Group 2 Championship S., Ellerslie
Race Summary:
As the gates opened, Blue On Black (Camelot {GB}) rushed forward to take up the running upon leaving the straight the first time with Elate (NZ) (Savabeel) and Gehrig (Cape Blanco {IRE}) in close attendance. Approaching the 1400m mark, Gehrig pulled his way to the front, and quickened the pace.
At the 600m, the pacemaker was still in front by 2 lengths, but eventual winner Lord Arthur (Camelot) and runner-up Intrigue (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) had improved from the second half of the field to be within the striking distance rounding the turn.
With 100m to go Intrigue hit the front only to be swamped by Lord Arthur, who strode away for Jake Bayliss to win by 1.5 lengths, giving the Baker/Forsman partnership a stakes double. The son of Showcasing held the rest of the field for second, whilst Bobby Dee (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) who raced close to the speed, was brave in finishing third.
Pedigree Notes:
Lord Arthur is by Camelot, a dual Derby winning son of Montjeu (Ire) who called Coolmore Australia home for one season. With his only Southern Hemisphere crop now three-year-olds, the stallion has produced 28 winners from just 53 runners and 6 stakes performers.
Impeccably bred, the Championship Stakes winner, is a half-brother to dual New Zealand Horse of the Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), in addition to Group 3 winners Full Of Spirit (Flying Spur), Lady Cumquat (Duke of Marmalade {IRE}) and Imposing Lass (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
His dam, Imposingly (Zabeel {NZ}), is a three-quarter-sister in blood to Group 1 winners Champagne (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and St Reims (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Group 2 Easter Handicap, Ellerslie
Race Summary:
Upon jumping, there was a four horse charge to the front with Kingsguard (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}), Le Castile (NZ) (Dalghar {FR}), Big Mike (Don Eduardo {NZ}) and The Mitigator (Master of Design) fighting for the lead over the first 400m of the race. Climbing the hill at the 1200m, Big Mike and The Mitigator, having dropped the other two wannabe front runners, raced fiercely, putting a 2.5 length lead on the rest of the field.
After racing well back, Endless Drama (IRE) (Lope De Vega {IRE}) was able to obtain clear running on the inside of the field, gaining several lengths at the top of the straight to be in the perfect position to pounce.
The tearaway leader gave a sight, holding off challengers in front until the 200m mark, when the effort took its toll, and he was tackled by the winner, who held on to defeat the fast finishing Watch This Space (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}), with Yearn (NZ) (Savabeel), 1.1 lengths back in third.
Pedigree Notes :
Now a stakes performer in no less than four countries, Endless Drama is a son of Ballylinch Stud’s Lope De Vega, a shuttler to Australia for four seasons. The son of Shamardal has proven a success at stud producing seven Group 1 winners globally, headlined locally by recent Group 1 TJ Smith winner Santa Ana Lane.
The Tony Pike trained galloper is from the French Listed winner Desert Drama (IRE) (Green Desert {USA}), a half-sister to European stakes winners Sharpest Image (IRE) (Exactly Sharp) and Tycoon’s Dolce (IRE) (Rainbows for Life {CAN}).
Group 3 Victoria Handicap, Caulfield
Race Summary:
Renowned front runner Sircconi (Nicconi) took up his usual position, with winner Streets of Avalon (Magnus) shading him and Kemono (JPN) (Kinshasa No Kiseki {JPN}) sitting three wide soon after the jump. Zebulon (All American) settled on the fence with the rest of the field settling in pairs.
The leader put the pace on at the 600m but was matched by his offsider as they left the rail entering the straight. With 200m to go, the pair settled in for the fight with the rest of the field close at their heels but Streets of Avalon kicked away, holding off Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) who ran home strongly for second. Fastnet Tempest (IRE) (Fastnet Rock) followed the winner through out but was unable to sprint with the first two, finishing close up in third.
Pedigree Notes :
Bred by his owner, Warren Racing Pty Ltd, Streets Of Avalon is by Sun Stud resident Magnus, sire of 19 stakes winners to-date and over 300 winners.
He is from the unplaced Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare Kamuniak (NZ), a full-sister to New Zealand Champion Two-Year-Old Joker’s Wild. The extended family is one of the finest in the studbook, featuring Group 1 winners such as Reward for Effort (Exceed and Excel), Overreach (Exceed and Excel), Miss Mossman (Mossman)and Turffontein (Johannesburg)
Group 3 VATC Easter Cup, Caulfield
Race Summary:
Plein Ciel (GER) (Mamool {IRE}) was one of the first into stride but was quickly beaten for speed by Magnapal (Magnus), who led at the 1600m by two lengths back to Odeon (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), with the initial leader settling in the box seat covered by Ambitious (JPN) (Deep Impact). Eventual placegetters Furrion (GB) (Camelot {GB}) and Morton’s Fork (Ad Valorem {USA}) settled behind them.
