Stallion Watch
New first season sire winners
Astern
Asherla (2 f ex Heritage Lane by Charge Forward) showed superior speed to win her maiden at start four against older horses over 1000 metres at Kempsey on Sunday to become the tenth first crop winner for her Darley sire Astern (Medaglia d’Oro), and eighth in Australia. Trained by Kris Lees, the Australian Bloodstock-owned, Yarraman Park Stud-bred Asherla led throughout and won by one and three-quarter lengths over Just Ziggy (Denman), with three and a quarter lengths back to All A Lady (Albrecht) in third. Asherla was a $6,000 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale purchase by Adam Parker from the Yarraman Park draft. Her dam Heritage Lane (Charge Forward), who has yearling and weanling fillies by Hellbent (I Am Invincible), returned to Astern last season. The sire of stakes winners Seradess and Danger Strykes, Astern will stand for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) in 2021.
Capitalist
Sacca (2 g ex Indie Rock by Exceed And Excel) backed up a recent barrier trial victory and strong market support at the Sunshine Coast on Friday to win his maiden in the QTIS 2YO Class 1 Plate (1000m) and become the 18th individual first crop winner for his sire Capitalist (Written Tycoon). As Capitalist attempts to run down his Newgate Farm barnmate Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt) for leading first season sire honours by earnings this season, Sacca produced a strong performance to score by one and a quarter lengths over Grey Defence (Instinction) and the dead-heating pair Clairvue Lady (More Than Ready) and Brazetti (Brazen Beau) who were the same distance away in third. Purchased for $60,000 by his trainer Nat McCall from Widden Stud at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Sacca is the first foal to race out of Indie Rock (Exceed And Excel) who is a sister to three-time Group 2 winner Heavy Metal and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Royal Meeting (Invincible Spirit) who stands at Leneva Park in Victoria for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST). Indie Rock was bought at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale by Bert Vieira for $200,000 when carrying Sacca. She has a yearling colt by Invader (Snitzel), a weanling colt by Trapeze Artist (Snitzel) and is back in foal to Vieira’s Widden Stud-based sire.
Divine Prophet
Aquis Farm’s Divine Prophet (Choisir) landed a sixth individual winner on Tuesday as Encyclopedia (2 g ex Info Miss by Carnegie) won the Maiden Handicap (1500m) at Albury. Trained by Todd Smart, the gelding won by one and a quarter lengths over La Valkyrie (Bianconi), as the juvenile defeated his elder rivals. Purchased for $25,000 by Thoroughbred South from the Aquis Farm draft at the Inglis Digital February (Late) Sale earlier this year, he is the last foal for his dam, Info Miss, who died last year, with Encyclopedia her fifth winner from seven to race. Info Miss is out of New Zealand Oaks (Gr 1, 2400m) third Sneetch (Grosvenor), who has also produced Group 1 winner Black Mamba (Black Minnaloushe) and Gussy Godiva (Last Tycoon), the dam of Australian Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Roman Emperor (Montjeu) and Wellington Guineas (Gr 2, 1500m) winner Rios (Hussonet). Divine Prophet will stand at Aquis Farm in Canungra this year for a fee of $16,500 (inc. GST).
Flying Artie
Lasco (2 g ex Pergram by General Nediym) broke through for his first victory at Rockhampton in the QTIS 2YO Maiden Handicap (1300m) at his sixth start on Saturday to become the tenth individual first crop winner for Newgate Farm-based stallion Flying Artie (Artie Schiller). The Graeme Green-trained gelding, who has only missed a place once in six starts, defeated Ask Me Again (Sooboog) by a long head with Calpurnia (Holy Roman Emperor) another long head away in third. Bred and sold by Bowness Stud, Lasco was bought by his trainer for $28,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. His half-sister by Shalaa (Invincible Spirit) was bought by All Winners Thoroughbreds for $70,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Flying Artie, the sire of Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Artorius, will stand for a fee of $33,000 (inc GST) this year.
