Second for Impending
New winners
Impending (pictured above) – The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained Hope At Hand (2 f ex Angel Of Hope by Choisir) got off the mark at the second attempt when she took out Saturday’s Furphy Handicap (1100m) at Morphettville and in doing so handed Darley-based first season sire Impending (Lonhro) with this second winner. Having finished second on her first start, Hope At Hand went one better when beating Alpha Flight (Akeed Mofeed) by a length and a quarter with Spencer’s Spirit (Wandjina) another length and a half away in third. Purchased by her trainers for $80,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from the Willow Grove Stud draft, the filly is out of three-time winner Angel Of Hope (Choisir) and she herself is out of Listed-placed Amen Ruby (Rubiton), making her a half-sister to the Listed-placed Family Portrait (Excellent Art). Impending stood in Victoria at Darley’s Northwood Park for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Menari – First-season sire Menari (Snitzel) was handed his second individual winner when the Gerald Ryan and Alexiou Sterling-trained Green Shadows (2 c ex Notjustaprettyface by Dehere) landed a contest over 1300 metres at Goulburn on Saturday. Having the first start of his career, Green Shadows defeated Invasive (Invader) by three-quarters of a length, while Sleigh Queen (Shalaa) was a further two and a half lengths away in third. Green Shadows was sold for $80,000 to Ryan at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. Western Australia’s Mogumber Park principal Colin Brown bought the colt’s Listed-placed dam Notjustaprettyface (Dehere) carrying Green Shadows on the recommendation of Belmont Bloodstock’s Damon Gabbedy for $56,000 from the 2019 Inglis Australian Broodmare Sale. Menari covered 39 mares at Newgate Farm at a fee of $11,000 (inc GST) last season.
Merchant Navy – Standing Order (2 c ex Brugal Reward by Reward For Effort) provided Coolmore stallion Merchant Navy (Fastnet Rock) with a third individual winner when he led home a quinella for the young stallion in a 1200-metre contest at Canterbury on Wednesday. Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Tommy Berry, the two-year-old was having his third start on the racecourse having finished second to subsequent Group 3 winner Williamsburg (Snitzel) on debut before an unlucky seventh in the Black Opal Stakes (Gr 3, 1200m). The colt defeated the Chris Waller-trained Cadetship (Merchant Navy) by two lengths with a further neck back to the winner’s stablemate Wollombi (Extreme Choice) in third. Standing Order was a $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling purchase from the B2B Thoroughbreds draft and runs in the colours of his breeders after they elected to bring him back to race. He is the first foal out of the Group 3 winner Brugal Reward (Reward For Effort), whose dam is a half-sister to champion sprinter and eight-time Group 1 winner Apache Cat (Lion Cavern). Merchant Navy stood in 2021 for a fee of $33,000 (inc. GST).
Saxon Warrior – Classic winner Saxon Warrior (Deep Impact) made the perfect start to his stud career when his first runner proved to be a winner. Ser Sed (2 c ex Lady Livonia by Frankel) beat favourite Once Upon A Time (Pedro The Great) by a neck in an 1100-metre maiden at Le Lion-D’Angers on Sunday, the front two pulling four lengths clear of the third home, Maimouna (Olympic Glory). Bred by Gestut Ammerland, the colt is the first foal out of the unraced Frankel (Galileo) mare, Lady Livonia, who herself is a full-sister to Group 3 winner Lady Frankel and a half-sister to the dual Classic winner and leading sire Lope De Vega (Shamardal). Lady Livonia is also a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Bal De La Rose (Cadeaux Genereux) who is the dam of German Group 1 winner Danceteria (Redoute’s Choice). Ser Sed was offered for sale by Ammerland at the Arqana October Yearling Sale and made €15,000 to FAL Stud. Saxon Warrior has 112 juveniles registered and he stands at Coolmore for a fee €20,000 (approx. AU$29,295) this season.
New Group / Grade 1 winners
Bullbars – Orange Court resident Bullbars (Elusive Quality) was provided with his first Group 1 winner courtesy of Mr Brightside’s (4 g ex Lilahjay by Tavistock) victory in the Doncaster Mile (Gr 1, 1600m) at Randwick and the victory also provided Ben and JD Hayes their first Group 1 as a training partnership. The four-year-old beat I’m Thunderstruck (Shocking) by half a length with Icebath (Sacred Falls) another quarter of a length away in third. The gelding was purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$22,000 at the New Zealand Karaka May Sale in 2019 and he is one of two winners out of unraced Tavistock (Montjeu) mare Lilahjay, while further back this the same family dual Group 1 winner Foxwood (Centaine) and she in turn produced Group 3 scorer Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar). Bullbars covered 18 mares at a private fee in 2021.
