Group 1 Coolmore Classic
Race Results:
Christian Reith gave Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense {USA}) a grand ride and had her travelling comfortably in the second half of the field.
Revelling in the heavy going, the mare moved into contention on straightening and took the gaps presented to lengthen stride stylishly for a decisive win.
The 3-year-old El Dorado Dreaming (Ilovethiscity) made ground gamely to take the runner-up cheque and stablemate Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire} finished third.
Pedigree Notes :
Dixie Blossoms is a half-sister to Able Green (Falbrav {Ire}) who was successful in Australia and won a Listed Macau race as Excel.
They are out of Whistle Dixie (NZ) (Star Way {GB}), whose dam Proteaceae (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) was unraced.
She is a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Zonda (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the G2 PJ O’Shea S. winner Magnolia Hall (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}).
Group 2 Ajax S.
Race Results:
Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) again showed that he appreciates heavy tracks here as the race favourite.
Fifty Stars was behind the leaders in about fifth for much of the race and made Jye McNeil work for the victory when he spent much of the straight grinding away at the leaders a fraction of a length at a time. It looked at the 200-metre mark like the favourite wouldn’t get to the front but with 100 metres to go, he seemed to find another gear when he first chased down the leaders then went by in the last 50 metres to win by a little over a quarter length.
The battle that at one time looked like it was for the win turned into a battle for second with Mask Of Time (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) taking second and Dyslexic (Foxwedge) third.
Pedigree Notes:
Bought for 110,000gns as a yearling, Fifty Stars (Ire) is one of two Group winners for Sea The Stars (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) in Australia.
The colt is from an unraced half-sister to two-time Irish champion Viztoria (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}). The mares’ third dam Bold Example (USA) (Bold Lad {USA}) can be found in the pedigree of champions such as Zilzal (USA) (Nureyev {USA}), Negligee (USA) (Northern Afleet {USA}), Culture Vulture (USA) (Timeless Moment {USA)}, and Intikhab (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}).
Fifty Star’s dam Swizzle Stick (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) is also the dam of a 3-year-old unnamed Lawman (Fr) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) filly and an unnamed 2-year-old Slade Power (Ire) (Dutch Art {GB}) colt.
Group 2 Phar Lap S.
Race Results:
Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) sat behind the leaders on the fence and as the leaders went wide on the turn rider James McDonald held his ground.
The filly was right at home in the heavy going and when asked for an effort she got serious and powered clear.
Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) turned in an improved effort for second and Aristia (Lonhro) ran on well for third over a distance short of her best.
Pedigree Notes :
Verry Elleegant is out of Opulence (NZ) (Danroad), who won two minor staying races.
The third dam is the unraced Chalet Girl (NZ) (Imposing) and she is a half-sister to the Group 1 winning brothers and successful sires Commands and Danewin. It is, therefore, the influential Eight Carat (GB) Pieces Of Eight }Ire}) family.
Group 3 Sky High S.
Race Results:
A former champion in Germany, Red Cardinal (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}) showed that he is returning to top form when winning his second straight Australian stakes.
The gelding challenged for last early in the running of the 2000 metre race but after 600 metres had put a few horses behind him and settled in that spot for the majority of the race. At the 400-metre mark he was in the middle of the track and was aiming for the lead, something he accomplished with 100 metres to go.
He had over a length and a half on Rodrico (High Chaparral {Ire}) at the line with Goathland (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) close behind in third.
Pedigree Notes:
The race was a win for the Sadler’s Wells bloodline with the top three finishers all by his sons or grandsons.
The fifth live foal from his dam, Red Cardinal is one of three winners from four to race for his dam Notable (GB) (Zafonic {USA}) who is also the dam of his full sister Maria Royal.
Notable’s half-sister is Group 3 winner Orford Ness (GB) (Selkirk {USA}), who is the dam of three stakes winners. Another half-sister is the granddam of Group 3 winner and Group 1 placed Rainfall (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) while a third half-sister is the dam of two stakes horses as well.
Notable has been bred to Montjeu’s son Camelot the past few years with a 3-year-old three-quarter sister to Red Cardinal named Pleasurable and a yearling by the same stallion.
Group 3 Pago Pago S.
