G1 Cox Plate, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
The world’s highest rated thoroughbred raced right up to expectations, and then some, with an historic performance.
Winx (Street Cry {IRE}) coasted along in fifth spot and when her regular partner Hugh Bowman slipped her a bit more leather 600 metres from home she moved smoothly through her gears.
She was in front before the turn and it was game over as she lengthened her elegant stride to put the issue beyond any doubt to claim her fourth consecutive G1 Cox Plate.
Pedigree Notes:
Winx’s dam Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar {NZ}) was a decent mare herself and won seven times and was a Group 3 placegetter.
The G3 Kindergarten S., winner El Divino (Snitzel) is her only other winner, but she’s quite obviously done enough in the breeding barn to be forever remembered.
Winx was identified and secured for her owners by New Zealand bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster at the 2013 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $230,000 and her stake earnings have now surpassed $20 million, some investment!
G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Ventura Storm (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) is destined for the G1 Melbourne Cup after recording his first win in Australia in the G2 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup.
Ventura Storm had been winless in 16 starts since coming from Europe, but after being gelded, he was given a wind operation, which Lindsay Park's David Hayes credits with his more consistent performance.
Mark Zahra gave him a peach of a ride on Saturday, sitting him just in behind the pace set by Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}) before getting him into clear to challenge at the top of the straight.
Trap For Fools gave a strong kick, but Ventura Storm proved the superior stayer, winning by 0.4l, with Libran (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}) getting up for third.
Pedigree Notes:
Ventura Storm, a Group 1 winner in Italy, is out of Sarawati (Ire), making him a half-brother to UK winner Bella Ventura. Sarawati is a half sister to Listed winner Sahool as well as the dams of G2 Hardwicke S winner Maraahel, G3 winner Laraaib and G2 winner Gutaifan.
He joins Carzoff (Ire) as an Australian stakes winner for Zoffany.
G2 Drummonds Golf Vase, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Stars Of Carrum (Fiorente {Ire}) has surged into contention for the G1 Victoria Derby with an upset win in the G2 Drummonds Golf Vase.
The Robbie Lang-trained 3-year-old broke his maiden in spectacular style, launching late to claim Savoie (Livethiscity) in a thrilling finish to Cox Plate Day.
Having been narrowly beaten in the Listed Hill-Smith S. at his previous start, Stars Of Carrum showed his staying potential, getting home strongly after an excellent ride from Ben Melham.
Aramayo (Poet's Voice {GB}), coming off a second in the G1 Spring Champion S., got a long way out of his ground, charging home for third, but three lengths from the winner.
Laing indicated Stars Of Carrum would back up in the Derby next week.
Pedigree Notes:
Stars of Carrum was a $75,000 Premier Sale buy and is out of Signoret (Anabaa {USA}), who was a city winner out of Group 2 winner Jameela, the sister of Hobart Cup winner Jeune's Mark.
Signoret's first foal Zelsignoret (Snitzel) is a two-time winner, while there is also two-year-old colt by Fighting Sun.
Significantly, he is the first stakes winner for Sun Stud's Melbourne Cup winning sire Fiorente.
G2 Aquis Farm Fillies Classic, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Tasmanian filly Mystic Journey (Needs Further) has overcome a tough run to easily win the G3 Aquis Farm Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley.
Prepared by Adam Trinder at Spreyton, Mystic Journey made it six wins from nine starts, despite sitting three deep through the 1600m race. She surged to early leader and eventual runner-up Fundamentalist (Not A Single Doubt) at the top of the straight to win by 2.25l, with El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) coming home from the rear of the field for third.
It is her second stakes success after her last start win in the Listed Jim Moloney S. and the most significant win of Trinder's career. It was just the second Group 2 win for jockey Anthony Darmanin, who has ridden her in eight of her nine starts.
Pedigree Notes:
Mystic Journey is the first Group winner for Armidale Stud's Needs Further, the half-brother to Darley's Hallowed Crown, who has made significant impact on the Tasmanian scene.
She is out of White Gold (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}), who has produced city winner Leodoro (Jayemzed) as well as the winner Gold Phoenix. She is a sister to stakes-placed Oronero (Colombia). Further back, the fourth dam, Lanna D'Oro, is a half-sister to Eight Carat.
G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Darren Weir is keen to get Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs {IRE}) to the next level and, all going well, he won’t waste any time in trying.