Odyssey Moon
Twin Hills Stud’s Odyssey Moon (Snitzel) sired an impressive first-up winner at Canberra on Friday when the Richard Litt-trained Peregrination (2 g ex Sharp Hill by Danehill) scored by three and a half lengths on the Acton track. The second individual success for his sire, Peregrination ($3.60) defeated Gold Gift (Sooboog) ($3.40) while Christmas Reign (Manhattan Rain) ($4) was another three and a quarter lengths away third in the John McGrath Auto Group Handicap (1206m). Peregrination, who was bred by Twin Hills’ Olly Tait, was bought for $5,000 at the 2019 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale by Narrandera horse breaker Ryan Pendergast who in turn resold him for $35,000 at last year’s Inglis Ready 2 Race Sale in Sydney to Sandeep Gaur Basu’s Absolut Indian Thoroughbreds. Odyssey Moon, who is also the sire of the winning, Group 2-placed Chris Munce-trained filly Berdini’s Girl, will stand this year for a fee of $6,600 (inc GST).
Star Turn
Vinery Stud’s first season sire Star Turn (Star Witness) had a new juvenile winner on Saturday when the Steve Wolfe-trained Beads (2 g ex Sopraffina by Exceed And Excel) had a length and a half to spare in Belmont’s Crown Perth Plate (1000m). Beads, having his third start, became Star Turn’s 13th individual winner this season, second only to Capitalist (Written Tycoon) who has 18 winners, 17 of them in Australia. Beads, who was sold by Torryburn Stud for $62,500 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, defeated Storm Commander (Rommel) while Thomas Magnum (Per Incanto) was another neck away in third. Star Turn, who is the sire of four stakes performers including winner Miss Hipstar, Stellar Magic and Astrologer, stands for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) this year.
Stratum Star
Widden Stud’s young stallion Stratum Star (Stratum) got off the mark on Sunday when homebred Avalicious (2 f ex Evert by Belong To Me) took out the 2YO Showcase Handicap (1200m) at Coonamble at her first start. The Clint Lundholm-trained filly had a length and a half to spare over Rubick Sun (Rubick) with another length back to favourite Almahero (Al Maher) in third. Avalicious has a weanling sister born last August and her breeder chose to retire their dam Evert after her birth. Stratum Star will stand for a fee of $8,800 (inc, GST) this year.
New Group/Grade 1 winners
Galileo
Irish 1,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) runner-up Joan Of Arc (3 f ex You’resothrilling by Storm Cat) went one better in the Prix de Diane (Gr 1, 2100m) at Chantilly on Sunday to provide Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) with his 91st individual elite-level winner. The Aidan O’Brien-trained filly defeated favourite Philomene (Dubawi) by three-quarters of a length, with Burgarita (Sea The Stars) a short head further behind in third. Out of You’resothrilling (Storm Cat), Joan Of Arc is a sister to three elite-level winners in Marvellous, Gleneagles and Happily. Galileo stands at Coolmore in Ireland for a private fee.
New stakes winners
Adlerflug
Quebueno (3 c ex Queenie by Areion) landed the Derby Trial (Listed, 2200m) at Hannover on Sunday to provide the late Adlerflug (In The Wings) with his 18th individual stakes winner. The Jean-Pierre Carvalho-trained colt won on debut a fortnight ago and followed that up with a last-to-first defeat of Nordstrand (Reliable Man), with Nacido (Tertullian) in third. Quebueno is the second foal out of Group 3 winner Queenie (Areion), who is half-sister to stakes winner Quelindo (Aussie Rules). Adlerflug, the sire of five elite-level winners, died earlier this year aged 17.
Ardad
First season sire Ardad (Kodiac) landed his first stakes winner on the biggest stage as Perfect Power (2 c ex Sagely by Frozen Power) unleashed his challenge at the opportune moment to win the Norfolk Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Royal Ascot on Thursday. The race did little to solve the stands’ side versus far side conundrum, with the two groups on each side of the track split by the barest of margins at the finish. Perfect Power, racing on the stands’ side, got the better of Go Bears Go (Kodi Bear) who raced on the far side, by a head, with on the stands’ side Project Dante (Showcasing) finishing third, a nose further back. Ardad, winner of the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f) at Royal Ascot in 2016, has streaked clear in the leading first season sire standings by winners, with ten to salute the judge in Britain. He stands at Overbury Stud for a fee of £4,000 (approx. AUD$7,360).