The race was run in a leisurely fashion, until the 600m when Ambitious made a move rounding the hometurn, but was subsequently hampered by Odeon shifting out suddenly to avoid Magnapal who went amiss. Plein Ciel made the most of the clear running on the inside and was unable to be run down, defeating Furrion by one length with 0.4 length back to Morton’s Fork in third.
Magnapal sustained a serious injury and was humanely euthanized on course.
Pedigree Notes :
Plein Ciel (GER) is by Mamool (IRE), a stallion who has given owners Australian Bloodstock success in the past, with Group 2 winner Lucas Cranach (GER). Raced by Godolphin, Mamool (IRE) took out the Group 1 Cologne Preis von Europa but has not reached those heights at stud, with just eight stakes winners to his record.
The Easter Cup winner is from the German stakes performer Picobella (Big Shuffle {USA}), with his third dam Prada (GER) (Lagunas {GER)) best known as the dam of German Champion Two-Year-Old Filly Paita (GER) (Intikhab {USA})
The extended family also features 2016 Italian Champion Older Male Potemkin (GER) (New Approach {IRE}).
Listed Champagne S., Ellerslie
Race Summary:
Ranger (NZ) (Ghibellines) was the best to jump, striding to the front of the field early in running. Matthew Cameron aboard Quick Thinker (So You Think {NZ}) took initiative at the 1200 metre point, allowing the Baker/Forsman trained runner to slide forward to sit outside the pacemaker.
Rounding the corner, Ranger, Quick Thinker and All The Rage (NZ) (Duelled) entered the straight together, with the leading pair kicking away to fight the race out. After dueling from the 200m mark, the son of So You Think prevailed to take the race out by 0.8 length in front of the Sweeney-trainer Ranger, with Rendition (NZ)(Pierro) running on well to finish third.
Favourite Glinda Goodwitch (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) finished eighth, after following All The Rage into the race.
Pedigree Summary :
Quick Thinker was purchased from the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $110,000 by De Burgh Equine Ltd. A son of Coolmore’s dual Cox Plate winning sire, So You Think (NZ), the colt is out of the stakes performer Acouplamas (Al Maher) and is a half-brother to 2018/19 Chris Waller trained stakes performer The August (I Am Invincible)
Acouplamas is from the Canny Lad mare Mahira, who in turn, is a half-sister to Group 2 placegetter Kensington Gardens (Grosvenor), who is best known as the dam of Group 1 winning siblings Blackfriars and Larrocha (Danehill).
Listed Riverton Cup, Riverton
Race Summary:
Lil Miss Swiss (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}) earned her first stakes victory on Saturday when making a late run to win by a nose.
The mare galloped at the back of the field as the leaders debated over who would set the slow pace in the 2147m race.
It wasn’t until there were 300 metres left in the race that Tanya Jonker asked her mount to start passing horses on the outside rail. Within a few hundred metres she had passed most of the field but still had the leading Orepuki Lad (NZ) (Raise The Flag {GB}) to conquer. It wasn’t an easy task with the winner making a last-ditch dive to get the victory by the slimmest margin. Kilowatt (Shocking) finished third, 2 ¼ lengths behind the leading pair.
Pedigree Notes:
Lil Miss Swiss is the first foal from Miss Swiss (Flying Spur), who has produced two winners from three runners. Miss Swiss is a full sister to Group 3 placed Holidazzle and a half-sister to the dam of Group 3 winner Artistry (Shamardal {USA}).
Miss Swiss’s dam is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cronus (Zabeel {NZ}) and the dam of champion Samantha Miss (Redoute’s Choice).
Miss Swiss had a Charm Spirit (IRE) colt in 2016 and a Shamexpress colt in 2018. She returned to Charm Spirit last year.
Listed Tails S., Doomben
Race Summary:
Jumping from the outside gate, Hallelujah Boy (JPN) (Tosen Phantom {JPN}) was into stride quickly, landing in front, with Tangled (Snitzel) and the heavily backed Cool Chap (High Chaparral {IRE}) settling in behind him. The leader slowed the pace from the 800m stacking the field on the turn.
