G3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal S.
Race Summary:
Pin Sec (Lonhro) became the latest feature 2-year-old winner for Godolphin with an ultra-impressive victory in the G3 John McGrath Auto Group Black Opal S. at Canberra.
Having just her second start, Pin Sec was sat just in behind the pace by Jason Collett, who pulled the filly to the outside to challenge the main chances in the Peter and Paul Snowden Rome (Pierro) and McLaren (Exceed And Excel) in the straight.
Like so many of her stablemates this year, she produced a brilliant finish to win running away by four lengths from Rome, who finished 1.5l clear of McLaren in third.
She is now qualified for the Golden Slipper S. where Godolphin has a wealth of chances already.
Pedigree Notes:
Pin Sec is the second foal to race from Listed winning mare Moderate (Commands), and the first stakes winner, while she is the 82nd stakes winner for her legendary sire Lonhro.
Moderate, who had a Street Boss (USA) filly last spring, is from the stakes-placed Gradual (Strategic), who also produced the winners Steep, Cascade and Languid.
It’s a family which goes back to the fourth dam Rass Dancer (Rassenyll {USA}), who was a multiple stakes winning 2-year-old.
Listed XXXX Gold Canberra Guineas
Race Summary:
Promising 3-year-old Final Award (Smart Missile) has powered home over the top of his rivals to win the Listed XXXX Gold Canberra Guineas.
Ridden by Josh Parr, Final Award settled last in the race off a strong pace but came with a strong late surge to defeat Laburnum (Denman) by half a length, with the early pacesetter Major Wager (Exceed And Excel) three lengths back in third.
It was just the second win of Final Award's four-start career, having broken his maiden with a win at Randwick early last month.
He becomes the latest of a string of stakes-winners for his trainer Mark Newnham.
Pedigree Notes:
Final Award is bred by his owners at Gooree and becomes the 11th stakes winner for his sire Smart Missile.
His stakes-placed dam Bound To Blush (Strategic) has already produced a winner in Pulang Pula (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) and has produced a younger 2-year-old full sister, a yearling half-sister by Artie Schiller (USA) and a weanling Shalaa colt.
The dam is a half-sister to Singapore stakes-winner Medal Kun (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) as well as prolific winning pair Rose of Falvelon (Falvelon) and River of Salvation (Don Eduardo), while the 2nd dam Run For Roses (Danehill {USA}) is a full sister to Group 1 winner and successful stallion Keeper.
Listed Geocon National Sprint
Race Summary:
Snippets Land (Snippets) claimed his second Listed Geocon National Sprint four years after his first, with the 8-year-old proving too strong for rivals over the 1400m at Canberra.
Aided by the fast pace, Snippets Land, prepared by Peter and Paul Snowden, settled well off the pace, but thanks to a well-timed ride from Blake Shinn finished over the top of Who’s Knocking (Star Witness) to win by three quarters of a length, with Levee Bank (Excites) in third.
It is the eighth win in Snippets Land's career and his fourth at stakes level.
Pedigree Notes:
A $120,000 yearling buy back in 2012, Snippets Land is one of five winners, but the only stakes winner from Seduction Line (Testa Rossa), the half-sister to Listed winning pair Slipstream (Hurricane Sky) and Blazing Aspect (Blazing Sword).
It's a family which has also produced stakes placed trio Pillar of Creation, White Universe and Canny Franco.
Listed TAB Canberra Cup
Race Summary:
Bjorn Baker's tough front-runner Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt) has broken through for a deserved stakes success, leading all the way to claim the Listed TAB Canberra Cup.
Bouncing back from a below-par performance in the recent Parramatta Cup, Samadoubt was given a perfect ride on the pace from Tim Clark, who claimed his third Canberra Cup success with two lengths to spare over Taikomochi (Snitzel) and Almost Court (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}).
It is Samadoubt's eighth win in a 33-start career and takes his prizemoney just short of $500,000.
The expected challenge of Morton's Fork (Ad Valorem {USA}) and Our Peaky Blinders (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}) never materialised in a race which was dominated by on pace runners.
Pedigree Notes:
Samadoubt becomes the 63rd stakes winner for his sire Not A Single Doubt, and becomes the first from his dam Isadora (Gold Fever {USA}), who has produced five winners in total.
They include the stakes-placed Thin Red Line (Redoute's Choice) and Hong Kong winner Malmsteen (Beneteau).
Isadora is a half-sister to Group 2 winning mare Apollo Wonder (Rory's Jester) and is also related to stakes-winners Kate's Myth, Speedy Kids and Brosberg. Also included in that extended family are Group 1 winners Akhenaton, Paint and Hay List.
