scenic) to second aboard Weekend Hussler (Hussonet) in the Caulfield Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m).
“It’s come as a bit of a shock to me,” Rawiller said. “I was riding for Lindsey Smith at Bendigo one Wednesday and I hadn’t ridden for him in Victoria since Black Heart Bart. The next day, he said, ‘Look, Brad, I think there’s an opportunity for you if you can come over to Perth and give it a trial for a couple of months.’
“I’ve always come over to Perth and been successful and I’ve always had a great time and great fun when I’ve been here. When I told my wife, she was all over it, and the kids will finish school this year and can come over and start school here next year.
“Since I’ve been here, I’ve ridden work almost every morning for Dan. He’s not only given me fitness through trackwork and allowing me to help him to educate his horses, but he’s also been helping me outside the square, introducing me to people. I’ve known Dan for years but I’ve never really ridden for him
“The Winterbottom is one of the great sprint races in Australia so to get the opportunity is huge and when you can deliver, even better.”
Morton is best known for his pair of three-time Group 1 winners, King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) hero Scenic Blast and dual Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2020m) victor Scenic Shot (Scenic), with Elite Street giving the trainer his first success at the highest level since 2011.
“I’m trying not to bawl, it’s very special,” an emotional Morton said, joining his father Len as a Winterbottom Stakes-winning trainer. “It’s unreal to win it for Mr and Mrs Anderson, who have been huge supporters for us all along the way, and mum and dad obviously.
“We knew where we were at. In any other year, we probably don’t gain a start in the race so we were lucky to take our place, but he was a horse that I thought had the ammo to do it.”
Len Morton, who won the Winterbottom as a trainer in 1998 with Bradson (Serheed), added: “You always like to think you’ve left something behind, don’t you? I’m so proud of Dan, he’s done a great job since he’s taken over my licence – it’s all there for people to see. To come out and win a race for the family like that, it’s great.”
Elite Street took his earnings to $719,080 with yesterday’s win, with five victories from eight starts.
The question now: will he attempt to emulate Scenic Blast’s four-year-old autumn by tackling Melbourne’s big three sprints – the Lightning Stakes (Gr 1, 1000m), the Oakleigh Plate (Gr 1, 1100m) and the Newmarket Handicap – before heading to Royal Ascot?
Scandinavia’s legacy lives on
The almighty Scandinavia (Snippets) may have died in May, but her legacy was on full show as her son Typhon (God’s Own) and her grandson All Too Hard (Casino Prince) both produced stakes winners yesterday.
Typhon, who was purchased unraced by Glenrae Stud principals John and Colin Young in 2012, brought up his milestone first stakes winner when One More Jack (5 g Typhon – Husson Spirit by Hussonet) took out the City Of Marion Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Morphettville.
Even for a stallion with a pedigree like his, it is a remarkable achievement given he stands for $1,650 (inc GST) and he has only had 49 named foals.
One More Jack, bred and raced by Bevan Crowell and trained by Shane Oxlade, is a typical rags to riches story that encapsulates the beauty of the Australian turf.
His pedigree boasts little to write about, with fourth dam – Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) heroine Royal Danseuse (Prince Chevalier) – the most notable aspect. And according to Oxlade, One More Jack looked the furthest thing from a potential stakes contender when he first arrived at his Woodchester stables.
In fact, the handler told Racing.com earlier this year that the gelding appeared so limited early in his career that he didn’t think he’d win a race, an opinion backed up by his first two outings when he was beaten a combined margin of almost 23 lengths.
“He showed me absolutely nothing in the early days, he couldn’t even canter,” Oxlade told Racing.com’s Adam McGrath. “His only future to me looked like it would be over the hurdles.
“I did what any trainer does with an incredibly slow and lazy horse, I put the blinkers on and just hoped. I thought maybe it can make him improve a little and then we could win a 1600-metre maiden somewhere.”
His first test in the blinkers produced a turnaround as drastic as can be as he strolled home in a jump-out.
“I stood on the hill and after 200 metres it looked like we were in front, my daughter and I couldn’t believe it,” Oxlade said.
“He was in front by a length as they cornered for home, (Justin) Potter then gave him two on the backside and he won the jump–out by five lengths and was pulling away at the line.
“I turned to every trainer behind me that had a horse in the jump–out and said you’d want to get rid of them because mine is no good.
“David Jolly laughed and said, ‘Mate, your horse just won like Phar Lap.'”
One More Jack took that form to the races, putting together six wins before his streak was broken in May.
Another win in October and a sixth behind the well-performed Exhilarates (Snitzel) in the MSS Security Sprint (Listed, 1200m) at Flemington on Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) day had One More Jack primed for the City Of Marion Stakes.
Ridden by Paul Gatt, One More Jack made up good ground late to defeat Trip (Good Journey) by a nose with a length to Too Good Too Hard (All Too Hard) in third.
While All Too Hard may have had to make way for his uncle in Adelaide, he was on top in Sydney just ten minutes later when Outrageous (5 g All Too Hard – Fit And Ready by More Than Ready) took out the Festival Stakes (Gr 3, 1500m).
Ironically, Outrageous and One More Jack had been stabled mere metres from one another at Flemington on Melbourne Cup day, with the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Outrageous successful in a 1400-metre Benchmark 90 on the same card.
Where One More Jack went west, Outrageous went north, back to Sydney for his 14th attempt at black type company. Before yesterday, he had only placed once at stakes level, finishing third in the ATC Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) as a two-year-old.
Sent out as the second favourite with Tommy Berry aboard, he produced a gutsy effort to hold off Royal Celebration (Excelebration) by a half neck with Evalina (I Am Invincible) a length and a quarter away in third.
