Group 2 Herbert PowerS., Caulfield
Race Summary:
Spring carnival cup trials don’t come any more impressive than that of Yucatan (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) in his Australian debut for Irish training maestro Aidan O’Brien.
The 5-year-old turned in an extraordinary performance and raced back in the field before rider James McDonald cut him loose to loop the field and hit the front 500m metres from home.
Yucatan was six lengths clear 200 metres later and McDonald had the luxury of sitting up in the closing stages for a ridiculously easy win.
Pedigree Notes :
Yucatan has a rich and deep pedigree and is the son of the three-time Group 1 winner Six Perfections (FR) (Celtic Swing {GB}).
She is out of a half-sister to the champion European filly Miesque (USA) (Nureyev {USA}), in turn the dam of the champion sire Kingmambo (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}).
Group 2 Schillaci S., Caulfield
Race Summary:
A wide gate wasn’t enough to stop Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {IRE}) from adding another feature sprint to his imposing record.
The winner of 12 of his 37 starts, he crossed the field from an awkward alley to lead and he was strong to the line to account for Aidan O’Brien’s fast-finishing Spirit Of Valor (USA) (War Front {USA}).
“This horse has done a great job and he’s well-named,” Williams said.
Pedigree Notes :
The 8-year-old is out of the broodmare gem Parfore (NZ) (Gold Brose), who is also the dam of the dual Group 1 winner Terravista (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) and Ball Of Muscle’s brother Tiger Tees, who won the G1 Galaxy.
Parfore has also left the former champion Singapore sprinter Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who is now resident at Hallmark Stud.
Group 3 Sydney Stakes, Randwick
Race Summary:
Pierata (Pierro) has completely dominated the Camera House Sydney S. to win The Everest consolation by 2.8 lengths.
Coming back from The Epsom over the mile, the application of blinkers worked wonders for the 4-year-old, as he unleashed a powerful late burst to defeat Jungle Edge (Dubawi {Ire}) and Clearly Innocent (Not A Single Doubt).
Jockey Tommy Berry was stuck three wide the trip on Pierata, but never looked panicked in the heavy conditions, unleashing him at the top of the straight to overpower Jungle Edge, who had set the early pace.
The success in the Group 3 race adds to his win in the G2 Missile S. earlier this campaign as well as a win in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate.
Pedigree notes:
Bred at Hobartville Stud, Pierata was a $160,000 buy for trainer Greg Hickman and the 2016 Magic Millions Sale. He is out of the Group 3 winning mare November Flight (Flying Spur) making him a half brother to G3 winner Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}). It is the family of Natural Blitz (HK), Castletown Keys and Crozier.
Pierata has an unraced younger half-sister by Dundeel (NZ), who is three, as well as yearling brother by Rubick. A full sibling is expected this spring.
Group 3 Craven Plate, Randwick
Race Summary:
Victorian-trained mudlark Moss 'N' Dale (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) made it back-to-back black-type successes with victory in the G3 360 DMG Craven Plate at Randwick.
The Peter Gelagotis trained 6-year-old, coming off a Listed win in Adelaide last start, relished the wet track, skipping through along the inside to defeat Doukhan (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) by a length and three quarters with Egg Tart (Sebring) third.
The race was worth $500,000, allowing Moss 'n' Dale to take his career record to 14 wins from 31 starts and almost a million dollars in prizemoney.
He has now got four wins from six starts on heavy tracks and has two wins from as many starts at Randwick.
Pedigree notes:
Moss 'N' Dale is the only stakes-winner in Australia for Te Runga Stud's Castledale. Bluegrass Bloodstock combined with Te Runga's Wayne Larsen to breed Moss 'N' Dale from their mare Hot 'N' Moss. He is the only foal from Hot 'N' Moss to make it to the track.
Group 3 Thoroughbred Club S., Caulfield
Race Summary:
Sunlight (Zoustar) produced a commanding front-running performance to claim the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.
“She’s got great gate speed and she was on the fresh side, she’s pretty quick and had a class edge on them,” rider Luke Currie said.
Trainer Tony McEvoy will now aim Sunlight, who has won seven of her 10 starts, at the G1 Manikato S., at Moonee Valley.