Australia
The well-backed Point Lonsdale (2 c ex Sweepstake by Acclamation) remained unbeaten when landing the Chesham Stakes (Listed, 7f) at Royal Ascot, providing Australia (Galileo) with his 19th individual stakes winner. Sent off the 10-11 favourite under Ryan Moore, Point Lonsdale followed up a five and a half-length debut win at the Curragh on June 2 with a half-length defeat of Reach For The Moon (Sea The Stars), whose owner the Queen was in attendance for the first time this week. The promising pair, who were drifting towards opposite sides of the track in the final stages, pulled three and a quarter lengths clear of Great Max (Wootton Bassett) in third. Bought by John Magnier for 575,000gns from Book 1 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale last year, Point Lonsdale is the ninth foal out of Listed winner Sweepstake (Acclamation) and he is a brother to Broome, who finished runner-up in the Hardwicke Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f) later on the card. Point Lonsdale was installed as favourite for both next year’s English 2,000 Guineas (Gr 1, 1m) and Epsom Derby (Gr 1, 1m 4f) by the northern hemisphere bookmakers following his Chesham success.
Bobby’s Kitten
Bobby’s Kitten (Kitten’s Joy) sired his first stakes winner when the Lanwades Stud homebed Sandrine (2 f ex Seychelloise by Pivotal) landed the Albany Stakes (Gr 2, 6f), the opening race on the penultimate day of Royal Ascot. Jockey David Probert steered the Andrew Balding-trained filly down the middle of the track, which was officially rated heavy after prolonged rainfall. Sandrine travelled strongly close behind the front rank approaching the final quarter-mile, and, when shaken up half a furlong later, she responded with a strong run, taking the lead with a half a furlong remaining and drawing ahead to win by a length and a half over the runner-up Hello You (Invincible Spirit). The stands’ rail-running Oscula (Galileo Gold) was third, a further half-length behind. The winner’s dam, Seychelloise (Pivotal), a four-time winner, is out of the Group 3 winner Starlit Sands (Oasis Dream), who placed second in the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) as a juvenile, from a prolific black type-producing Lanwades family. Second season sire Bobby’s Kitten stands at Lanwades Stud in Newmarket for £7,000 (approx. AUD$12,9000).
Cotai Glory
Atomic Force (2 g ex Atlas Silk by Dansili) impressively landed the Prix du Bois (Gr 3, 1200m) at Chantilly on Sunday to provide first season sire Cotai Glory (Exceed And Excel) with his first stakes winner. The Kevin Ryan-trained gelding broke his maiden at Hamilton last month and followed that up with a comfortable five-length defeat of Black Lives Matter (Panis), with Best Sixteen (Penny’s Picnic) another length behind in third. A £22,000 buy from the Goffs Sportsman’s Yearling Sale, Atomic Force is one of four winners out of Atlas Silk (Dansili). Cotai Glory, a Group 3 winner who was also placed in elite-level company, has had 11 winners from his first crop and stands at Tally Ho Stud in Ireland for a €5,000 (approx. AU$7,932) fee.
Dansili
Diadora (3 f ex Diatribe by Tertullian) landed the Grosser Preis von Burger King (Listed, 1400m) at Hannover on Sunday to provide Dansili (Danehill) with his 148th individual stakes winner. Unplaced at Listed level on her previous start, the Markus Klug-trained filly improved on that effort to defeat Angelinka (Pedro The Great) by one and a quarter lengths, with Sun Bear (Dubawi) another head behind in third. A half-sister to Group 3 winner Degas (Exceed And Excel) and stakes performer Dina (Nathaniel), Diadora is one of four winners from as many runners out of three-time Listed winner Diatribe (Tertullian). Juddmonte’s Dansili was retired from stud duties in 2018.
Dark Angel
The Andrew Balding-trained Berkshire Shadow (2 c ex Angel Vision by Oasis Dream) flew home up the stands’ side rail to land the Coventry Stakes (Gr 2, 6f) under Oisin Murphy at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The colt, who was bought by Balding for 40,000gns at Tattersalls October Book 1 last year, won on debut at Newbury in April and was kept fresh for this contest. Having jumped from the widest gate in the 17-runner field, Murphy was patient on the colt, holding him up in the early stages before hitting the front inside the final half-furlong. Berkshire Shadow then powered clear to score by one and a quarter lengths, providing his sire Dark Angel (Acclamation) with his 71st individual stakes winner. Eldrickjones (Cotai Glory), sent off a 66-1 chance, was second, a neck ahead of Vintage Clarets (Ardad) in third. Berkshire Shadow, a grandson of four-time Group 1 winner Islington (Sadler’s Wells), descends from the family of Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) winner Fiorente (Monsun), who stands at Widden in Victoria, plus Australian stakes performers Tom Melbourne (Dylan Thomas) and Araaja (Iffraaj).
