Group 3 Geelong Cup, Geelong

Race Summary:

Runaway (Manhattan Rain) led all the way to cause a minor upset in the G3 bet365 Geelong Cup.

Given a well-rated ride from Stephen Baster, the 4-year-old provided a good kick down the straight to defeat Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stablemate Northwest Passage (So You Think {NZ}), with import Finche (Frankel {GB}) finishing third.

It is a second stakes win for Runaway, who won this year's VRC St Leger and was placed in a G1 South Australian Derby.

Pedigree notes:

Rosemont Stud bred Runaway from the mare Catshaan, who has already produced Group 1 Oaks winner Absolutely (Redoute's Choice) and Abbey Marie (Redoute's Choice). Catshaan is a half-sister to champion Japanese miler Kinshasa No Kiseki.

Catshaan has a 2YO filly by Zoustar and a yearling filly by Fastnet Rock, while the 3-year-old Redoute's Choice half-brother was exported to South Africa, having sold to Shadwell for $550,000.

Runaway was sold for $150,000 to Gai Waterhouse Racing/Julian Blaxland, with Rosemont retaining a share. His success is the 20th stakes win for the progeny of Manhattan Rain.

Listed Geelong Classic, Geelong

Race Summary:

Home Ground (High Chaparral {Ire}) relished the drop in class to claim the Listed Geelong Classic in a thrilling finish.

The John Sargent prepared 3-year-old fought his way past Farooq (Frankel {GB}) in the dying stages to show his staying credentials and book a spot in the G1 Victoria Derby on November 3.

Coming off a last-start eighth in the G1 Spring Champion S. Home Ground enjoyed a good run in transit and secured a run at the top of the straight before securing his first stakes win and his seventh start over the regally bred Farooq with Grinzinger Star (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) finishing third after looming as the winner at the 200m mark.

Pedigree notes:

Out of the five-time winner First Look, a sister to Danehill Smile, Home Ground was a $420,000 buy for Apollo Ng at the Inglis Easter Sales from the draft of Coolmore, having been bred by Jerry and Jenny Pooley.

First Look, who also has a yearling sister by So You Think (NZ), is from a family which features black type winners from the USA, Japan and Venezuala.

Home Ground is the 121st stakes winner for High Chaparral, as part of his final foal crop in Australia.

Listed Shojun Concrete S., Geelong

Race Summary:

Moonlover (Ilovethiscity) collected some hugely valuable black-type with an on-pace win in the Listed Shojun Concrete S. at Geelong.

The consistent mare claimed her ninth win at her 34th start, but undoubtably her most valuable with a career as a broodmare beckoning in the near future.

She was put on the pace by Mark Zahra and she kicked clear before holding off Split Lip (Your Song) with In Good Time (Time Thief) in third.

Pedigree notes:

Paul Wolff, who raced the sire Ilovethiscity, bred Moonlover from Moondreamer (Ire), a half sister to Emerald Commander (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}). She is the second stakeswinner from the sire.

Aa well as Emerald Commander, the family contains Commander Collins, Lit De Justice, City Leader and Colonel Collins.