“He’s just taken a really long time to come to hand,” Michael Hawkes said. “A couple of years ago he might not have found the solid form that he has, but the older he’s got the better he’s got.”
Outrageous, who races in the Rupert Legh navy and gold, is likely to head to the Villiers Stakes (Gr 2, 1600m) for his next start, with the winner of that race exempt from ballot for the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) in April.
Offered by Vinery Stud at the 2017 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Outrageous was a $460,000 purchase for Hawkes Racing. His half-sister Very Tempting (Redoute’s Choice) won the Western Australian Oaks (Gr 3, 2400m), while his dam Fit And Ready (More Than Ready) is a half-sister to Golden Slipper Stakes winner Catbird (Danehill) and his Group 2-winning brother Danbird.
Another of Scandinavia’s grandsons, Moshe (Bel Esprit), was also a winning sire yesterday as Morphettville victor Black Syrah (4 g Moshe – Super Blue by Montjeu) made it four wins from his last five starts.
Juveniles galore right across Australia
While Scandinavia’s best-performed son Magnus may not have joined the party, Sun Stud still had plenty to celebrate when Gulf Of Suez (2 g Fighting Sun – Pan Jinlian by Fastnet Rock) carried the yellow and red to a commanding victory in the Adelaide Galvanising Two-Year-Old Plate (1050m) at Morphettville.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Gulf Of Suez had kicked off his career three weeks ago with a professional all-the-way win on the Morphettville Parks track over 1000 metres, but with race experience under his belt, he appeared even more impressive yesterday.
Allowed to lead by Todd Pannell, the rider was swinging off Gulf Of Suez turning for home, railing like a greyhound in search of the bunny. The bay opened up by four lengths before Pannell turned to the crop and was kept up to his work through the line, scoring by almost six lengths over Bleriot (Divine Prophet).
A son of the late Fighting Sun (Northern Meteor), who died from a colic attack at Sun Stud earlier this year, Gulf Of Suez’s third dam Angelic Song (Halo) is an unraced sister to champion mare Glorious Song, a four-time Grade 1 winner who produced Singspiel (In The Wings) and Rahy (Blushing Groom) in the breeding barn.
Gulf Of Suez is likely to be set on a path to the Blue Diamond Stakes, with one bookmaker inserting the gelding on the fourth line of betting.
In fact, the start of yesterday’s racing saw impressive juveniles step out right across Australia, with a number of two-year-olds putting themselves forward as potential stakes contenders in a 30-minute window jam-packed with talent.
Rosehill saw John O’Shea’s debutant Robodira (2 f Husson – Don’t Blink by Redoute’s Choice) kick off her career with a commanding victory over 1100 metres, defeating Godolphin’s Max Lees Classic (900m) winner Sliders (Street Boss).
Closely related to Maribyrnong Plate (Gr 3, 1000m) winner Husson Lightning (Hussonet), Robodira, short of room for much of the straight, eventually found the gap before taking the prize under Brenton Avdulla.
Fifteen minutes later, Godolphin was able to atone with a debutant of their own, Paulele (2 c Dawn Approach – Chatoyant by Flying Spur).
A three-quarter brother to Montsegur (New Approach) and a half-brother to Tessera (Medaglia d’Oro), the big-striding Paulele raced clear for a two-length success and looked to have plenty in hand under John Allen.
The equivalent races in Sydney and Melbourne last year saw both winners, Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) and Tagaloa (Lord Kanaloa), progress to both the Blue Diamond Stakes and the Golden Slipper Stakes. Muntaseera, who scored at her second start at Rosehill, finished fifth and 11th in each race respectively, while Tagaloa won the Blue Diamond before finishing third to Farnan (Not A Single Doubt) in the Golden Slipper.
O’Shea said that the Golden Slipper would be the target for Ron Finemore’s homebred Robodira.
“I jumped her out I reckon in May and I rang Ron and said, ‘well, you’ve got one’,” O’Shea said. “I just popped her out of the gates and knew straight away. She had good ability as a type, she’s a genuine two-year-old hope.
“She’ll go to the paddock and she’ll come back in the autumn and we’ll give her a chance.”
Godolphin’s Melbourne foreman Sean Keogh said that head trainer James Cummings, who was in Victoria this week, gave the green light for Paulele to debut, with the son of Dawn Approach (New Approach) still far from the finished product.
“He came down as our second bunch of two-year-olds from Crown Lodge,” Keogh told Racing.com. “He was probably the quiet achiever of the stable and the last couple of weeks he’s really put it together.
“Lucky enough we had James down during the week and he enjoyed his work here at the Valley during the week and thought he could run a nice race.
“We needed James’ call to run the horse because he’s probably not furnished enough and where we need him at the moment – there’s a lot more to come from this horse.”
One from left field who also impressed in that timeframe is Townsville maiden winner Sweet Dolly (2 f Real Saga – Sweet Cherub by Canny Lad), who was purchased for $1,500 from the Raheen Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
Sent out $1.45 favourite after a comfortable Rockhampton barrier trial win, the Kevin Hansen-trained Sweet Dolly looked as professional as can be, quickening powerfully to win by almost six lengths.
Ineligible for the Magic Millions race series, the filly – the fifth winner out of Ipswich victor Sweet Cherub (Canny Lad) – shapes as a potential type for the $500,000 QTIS 2YO Jewel (1200m) in March. The same race saw subsequent Group 1 winner Rothfire (Rothesay) strike his first defeat at $1.20 this year when beaten by Kisukano (Bel Esprit).