Deep Field
Sky Field (4 g ex Laravissante by O’Reilly) landed Sunday’s Premier Cup (Gr 3, 1400m) at Sha Tin to take Newgate stallion Deep Field (Northern Meteor) into double figures for individual stakes winners. Ridden by Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m)-winning jockey Blake Shinn, the Casper Fownes-trained four-year-old defeated favourite Sky Darci (Darci Brahma) by one and three-quarter lengths, with Champion’s Way (Hinchinbrook) another neck away in third. Deep Field (Northern Meteor) will stand at Newgate for $88,000 (inc. GST) this year.
Dubawi
Kemari (3 g Koora by Pivotal) became the 208th individual stakes winner for Dubawi (Dubai Millennium) when he took out the Queen’s Vase (Gr 2, 1m 6f) at Royal Ascot on just his third start on Wednesday. Lining up off the back of a six-length win at Yarmouth last month, the Godolphin-raced three-year-old took the lead inside the final two furlongs and scooted clear to defeat favourite Wordsworth (Galileo) by one and a half lengths, with Stowell (Zoffany) another one and a quarter lengths back in third. Bought for 400,000gns from Book 1 of the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Kemari is the first foal out of Group 3 winner Koora (Pivotal), who is also a half-sister to St Leger (Gr 1, 1m 6f) winner Milan (Sadler’s Wells). Dubawi stands at Dalham Hall Stud for a £250,000 (approx. AU$457,920) fee.
Frankel
Juan Elcano (4 g ex Whatami by Daylami) became the 71st individual stakes winner for super sire Frankel (Galileo) after victory in the Wolferton Stakes (Listed, 1m 2f) at Royal Ascot on Tuesday. The Mohammed Obaid-owned four-year-old was delivered with a timely challenge by Andrea Atzeni, who got the better of Patrick Sarsfield (Australia) by half a length, with Solid Stone (Shamardal) third. Runner-up in the Superlative Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) and placed in the Champagne Stakes (Gr 2, 7f) as a two-year-old, at three he was placed in the Dante Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 2.5f). He records his first stakes win at his ninth start, saluting at 14-1 for trainer Kevin Ryan. Out of Whatami (Daylami), Juan Elcano is a half-brother to stakes winner Nkosikazi (Cape Cross), and is from a deep black-type family that includes Invincible Spirit (Green Desert) and Pride Of Dubai (Street Cry). He was a 360,000gns buy from the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 1.
Gleneagles
The Ribblesdale Stakes (Gr 2, 1m 4f) saw a minor shock on Thursday, as 18-1 chance Loving Dream (3 f ex Kissable By Danehill Dancer) saw off all-comers to win by three-quarters of a length and provide her sire Gleneagles (Galileo) with a 13th individual stakes winner. Loving Dream crossed from stall 12 of 13 to sit on the outside of leader Dubai Fountain (Teofilo) as an even pace was set. Turning the bend, a wall of challengers seemed set to take the baton from Loving Dream, however the filly battled in the straight to deny a surging run from Eshaada (Muhaarar) on her outside in the Shadwell colours. Nicest (American Pharoah) finished two and a half lengths behind the winner in third. The John and Thady Gosden-trained Loving Dream is out of the stakes-winning Kissable (Danehill Dancer), who has already produced Listed winner and Grade 1 placed Amandine (Shamardal) in the US. Gleneagles, now the sire of five Group 2 winners, stands at Coolmore for a fee of €25,000 (approx. AUD$39,400).
Hallowed Crown
Golden Slipper (Gr 1, 1200m) winner Polar Success (Success Express) is now also a stakes-winning producer as her final foal Lillemor (4 m ex Polar Success by Success Express) came out on top in a thrilling finish to the Gai Waterhouse Classic (Listed, 1200m) at Ipswich on Saturday. The four-year-old recorded summer wins on the Kensington and at Rosehill before returning this preparation with a win at Randwick last month, and she showed her continued progression stepping up to stakes level in defeating the fast-finishing Intrepidacious (Shooting To Win), the first runner for Lee Freedman since his return to Australia, and Blazing Miss (Snitzel), with the margins each a short head. An outstanding juvenile, Polar Success won four times at two, including in the Reisling Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) before her Slipper triumph and was runner-up in the Silver Slipper (Gr 2, 1100m). A homebred for Twin Palms Stud, Lillemor became the 13th individual stakes winner for Hallowed Crown (Street Sense), who will once again stand at Twin Hills Stud this year for a fee of $11,000.