Race Results:
The runner-up in his first two stakes attempts, Cosmic Force (Deep Field) showed he is a force to be reckoned with on Saturday.
The race favourite, Cosmic Force was just behind the leading Mo’s Crown (Uncle Mo {USA}) as he bided his time. Cosmic Force made his move with 300 metres left to travel and had the lead as they hit the 200 metre mark. From there it was a tour de force as the colt pulled away with every stride to win by over seven lengths.
Born A Warrior (I Am Invincible), who had the lead early in the straight, finished second with Stronger (Not A Single Double) a half-length behind him in third and Autocratic (Wandjina) giving first-crop Newgate Farm stallions a 1st and 4th place finish.
Pedigree Notes:
A $180,000 purchase from Ascot Park at the 2018 Inglis Classic sale, Cosmic Force is the first stakes winner for Deep Field.
His dam Little Zeta (Commands) is the dam of Group 3 winning Onemorezeta (Onemorenomore) among six winners from seven to race. The mare is from a half-sister to Listed winner More Than Great (More Than Ready {USA}) and from the extended family of the late champion Sebring (More Than Ready).
Little Zeta had a Your Song (Fastnet Rock) filly in 2018 and again visited Deep Field (Northern Meteor).
Group 3 Magic Night S.
Race Summary:
In what has become a familiar sight this season, the Magic Night was another race dominated by Godolphin on the way to next weekend’s Group 1 Golden Slipper.
This time, Kiamichi (Sidestep) put her name in the draw for the Slipper when leading home a 1st-3rd- 4th place finish for the operation from three horses in the race.
The filly took the lead early on, opening up about a length and a half on the field with Damian Lane sitting comfortably on his mount as they led at the 400 metre mark. It looked like Kiamichi’s only threat was stablemate Athiri with 200 metres left to run but she was never in any real danger from that rival as they approached the wire.
The late closing Crystal Falls (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) crashed Godolphin’s Slipper pre-party when finishing second with Athiri (Lonhro) close behind in third.
Pedigree Notes:
The first stakes winner for Sidestep (Exceed And Excel), Kiamichi led home a Godolphin top four finish of sorts. While the operation doesn’t stand Sidestep at one of their farms, they own him and stand him at Telemon Thoroughbreds in Queensland. Each of the other top four finishers are by established Godolphin stallions with only Medaglia d’Oro not actively standing in Australia.
The 2-year-old filly is the second stakes winner from Ouachita (Canny Lad), who is also the dam of Listed winner Cossetot (Epaulette). It was a major 24 hours for that mare with the gelding finishing third in Friday night’s Group 2 Alister Clark by less than a quarter length.
Ouachita is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Preserve and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Denman (Lonhro). The mare slipped in 2017 and had an Animal Kingdom (USA) (Lerioidesanimaux {BRZ}) filly in 2018. She wasn’t served last season.
Group 3 Maurice McCarten Handicap
Race Summary:
Patience paid off for Easy Eddie (Super Easy {NZ}) on Saturday when he not only got his eighth career victory but also first stakes victory in 20 career starts.
Near the front of the pack just behind the leaders, Easy Eddie was wide throughout the race, giving him a clear run with 300 metres left. The gelding wanted to drift in as Robbie Dolan urged him to go after the leaders but soon he focused on his task and was right on the leading All Over Bosanova’s (Court Command) heels at the 200 metre mark.
With 75 metres to go, Easy Eddie finally grabbed the lead and was able to finish just ahead of the fast finishing She Knows (Denman) with All Over Bosanova holding on for a close third.
Pedigree Notes:
Bought for $55,000 at the 2016 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Easy Eddie is one of four winners from six to race for Twin Town (GB) (Halling {USA}).
Twin Town is a half-sister to three stakes horses, including the Group 3 winning Confront (GB) (Nayef {USA}) and from a half-sister to British champion Reams Of Verse (USA) (Nureyev {USA}). This is a strong Juddmonte Farms family with champion Midday (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) also under the mare’s second dam.
Twin Town has an unnamed 2-year-old Adelaide (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}) colt and a yearling Reward For Effort (Exceed And Excel) filly. She was served by Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) this year.
