by Anthony Manton
Over the last few months, the TDN Aus NZ Black-Book has identified well-bred and promising horses to follow headed towards the Sydney Autumn Carnival.
On day two of The Championships at Randwick on Saturday there are a number of horses that we have highlighted which line-up in their respective races for what will be the grand final runs of their campaign.
Starting in race 1, the Listed Fernhill Handicap 1600 metres for 2-year-olds and Significance (Frankel {GB}) was a colt identified prior to his debut at Newcastle worth following.
Significance was a $1.1 million purchase at the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as the first foal of unraced mare Aqua Bella (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) and from an emerging European family.
Significance as a yearling
Bred to get a mile and beyond, Significance found the 1400 metres at Newcastle on March 21 too short and hit the line strongly signalling he was looking for further. Trainer John O’Shea has kept Significance up to the mark with a recent barrier trial at Warwick Farm which he won by 6L and now looks primed for the mile.
Significance has drawn barrier six for jockey Brenton Avdulla and is considered one of the leading chances in the race.
Race 3, the Provincial Championship Final and the Kim Waugh trained Safado (Lonhro) was tipped as our horse to follow for the series way back in January prior to his first-up win at Gosford on January 11.
Safado is the first foal to race from city winning mare Happy Hussy (Hussonet {USA}) and was a $100,000 yearling purchase at the 2016 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Safado as a yearling
Safado went on to win the Hawkesbury Provincial Championship Qualifier on February 24 and makes his way into the $500,000 final with Jason Collett to ride from barrier eight. He has been one of the favourite runners all the way through the series and will no doubt make his presence felt again.
Race 5, the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint 1200 metres for 3-year-olds has three runners lining-up that were identified as horses to follow through the Black-Book, Sheriff (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Trope (More Than Ready {USA}) and Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible).
Sheriff has been a quiet achiever coming through country and provincial class races before winning a mid-week race at Rosehill on February 27 and running a game 3rd on his home track in the Bert Lillye Handicap against the older horses at Kembla Grange on March 15.
Although considered an outsider in the race Sheriff is a tough on-pacer who is always hard to run past.
Trope is a very exciting colt that caught the attention of many after a stunning debut running an exceptional time to win at Kensington on February 6 before a slashing 2nd to Prophet’s Thumb in the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick on March 9.
Trope was a $500,000 yearling purchase at the 2017 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is from stakes-winning mare Personify (Galileo {Ire}) and from the family of stakes-winners Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}), A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Foreplay (Danehill {USA}), Time Thief (Redoute’s Choice) and Centennial Park (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Trope as a yearling
Although five-weeks between runs into Saturday’s race, Trope trialled at Newcastle last Friday and wasn’t extended in a heat where they ran the fastest last 600 meters of the morning and he looks extremely hard to beat.
As a colt and a well-bred son of More Than Ready (USA), the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint could be a defining race for Trope to win as a potential stallion prospect post-racing career.
The filly, Prophet’s Thumb is already a stakes-winning daughter of I Am Invincible and a win in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint would also only add to her resume as a broodmare.
Prophet’s Thumb was identified in mid-January with this race as her target and although beaten as a short price favourite at Warwick Farm on January 16 has since won the Listed Fireball Stakes at Randwick on March 9 defeating Trope.
Prophet’s Thumb was originally passed in at the 2016 Magic Millions Weaning Select Sale for $120,000 and was retained by vendors Bell River Thoroughbreds to race. Her brother, a colt by Hinchinbrook was recently sold at the Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale for $150,000 to trainer David Pfeiffer and Laurel Oak Bloodstock.
Prophet’s Thumb failed last start in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes at Rosehill on a heavy 8 track on March 23, however, could easily bounce back to form on a drier surface on Saturday.
Finally, Frankely Awesome (Frankel {GB}) running in the Group 1 Australian Oaks was picked-out as our long-range Oaks filly to follow.
Frankely Awesome
After two runs back over unsuitable distances at Warwick Farm and Rosehill early in her preparation, Frankely Awesome has put the writing on the wall with two slashing Oaks trials when 2nd in both the Group 3 Kembla Grange Classic and Group 1 Vinery Stud Stakes at Rosehill on March 30.
Bred by Cressfield Stud, Frankely Awesome is the first foal to race from dam Street Secret (USA) (Street Cry {USA}). Street Secret, a three-time winner started her career in the UK and later raced in France and America. She was twice placed at stakes-level in France.
Frankely Awesome was considered a strong chance for last week’s Group 1 Australian Derby against the boys however, trainer Kris Lees elected to bypass the Derby to give the filly an extra week and focus on the Oaks in which she is second elect in the betting behind Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