Burgundy – The late Cambridge Stud-based sire Burgundy (Redoute’s Choice) sired his second individual Group 1 winner courtesy of Maven Belle’s (2 f ex Doyenne by Kilimanjaro) triumph in Saturday’s Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes (Gr 1, 1400m) at Awapuni and in the process handed trainer Mark Walker the perfect start to his return as the head trainer of Te Akau’s New Zealand operation. However, the victory did not come without its drama, with the final result settled by the judicial committee after a protest was lodged by the connections of runner-up Wolverine (Tivaci), who finished a length a quarter behind the winner. Bred by David and Karyn Ellis and her trainer, Maven Belle is out of stakes-placed mare Doyenne (Kilimanjaro) and she is herself a half-sister to dual Group 1-winning mare Levante (Proisir). Burgundy died in 2019.
Deep Impact – The late breed-shaping stallion Deep Impact (Sunday Silence) was handed his 55th individual Group 1 winner when the Yasuo Tomomichi-trained Potager (5 h ex Ginger Punch by Awesome Again) produced a shock win in Sunday’s Osaka Hai (Gr 1, 2000m) at Hanshin. Sent off at 58-1, the five-year-old entire stayed on strongly to narrowly defeat Leo Papale (Deep Impact) by a neck with Arrivo (Duramente) another nose away in third. Purchased by Kaneko Makoto Holdings for ¥190,000,000 at the 2018 JRHA Select Yearling and Foal Sale, Potager is out of multiple US Grade 1-winning champion mare Ginger Punch (Awesome Again), making him a half-brother to dual Grade 2 scorer Rouge Buck (Manhattan Cafe). Deep Impact died in 2019.
Gun Runner – Cyberknife (3 c ex Awesome Flower by Flower Alley) announced himself as a major player for next month’s Kentucky Derby (Gr 1, 10f) by posting a decisive victory in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (Gr 1, 9f) at Oaklawn Park. In beating Barber Road (Race Day) by two and three-quarter lengths, the Brad Cox-trained colt picked up 100 qualifying points for the Classic on May 7 and also provided his sire Gun Runner (Candy Ride) with a third individual elite-level winner. Favourite Secret Oath (Arrogate) filled the places, another three-quarters of a length away in third. Cyberknife, a US$400,000 purchase for agent Joe Hardoon from the Ramsey Farm consignment at the 2020 Fasig-Tipton Selected Yearlings Showcase, has now won three of his six starts, two of those victories coming in graded company. He is the fourth foal and first stakes winner for Awesome Flower (Flower Alley), who has a two-year-old Tapit (Pulpit) colt named Tapit Shoes and a weanling colt by Authentic (Into Mischief). Gun Runner stands at Three Chimneys Farm for US$15,000 (approx. AUS166,665).
Race Day – A tilt at the Kentucky Derby is also on the agenda for White Abarrio (3 c ex Catching Diamonds by Into Mischief) after the Saffie Joseph-trained colt took out Saturday’s Florida Derby (Gr 1, 8.5f) at Gulfstream Park to become the first elite-level winner for former Spendthrift stallion Race Day (Tapit). The three-year-old was winning for the fourth time in five starts as he beat Charge It (Tapit) by a length and a quarter. Simplification (Not This Time) finished a length further away in third. Bred by Spendthrift Farm out of the Into Mischief (Harlan’s Holiday) mare Catching Diamonds, White Abarrio was a US$40,000 purchase by Carlos Perez from the 2021 Ocala Breeders’ Sales March Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training, having been sold by Summerfield at the OBS Winter Mixed Sale for $7,500 to Jose Ordonez the year before. Multiple Grade 2 winner Race Day now stands at stud in Korea.
Rafeef – In winning Saturday’s SA Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), the Mike de Kock-trained Aragosta (3 g ex Miss Galidora by Galileo) provided his Australian bred-stallion Rafeef (Redoute’s Choice) with his first Grade 1 winner. A winner of the Sea Cottage Stakes (Gr 3, 1800m) last season, the three-year-old gelding was most recently seen finishing fifth in the South African Classic (Gr 1, 1800m) and he bounced back from that performance to beat Zeus (Soft Falling Rain) by half a length. London Roads (Elusive Fort) was another five and a half lengths away in third. Aragosta is out of the placed Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mare Miss Galidora and she is herself a half-sister to Group 1 winner and successful sire Clodovil (Danehill) and Group 3 scorer Colombian (Azamour). Ridgemont Highlands-based Rafeef was purchased by Shadwell Stud for $800,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft in 2014 and he landed six victories in South Africa for De Kock, headed by a win in the 2017 edition of the Computaform Sprint (Gr 1, 1000m).
