Something from nothing
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Woeful winter weather plus a mechanical fault put paid to four meetings in New Zealand between Wednesday and Saturday. Rain did its damage to the Hastings Wednesday meeting whereas Pukekohe’s Thursday meeting was unable to be held because there were no starting stalls. They were to be transported from Ellerslie the morning of the races but a faulty fuel pump could not be repaired in time.
After continuous heavy rain, both Rotorua and New Plymouth, scheduled for Saturday, were called off early leaving local punters having to look across the Tasman for any racing and betting entertainment.
What started out as a bad day for New Zealand racing turned out to be a very good day for the New Zealand industry, especially at Flemington where four of the nine races were taken out by the Kiwis. One was a cake walk, two were slogs and the fourth was the performance of the day, belonging to Liberami (Turn Me Loose).
Liberami’s finish in the Leigh Hughes Trophy (1400m) was one of those that needed a replay and a second replay in order to be convinced that he actually got up. Although the field was reasonably compact, Liberami sat last through the first 1000 metres and pulled wide for run as soon they straightened yet was denied a path. Michael Dee moved back toward the fence but there was no path there either. At the 200 metres he was crowded, saw space closer to the fence and drove hard to get within four lengths of the leaders approaching the 100 metres.
Full of running he again went to the inner, threaded between runners to be a half length back at the 50 metres then, seeing clear air for the first time, flew at the line to get up by a neck.
Saturday’s win was his second, his maiden win taking place at Echuca five weeks earlier. In that race he also finished strongly but led at the 150 metres followed by a hard chasing second at Sandown-Lakeside on July 10.
The gelding had his problems at two and had a warning posted against his name after proving difficult to load on his race debut. That was in May last year but a year older he is clearly better behaved. At his second start of this preparation the stable changed tactics and advised the stewards that he would be ridden with cover and allowed to settle back. In four runs since he has won twice and finished second twice.
Although bred in New Zealand, Liberami’s family is all Australian. He is the only named foal from his dam, Loose Goose (Nicconi), a three-times winner and half-sister to ATC Champagne Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) second Fuerza (Snippetson). Liberami’s granddam is a half-sister to two Group winners including Mr Bureaucrat (Bureaucracy) who landed the Doomben Cup (Gr 1, 2200m) and two Group 2s among his 11 wins.
Cakewalk
Big grey Le Zebra (Rip Van Winkle) had the Michael Murphy Trophy (1700m) well under control before the 200 metres after being given the run of the race until the top of the straight. Presented inside the 400 metres, once he assumed the lead there was nothing his chasers could do and he ran clear over the last 200 metres to win easily.
Le Zebra won two of his four starts as a juvenile, scoring back-to-back in May of 2023 at Sandown and Flemington. Clearly highly thought of, he returned in the spring for two attempts at stakes class but was found to be lame after the second race and did not reappear until two months ago.
He has taken a little time to return to form but after Saturday’s cruise looks to be back to his best with his record now reading three wins in ten starts banking $286,000.
A Book 1 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale graduate, Le Zebra was purchased for $60,000 from the Windsor Park draft. His purchaser, Sparta Racing, also bought Le Zebra’s brother in 2021 and a half-brother in 2020. Their dam Angel Del Dinero (My Halo) achieved black–type when finishing second in the Desert Gold Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m). Four of her five foals to race are winners.
Angel Del Dinero’s dam Habalook (Danasinga) is a sister to Disciple (Danasinga), the grandam of dual Group 3 Perth winner Battle Hero (Stratum) and third dam of West Australian Guineas (Gr 2, 1600m) winner Treasured Star (Toronado).
Further back, this is one of Waikato Stud’s foundation families tracing to Georgina Belle (Pakistan II) featuring Group 1 winners Probabeel (Savabeel), Savvy Coup (Savabeel), Vision And Power (Carnegie), Glamour Puss (Tale Of The Cat) and Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer).
Long slog
Over a testing 2800 metres for the Flemington Cup, Hit The Road Jack (Jakkalberry) was the strongest to the line and showed tenacity when challenged hard near the 100 metres. Third into the straight he challenged and took over at the 300m but from the 200m he had to keep finding and rallied well for a good win.