Pedigree Notes :
Sunlight’s mother Solar Charged (Charge Forward) was a smart mare who won the G3 Kindergarten S., and the G3 Thoroughbred S. She has also left the black type performer Sheikha (Sebring).
Solar Charged is also a half-sister to the Listed Tasmanian Oaks and Listed Strutt S., winner Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway {IRE}).
Sunlight was a $300,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Group 3 Cape Grim Beef S., Caulfield
Race Summary:
Winter Bride (Not A Single Doubt) completed a Group 3 double at Caulfield to continue her purple patch of form for trainer Toby Edmonds and rider Ryan Maloney.
A fortnight ago she claimed the How Now S., and on Saturday she added the Cape Grim Beef S., to her burgeoning record when she drove between runners to beat Booker (Written Tycoon).
“Toby has given me a great opportunity and it’s great to repay him,” Maloney said.
“She’s very adaptable this mare. The other day I rode her back and this time I got her in a good position and she’s won well.”
Pedigree Notes
Winter Bride is a half-sister to two winners with their dam Amberino (Perugino {USA}). She was a smart race mare with success in the G2 Emancipation S., the highlight of her career.
Amberino is a half-sister to five winners and while none of them have excelled at black type level, Winter Bride is certainly now adding a decent helping of quality to the family.
Group 3 Rich Hill Taranaki Breeders S., Hawera
Race Summary:
Nicoletta (NZ) (Savabeel) returned to racing in outstanding fashion with a gritty front-running victory under Jonathan Riddell.
A Group 1 performer last season, she had been a trial winner last month and trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman produced her in fine fettle in her first race day appearance since the autumn.
Nicoletta was headed in the straight, but she responded under pressure to rally and down the well-supported Livin’ On A Prayer (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).
Pedigree Notes
A NZ$90,000 Karaka purchase for Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Nicoletta is out of Celtic Crown (USA) (Doneraile Court {USA}), who was a black type winner in her native land.
She represents the family of the internationally-successful performers and stallions Singspiel (IRE) (In The Wings), Rahy (USA) (Blushing Groom {FR}) and Saint Ballado (CAN) (Halo {USA}).
Race Summary:
Listed Reginald Allen Handicap, Randwick
Race Summary:
I Like It Easy (Pierro) claimed some valuable black-type with a hard-fought and emotional victory in the Listed The Daily Telegraph Reginald Allen Quality at Randwick.
The filly fought back courageously down the straight to claim her second win at just her fifth start, beating Evalina (I Am Invincible) with Bubbles'n'troubles (Hinchinbrook), who loomed as the winner when she ran up to I Like It Easy at the 300m mark, finishing third.
The victory was especially sweet for the filly's owner Bert Vieira, who bred her from the mare Gai's Choice (Northern Meteor). The mare was named after Vieira's wife Gai, who was critically injured in a horror road accident last month. While she remains in hospital, Vieira and his family were at the races to watch this filly and their star Trapeze Artist in The Everest.
Trainer Gerald Ryan said he expected I Like It Easy to get out to 2000m and further in the autumn.
Pedigree Notes:
This filly's dam Gai's Choice was a seven-time winner who won nearly $500,000 in prizemoney, including the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic. She has three named foals, but this filly is her only winner to date.
Gai's Choice's full sister Atmospherical is a dual Listed winner, while the half-sister Peron (Husson) won the same race Gai's Choice did. The third dam, Presina (Prego {Ire) was also a multiple listed winner.
Listed Debutant S., Caulfield
Race Summary:
Champagne Boom (Spirit of Boom) scored a decisive victory on debut in the Listed Inglis Debutant S. at Caulfield.
The filly showed a strong turn of foot under Craig Williams to come from midfield along the rail to run over the top of the early leaders and race away to win by 2.5 lengths for another 2YO winner for second-season stallion Spirit Of Boom.
Biscara (Rubick), who is also trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, worked home well from back in the field to finish second.
Wedgetail (Foxwedge) overcame a pre-race mishap in the barriers, plus a chequered run in transit, to finish a creditable third.
It was the third year in a row that the Lindsay Park team have won the race.
Pedigree Notes:
Champagne Boom, who was a $90,000 Magic Millions buy, is out of the Dash for Cash mare Lucky Toss, a four-time winner who is a half-sister to G2 winner Scenic Warrior and multiple Listed winner Stanzaic. Black-type winner World Fortune is out of one of the other sisters to Lucky Toss.