Sebring – Fangirl (3 f ex Little Surfer Girl by Encosta De Lago) provided her late sire Sebring (More Than Ready) with an eighth individual Group 1 winner as she held on well to land the rescheduled Vinery Stud Stakes (Gr 1, 1850m) at Newcastle. The Chris Waller-trained filly ran out a long-neck winner over stablemate Hinged (Worthy Cause) with a further four and a quarter lengths back to Gypsy Goddess (Tarzino) in third. The three-year-old is the best of four winners from six to race out of the three-time Listed-winning Encosta De Lago (Fairy King) mare Little Surfer Girl. The lone stakes winner out of the three-time Group 1-winning mare Special Harmony (Spinning World), Little Surfer Girl was purchased by Bob Ingham for $1,500,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2008 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was covered by Wootton Bassett (Iffraaj) last spring and has a yearling colt by Pariah (Redoute’s Choice). Widden Stud stallion Sebring died in 2019.
Willow Magic – Grade 1 winner Willow Magic (Dubawi) sired his first elite-level winner when his son MK’s Pride (4 h ex Ikimasu by Admire Man) prevailed in a shock finish to Saturday’s Horse Chestnut Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) at Turffontein. Trained by Paul Peter, the five-year-old was winning for the fifth time in 21 starts as he stepped back up to Grade 1 company to defeat Puerto Manzano (Seek Again) by three-quarters of a length. Sun Met Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) winner Kommetdieding (Elusive Fort) could only manage third, another two and a quarter lengths away. Australian-bred Willow Magic was purchased by Mark Tarry for $40,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2014. The stallion stands at Bush Hill Stud and he is out of the mare La Willow (Tierce), who twice made the frame in Listed company in her 23 starts in Australia.
New stakes winners
Churchill – Il Grande Gatsby (3 c ex Irene Watts by Miswaki Tern) became the fourth individual stakes winner for Coolmore’s Churchill (Galileo) when he took out Sunday’s Premio Pisa (Listed, 1600m). The colt was winning for the third time this year and fourth in total as he made a successful step up into stakes company by defeating Bahja Del Sol (The Gurkha) and Vecello (Helmet). Il Grande Gatsby is the sixth foal out of the Group-placed Italian winner Irene Watts (Miswaki Tern) making him a half-brother to three winners. Churchill stands for a fee of €25,000 (approx. AU$36,630).
Coconut Grove – Reset’s (Zabeel) half-brother Coconut Grove (King Cugat) sired his first stakes winner when his daughter Jadavi (7 m ex Gambraker by Gambade) made a black type breakthrough on her belated step up in grade with a victory in Sunday’s Pinjarra Cup (Listed, 2300m). The Ian Shield-trained seven-year-old was winning for the seventh time on her 34th start as she beat Queen Takes King (Charm Spirit) by three-quarters of a length. Come Right Back (Toronado) finished three and a half lengths behind the winner in third. Jadavi is one of four winners for Coconut Grove who last covered a mare in 2013 and has 20 live foals.
Dansili – The John O’Shea-trained Promise Of Success (6 m ex Summer School by Street Cry) took out the rescheduled Emancipation Stakes (Gr 2, 1500m) at Newcastle, providing her sire Dansili (Danehill) with a 152nd individual stakes winner. The six-year-old mare beat Kiku (Zoustar) by a neck with a further long-neck back to Vangelic (Vancouver) in third. Promise Of Success is the best of two winners from as many to race out of the Street Cry (Machiavellian) mare Summer School who is a descendent of the mare Allegretta (Lombard), the dam of Urban Sea (Miswaki) and King’s Best (Kingmambo). Dansili died last year at age 25.
Dark Angel – The Ger Lyons-trained Dr Zempf (3 c ex Souvenir Delondres by Siyouni) entered the reckoning for the Classics when he produced an impressive display to win Saturday’s 2,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Leopardstown. A winner of one race as juvenile, the colt finished second in the Phoenix Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) last August, before finishing down the field in the Middle Park Stakes (Gr 1, 6f) on his final start last term, but he showed his class as he beat The Acropolis (Churchill) by half a length. New Energy (New Bay) was a further length away in third. Bred by Stratford Place, Dr Zempf was purchased by Peter Brandt’s White Birch Farm and Demi O’Byrne for 420,000gns at Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale in 2020 and he is one of two winners out of Group 3 winner Souvenir Delondres (Siyouni). In winning the Listed race, the colt handed Yeomanstown Stud resident Dark Angel (Acclamation) with his 35th individual stakes winner.
