Group 2 Breeders' Classic
Race Summary:
A filly who is almost always in the placings, this race was Champagne Cuddles’ (Not A Single Doubt) time to shine as race favourite.
Champagne Cuddles settled in third a few lengths behind the leaders before moving to the outside of the leaders and she gave chase as they turned into the straight. With 300 metres left, she was nearly even and took over the lead with 125 metres to go. But she wasn’t going to pull away easily with fellow Not a Single Doubt mare Cool Passion sticking with her and making her fight for the victory to bring home a 1-2 for the sire.
The front three mares throughout the race were the top three finishers with Alassio (Foxwedge) finishing third after tracking Cool Passion for much of the race.
Pedigree Notes:
Champagne Cuddles is the best runner from her Group 1 winning dam Sky Cuddle (Snippets) with four Group 1 placings to her name. Sky Cuddle has had three foals to race with all winning at least one race.
Sky Cuddle herself is a half-sibling to Group 2 winner and sire Highly Recommended (Fastnet Rock) and Group 2 placed Undeniable (Fastnet Rock) with one of her half-sisters producing Group 2 winner Fast Clip (Snippetson).
The granddam of Listed winner Violate (Sebring), Sky Cuddle’s final foal is a 3-year-old full brother to Champagne Cuddles who was sold to Stephen Gray for $70,000 at the Gold Coast in 2017.
Group 3 Eskimo Prince S.
Race Summary:
Stepping up to Group company for the first time didn’t seem to be a problem for Gem Song (Your Song) at Warwick Farm on Saturday.
Breaking from the first barrier, Gem Song was in the back of the field but only a few lengths from the leaders as he cruised along the rail. At the 300 metre mark, Gem Song was in the last spot behind the field but that was soon to change as Jason Collett took him back to the inside for clear running room.
At 200 metres it was clear the race was over as Gem Song ranged up beside the leading Sandbar then blew past under mild urging by Collett. Sandbar was passed by two others in the closing stages with Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins) finishing second and Charge (Zoustar) third.
Pedigree Notes:
A homebred for Gooree Park, Gem Song is from Group 1 winner Beautiful Gem. He is the second stakes winner by that mare after The Omega Man (Northern Meteor) and her fourth live foal.
From Group 3 winner Just Blooming (Yeats), Beautiful Gem is a half-sister to the dams of six stakes horses. She was sold in 2017 for $30,000 to Bowness Stud. Her youngest live foal is a 2-year-old Smart Missile filly named Miss Gem, who is in training with Michael Costa.
Listed Inglis 2YO Millennium
Race Summary:
Two weeks after getting his first Group 1 winner, Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral) had another big winner when 2-year-old Castelvecchio upset the Inglis Millennium.
Castelvecchio was in last place during the early stages of the race with Joshua Parr urging him on but by the 400 metre mark, the colt knew what was being asked of him. He switched into gear and went the widest of all to draw even with the main pack and by the 200 metre mark was in contention for the race win.
Race favourite Accession (Brazen Beau) was still in front at 100 metres but once Castelvecchio drew even, the race was over with the biggest question how big the margin would be. Second-favourite Dawn Passage (Dawn Approach {IRE}) was third, less than a length behind Accession.
Pedigree Notes:
Castelvecchio’s Listed winning and Group 1 placed dam St. Therese (Dehere {USA}) is a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star).
Castelvecchio is her fourth stakes winner behind Group 1 winning Maid of Heaven (Smart Missile), Group 3 winner Mirrasalo (Redoute’s Choice) and Listed winner Hussy By Choice (Hussonet). She is also the granddam of List winning Precious Memories (Stratum).
Sold at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $150,000, Castelvecchio is her second youngest foal with the mare also having a yearling colt by Panzer Division. She was served by that stallion again in 2018.
Listed Lonhro Plate
Race Summary:
Godolphin unveiled another exciting 2-year-old on the first race of the Warwick Farm card on Saturday with Bivouac (Exceed And Excel).
In the small field, Bivouac was second to last but just a few lengths off the leader. With 400 metres to run Blake Shinn asked his mount to switch into another gear and the chase was on. As they swung into the straight, Bivouac went wide to give himself running room and with 250 metres left headed Time To Reign (Time For War) for the lead.
From there, it was smooth sailing for the colt, who passed the line in front with his ears pricked. It was the first win for the colt, who has made three starts – finishing second to Time To Reign in his debut. Cosmic Force (Deep Field) finished second and Steel Diamond (Star Witness) third.
Pedigree Notes:
Bivouac becomes the 37th individual 2-year-old stakes winner for sire Exceed And Excel (Danehill {USA}), who has had three 2-year-old stakes winners this season.
Bivouac’s two-time winning dam Dazzler (More Than Ready {USA}) is also the dam of Bivouac’s Group 2 placed full-brother Coruscate and an unplaced full-brother named Sparks.
From Group 1 winner Camarilla (Elusive Quality), Dazzler is a half-sister to champion Guelph (Exceed And Excel) and Group 2 winner Ghibellines (Shamardal {USA}). This family also includes champions Sepoy (Elusive Quality) and Canny Lad (Bletchingly).
Dazzler has a weanling filly by Medaglia d’Oro and was served by Lonhro in 2018
Inglis 3YO Sprint
Race Summary:
Already a Group 2 winner, Fiesta (I Am Invincible) joined another club when she crossed the $1 million mark in earnings after winning the Inglis Sprint.
Fiesta was wide in the mid-pack in for the early stages of the race but that played to her advantage as the field swung into the straight and she had clear running room to chase down Estijaab (Snitzel) . It turned into a battle of two top fillies at the 200 metre mark with Fiesta taking on Estijaab, a battle that didn’t end until Fiesta was able to get the better of the Golden Slipper winner inside the 50 metre mark to take the victory.
While those two were in their own battle, Mizzy (Zoustar) was able to cross the line in third over Coterie (Your Song).
Pedigree Notes:
Fiesta was one of three winners in major races on Saturday for I Am Invincible, with the stallion in the headlines every week.
Fiesta is the fourth foal out of five-time winner Now Now (Danehill Dancer {IRE}), who has three winners from as many to race including a full sibling to Fiesta. Fiesta was sold for $150,000 at the 2017 Inglis Classic Sale to Star Thoroughbreds and Chris Waller, the same connections that raced her in this spot.
This is the family of Group 1 placed Kingsgate (Danzero) and Rebel Rock (Salieri) though Fiesta has proven to be the best of those on her page with two group wins and a Group 1 placing.
Now Now has a yearling colt by Outreach, who passed in as a weanling and a foal colt by Capitalist. Bred to Pierro in 2018, it was announced on Friday that Now Now will be selling at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale in May.
