Group 1 Longines Queen Elizabeth Stakes, Randwick
Race Summary :
Winx (Street Cry {Ire}) wasn’t weighed down by a world of expectation and she delivered the perfect farewell performance.
She came around the field across the top and went clear 200 metres from home to have the crowd in seventh heaven.
Kluger (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) chased gamely for second as did Hartnell (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) for third with another veteran in Happy Clapper (Teofilo {Ire) finishing fourth.
Pedigree Notes :
Winx’s dam Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar {NZ}) was a smart mare and won seven races, including the Listed Soliloquy and has also produced the G3 Kindergarten S. winner El Divino (Snitzel).
Vegas Showgirl is a half-sister to the Group performer Black Magic Maggie (NZ) (Westminster {NZ}) and the family of the G1 Doomben 10,000 winner El Khobar (Gabador {Fr}) and the G2 Gloaming S. winner Cosmic Planet (Planet Kingdom).
Group 1, Schweppes Sydney Cup, Randwick
Race Summary:
For the second year running, Chris Waller took out three consecutive Group 1s on the card when Shraaoh (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) stepped up to take the Sydney Cup and provide him his 101st Group 1 victory.
In the large field, Shraaoh was placed in the group just behind the leaders by jockey Jay Ford for the 3200-metre race. As the field made its second trip around the track the field stretched out more and Shraaoh was a bit further back than he had been earlier but still within striking distance.
Shraaoh slipped up the rail in the straight as the leaders tired and was even with Sound with 300 metres left to travel. Fellow Irish-bred Vengeur Masque (Monsun {Ger}) gave him a run for his money with 100 metres left to go but he fought on to win by half a length with Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {USA}) about two lengths behind the winner in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Shraooh's dam Jumooh (GB) (Monson {Ger}) is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Maqaasid (Green Desert {USA}) and from a half-sister to 1000 Guineas victress Ghanaati (YSA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).
Not surprisingly for a mare who visited Sea The Stars (Cape Cross {Ire}) multiple times, this is a strong family all around with Nayef (USA) (Gulch {USA}) and Nashwan (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) both half-brothers to Jumooh’s granddam.
Jumooh has produced two stakes winners, both by Sea The Stars with Shraaoh’s little brother striking the first blow with a Group 3 victory. Those two geldings are her only winners from three to race but she also has a 4-year-old full brother to the pair who was placed in 2019.
The mare had a Sea The Stars filly in 2016 named Sea of Faith, who is unraced and she visited Sea The Star’s half-brother Born To Sea (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) the following year, having a 2-year-old filly named Born With Pride from the mating.
Group 1, Heineken 3 Australian Oaks, Randwick
Race Summary:
Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) continued to show her class when winning her second straight Group 1 and third Group race on Saturday to give Chris Waller Group 1 win number 99.
Breaking well, James McDonald set the filly in the back of the field with the field spread out over about 10 lengths. When her cover disappeared about half way through the race, McDonald let the filly speed up just a bit to take her the widest of all the field coming into the straight.
Verry Ellegant had a lot of work left to do with 400 metres left but once she clicked into gear, it was an easy ride for her jockey, who was able to savour the victory with 50 metres left. Scarlet Dream (Sebring) put in a good run down the straight to finish second with Frankely Awesome (Frankel {GB}), who had finished second to the winner last out, finishing third.
Pedigree Notes:
From the winning mare Opulence (NZ) (Danroad), Verry Elleegant is the first stakes winner for the mare but one of her three winners from three runners.
The filly’s third dam is where her family starts to heat up with two stakes winners but her fourth dam is even better. Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) is the dam of sires and Group 1 winning full-brothers Danewin (Danehill {USA}) and Commands. This is also the family of successful young sires Shooting to Win (Northern Meteor) and Deep Field (Northern Meteor).
It was a good day for the family at Royal Randwick with another relative, Jonker (Spirit Of Boom), finishing second in the Group 2 Arrowfield Sprint.
