Group 1 Melbourne Cup, Flemington
Race Summary:
After three decades of trying, Godolphin finally ticked off the Flemington feature when Cross Counter (GB) (Teofilo {IRE}) came from well back in the running to triumph.
A 3-year-old by Northern Hemisphere time, he was in the last half-dozen before rider Kerrin McEvoy followed Yucatan (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), but then went his own way when the favourite couldn’t go on.
Cross Counter roared home in the closing 200 metres to down Marmelo (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {IRE}) with A Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {GER}) completing a European-trained trifecta.
Pedigree Notes :
Cross Counter is a gelded son of Waitress (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), who was stakes placed and is a daughter of Do The Honours (USA) (Highest Honor {USA}).
She won the G3 Prix de Meautry and was the champion 3-year-old sprinter of her years in France and is a three-quarter sister to the Group 1 performer and producer Verglas.
It is also the family of the G2 Prix Niel winner Bruntland (IRE (Dubawi {IRE}).
Group 3 Bumble S., Flemington
Race Summary:
Run in driving rain, Bella Rosa (Snitzel) handled the going best to make a winning start to her career.
She settled in behind the pace and responded to rider Mark Zahra’s urging gallantly to earn a half-head decision at the expense of Lankan Star (Nicconi) with runner-up’s stablemate Champagne Boom (Spirit Of Boom) a fast-finishing third.
The well-related Sisstar (Zousain), whose older sister won last Saturday’s G1 Coolmore Stud S., boxed on well for fourth after making the running.
Pedigree Notes :
Purchased for $575,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Bella Rosa is a half-sister to two winners with their dam the Listed winner Swiss Rose (NZ) (Thorn Park).
She is a half-sister to the G3 Northland Breeders’ S., and G3 John Grigg S., winner Prom Queen (NZ) (Super East (NZ).
The family also features the G2 Maribyrnong Plate winner Catnipped (Rory’s Jester) and Brazuca (Teofilo {IRE}, the G2 Turrfontein Colorado King S. winner.
Group 3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S., Flemington
Race Summary:
Cool Passion (Not a Single Doubt) bounced back to form with a hard-fought success in the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S. at Flemington.
The Tony McEvoy-trained mare had gone over a year without a victory but sat up on the pace set by Tommy Berry she gave a good kick down the straight and then held on as Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) charged late to close within a long neck late.
Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) surged home from the rear of the field to claim third.
It is Cool Passion's second stakes success after her win the G3 Northwood Plume last year and she has now won 10 of her 25 starts. McEvoy indicated post race he would look to set her for the G1 Robert Sangster S. next campaign.
Pedigree Notes:
Cool Passion is a half-sister to the Listed winner Havana Wind (Spinning World), and is one of four winners out of the lightly raced Hiavanna (Mister C {USA}). She is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and Group I placed Headstrong (Archregent {Can}) and had just one foal after Cool Passion, Loads Of Dreams (Congrats {USA}), who has only had one start.
Group 3 Omf S., Ellerslie
Race Summary:
Noted front-runner Saint Emilion (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {IRE}) dug deepest to lead home a Group 3 quinella for premiership-winning trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
The bold grey set up a solid clip and he wasn’t done with when headed by Hello It’s Me (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and he rallied strongly under Jonathan Riddell for victory.
Two-time Group 1 winner Lizzie L’Amour came from last to cut Hello It’s Me, who peaked on her run, out of second.
Pedigree Notes :
Saint Emilion is a son of the Pentire (GB) mare Roseario (NZ) and she is a half-sister to the multiple Australian stakes winner Raw Instinct (Housebuster {USA}).
Their mother is the multiple winner and Group-performed Jinsky Rose (NZ) (Tights {USA}). The pedigree also features the Listed performer Dancing Rose (NZ) (Harbor Prince ({USA}).
Listed Jim Beam Black S., Flemington
Race Summary:
Pohutukawa (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) continued a terrific Melbourne Cup carnival for her trainer James Cummings, with a fast-finishing win in the Listed Jim Beam Black S.
The filly was having just her second run of the campaign, and her first the Melbourne way of going, but she relished the soft ground, charging home widest of all to beat Madam Rouge (Zoustar), with a game Into The Abyss (Foxwedge) in third.
The black-type success is just her third win, alongside her maiden success at Hawkesbury in June and her most recent victory in a benchmark event at Wyong.
Pohutukawa is Cummings' fourth winner of the week and the 117th stakes-winner for her sire.
Pedigree Notes:
Bred at Darley, Pohutakawa is from the Redoute's Choice's mare Lumina, who was sold at this year's Magic Millions Broodmare Sale for $180,000 to Lacoste Bloodstock. Pohutakawa has a yearling full-sister and a Teofilo (Ire) half-sister born in September as well as an older brother by Street Cry {Ire}) who was unraced.
Lumina has four black-type winning siblings, including a trio by Lion Hunter, Chinchilla Rose, Ferocity as well as Leonie Chiara, the dam of G1 winner and stallion Star Witness as well as Nostradamus. Her full sister Chiaramonte was also a Listed winner.
Listed Furphy Plate, Flemington
Race Summary:
Kaonic (NZ) (Savabeel) collected the first stakes-win of his promising career with success in the Listed Furphy Plate at Flemington.
Ridden perfectly just off the hot speed by Zac Purton, Kaonic took control of the race at the top of the straight and held on to beat stablemate Life Less Ordinary (Ire) (Thewayyouare {USA}), with Testashadow (Testa Rossa) running home into third.
The 4-year-old has now won five of his 12 starts, including three of his past five and looks progressive. Having been an early favourite for the Epsom H earlier this campaign, he is likely to find Group 1 targets in the autumn.
Pedigree Notes:
Kaonic becomes Savabeel's 79th stakeswinner. Bred by Blandford Lodge, he was a $425,000 buy for Guy Mulcaster at the 2016 Karaka Sales. He joins his dam Fast Love (Fastnet Rock) as a black-type winner.
She is a half-sister to Listed winner A Chance To Dream and has an unraced 3YO named Irish Tryst O'Reilly {NZ}) and a 2YO Charm Spirit filly. She is due in foal to I Am Invincible.
Listed MSS Security Sprint Handicap, Flemington
Race Summary:
Teleplay (Written Tycoon) came with a sweeping run down the outside of the track to win her first Listed race.
“She ran a cracker of a race last start and I was quietly confident in the wet conditions,” rider Michael Dee said.
Moonlover (Ilovethiscity) made the running and was in front everywhere but on the post and Holbein (Pierro) was with the pace all the way and boxed on gamely.
Pedigree Notes :
An $85,000 Melbourne Premier Sale buy, Teleplay is out of a half-sister to the G1 Flight S., winner First Seal (Fastnet Rock) and to the G2 Tulloch S., winner Book Of Kells (Rock Of Gibraltar {IRE}).
Their dam is the G1 Australasian Oaks and G1 South Australian Oaks winner Special Episode (Scenic {IRE}).
It is also the family of the Listed winner and G1 Queensland Oaks runner-up Becerra (Al Maher).