Fastnet Rock – The Chris Waller-trained Straight Arron (3 g ex Imperial Lass by Tavistock) proved too good for his rivals in the Carbine Club Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Randwick on Saturday and in doing so handed Coolmore Stud stalwart Fastnet Rock (Danehill) his 185th individual stakes winner. Having broken his maiden at his first attempt in January, the Heritage Thoroughbreds-raced three-year-old gelding finished second on his next start, but he regained the winning thread when beating Jalmari (The Brothers War) by two and three-quarter lengths. Cap Estel (Zoustar) was another quarter of a length back in third. Straight Arron was a $270,000 purchase by agent Guy Mulcaster and Waller from Torryburn Stud at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Frankel – Juddmonte Stud’s unbeaten champion Frankel (Galileo) sired his 86th individual stakes winner when the Dermot Weld-trained Homeless Songs (3 f ex Joailliere – Dubawi) advertised her Classic credentials in Saturday’s 1,000 Guineas Trial Stakes (Gr 3, 7f) at Leopardstown. The filly kept on well to beat Agartha (Caravaggio) by a length, while Villanova Queen (Mastercraftsman) was a further three-quarters of a length away in third. Bred and raced by Moyglare Stud Farm, Homeless Songs is out of German Listed winner Joailliere (Dubawi), making her a half-sister to Listed scorer Reve De Vol (Siyouni). Joailliere herself is a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Carla Bianca (Dansili). Frankel stands for a fee of £200,000 (approx. AU$349,000).
Kermadec – Darley Stud-based sire Kermadec (Teofilo) chalked up his third stakes winner when the Symon Wilde-trained Gundec (3 c ex Sunup by Fantastic Light) landed Saturday’s Bendigo Guineas (Listed, 1400m). The three-year-old defeated Asymmetrical (So You Think) by half a length with Sharp Response (Maurice) another three-quarters of a length away in third. Gundec was bought privately after he raced twice in Sydney for Scone-based trainer Allan Boyle as a juvenile by Pinhook Bloodstock’s Dave Mee on behalf of clients of Wilde after he was identified by form analyst Shannon Evans. The colt is out of winning Fantastic Light (Rahy) mare Sunup and she herself is a half-sister to My Name Is Luka (Marauding) – the dam of Listed winner Eastern Prince (Dubawi). Kermadec stood at Darley’s Northwood Park for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST) last season and Gundec joins Group 1-winning mare Montefilia and Willowy as the stallion’s other stakes winners.
Lord Kanaloa – The Hirofumi Toda-trained Time To Heaven (4 c ex Kiss To Heaven by Admire Vega) prevailed in a close finish to land Saturday’s Lord Derby Challenge Trophy (Gr 3, 1600m) at Nakayama and in the process handed Shadai Stallion Station-based Lord Kanaloa (King Kamehameha) with his 35th individual stakes winner. The four-year-old colt defeated Vollkommen (Victoire Pisa) by a head with favourite Darlington Hall (New Approach) coming home a further three-quarters of a length away in third. Time To Heaven is one of five winners from eight foals to race out of dual Grade 3 winner Kiss To Heaven (Admire Vega). Lord Kanaloa’s progeny is headed by six elite-level winners including champion mare Almond Eye and 2020 Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Tagaloa, who stood his first season at Yulong Stud for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST).
Playing God – Darling View Thoroughbreds-based sire Playing God (Blackfriars) was handed his eighth individual stakes winner courtesy of Bruce Almighty’s (6 g ex Playing God – Isanami by Tayasu Tsuyoshi) win in Saturday’s Old Comrade Stakes (Listed, 1600m) at Ascot. Trained by Neville Parnham, the six-year-old gelding stayed on well to beat Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) by a head, while Son Of Bacchus (Playing God) was another half a length further back in third. Bred by Mungrup Stud, Bruce Almighty is one of four winners out of Group 3-winning Tayasu Tsuyoshi (Sunday Silence) mare Isanami. Playing God stood for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) in 2021.
Sebring – Late Widden Stud resident Sebring (More Than Ready) was handed his 74th individual stakes winner when the Mark Walker-trained Amalfi Prince (3 g ex Campania by Dubai Destination) took out Saturday’s Manawatu Classic (Gr 3, 2000m) at Awapuni. The three-year-old gelding’s task was made easier when second favourite Pinarello (Tavistock) was scratched at the barrier before the race due to an issue with a loose tooth and he took advantage, beating Ruach (Charm Spirit) by a length and a quarter, while Titled (Exceed And Excel) was another three-quarters of a length away in third. Amalfi Prince was purchased for $150,000 at Round 2 of the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$90,000 at the New Zealand Ready To Run Sale later on in the year. The three-year-old gelding is out of the stakes-placed Dubai Destination (Kingmambo) mare Campania and hails from the same family as Group 2 winner Born Princess (Pricelessly).