Havana Gold
Chipotle (2 c ex Lightsome by Makfi) bounced back from a disappointing effort at Sandown last time out to land the Windsor Castle Stakes (Listed, 5f) on Wednesday and provide his sire Havana Gold (Teofilo) with his eighth individual stakes winner. Chipotle got his season off to a flyer when winning the Brocklesby Stakes (5f) at Doncaster in March, the first two-year-old race of the season, and followed that up with a win in the Royal Ascot Two-Year-Old Trial Stakes (5f) in April. He finished sixth on soft ground at Listed level last-start, but showed his liking for a firm surface with a two-and-a-quarter-length defeat of Dig Two (Cotai Glory). Boonie (Brazen Beau), bred and owned by Mark Pilkington of Seymour Bloodstock, was a further head back in third. A 10,000gns buy from the Tattersalls Ireland Ascot Yearling Sale last year, Chipotle is the second foal out of Makfi (Dubawi) mare Lightsome, who was winless from 17 starts on the track. Havana Gold, who stands at Tweenhills for £7,500 (approx. AU$13,725), is the sire of Flying Five Stakes (Gr 1, 5f) winner Havana Grey.
Kizuna
Shamrock Hill (4 f ex Laragh by Tapit) narrowly won the Mermaid Stakes (Gr 3, 2000m) at Hanshin on Sunday to become Kizuna’s (Deep Impact) 15th individual stakes winner. Unplaced on her only previous start in stakes company in the Sho Rose Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) last year, the Shozo Sasaki-trained Shamrock Hill defeated Clavel (Epiphaneia) by a neck, with Shadow Diva (Heart’s Cry) the same distance further behind in third. A half-sister to Grade 3 winner Solace (Orfevre), Shamrock Hill is one of four winners out of elite-level winner Laragh (Tapit). Kizuna stands at Shadai Stallion Station in Japan for a 2021 fee of JPY10,000,000 (approx. AU$121,353).
Lord Of England
Lord Of England (Dashing Blade), the sire of 2016 Deutsches Derby (Gr 1, 2400m) winner Isfahaan, sired his 20th individual stakes winner when his daughter Palmas (3 f ex Peace Time by Surumu) took out the Diana-Trail (Listed, 2100m) at Dusseldorf on Saturday. The Andreas Wohler-trained filly stretched her unbeaten record to two as she beat Normfliegerin (Adlerflug) and India (Adlerflug).
Majestic Warrior
Smasher (3 c ex Smash by King Kamehameha) got off the mark at his first attempt in stakes company when landing the Unicorn Stakes (Gr 3, 1m) at Tokyo on Sunday, earning Majestic Warrior (A. P. Indy) his 29th individual stakes winner. The Tatsuya Yoshioka-trained colt saw off rank outsider Ca Va (I’ll Have Another) by a length, with Keiai Lovage (Henny Hughes) the same distance further behind in third. Smasher is the fourth foal out of Smash (King Kamehameha), who has so far produced three winners. Majestic Warrior, the sire of four-time elite-level winner Princess Of Sylmar, stands at East Stud in Japan.
Pluck
Seven-year-old Happy Go Plucky (7 g ex Dirty by Hussonet) became a stakes winner at his 62nd start when landing Saturday’s Ipswich Cup (Listed, 2150m) for Gold Coast trainer John Gilmore. Having only raced at stakes level once previously, when sixth in the 2019 Grafton Cup (Listed, 2350m), Happy Go Plucky proved a surprise winner of the race, coming in as a $21 chance, a quarter of a length ahead of So You Win (So You Think), with Flash Ahh, the only stakes winner for Lucas Cranach (Mamool), a half-length behind the winner in third. Purchased for just $7,300 from the Magic Millions National Yearling Sale, Happy Go Plucky has now won ten races, for prize-money of $462,210. Pluck, a son of Vinery Stud’s long-standing former shuttle stallion More Than Ready (Southern Halo), will once again stand in the Hunter for a fee of $2,200.
Power
Sonnyboyliston (4 g ex Miss Macnamara by Dylan Thomas) capped a remarkable day for Johnny Murtagh when taking out the Martin Molony Stakes (Listed, 1m 4.5f) at Limerick on Friday evening, an hour after his stablemate Create Belief (Awtaad) landed the Sandringham Stakes (1m) at Royal Ascot. Sent off the 6-5 favourite after placing in Group 3 company on his previous start, Sonnyboyliston got off the mark at stakes company with a one and a half-length win over Sunchart (Teofilo), with 50-1 chance Questionare (Galileo) another half a length back in third. The win provided Oaklands Stud resident Power (Oasis Dream) with his 21st individual stakes winner. Bought for €26,000 from the 2018 Tattersalls Ireland September Yearling Sale, Sonnyboyliston is the first foal out of the multiple winning mare Miss Macnamara (Dylan Thomas), who is a half sister to stakes winners Gemstone (Galileo) and Karamela (Mastercraftsman).
