Teofilo aims for rare double with Goddess
Nizami, in 1947, was the last to have both the Melbourne Cup and VRC Oaks winner in the same year
For the third time in four years, the sire of the Melbourne Cup winner will be hoping to add the winner of one of the Flemington Classics when Tyche Goddess (Teofilo) contests today’s VRC Oaks (Gr 1, 2500m).
It has been a rare feat for a sire to have both the winners of the Melbourne Cup (Gr 1, 3200m) and one of the two Classics, the Victoria Derby (Gr 1, 2500m) or the Oaks.
Last year, Declaration Of War (War Front) had both Derby winner Warning and Cup victor Vow And Declare, while the late High Chaparral (Sadler’s Wells) had Ace High and Rekindling complete the same double. Before that, it was Sir Tristram (Sir Ivor) in 1982, with Derby hero Grosvenor and Cup conqueror Gurner’s Lane.
The Derby-Cup double is rare enough, but the Cup and Oaks duo has been even more rare.
Should Tyche Goddess win, it would be the first time since 1947 that a stallion has sired both the Melbourne Cup and the VRC Oaks winner; Nizami (Firdaussi) had Hiraji and Nizam’s Lady land the double.
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained three-year-old, third in the Wakeful Stakes (Gr 2, 2000m) on Saturday, is one of five fillies backing up into the Oaks.Joining her are runner-up Personal (Fastnet Rock), fourth Miravalle (Redoute’s Choice), fifth Salto Angel (Sacred Falls) and seventh Succeed Indeed (Akeed Mofeed).
“Teofilo’s progeny in Australia have shown more speed than those bred in the northern hemisphere, which is probably to do with the speed in our female lines compared with northern hemisphere mares,” Alastair Pulford, head of sales at Darley Australia, told ANZ Bloodstock News.
“He’s been capable of siring stayers, like Queensland Derby winner Sonntag, but he’s best known here for his milers like Happy Clapper and Kermadec.
“Overall though, we’re all very proud of him. He’s not the world’s most fertile stallion, so he doesn’t have huge numbers out there racing every year, but he’s been an extremely capable stallion in both hemispheres over a long period of time.”
For more on Teofilo, read Trevor Marshallsea’s It’s In The Blood feature today, highlighting the pedigree of Twilight Payment.
Personal bids for VRC Oaks
The Wakeful Stakes-VRC Oaks double has been completed the last two years with Aristia (Lonhro) and Miami Bound (Reliable Man).
While this year’s Wakeful Stakes winner Victoria Quay (Dundeel) is already in the spelling paddock, runner-up Personal will lead the quintet out of Saturday’s contest into today’s Oaks.
The Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig-trained filly, who already boasts Group 1 placings in the Blue Diamond Stakes (Gr 1, 1200m) and the Thousand Guineas (Gr 1, 1600m), will aim to finally break through for a first stakes win – and a first top-level feature – today.
“The Wakeful has been a good guide to the Oaks so hopefully it is again,” Dabernig said.”We’re on our home turf and have been able to stick with our routine. The important thing is that she has pulled up well. We can’t fault her.
“Since Saturday, she’s done very little. We’ve kept her fresh and put her on the water walker, and just ticking over. I reckon there is some improvement to come also, she blew up a bit over the back.”
Personal is by Fastnet Rock (Danehill) out of the Galileo (Sadler’s Wells) mare Personify, who holds the extraordinary title of being her sire’s only stakes winner at shorter than six furlongs or 1200 metres; her sole win came in the Queen Adelaide Stakes (Listed, 1100m) on debut.
One son, Laser Flash (Redoute’s Choice), won up to 1900 metres and contested a Queensland Derby (Gr 1, 2400m), while another, Trope (More Than Ready), is an out-and-out sprinter.
Often, an Oaks filly doesn’t need to see out the 2500 metres strongly, but Dabernig isn’t too concerned.
“The 2500 metres is always a slight query but every start she’s had she’s been solid in,” he said.
It would be a first Group 1 win for Dabernig and Hayes since the third member of their training partnership, Hayes’ father David, departed for Hong Kong mid-year.
Montefilia on trial for next year’s Cup
Odds-on Oaks favourite Montefilia (Kermadec) could be lining up at Flemington next year in the week’s feature, the Melbourne Cup, should David Payne’s filly thrive at her first attempt in Melbourne today.
Montefilia was considered a legitimate Oaks contender at the start of the spring, but wins in the Flight Stakes (Gr 1, 1600m) and the Spring Champion Stakes (Gr 1, 2000m) ensured that she would almost certainly be sent out as an odds-on elect by punters.
“To be honest, we didn’t have the Flight Stakes and Spring Champion in mind. We were just going to prepare her for the Oaks,” Payne told Racing.com.
“When she ran fourth over 1400 metres and I knew how fit she was, I thought, ‘We’ve got to have a go at the Flight Stakes.’ It progressed to the Spring Champion and on to the Oaks.
“If you looked at her last run over 2000 metres, she was doing her best work at the finish. I don’t think (the trip) will be an issue for her.”
Victory would make Montefilia the first filly to complete the Spring Champion-Oaks double, although only two fillies have won the Spring Champion previously: Yankee Rose (All American) and Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile).
Yankee Rose finished 14th as a hot favourite in the 2016 Oaks, struggling under the brutal tempo set by eventual winner Lasqueti Spirit (Beneteau), while Maid Of Heaven did not race again.
Meanwhile, only four horses have achieved the Flight Stakes and VRC Oaks double: inaugural Flight winner Nizam’s Ring and champion fillies Research (Imperial Prince), Slight Chance (Centaine) and Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
But as Montefilia bids for history, Rosehill-based Payne only wishes that he could be trackside as he attempts to add a second Flemington feature to his record after Ace High’s 2017 Derby success.
“I’m not nervous. But it’s (hard) that you can’t be there, because it’s your best horse and you’d like to be there with her and to see everything is fine,” Payne said.
“I know she is in good hands, but it’s not the same. I’ll just have to sit on the couch and watch it. It’s just one of those things, what can you do?”
However, if Montefilia performs to expectations today, she will pass the first ballot clause for next year’s Melbourne Cup and could be set to return to Flemington 362 days later.
“She could be a Caulfield and Melbourne Cup filly once she strengthens up. That’s my dream, maybe next year,” he said. “We’ve got to get through the Oaks first.”
Montefilia is one of two stakes runners for her dam Bana Wu (Shirocco) on today’s Flemington card, with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-prepared Nice For What (Shalaa) set to step out for the first time in the Ottawa Stakes (Gr 3, 1000m).
The 160th VRC Oaks jumps at 5:10pm local time this afternoon.