Group 1 A.J. Moir S., Moonee Valley
Race 7- A.J Moir S. (Moonee Valley) - G1
28/09/2018, MVRC, VIC, $500,000, 3yo+ Weight For Age, 1000m, 57.70, Good
1st - Viddora
2nd - Brave Smash (JPN)
3rd -Spright
We apologise for not including the normal data feed for this race, it will be updated once results come through with Arion.
Race Summary:
Viddora (I Am Invincible) launched a spectacular late sprint to capture the second Group 1 win of her career in the G1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir S.
The 6-year-old mare tracked midfield off a hot pace set by favourite Nature Strip (Nicconi) and Joe Bowditch brought her on with the perfect run. She had the racing in her keeping 100m out, leaving Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) to work home for second with Spright (Hinchinbrook) flashing home late for third. Nature Strip was well beaten.
Viddora was second in this race to She Will Reign (Manhattan Rain) last year before going on to win the G1 Winterbottom S in Perth later in her campaign.
Pedigree notes:
Viddora cost just $40,000 at the Adelaide Magic Millions Sale in 2014. Her dam Snow Flight (NZ) (Colombia) was a five-time city winner who was a half-sister to the stakes-placed Zeddane.
Now Snow Flight has produced seven foals including a yearling colt by Super One and a filly by Magnus who was sold for $100,000 at this year's Adelaide Magic Millions, Viddora is the only Australian winner out of Snow Flight.
Group 2 Bill Stutt S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Leonard Da Hinchi (Hinchinbrook) needed a stroke of luck and a bit of class to claim the G2 Carlton Draught Stutt S. at Moonee Valley.
Jockey Brad Rawiller had the favourite in an awkward position at the top of the straight but his patient ride paid dividends as he squeezed the Darren Weir-trained colt into the clear.
He won by three-quarters of a length running away from Muswellbrook (Denman), who looked to have him pinned in on the turn, while the early leader Mark The Horse (Warriors Reward {USA}) fought on for third, with the seven horses from second to eighth separated by less than a length.
A first stakes-success for the son of Hinchinbrook sets him up well for the G1 Caulfield Guineas on October 13.
Pedigree notes :
A $100,000 buy at the Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sales, Leonardo Da Hinchi is from the unraced mare Portrait (Octagonal) who has produced the stakes-placed Raeburn. Portrait's dam Verocative was a G3 winner who also produced the smart sprinter Jet Spur, while the third dam True Verdict was a sister to champion sprinter Zeditave.
Portrait has a 2-year-old colt by Alfred Nobel (Ire) and is set to foal to Awesome Rock this spring.
Group 2 W H Stocks S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
I Am A Star (NZ) (I Am Invincible) built her resume to a remarkable eight black-type wins with her second successive win in the G2 The Sporting Globe Stocks S. at Moonee Valley.
The 5-year-old collected her fifth victory at Group 2 level after setting the pace throughout and kicking clear down the straight to defeat Mrs Gardenia (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) by 1.25l with Samovare (Savabeel) working home for third.
Trainer Shane Nichols said I Am A Star would be given a chance to add to her sole Group 1 win - that came in the 2016 Myer Classic - with a next start in the G1 Toorak Handicap.
Pedigree notes :
A sister to the Listed Elwick S., winner Band on the Run, I Am A Star is out of the imported mare Star Band (USA) (Dixieland Band {USA}) and was a $40,000 buy at Inglis Classic Yearling Sale who has now won over $1.4 million in prizemoney.
Star Band was unraced but is a half-sister to the European Group 3 winner Common Ground (Spinning World {USA}) and the Listed winner Speciale (USA) (War Chant {USA}). Now based in New Zealand, she has a 2-year-old filly by Iffraaj (GB) and is due to foal to the same sire again this spring.
Group 3 JRA Cup, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
The Taj Mahal (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) has bounced back to form with a hard-fought win in the G2 DrinkWise JRA Cup.
The Lloyd Williams-owned import charged clear at the top of the straight and withstood a determined late bid from Gallic Chieftain (Fr) (Tamayuz {GB}) to prevail narrowly, while the winner's stablemate Sir Isaac Newton (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) was six lengths back in third.
It is The Taj Mahal's second black-type win since he was imported from Ireland 12 months ago, adding to his success in the G2 Zipping Classic.
Nick Williams said post race that the G1 Caulfield Cup on October 13 was the target race for him this spring and he would likely step to that through the G1 Caulfield S. a week earlier.
Pedigree Notes:
From the American mare You'resothrilling (USA), The Taj Mahal is a full-brother to four stakes winners, including four-time Group 1 winner Gleneagles and the G1 winning fillies Happily (Ire) and Marvellous (Ire).
You'resothrilling (USA) was a G2 Cherry Hinton S winner and a sister to the superstar racehorse and stallion Giant's Causeway (USA).
Group 3 Scarborough S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Trainer Lee Curtis staged a successful raid on some Victorian black-type with his filly Meryl (Epaulette) victorious in the G3 Pro Star Entertainment Scarborough S. at Moonee Valley.
Meryl, ridden by Damien Oliver, sat outside the pace set by Setsuna (Choisir) before taking control of the 1200m race on the bend. Sweet Rockette (Fastnet Rock) finished second just ahead of Humma Humma.
Curtis will look to add further black-type during the Melbourne spring by targeting a Stakes race during the Flemington carnival.
Pedigree Notes:
Meryl was the first Australian stakeswinner for her sire Epaulette when she won the BJ McLachlan S late last year.
She was a $150,000 buy at the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions for Randwick Bloodstock and Mystery Downs. She is one of seven named foals out of the winning mare Academy Idol, who is a sister to G3 winner Cosmic Strike and a half-sister to stakes-placed pair Chosen Idol (Choisir) and Miss Idyllic (Exceed And Excel).
A half-brother to Meryl by Exceed And Excel sold for $500,000 at this year's Magic Millions Sale, while there is also a yearling colt by Headwater and a colt by Star Witness who arrived earlier this spring.