Profitable
Quick Suzy (2 f ex Snooze by Marju) landed the Queen Mary Stakes (Gr 2, 5f) at Royal Ascot on Wednesday to provide first season sire Profitable (Invincible Spirit) with his first stakes winner. Quick Suzy was second in the Fillies Sprint Stakes (Gr 3, 6f) at Naas last month and went one better than that effort to score by one and a quarter lengths from the Wesley Ward-trained favourite Twilight Gleaming (National Defense). Cheerupsleepyjean (Starspangledbanner), sent off a 50-1 shot, was another one and three-quarter lengths back in third. Quick Suzy was the first runner at the royal meeting for Irish trainer Gavin Cromwell, who is better known for his exploits over jumps, and she followed in the hoofprints of Profitable in becoming a Royal Ascot winner, after he took the 2016 running of the King’s Stand Stakes (Gr 1, 5f). Quick Suzy, a €20,000 purchase by Aoife Dunphy from the Goffs Ireland Autumn Yearling Sale, is the first winner from three to race out of Snooze (Marju). Profitable has so far sired seven winners from his first crop and he stands at Kildangan Stud in Ireland for a €10,000 (approx. AU$15,735) fee.
Ruler Of The World
Northern Ruler (3 c ex North Sun by Monsun) held off the late challenge of strong favourite Bubble Gift (Nathanial) to land Sunday’s Prix du Lys (Gr 3, 2400m) at Chantilly. The Andreas Wohler-trained colt was winning for the second time in three starts under Maxime Guyon and provided Ruler Of The World (Galileo) with his fourth individual stakes winner. Northern Ruler is the first foal out of North Sun (Monsun), who is a half-sister to Listed winner North Mum (Samum) and stakes performers Northsea Star (Sea The Stars) and Nordfalke (Hawk Wing). Ruler Of The World, the sire of four-time elite-level winner Iridessa, stands at Haras de Bouquetot in France for €5,000 (approx. AU$7,932).
Tavistock
The tough Joe Pride-trained gelding Stockman (4 g ex Crimson by Zabeel), who raced four times in five weeks before enjoying a fortnight between starts leading into Saturday’s victorious W J McKell Cup (Listed, 2000m) at Rosehill again showed what a loss his sire Tavistock (Montjeu) is to the Australasian breeding industry. With the Listed win on a Heavy 8 track, Stockman is the 30th individual stakes winner for the late Cambridge Stud-based stallion. Ridden by Sam Clipperton, Stockman defeated Berdibek (Dark Angel) by one and a quarter lengths with Parry Sound (Pierro) another two and a quarter lengths away in third. Tavistock’s final crop yearlings will be offered to the market next year.
Unencumbered
Late Three Bridges Thoroughbreds stallion Unencumbered (Testa Rossa) sired his fifth stakes winner and fourth this season when Free To Move (3 g ex Canhill by Dangerous) caused a $101 upset in the A R Creswick Stakes (Listed, 1200m) at Flemington on Saturday. Trained by Ken and Kasey Keys, Free To Move defeated Brenlyn’s Trooper (Redente) ($81) by a half-neck with Capriccio (I Am Invincible) ($21) a nose away in third. Also the sire of Tobin Bronze Stakes (Gr 2, 1200m) winner Beau Rossa, Felicia and No Restriction this season, Unencumbered died in March 2018 after covering 489 mares in four years at the Listons Victorian stud.
Vital Equine
The Bernie Miller-trained Sheza Chalmer (3 f ex Lady Chalmers by Dante’s Fury) landed the Belmont Guineas (Listed, 1600m) on Saturday to provide Vital Equine (Danetime) with his sixth individual stakes winner. Making her first start in stakes company, the three-year-old filly snuck up on the outside under Patrick Carbery and drew clear with ease to score by a length over Kerman Rock (Snippetson), with Tri For Us, another daughter of Vital Equine, finishing the same distance further behind in third. The last of five foals out of Lady Chalmers (Dante’s Fury), Sheza Chalmer’s took her record to four wins from nine starts with Satuday’s success.