Opulence had a colt by Zed (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) in 2018 and returned to that stallion again last season.
Group 1, Coolmore Legacy Stakes, Randwick
Race Summary :
Kenedna (Not A Single Doubt) raced toward the back of the field and she wound up powerfully to open her Group 1 account.
Ridden by John Allen for Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the mare had got home well at her previous start for third in the G2 Sunline S. at her previous start, but still went out at better than 20-1.
In her final appearance, Dixie Blossoms (Street Sense {USA}) finished off strongly for second ahead of Unforgotten (Fastnet Rock).
Pedigree Notes :
A half-sister to the G2 QTC Cup winner Spill The Beans (Snitzel), Kenedna is a daughter of the minor race winner Miss Dodwell (Falbrav {Ire}).
She is a half-sister to the G3 Rain Lover Plate winner Yammer (Bellotto {USA}) and to the dam of the G1 Flight S. winner Speak Fondly (Northern Meteor).
The headline act in the pedigree is the multiple Group 1 winner and former Australian Horse of the Year Bounding Away (Biscay).
Group 2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint, Randwick
Race Summary:
Classique Legend (Not a Single Doubt) avenged his only career loss on Saturday when facing a much drier track at Royal Randwick.
Breaking well, he settled midfield a few paths off the rail with Kerrin McEvoy giving him a little cover in the position. With 400 metres left, McEvoy swung him outside of the field and gave him his cue with Classique Legend eagerly responding.
McEvoy just had to give him a vigorous hand ride to convince the gelding to pull away by nearly a length and a half over Jonker (Spirit Of Boom). Avantage (Fastnet Rock) was less than a half-length behind that rival in third with Encryption (Lonhro) finishing fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
A winner herself, Classique Legend’s dam Pinocchio (Encosta de Lago) is a full-sister to champion Racing To Win and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Purrealist (Tale of the Cat).
The mare’s extended family includes multiple stakes horses, including Group 2 winner Mardi’s Magic (Kenny’s Best Pal) and Group 1 winner Herculian Prince (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}).
Classique Legend is the second most expensive of Pinocchio’s three foals to go through the sales ring, bringing $400,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. His unraced 2-year-old half-brother Aethero (Sebring) sold for $575,000 at the Inglis Easter sale last year while their 4-year-old four-time winning half-brother Puppet Master (Foxwedge) is the cheapest, selling for $100,000 as a 2-year-old after bringing $82,000 as a yearling.
The mare most recently foaled a So You Think (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) colt and was served by Golden Slipper winner Capitalist (Written Tycoon) last season.
Group 2, Percy Sykes Stakes, Randwick
Race Summary :
Anaheed (Fastnet Rock) broke smartly from a wide gate to sit outside the leader and she was in a determined mood in the straight.
The filly hit the front 300 metres from home and stayed on strongly to deny Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}), who charged home from the tail of the field. Villami (Foxwedge) enjoyed a good run and she boxed on for third.
Pedigree Notes :
A half-sister to the winner and stakes placegetter Farooq (Frankel {GB}), Anaheed is a daughter of the G1 Robert Sangster S. winner Rostova (Testa Rossa).
She is a three-quarter sister to the G1 Railway H. winner Imananabaa (Anabaa {USA}) and a half-sister to the Singapore stakes winner Mystic Master (Snippetson).
It is also the family of the G2 Maribyrnong Plate winner The Heavyweight (Zeditave) and the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Born Priceless (Pricelessly {USA}).
Group 2 TAB Sapphire Stakes, Randwick
Race Summary:
Fan favourite White Moss (Mossman) was the first past the line in the final race of the Royal Randwick card to close out a spectacular day at the track.
Jumping out well, she took up her position just off the pace with Quilista (Scandal Keeper) opening up lengths on the field. White Moss made it her mission to catch the leader but Quilista didn’t make it easy, not letting the grey get close until there were 350 metres left in the race.