Following the 4-year-old’s win in the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile, the champion Victorian trainer announced plans to run the entire in next Saturday’s G1 Kennedy Mile.
Cliff’s Edge has now won twice at Group 2 level and, under jockey John Allen, he sat outside the leader before taking control on the turn and he held a strong gallop to the finish.
Pedigree Notes :
Cliff’s Edge is out of Simulation (Snaadee), who won on eight occasions and all eight of her foals to run have been successful.
Her dam Wodgina (USA) (Verbatim {USA} is a half-sister to the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner All Along (FR) (Targowice {USA}), a former champion of the United States and Europe.
Cliff’s Edge has now surpassed $1 million in stake earnings, an outstanding return on his $60,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale price tag.
G3 1300 Australia S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Charge (Zoustar) secured the second win of his career and some handy black-type with a strong on-pace victory in the G3 1300 Australia S.
The Qatar Bloodstock-owned colt, surged forward from a wide barrier and was never headed under Hugh Bowman, repelling a strong challenge from Sunset Watch (Akeed Mofeed) with 100m to go to prevail from the Team Hawkes runner, with Ringerdingding (Sebring) third.
He is the fourth stakes winner for Widden Park's Zoustar and having broken through for his second win, will likely to be set for another stakes race during the Flemington carnival.
Pedigree Notes:
Charge, a $450,000 Magic Millions buy, is out of Queen of the Falls (General Nediym), a half sister to Elite Falls, who has already produced the winners Falconic, Wilker and Tuscan Falls, all by Nicconi. There is also a yearling full-sister to Charge as well as a another Zoustar foal due this spring.
Queen Of The Falls is out of Group 3 winner Niagara Falls, who herself is out of Group 2 winner in Bracken Bank.
G3 Powerflo Solutions S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Shoko (Sebring) continued her excellent first campaign by adding a stakes-victory with an all-the-way win in the G3 Powerflo Solutions S. at Moonee Valley.
Shoko only began her career as a 5-year-old in early August but has overcame that to win three of her first six, including a strong victory under Linda Meech on Saturday in her first start for John Sadler.
Sadler took over from Peter Morgan, who is undergoing cancer treatment, in the past fortnight and while he was concerned she may have come to the end of her preparation, she never really looked like losing, dominating on the pace and holding off Mamzelle Tess (O'Lonhro), with Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) third.
Pedigree Page:
Shoko's victory marks a milestone for Widden Stud's Sebring, who notches his 50th stakes winner. She was a $300,000 buy for Dean Hawthorne and Gary Mudgeway at the 2015 Magic Millions Sale.
She is a half sister to Group winning pair Mimi Lebrock and Heavenly Thought out of God Love It, who is a half-sister to Lord Sreva. It is also the family of Wake Me Not and Affordable Prince.
G3 Soliloquy S., Ellerslie
Race Summary:
Media Sensation (I Am Invincible) boosted her Group 1 claims with a hollow victory at the expense of Rocket Fuel (Smart Missile).
She bounced to the early lead before settling in the trail and once rider Michael Coleman asked for an effort she drove to the lead and held a strong gallop to the line.
Media Sensation’s performance showed she was on target for a trip south to Riccarton for next month’s G1 gavelhouse.com New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Pedigree Notes :
Out of the High Chaparral (IRE) mare Different To, Media Sensation was a NZ$425,000 purchase at Karaka.
The dam is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Dorabella (NZ) (Postponed {USA}) and to Crusoe (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), who earned black type in New Zealand and Singapore.
Also featuring in the pedigree is the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Insouciant (NZ) (Keeper).
G3 Thompson Handicap, Wellington
Race Summary:
A rise in class wasn’t enough to halt the winning run of Dark Princess (NZ) (Cape Blanco {IRE}).
The Jeff Lynds-trained mare had been successful at her previous start in Rating 82 company and she coped in Group 3 company for the first time impeccably.
She settled behind the leading division and rider Lisa Allpress brought her with a well-timed finish closest to the fence to beat Raw Impulse (Makfi {GB}).
Pedigree Notes:
Bred by Sir Patrick and Justine Lady Hogan, Dark Princess was a NZ$46,000 Karaka purchase in 2015.
She is a half-sister to three winners including the G3 Manawatu Classic winner Exquisite Jewel (NZ) (Lucky Unicorn {NZ}) and the black type placegetter Nordic Duke (NZ) (Viking Ruler {NZ}).
They are all representatives of the legendary Eight Carat family.
