Late bloomer Noire stakes her claim
Noire (Foxwedge) has added that all important black type victory to her CV to significantly boost her broodmare value.
Runner-up in the G2 Sheraco S., at her previous outing, she had no trouble in going one better in Saturday’s G2 Schweppes Shannon S., to set up a tilt at the G1 Toorak H.
“She is a five-year-old so she is certainly a late comer,” trainer Chris Waller said. “She has always showed us enough ability and hasn't been over-raced.”
Noire has now won seven of her 15 starts and she powered home down the outside of the track for rider Tommy Berry to beat Kingsguard (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}) and the winner’s stablemate and last season’s G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {IRE}).
“I'm thinking she would be suited to a race like the Toorak,” Waller said.
Noire was a $135,000 Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale buy for Star Thoroughbreds and is a half-sister to the stakes performers Maraatib (Redoute’s Choice) and Valoura (Exceed And Excel).
They are out of Valadon (Woodman {USA}), a daughter of the two-time Listed winner Valourina (Snippets), who is a half-sister to the G2 Wakeful S., winner and dual Group 1 placegetter Timbourina (Timber Country {USA}).
Birchley filly draws first blood
Noted 2-year-old trainer Liam Birchley has made his mark again with his filly Courseshewill (Unencumbered) winning the opening juvenile event of the Australian season.
She was settled midfield by rider Matt McGillivray and unwound strongly in the run home to credit Birchley with his third win in the Toowoomba Truck Spares Pat O’Shea Plate.
Courseshewill was a $170,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale and is the third success story for her dam Corsaire (Anabaa {USA}), who won the Quezette S., and the Merson Cooper S., at Listed level. She was also placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude.
She represents the family of Catella (GER) (Generous {IRE}), who was a Group 1 winner and champion German 3-year-old.
Birchley has also twice won New Zealand’s richest 2-year-old event, the Karaka Million, firstly with Sister Havana (NZ) (General Nediym) in 2010 and again with Hardline (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) in 2015. He also produced Sarge In Charge (Golan {IRE}) to finish runner-up in 2009.
Courseshewill as a yearling
Classic success for Tomelilla
Tomelilla (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) added to her black type record with a hollow win in the Listed Haunui Farm Classic at Pukekohe Park.
She won the G3 Rotorua S., and the Listed Ag Challenge S., during her last preparation and returned from a break on Sunday in the best possible fashion.
“The track suited her, she likes a bit of give in it,” said co-trainer Murray Baker, whose wife Maryanne shares in the ownership with Greg Jones.
Baker has no set plan for Tomelilla, but is eyeing a start in the G1 Livamol Classic for stablemate Saint Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}). He made late ground to finish fifth behind his stablemate.
“He got back and ran on well, he’s not miler, he’s a middle distance horse,” he said. “He is very well and he’s still in the race so we’ll give it a lot of thought.”
The grey gelding won the G1 New Zealand S., and the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup, both over 2000 metres, last season.
Beauty of a debut
Beauty Diva (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) brought an international flavour to proceedings at Pukekohe Park on Sunday with her debut success.
The 2-year-old gave a slick front-running performance to win the Colliers 2YO off the back of a trial success at Te Teko.
Beauty Diva is prepared at Te Awamutu by Clinton Isdale, who races her with former top-flight jockey turned successful Singapore trainer Leslie Khoo.
“I pre-train for him in New Zealand and educate the ones he buys at Karaka before they go up there,” Isdale said.
“He’s always wanted to get a Showcasing colt or gelding, but they were pretty expensive and I saw this filly in the parade ring so I rang him and we bought her.”
Beauty Diva was an $11,000 purchase out of Long Acres Stud’s draft and is a grand-daughter of the G3 Centaine S., winner Ketchikau (NZ) (Kreisler {USA}).
“There’s plenty of upside to her and we don’t gallop her hard,” Isdale said. “She’ll go out now for a break and come back and hopefully she’ll get in the Karaka Million.”
Beauty Diva as a yearling
Tulip to go an extra mile
David Hayes is confident he can get Tulip (Pierro) to flower at 1600 metres this preparation.
His dual Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter has yet to be tested at a mile, but he believes she can cope with a step up in trip and has the G1 Myer Classic on her programme.
“She'll be a good mare to follow I think,” he said. “As a younger mare she struggled at 1400 metres, but I’m sure as a more mature mare she's got another string to her bow.”
Tulip missed a start in Saturday’s G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S., and gained a confidence-boosting victory in under 59gk in the Punters.com.au Living Legends H., under a smart ride from apprentice Ethan Brown.
“I was impressed with the poise he showed, he’s a classy young rider,” Hayes said.
Tulip sat outside the leader and she stuck to her task grimly in the straight to beat Shoko (Sebring), who was in receipt of five kilos.
Out of the G3 Vanity S., winner Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar {IRE}), Tulip is a half-sister to four winners including Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {IRE}), who won the G3 Caulfield Classic.
A family affair
Tip Top’s run of form has continued a grand run for Randwick trainer Les Bridge with the family of the lightly-tried 6-year-old.
The son of Choisir has won his last two starts with his most recent success in the Gow-Gates H., at Rosehill on Saturday his fifth from 15 career starts.
“He’s a lovely horse and I’ve had great luck with the family, Miss Zoe and all of them,” Bridge said.
“I think I’ll give him a freshen up and look at the Villiers with him. This isn’t his track and a mile at Randwick will be better.”
Tip Top is out of a half-sister to Miss Zoe (Zoffany {USA}), who won nine races including the G2 Emancipation S., and the G2 Empire Rose S.
Bridge also prepared Tip Top’s half-brother Zenallicious to win the Listed Reginald Allen H., and multiple Group placings.
Classic option for 3YO
Group racing awaits the progressive 3-year-old Extra Brut (Domesday).
The colt has made a flying start to his career with next month’s G3 Caulfield Classic a likely short-term target for the colt.
Trained by Darren Weir, Extra Brut was a debut second before a breakthrough victory at Sandown and at Caulfield on Saturday he took another step up to win the Danny O’Brien Racing Pinchapoo H., after a stirring battle to down the front-runner Thunderdome (Hinchinbrook).
“I thought at the 100 I wasn’t going to get him, but he was strong to the line,” rider John Allen said.
“He can be a handful at home sometimes, but he’s got a great action.”
Extra Brut was a $100,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for Spicer Thoroughbreds, who race the colt with a sizeable syndicate.
He is from a strong international family that features the North American Group 2 winners Yarrow Brae (USA) (Deputy Minister {USA}), Esteemed Friend (USA) (Gulch {USA}) and Bedouizm (USA) (Sheikh Albadou {GB}).
Memorable victory
The victory of Seeblume (Sebring) for trainer, Joseph Ible will forever have fond memories.
She delivered a first city winner for the Canberra conditioner when the 5-year-old was successful in the TAB Highway H., at Rosehill on Saturday.
Seeblume showed the benefit of a first-up run on the Kensington track at Randwick, where she finished fifth, and in the hands of Hugh Bowman she delivered a memorable result for Ible.
The mare is a grand-daughter of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Shindig (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), also the dam of the G1 Orr S., winner Shinzig (NZ) (Danehill {USA}).