The dam has had four named foals, but only one other has got to the track in Our Regal Warrior (Nicconi) who was a winner at Geelong in July. The 3-year-old full brother All In is in work with Tony Gollan, while there is a yearling filly by Headwater and a full-sibling to Champagne Boom due this spring.
Listed BMW Weekend Hussler Handicap, Caulfield
Race Summary
Apprentice Ben Allen gave Iconoclasm (Toorak Toff) a gem of a ride and the 4-year-old did the rest in style.
Once out and one back to the turn, Allen asked the entire to spring once balanced and he forged clear 200 metres from home to beat Fastnet Tempest (Fastnet Rock) and Sircconi (Nicconi), who was badly held up into the straight.
“I got a beautiful run throughout and the pace was good,” Allen said. “Once he hit top gear he put them away well.”
Pedigree Notes :
He is the first stakes winner for the multiple Group 1 winner Toorak Toff (Show A Heart), who stood at Rosemont Stud before relocating to Tasmania’s Kingsley Park.
Iconoclasm is out of the multiple Group 3 winner Gold Lottey (Encosta de Lago) and she has done a good job at stud with all five of her foals to race having been successful.
The dam is a sister to the G3 Research S., winner Besame Mucho and a half-sister to the stakes winners Frespanol (Choisir) and Essington (Redoute’s Choice).
Listed Hill Smith S., Morphettville
Race Summary:
Burn Off (Krupt) caused a significant upset to win the Listed Romeo's Hill Smith S at Morphettville and hand his trainer Shayne Cahill his first stakes win.
The outsider of the seven-horse field prevailed in a blanket finish to edge out Stars of Carrum (Fiorente) and Seberate (Sebring).
Ridden by Jeffrey Maund, it is the filly's third win in 12 starts as she backed-up a BM60 win at Strathalbyn with her success on Saturday.
Pedigree notes:
Burn Off becomes Krupt's first stakes winner. Krupt stood at Lincoln Farm, Kooringal Stud and Kingsley Park before his death last year.
She is just the second foal to race from the mare Grassfire (Grass Wonder {USA}) and is raced by her breeders, Northern Territory publicans Mick Burns and Justin Coleman. The first foal out of Grassfire was the four-time winner Light It Up (Mossman), while there are unnamed younger siblings by Deep Field and Shamus Award, who are both fillies.
Listed Durbridge S., Morphetville
Race Summary:
Veteran galloper Casino Wizard (Any Given Saturday {USA}) proved too classy as he claimed his fourth back-type victory with ease in the Community Co Durbridge S at Morphettville.
Having his 54th start, the 8-year-old kicked clear of his rivals down the running to defeat the favourite Petrelle (Fastnet Rock) by two lengths with All About Nicci (Nicconi) third.
Casino Wizard is a two-time winner of the Listed Christmas Hcp, while he also won the Matrice S in a career which has yielded over $700,000 in prize money.
Pedigree notes:
Casino Wizard was passed in as a yearling but has been one of only two stakes-winners in Australia for his sire Any Given Saturday, who stood at Darley.
His dam Casino Nights (Final Card) produced four named foals, but only one other, Atomic Wizard (Atomic) was a winner. The pedigree page also includes black-type winners Mahogany Row and Flirtatious.
Listed Matamata Cup, Matamata
Race Summary:
Deals In Heels (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) was a deserved winner after running into dead ends all the way down the straight in her previous appearance in the G3 Red Badge Sprint.
Trained by Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, the 5-year-old enjoyed a good run behind the pace and when the gap appeared in the straight she took full advantage.
The mare beat the highly-regarded Demonetization (NZ) (All Too Hard), who gave a sound account of himself in his second run back from injury.
Pedigree Notes :
Deals In Heels’ dam Fascinator (NZ) (Spinning World {USA}) is a half-sister to nine winners, including the G1 Captain Cook S., winner Dezigna (NZ) (Volksraad {GNB}) and his brother Izonit (NZ) who was successful in the G3 Manawatu Classic.
It is also the family of the G2 Japan-New Zealand Trophy winner Watch This Space (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}).