Listed Inglis Banner, Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
High-priced yearling Espaaniyah (I Am Invincible) showed pace and quality on debut for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
She bounded to the front for jockey Tim Clark and responded to his urgings on straightening to kick clear.
“She’s really switched on and she’s got a really bright future, I like her a lot,” Clark said.
Pedigree Notes :
Espaaniyah is out of Catalonia (Flying Spur), who won two races and earned black type, and is a half-sister to the G3 Kennedy Plate winner Jorda (Exceed And Excel).
Their dam Marmelo (Viscount) is a three-quarter sister to the stakes winner and Group performer Le Mans (Quest For Fame (GB).
Also featuring in the family of Espaaniyah, a $750,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale buy, is the Group 3 winner and Group 1 placegetter Aichi (Strategic).
Listed Harrolds Crockett S., Moonee Valley
Race Summary:
Beauty (Smart Missile) maintained her unbeaten streak and added some black-type in the process with a hard-fought win in the Listed Harrolds Crockett S. at Moonee Valley.
At just her third start, Tony McEvoy's filly showed her toughness, overpowering early leader Rainbow's Girl (Pierro) in the final stages to win by 0.5l. Illuminaire (All Too Hard) finished third in a blanket finish.
Beauty debuted with a maiden win at Gawler in May and then returned with a narrow success in benchmark race at Bendigo last start. She has now added substantial value with a Listed win and further victories at stakes level should await should she continue to show that improvement.
Pedigree Notes:
Beauty was bred by Glastonbury Stud from the mare Sequin (Lure {USA}), who has already produced black-type winners Order of the Sun (Encosta De Lago) and Get To Work (Snippets).
Sequin is a half-sister to stakes winners Shania Dane, Risk Aversion and Scintillation, as well as the dam of Northwest Passage. She has not had a surviving foal since Beauty.
Listed Zacinto S., Riccarton
Race Summary:
The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) kept his unbeaten record intact as he progresses smoothly toward a crack at the G1 Al Basti Equiworld Dubai New Zealand 2000 Guineas.
The well-bred colt was tardily away before driving through to lead and he was travelling comfortably on the turn.
He lengthened stride in the straight and glided clear to be undefeated following his Waverley maiden victory.
Pedigree Notes :
The Chosen One is a member of the Dennis brothers’ successful family and is a son of the multiple winner and Group 3 placegetter The Glitzy One (Flying Spur).
He is her first foal her breeders have remained in the ownership of after the colt failed to meet his NZ$150,000 reserve at Karaka.
The major names in The Chosen One’s pedigree are the Group 1 winning brothers The Phantom (NZ) {Noble Bijou}) and The Phantom Chance.
Listed Spring Classic Handicap, Riccarton
Race Summary:
Spring Note (Encosta de Lago) has been in terrific form this preparation and she has now added black type to her record.
She won her first two starts for the season before finishing fifth at Timaru, but was back to winning ways on Saturday at Riccarton where she appreciated the roomier track.
The 4-year-old sat toward the back of the field and she came with a well-timed run under Shaiq Rusof to win for the fourth time in her career.
Pedigree Notes :
Spring Note is a daughter of the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Andallthatjazz (Bianconi {USA}), who has left one other winner from four to the races.
The dam is a half-sister to stakes performer Mr Jazz Man (Wild Harmony {USA}) and their mother She’s Jazzy (Yeats {USA}) won 10 races.
It is the family of the prolific sprinter Chief De Beers (Hula Chief {NZ}), the winner of 20 races, including two editions of the G1 Doomben 10,000.
Listed Wellesley S., Riccarton
Race Summary:
Exuberant (NZ) (Savabeel) carried his winning trial form over to race day when he made the perfect start to his career for trainer Stephen Marsh.
He was settled close to the pace by rider Jason Waddell and the colt finished determinedly to beat Last Sights (NZ) (Showcasing).
“He’s a gorgeous horse, a lovely looking 2-year-old,” Marsh’s racing manager Todd Pollard said.
Pedigree Notes:
Exuberant is out of the O’Reilly (NZ) (Last Tycoon {IRE}) mare Merrily (NZ), who is a half-sister to the Listed Anniversary H., winner Glad (NZ) (Pins).
The second dam is a half-sister to Scandinavia (Snippets), who is the dam of the G1 Galaxy H., winner Magnus (Flying Spur).
The headline act in the family is undoubtedly the unbeaten champion sprinter and former Australian Horse of the Year Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
