Group 1 William Reid S.
Race Summary:
A dominant force in the sprinting division, Sunlight (Zoustar) won her third Group 1 victory and second against the older males on Friday.
The 3-year-old filly took the lead from the start and it was all over. Written By (Written Tycoon) tried to push the leader through the early stages of the race but wasn’t able to stick with her, allowing her to dictate the pace.
Racing easily, she opened up lengths in the stretch and never looked in doubt of winning even when the field made a late charge. Only Spright (Hinchinbrook) was able to get within a length of her at the line, three quarters behind her with Ellicazoom (Testa Rossa) finishing third.
The race was unfortunately marred by the fatal breakdown of Group 1 winner and fan favourite Voodoo Lad (I Am Invincible).
Pedigree Notes:
The $300,000 Magic Million graduate Sunlight is the fourth foal and second stakes horse for Solar Charged (Charge Forward), who is also the dam of Group 3 placed Sheikha (Sebring).
She is a half-sister to Listed winning Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), who is the dam of talented New Zealand runner Lincoln Falls (Dundeel {NZ}) and a granddaughter of Listed winning Aretha (Sir Dapper).
Solar Charged has produced three winners from five to race with her youngest of racing age being Sunlight’s 2-year-old full-sister Sisstar, who finished fourth in the Group 3 Ottawa Stakes.
The mare had a full brother to Sheikha in 2017, who was scratched from this year’s Magic Millions sale, and foaled a full brother to Sunlight in 2018.
Group 3 Alexandra S.
Race Summary:
An impressive winner of her maiden two starts ago, Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {IRE}) added blacktype victory to her resume on Friday night.
The filly took up a spot near the back of the field under Damien Oliver at the beginning of the race, running comfortably as they navigated the 1600 metres.
When the field entered the final 600 metres, Oliver asked his filly to start slowly picking off runners and put her in a prime spot when swinging wide into the straight. From there, the filly had to chase down leading Angelic Ruler (Universal Ruler) with every stride, a task that took nearly every metre of the straight.
In the end, it was a close finish with four horses finishing within a length of each other. Princess Jenni was able to edge out Angelic Ruler by less than a quarter length with Arctic Shock (NZ) (Shocking) only a head back in third and Mirette (Unencumbered) half a length behind that runner.
Pedigree Notes:
A NZ$120,000 buy at Karaka Princess Jenni is the first foal from five-time winner Glitzabeel (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who is a granddaughter of Group 2 winner Precious Glitter (Danehill {USA}).
There are ten stakes horses under Glitzabeel’s first four dams, including Singapore’s 2016 Champion Stayer Bahana (Elusive City {USA}) and Group 3 winner and Group 1-placed Beauty Watch (Belong To Me {USA}).
Glitzabeel’s unnamed 2-year-old Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu {IRE}) filly was bought for $30,000 at last year’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale and she foaled a filly by Power (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) in 2018. The mare was served by Turn Me Loose (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) in 2018.
Listed Valley Pearl S.
Race Summary:
Well-bred Snitzel filly Cheer Leader dominated the race early by jumping straight to the front, winning easing down by over five lengths with Damian Lane in the saddle. The gear change of winkers were flagged to have made the difference with the filly.
Andrew Angelone said winkers have the filly more focussed. "At her last start, she was green up the straight and shied at the post. We put the winkers on, she had a gallop at the Valley on Monday and was really sharp," Angelone said.
"She showed today she can lead and kick off the lead and win impressively. She's in her second prep, her last preparation she only just missed out going to the races, she keeps improving and has a lot of improvement in her."
Well favoured Nicconi colt Mayan finished off well, coming from last to grab second. Unencumbered filly Free Thrills added depth to her page on debut, finishing off well in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Cheer Leader was a $300,000 Yulong Investments purchase from Milburn Creek at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. She is a half-sister to Group 1 MRC One Thousand Guineas winner Amicus (Fastnet Rock) and the stakes-placed Il Cavallo (Choisir).
Cheer Leader is from Gold Chant, a half-sister to 4-time Group 1 winner and outstanding sire Starspangledbanner. Gold Chant missed to Not A Single Doubt before foaling a colt by I Am Invincible last year.
Lime Country Thoroughbreds will offer a Not A Single Doubt colt out of Gold Chant's dam Gold Anthem as lot 31 at the upcoming Easter Yearling Sale.