His strength may well be due to his recent success as a hurdler. In fact, he was coming off a last-start Warrnambool win earlier this month, his only start over the sticks. At Warrnambool he was far too good and with Saturday’s contest win has put together nine wins for earnings in excess of $350,000.
Seven of his wins were in New Zealand of which four were open handicaps, namely the Sunright Open (1800m) at New Plymouth, the GIB Championship Open (1600m) at Avondale plus, at Ruakaka, the Tai Tokerai Cup (2200m) and Ruakaka Cup (2200m). Such open handicap ability is clearly the reason he was superior at Warrnambool but to return to the flat in such good style should have other hurdlers in Victoria wondering how they can compete.
Hit The Road Jack’s only appearance at auction was in 2017 at Karaka as a weanling and he failed to reach his reserve. He may have inherited some of his ability from his dam, Ististar (Istidaad). She was way above average, winning ten times including four stakes. Her best win was the Cuddle Stakes (Gr 3, 1600m) at Trentham.
From nothing
Also from a last start at Warrnambool was Horrifying (Shocking) who caused a boilover at odds of 50–1 in the Peter Drake Plate (2000m) although in Horrifying’s case he ran last in his lead up. That performance, which belied his training, caused new trainer Lindsey Smith to try everything but in the end did nothing in the gelding’s training and the horse found form by himself.
A handy third rounding into the straight, Horrifying was the beneficiary of the leader Smokin’ Romans (Ghibellines) wandering away from the rail, allowing Horrifying a beautiful run through. Taking full advantage, Michael Dee pushed him along but they didn’t reach the lead until 150 metres out. Once in front he defied his chasers and had a comfortable length to spare at the post.
Horrifying has been a good money spinner since his purchase at Book 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock 2019 Karaka Yearling Sale for $70,000 from the Rich Hill draft. Saturday’s win was his sixth for earnings in excess of $600,000, most of which has been earned at this time of year.
Although Group 3–placed at Flemington as a maiden, he took eight starts to break through (at Sandown-Hillside) and another three to score win two which was over the same Flemington 2000 metres as Saturday’s Plate before finishing strongly for fifth in the 2021 Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m).
His form from mid June to early August of 2022 was his best when winning three of four including the Flemington Cup (2800m). This time last year, however, he showed nothing resulting in a change of trainer for this current preparation.
He is one of five winners from his dam Zelt (Red Ransom). His half-brother Golden Payout (Proisir) recorded a stakes win in Malaysia in the Piala Emas Sultan Selangor (Listed, 2000m).
Despite being bred in New Zealand Horrifying’s family is basically Australian, at least for the first three generations. His granddam is a three-quarter sister to Flemington’s Andrew Ramsden Stakes (Listed, 3200m) winner Dame Claire (Danehill Dancer).
Never ending
The famous Eulogy (Cicero) family has another stakes winner in Jo Jo Was A Man (Al Maher). The New Zealand Hall of Fame inductee came to New Zealand in 1913 and her daughters’ and granddaughters’ produce dominated the first 20 years of the New Zealand National Sales. Generation after generation, the family keeps producing.
Jojo Was A Man’s first two generations are Australian based with his granddam ranking as a half-sister to Red Nile (El Qahira), a good mare who won seven including the Mannerism Stakes (Gr 3, 1400m) during the 1990s. His great-granddam, Our Fonteyn (Sackford), was bred in New Zealand and is a daughter of Ellerslie Summer Cup (2000m) and Group 3 placed Dancing Queen (Hasty Cloud). Dancing Queen’s half-sister Placid Queen (Taipan II) produced Group 1 winner and AJC Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) third Lady Agnes (Gleam Machine).
The best known top level performers from this branch (Homage branch) in the last 40 years are Stradbroke Handicap (Gr 1, 1400m) winners Plush Embassy (Plush) and Landsighting (Greig).
Saturday’s Winter Challenge (Listed, 1500m) was the eighth win for Jojo Was Man but first at stakes level having previously recorded three black-type placings including third in the Hawkesbury Cup (Gr 3, 1600m).