Shackleford – The consistent Yuugiri (3 f ex Yuzuru by Medaglia D’Oro) added to her maiden victory when digging deep to land Saturday’s Fantasy Stakes (Gr 3, 8.5f) at Oaklawn where she became the second stakes winner for her sire Shackleford (Forestry). Trained by Rodolphe Brisset, Yuugiri edged out Beguine (Gun Runner) by a neck, the front two pulling three lengths clear of Bubble Rock (More Than Ready) who led home the remainder. She is one of two starters out of the black-type winning mare Yuzuru (Medaglia D’Oro). She also has an unnamed two-year-old colt by Air Force Blue (War Front) who was exported to Japan last year, a yearling colt by Nyquist (Uncle Mo), and was bred to Coolmore Stud shuttler American Pharoah (Pioneerof The Nile) for 2022. Preakness Stakes (Gr 1, 9.5f) winner Shackleford stands at stud in Korea.
Shocking – The Mike Moroney-trained Nerve Not Verve (6 m ex Bilancia by Montjeu) landed a belated first stakes success when she took out the Chairman’s Quality (Gr 2, 2600m) at Randwick and in the process handed the Rich Hill Stud-based sire Shocking (Street Cry) with his 19th individual stakes winner. Having her 39th career start, Nerve Not Verve stayed on strongly to beat Knights Order (So You Think) by a head with Luncies (Iffraaj) another three and a quarter lengths away in third. Purchased by Bruce Perry Bloodstock for NZ$60,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Select Yearling Sale from the Curraghmore draft, Nerve Not Verve is out of Bilancia (Montjeu) making her a half-sister to Group 1 scorer Glory Days (Red Giant). Shocking stood at Rich Hill Stud for a fee of NZ$8,500 (plus GST) in 2021.
Teofilo – Character (3 g ex Monogram by Medaglia D’Oro) provided his sire Teofilo (Galileo) with a 102nd individual stakes winner when he scored in the rescheduled Tulloch Stakes (Gr 2, 1850m) at Newcastle. The James Cummings-trained three-year-old recorded a length victory over Regal Lion (Jakkalberry) with a further length back to Sword Point (American Pharoah) in third. Character is the first foal out of the Medaglia D’Oro (El Prado) mare Monogram, herself a five-time winner and half-sister to Pago Pago Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Tarquin (Hard Spun). Teofilo (Gailieo) was handed his 103rd individual stakes winner when the James Cummings-trained Honeycreeper (3 f ex Painted Firetail by Lonhro) advertised her ATC Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) credentials in Saturday’s Adrian Knox Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Randwick. Last seen in competitive action when finishing third in the Tasmanian Oaks (Listed, 2100m) on February 20, Honeycreeper surged clear to post a three and a quarter length victory over Charity Spirit (Cable Bay), while the winner’s stablemate Mamounia (Medaglia D’Oro) was a further three lengths away in third. The three-year-old filly is out of dual-winning Lonhro (Octagonal) mare Painted Firetail and derives from the extended family of Group 2 winner Blue Note (Habitat) – the dam of Group 1 scorer Zieten (Danzig). Teofilo shuttled to Australia for six seasons and he now stands at Darley’s Kildangan Stud in Ireland for a fee of €30,000 (approx. AU$44,200).
Ulysses – Cheveley Stud-based sire Ulysses (Galileo) notched up his first stakes winner when the Donnacha O’Brien-trained Piz Badile (3 c ex That Which Is Not by Elusive Quality) took out Saturday’s Ballysax Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 2f) at Leopardstown. Having broken his maiden on his first start as a two-year-old, the colt then finished second in the Eyrefield Stakes (Gr 3, 1m 1f) in October and he returned to winning ways with a short-head victory over Buckaroo (Fastnet Rock). Duke De Sessa (Lope De Vega) – who defeated Piz Badile in the Eyrefield Stakes last season – was another three and three-quarter lengths away in third. Bred and raced by the Niarchos Family’s Flaxman Stables – who also raced Ulysses – Piz Badile is out of French Listed winner That Which Is Not (Elusive Quality), who is herself a daughter of Group 1 winner Shiva (Hector Protector). Shiva is a half-sister to Epsom Oaks (Gr 1, 1m 4f) winner Light Shift (Kingmambo) – the dam of Ulysses. Ulysses stands at Cheveley Park in Newmarket for a fee of £10,000 (approx AU$17,470).