Results are included from Saturday's black-type races at Ascot, WA
G2 Waroa Lee-Steere S., Ascot
Gatting (Hard Spun {USA}) caused an upset to win the G2 Waroa Lee-Steere S. at Ascot.
The 2017 WA Derby winner relished the addition of blinkers and under the urgings of jockey Lucy Warwick charged home over the top of Archernar Star (Gingerbread Man) and Great Shot (Magnus) to win by three quarters of a length.
Gatting now heads towards the G1 Railway S. on November 24, looking for his first Group 1 win, where he will meet many of his rivals on Saturday again. This is his fourth win at stakes level and his prizemoney is now just short of $1 million.
Enticing Star (Testa Rossa), previously unbeaten in eight starts, could only manage sixth in the race. Her campaign for the G1 Winterbottom S. on December 1 is under a cloud.
Pedigree Notes:
Gatting is out of the former Darley mare Stubborn (Lonhro), who has had two foals to race, both winners. She is a full-sister to black-type winner Trim, a family which also includes the likes of Faithful Love, Faithful Thought and Talaga.
He was bred by Kingston Thoroughbreds and races in their famous yellow and red colours.
He has a 2-year-old sister half-sister named Obstination (Universal Ruler) and a recently arrived half-sister by Hinchinbrook.
Listed Cystic Fibrosis Ascot Gold Cup, Ascot
Prize Catch (Zoffany {Ire}) broke through for his maiden stakes win in a dramatic edition of the Listed Cystic Fibrosis Ascot Gold Cup.
A false start caused three late scratchings ahead of the race and Prize Catch adapted best to the drama to defeat Elegant Blast (Blackfriars) by a length with Dark Musket (Musket) another 1.25l away in third.
The 5-year-old, now a winner of nine races and over $340,000 in prizemoney, is likely to head to the eastern states, with trainer Lindsay Smith looking to chart a similar path to his former horse Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}), who won the G1 Mackinnon S..
Prize Catch is the 25th stakes winner for Zoffany.
Pedigree Notes:
Prize Catch was a $42,000 Classic Sale buy for Craig Rounsefell at the 2015 Classic Sale. He is a half brother to G3 Hobart Cup winner Hurdy Gurdy Man out of Abalone (Bluebird {USA}). He is the last foal from Abalone who also produced six-time winner Damos Rose (Perugino {USA}) and five-time winner Kelone (Keltrice).
Abalone is a half-sister to black-type winner Perfect Paradise.
Listed CBRE Fairetha S, Ascot
Race Summary:
The Velvet King (Universal Ruler) proved too strong for his rivals in the Listed CBRE Fairetha S at Ascot.
The talented 3-year-old took his record to three wins from four starts and made it a stakes double on the day for trainer Darren McAuliffe and Kingston Thoroughbreds, beating Lordhelpmerun (Playing God) by a 1.25l with Black Sabbath (Blackfriars) in third.
The Velvet King, who was ridden by Daniel Staeck, is not nominated for the G2 WA Guineas and will likely head towards another race during the Ascot carnival.
He is the fifth stakeswinner for his sire Universal Ruler.
Pedigree Notes:
The Velvet King is out of Doubleblack Velvet (Show A Heart), the half sister to the stakes-winner Black Jet. That pair are from the French Listed winner Black Velvet, the half-sister to another Listed winner in Dounreay.
Doubleblack Velvet has had four foals to race for three winners. She also has an unraced 2-year-old named Velvet Room (My Admiration) and recently foaled a full sister to The Velvet King.