At the 400m, Hallelujah Boy led by a mere neck on Tangled with Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) ranging up three wide to challenge. Entering the straight, a run came for Cool Chap who had been on the fence behind the leader who kicked away strongly with 200m to go and was never headed.
Hallelujah Boy (JPN) ran out a winner by three lengths over Cool Chap who claimed second with a 0.75 length margin over Fit For Purpose (Show A Heart).
Pedigree Notes :
Hallelujah Boy (JPN) is a paternal half-brother to owner Australian Bloodstock’s Group 1 sprinter Brave Smash, being by Tosen Stardom (JPN). Their sire has had two stakes winners from 51 starters, with both of these coming in Australia.
The Kris Lees-trained galloper is out of the King Kamehameha (JPN) mare Tosen Minerva (JPN), a half-sister to Group 3 winner Cosmo Platina (JPN) (Stay Gold {JPN}) and Listed winner Cosmo Fortune (JPN) (Meiner Love).
Listed Ascot Handicap, Doomben
Race Summary:
The field jumped in an even line, with Sony Legend (Hard Spun {USA}), Bold Chance (Bryannbo’s Gift {NZ}) and Brotherly Secret (Barely A Moment) kicking up to make a three-way battle of the lead. Keen Array (Bel Esprit) and Mr Marbellouz (Love Conquers All) settled in behind the speed with the rest of the field at their heels.
Keen Array lost ground at the 800m and the other four on pace runners put the speed on, putting a gap on the rest of the field.
Rounding the turn, the field bunched, with Mr Marbellouz making a run three wide to level up with the leaders. However, long shot Sony Legend refused to lay down, kicking away by two lengths at the 200m and was only caught in the shadows of the post by Mr Marbellouz with 2.5 lengths back to No Annamossity (Mossman) in third place.
Pedigree Notes :
Sun Stud achieved a two-state stakes double with Mr Marbellouz giving their resident sire Love Conquers All the third stakes winner of his career.
The Ascot Handicap winner is from the Red Ransom mare Marbled, who has 100 per cent foals to winners record at stud and is a half-sister to the dam of dual stakes winner Bons Away (Bon Hoffa).
His third dam is Polar Maid (NZ) (Khairpour {IRE}), who is best known as the grand-dam of Golden Slipper winner Polar Success (Success Express {USA}).
Listed Mick Dittman Plate, Doomben
Race Summary:
As has become a common theme this year, Godolphin again sent out a winner in a stakes race with Plague Stone (Lonhro) also continuing his sire’s great year.
Plague Stone was handy in mid-field on the rail, taking the shorter route around the course when sticking to the inside of the Heavy 10 track. The gelding didn’t seem to enjoy the sod in his face but once he got into the clear, he quickly made progress toward the lead. At the 100 metre mark, he took over the lead and raced away to win by 3.75 lengths.
Vega One (Lope de Vega {IRE}) and Spirit’s Choice (Spirit Of Boom) were the only two horses within eight lengths of him, finishing second and third respectively.
Pedigree Notes:
Lonhro’s eighth stakes winner of the season is from Elusive Quality’s (USA) stakes placed daughter Giggleswick. As to be expected from a Godolphin family, his is deep.
Giggleswick’s granddam is High Hawk (IRE) (Shirley Heights {GB}), the dam of horses such as In The Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Morozov among others. Plague Stone’s extended family includes top sire Dubawi (IRE) (Dubai Millennium {GB}) and 1000 Guineas winner Virginia Waters (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}).
Giggleswick was sold for $50,000 in 2016 and had a filly by Mongolian Khan last year before returning to Mongolian Falcon.
Listed Hills Railway S., Oakbank
Race Summary:
It was another stakes winning weekend for McEvoy Mitchell Racing in South Australia thanks to Despatch (Written Tycoon).
The gelding jumped first out of the barriers but was content to settle behind the leading Oamaru Owl (Oamaru Force). He was widest of all entering the straight and bumped into in tight quarters at the 300 metre mark.
He took over the lead at the 200 metre mark and shook off the pack around him excepting Zalmona (Good Journey {USA}), who was a half length behind him. Crown Fontein (Turffontein) wasn’t far behind in third when winning a three-way battle for that placing.
Pedigree Notes:
A $40,000 weanling turned $195,000 yearling, he is out of the winning Zoccoletta (Fasliyev {USA}), who is from a Group 3 winner.
Zoccoletta’s stakes winning dam is from Argentina champion Penita (ARG) (Pepenador {USA}).
Despatch is the fourth foal from the mare and her first stakes winner with two other half-siblings winning. The gelding is also her youngest foal at 4 years of age.
