Group 1 Australian Cup
Race Summary
This was as much about the cold-as-ice ride from Jamie Kah as the performance of back-to-back winner Harlem (GB) (Champs Elyees {GB}).
Kah had Harlem settled behind leader Trap For Fools (Poet's Voice {GB}) and travelling beautifully while most where still jostling for position.
Kah moved off heels at the top of the straight and settled into a dog fight with Shillelagh (NZ) (Savabeel) right to the line.
Trap For Fools was able to hang on for third ahead of the fast-finishing So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}).
Pedigree Notes
Purchased for 520,000 gns at the 2016 Tattersall’s Autumn Horses-in-Training Sale by Sackville/Donald and Louis Le Metayer, Harlem (GB) was bred by Juddmonte Farms.
The gelding is one of three Group 1 winners globally sired by Juddmonte homebred Champs Elysees (GB) (Danehill {USA}) who despite being a Champion in Canada, is best known as the brother of Champion Miler and Sire, Dansili (GB).
Harlem is out of the Nayef (GB) (Gulch {USA}) mare Casual (GB), a three-time winner in Ireland who has also produced the stakes placed Shearling (Rail Link {GB}), a three-quarter sister in blood to the dual Australian Cup winner. It is also the family of former Western Australian based sire Trade Fair (USA) (Zafonic {USA}).
Group 1 Newmarket Handicap
Race summary
There are few faster horses in Australia than Sunlight (Zoustar) and she showed pace at both ends of the race to lead and control the massive G1 Newmarket Handicap field.
Jockey Barend Vorster bounced Sunlight out and tried to slide across to a spot towards the outside of the track, with a host of potential challengers stalking her every move.
Graff (Star Witness) was the first to challenge, while placegetters Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) and Brave Smash (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) left their fast-finishing runs too late.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Widden Stud, Sunlight was a $300,000 buy from the 2017 Gold Coast Magic Millions Yearling Sale for a collection of owners, including her trainer Tony McEvoy as well as Aquis Farm. She is raced by an all-women's syndicate.
She is out of the Group winning mare Solar Charged (Charge Forward), who has produced the stakes-placed Sheikha (Sebring) as well as the 2-year-old full-sister to Sunlight, Sisstar. Solar Charged is a half-sister to the Tasmanian Oaks winner Causeway Queen (Giant's Causeway {USA}), out of a daughter to Listed winning mare Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spriit {Ire}).
A half-brother to Sunlight by Sebring will be offered for sale as part of the Widden Stud draft at the upcoming Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale (Lot 274).
Group 2 Sires' Produce S.
Race Summary
After a messy race La Tene (Helmet) was able to settle underneath Dwanye Dunn just outside the leader, before running down the race leader who kicked around the corner fighting off some fast finishing competition.
The runner up was the previously undefeated Dalasan (Dalakhani {IRE}), with the Lindsay Park Racing trained Fling (All Too Hard).
Pedigree Notes
La Tene is the fourth foal of Group 3 winning mare Celts (Lonhro). La Tene is the first stakes winner for the mare. The family includes stakes winners Appoint (Alquoz {USA}) and Show County.
Celts has no yearling, however, she has weanling filly by Teofilo (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), and is in foal to Street Boss (USA) (Street Cry {USA}).
Group 2 AV Kewney S.
Race Summary
Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega {IRE}) was back and wide with no cover throughout the entire race and really toughed it out for an impressive victory. Even though she had tough conditions she relaxed perfectly under Dwayne Dunn.
It was a huge finish with Victory Kingdom (Animal Kingdom {USA}) claiming second, and Angelic Ruler (Universal Ruler) running in to third.
Pedigree Notes
Spanish Whisper is by international stallion Lope De Vega (IRE) (Shamardal {USA}), and is the fifth living foal of Cutting Remark (Encosta de Lago). She boasts an international pedigree including Rock Of Gibraltar (GB) (Danehill {USA}) and Precious Gem (IRE) (Sadler's Wells {USA}).
Cutting Remark has no yearling from 2017, however, she has a weanling filly by Super Easy (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), and is in foal to Savabeel.
Group 3 Schweppervescence Trophy
Race Summary
In a slowly run race, Spanish Reef (Lope de Vega {IRE}) sat just behind the speed and when the field fanned turning around the corner she showed determination to take the win. Putting up a tough fight in second was the Ciaron Maher & David Eustace Naantali (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}), finishing third was the Lindsay Park Racing trained Pure Scot (Purrealist).
This was Spanish Reef's third win at stakes level.
Pedigree Notes
Spanish Reef was sold at the Patinack Dispersal Sale in 2014 for $12,500 knocked down to Ken Keys Racing. She is out of the unraced mare Lemon Reef (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}), a daughter of American Group 3-winning mare Storm Dream (Catrail).
Listed Incognitus S.
Race Summary
The field travelled in a bunched pack before the grey filly Anjana (Sepoy) made her run in the middle of the track under Damien Oliver to secure the win. It was a competitive run race where they finished across the track.
Anjana defeated Goldin Farms owned Sunset Watch (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) who finished second, with the John Moloney trained Fine Dane (Danerich) for third.
Pedigree Notes
Anjana was a $34,000 purchase from the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for the Roll The Dice racing team. She is fourth foal out of the unraced Further (More Than Ready {USA}) and the first stakes success for the mare's progeny.
Anjana hails from a family riddled with black type winners including Elusive Touch (Elusive Quality {USA}) and Shelbourne Lass (Brocco {USA}). Further has a yearling filly by Zoustar (Northern Meteor), a weanling colt by Wandjina (Snitzel), and is in foal to Russian Revolution (Snitzel).
