Masterly Group 1 performance
One Master became the 36th individual Group 1 winner for champion Australian stallion Fastnet Rock (Danehill {USA}) when she came from the back of the field to land the G1 Qatar Prix de la Foret at Longchamp.
Ridden by Pierre-Charles Boudot for trainer William Haggas, the 4-year-old drew wide and settled with the tailenders before rounding off strongly in the run home.
One Master has been a reliable mare with two wins, including the G3 Fairy Bridge S., and the Listed October S., and four minor placings from her previous six appearances.
She is out of Enticing (IRE) (Pivotal {GB}), who was a dual Group 3 winner for Haggas who also trained the grand-dam Superstar Leo to win the G2 Flying Childers S.
One Master is closely related to the G1 Racing Post Trophy winner Rivet (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) and the family has also made its presence felt in Australia through December Draw (IRE) Medecis {GB}).
He was successful in the G1 Turnbull S., and also added the G3 Naturalism S., from the stable of Mark Kavanagh.
Next chapter starting for English
High-class sprinting mare English (Encosta de Lago) has run her last race.
The dual Group 1 winner had been a confirmed runner in the $13 million The TAB Everest until her preparation was derailed after she showed signs of lameness following an unplaced run in the G2 Shorts at Randwick.
Bred and raced by Newhaven Park, English’s dam Court (Anabaa {USA} was a talented mare who won twice at Group 2 level in the Sapphire S., and the Champagne Classic.
She is from the international family of the four-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Grand Lodge (USA) (Chief’s Crown {USA} and all three of her foals to race have been successful.
English won the G1 All Aged S., for trainer Gai Waterhouse before she was joined in partnership by Adrian Bott and the mare later went on to claim last season’s G1 Doomben 10,000.
She also triumphed in two editions of the G2 Challenge S., and as a 2-year-old she won the G2 Reisling S., before finishing runner-up in the G1 Golden Slipper S.
Like the recently-retired Bonneval (Mafki {GB}), English will be covered this season by I Am Invincible.
More weight for Avilius
Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) has been given an extra 1.5kg weight penalty for the G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup and G1 Lexus Melbourne Cup.
He became the first horse to earn an exemption for this year’s Melbourne Cup after his win in the G3 The Bart Cummings at Flemington on Saturday, when the 5-year-old gelding maintained his unbeaten record in Australia carrying the topweight of 58.5kg.
Avilius was originally allocated 53kg in both Cups, and has since won the G3 Kingston Town Stakes.
The European import has now been assigned 54.5kg for both Cups, and sits in first position in the Melbourne Cup order of entry. He also moves from 39th position to 20th spot in the Caulfield Cup order of entry.
“Avilius is unbeaten in his four runs in Australia and has now won the Kingston Town and Bart Cummings Stakes since the original handicaps were released and the 1.5kg penalty acknowledges the progression of his form since he was allocated 53kg,” said Racing Victoria (RV) Executive General Manager - Racing & Participant Wellbeing, Greg Carpenter.
“His hard-fought win over Jaameh on Saturday was impressive given he carried topweight of 58.5kg, conceding 4.5kg to the placed horses.”
Well-related 2YO trials well
The well-related Time To Reign (Time For War) led all the way to post an easy trial win under rider Ben Melham over 794 metres at Warwick Farm on Monday morning.
He is a half-brother to She Will Reign (Manhattan Reign) and like the G1 Golden Slipper S., winner is trained by Gary Portelli.
Time To Reign was a $325,000 Magic Millions purchase out of the Yarraman Park draft for Darby Racing, De Burgh Equine and Portelli Racing.
Time to Reign’s sire Time For War (Snitzel) and won the G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S., before he retired to Kitchwin Hills, but died after just two years of service.
Time to Reign is a son of Courgette (Charge Forward) and she was sold to E Thoroughbreds for $2.1 at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
First season sire Shooting To Win (Northern Meteor) was represented by a winner when Intrepidacious also led all the way in his heat for James McDonald and trainer John O’Shea.
A $180,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast purchase, Intrepidacious is out of the unraced mare Courageous Kitty (Fastnet Rock), a daughter of the G1 Robert Sangster S., winner Rostova (Testa Rossa).
Yulong at the double
True Serendipity (Toronado {IRE}) was one of a pair of 2-year-old winners for Yulong Investments at Monday morning’s Cranbourne trials.
The colt was successful over 800 metres in the hands of Jordan Childs to go one better, having finished runner-up in his only other trial on the course last month.
True Serendipity is scheduled to make his first race day appearance for trainer Matt Cumani in the RL Inglis Banner at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate day.
A $160,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale buy, he is is out of Enzed Girl (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA})., who hails from the family of the Group 1 winners Seabrook (Hinchinbrook), Malaguerra (Magnus) and Aloha (Encosta de Lago).
The white filly Utzon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {IRE}) was also a likeable trial winner for Yulong, trainer Ciaron Maher and David Eustace and rider Michael Walker.
Offered by Windsor Park Stud, she was bought at Karaka for NZ$120,000 and is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare The Opera House (NZ).
It is the family of the two-time Australian Horse of the Year Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel) and the Group 1 winners Beauty Parlour (GB) (Deep Impact {IRE}), Lucky Owners (NZ) (Danehill {USA}) and Mosheen (Fastnet Rock).
Honour for Gai
Group 1 winning horsewoman Gai Waterhouse is to be inducted into Sport Australia’s Hall of Fame.
She is only one of five trainers, which includes her late father Tommy, in history to be so acknowledged. She was inducted into the Racing Hall of Fame in 2007.
Now operating in partnership with Adrian Bott, Waterhouse was first granted a training licence in 1992 and she has trained 138 Group I wins, claimed seven Sydney trainers’ premierships and in the 2002-03 term she equalled her father’s record of 156 Sydney metropolitan winners in a season.
The 34th induction and awards dinner will be held in Melbourne on Thursday, October 11.
Guineas hope eyeing Matamata
Last season’s champion 2-year-old Avantage (Fastnet Rock) is likely to continue her Gr.1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas preparation with a run over 1400 metres at Matamata on Saturday.
She resumed in grand style last month when she won the G3 Gold Trail S.
“She’ll have two more races before Riccarton,” Te Akau principal David Ellis said.
“If Jamie is happy with her she will run at Matamata on Saturday and then she will run in the Soliloquy S., so that the Guineas will be her fourth run this time in.”
A $210,000 purchase by Ellis from The Oaks Stud draft at Karaka, Avantage has won six of her seven starts, including the Gr.1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes last season.
