Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Flemington: Listed VRC St Leger, $200,000, 2800m
Ahuriri (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) put on a display of her staying prowess with this easy victory at her eighth start.
Bred by the Bax family, she was sold by Blandford Lodge to Waller racing and B.A.X Lted for $210,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Part of a quinella for her Cambridge Stud-based sire, she is his 17th stakes winner and his second Classic Flemington winner with Manzoice (NZ) taking out the 2022 G1 VRC Derby.
She is the second foal and first winner for the placed Mackenzie Kate (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who had 2022 off - served last spring by Satono Aladdin (Jpn). She lost her 2-year-old but has a yearling full sister to Ahuriri.
Mackenzie Kate is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Savabeel) and full sister to the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Malandrino (NZ) out of the placed Staryn Glenn (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), half-sister to the dual Group winner Silky Red Boxer (NZ) (Casual Lies {USA}).
Listed ANZAC Day S., $175,000, 1400m
Well fancied on the back of his smart debut victory at Sandown late last month, Epimeles (Dundeel {NZ}) won in the style of a horse with more to offer.
Bred by Evergreen Rich, he was sold by them to Ohukia Lodge and Mark Pilkington Management for $130,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 28th stakes winner for his Arrowfield Stud-based sire, he is the first foal produced by the two-time winner Apicius (Redoute's Choice) who was also bred by Evergreen.
Served last spring by Maurice (Jpn) after foaling an Ole Kirk filly in October, she had her So You Think (NZ) yearling colt pass in at the recent Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Apicius is a three-quarter sister to the Listed Jim Moloney S. winner Oz Empress (Exceed And Excel) out of the city winner Vanilla Princess (Lonhro) whose dam is the multiple Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago).
That daughter of the triple Listed winner Stoneyfell Road (Sovereign Red {NZ}) did a good job off the track as well - her eight winners include the G3 HKJC Premier Cup winner Thewizardofoz (Redoute's Choice), the dual Group 3 winner Argentia (Frankel {GB}) and the dam of the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Stonecoat (Pierro).
Otaki: Listed ANZAC Mile, NZ$80,000, 1600m
Up in class but again too good, Mr Mojo Risin' (NZ) (Deep Field) was game holding off a late challenge to record the fourth win of his 16-start career and his first at stakes level.
The Jomara Bloodstock homebred is the 29th stakes winner for his retired former Newgate-based sire and one of the six winners produced by the stakes placed La Scala (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}).
Retired four years ago, La Scala is also dam of the metropolitan winners Five Crowns (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Aspiring (NZ) (Redoute's Choice).
La Scala is one of the eight winners (from as many to race) for the winner Logical Lady (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}) whose daughter Final Destination (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) won twice at Group 1 level - and she is the dam of the Group 3 Japan-based winner Final Form (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
Logical Lady's dam is the triple Group winner Society Bay (NZ) (Zephyr Bay), dam of the stakes winners Society Beau (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and Sandblaster (NZ) (Sandtrap {USA}), grandam of the G1 Telegraph H. winner Irish Fling (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and third dam of the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Tyzone (Written Tycoon).