White Moss tackled her at the 300-metre mark and pulled away from there, though she didn’t get too far in front of the field. Irithea (Snitzel) came running and was less than a length behind in second at the line with Winter Bridge (Not a Single Doubt) getting up for third to complete a good day at the track for her sire.
Pedigree Notes:
White Moss (Mossman) is just one of two stakes winners for her champion dam Pay My Bail (NZ) (Justice Prevails), who is also the granddam of Listed winning Fox Swift (Foxwedge).
The Group 2 winning mare is the most accomplished racehorse for her dam Ebony Jane (NZ) (Three Legs), a half-sister to Group 1 winning Shifnal Prince (Shifnal). Ebony Jane is also the granddam of Group 2 winner Megapins (Pins), showing that this is a deep family of producers.
The 3-year-old Reset filly White Thyme is the final foal from Pay My Bail. White Thyme was placed at three earlier this year.
Listed, Kings of Sydney Sport Mile, Randwick
Race Summary:
In a race marred by two fallers near the line, Power Scheme (Fiorente {Ire}) broke his maiden when taking out his first stakes race as well.
Power Scheme was wide throughout the race while running in mid-pack, using the clear space to his advantage when creeping up on the leaders in the final 500 metres. The colt wasn’t eager to go past his rivals however, with Mark Zahra having to encourage him down the straight until he decided to click into gear in the final 200 metres and take over the lead.
Foxborough (Dissident) came on with a huge run with 100 metres left with the line coming just in time for the winner. Extraordinary (Redoute’s Choice) was able to take third with Significance (Frankel {GB}) fourth.
War Baron (Declaration) and Persan (Pierro) were the fallers near the line when battling behind the leaders with both horses avoiding serious injury. Jockey Glyn Schofield was deemed fit to ride in later races while Andrew Adkins was concussed but conscious and sent to St Vincent's Hospital for further assessment.
Pedigree Notes:
Power Scheme becomes the third stakes winner for Fiorente (Ire) (Monsun {Ger}) with his full brother Hawkshot one of two group winners for the stallion.
Power Scheme’s dam Rosa Perlato (Encosta de Lago) is a half-sister to Mauritius Horse Of The Year Parachute Man (High Chaparral {Ire}) and from Listed placed Flammarosa (Danehill {USA}). Flammarosa is a full-sister to Group 1 winner Shinzig and Listed winner Strada.
All three of Rosa Perlato’s foals to race are winners with Power Scheme breaking his maiden in this race. She has a 2017 Ready For Victory (More Than Ready {USA}) filly and was bred to Thronum (Snitzel) in 2018.
Listed South Pacific Classic, Randwick
Race Summary:
Her first step up to stakes class was an easy move for Fasika (So You Think {NZ}) with the 3-year-old filly taking her record to three-from-three.
Fasika broke well from a wide barrier and squeezed in to find a spot just behind Green Aeon (Snitzel), sitting right on the leader’s hip. The filly was in front at the 250 metre mark but was never able to build much of a lead. Green Aeon fought the filly down the straight until the final 100 metres when he gave Millard Reaction (Fastnet Rock) the room he needed to nearly steal the race from Fasika and keep his own undefeated record intact.
Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom {USA}) added another top three placing to his record, finishing on the board for the seventh consecutive time when finishing third behind the pair. His streak dates back to nearly a year ago when it started in the Listed Anzac Day Stakes on April 25, 2018.
Pedigree Notes:
Fasika is the sixth live foal from winning Redoute’s Choice (Danehill {USA}) mare Jarada. This is the extended family of Group 1 winner Gracioso (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) and German champion Precious Boy (Ger) (Big Shuffle) {USA}) among stakes winners from six different countries.
Jarada’s first foal was Listed winner Absolut Excelencia (Excellent Art {GB}) with the mare producing four winners from four to race.
Fasika is the mare’s final foal with Jarada’s four runners winning a combined 22 races.
