Group 1 Champagne S., Randwick
Race Summary:
Castelvecchio (Dundeel {NZ}) jumped well and settle comfortably in midfield before improving near the home bend.
When asked for the supreme effort, the colt responded and charged down the centre of the track to put paid to his rivals and a comprehensive victory.
Courageous filly Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) was on the pace all the way and she boxed on well while Lady Lupino (Sebring) did well to cling on to third after setting a strong pace.
Pedigree Notes :
Castelvecchio is a half-brother to the G1 Spring Champion S. winner Maid Of Heaven (Smart Missile) and the G3 Tatts Cup winner Mirrasalo (Redoute’s Choice).
Their dam is St Therese (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), who won five races including the Listed Soliloquy S. and she was a Group 1 placegetter.
Her half-brother Planet Ruler (Kaoru Star) won Group 1 races while another sibling Aroma (Turf Ruler {NZ}) was a stakes winner. The family also includes the South American Group winner Siberia (Per) (Singe The Turf {Ire}).
Group 1 All Aged S., Randwick
Race Summary:
Manuel (Commands) sped out of the gates to take up the running, with Le Romain (Hard Spun {USA}), who was one of the first out of the gates looming prominently. Malaguerra (Magnus) took a sit in behind the speed with Pierata (Pierro) racing just behind Naantali (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {IRE}) who was sitting one out back.
Rounding the home turn, Sam Clipperton pulled out on Malaguerra and was stalked into the race by Tommy Berry aboard Pierata. Manuel kicked at the top the straight but had to contend with Le Romain before being pounced on by the winner and Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {IRE}) who weaved his way through the field to appear as a winning chance with 200m to go.
Pierata hit the front with 50m to go and despite a spirited challenge from the Godolphin runner would not be denied, winning by 0.4 length, with Siege of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) running home strongly to claim third.
Pedigree Notes :
Purchased for $160,000 on spec by trainer Greg Hickman at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Pierata is the fourth Group 1 winner for his sire Pierro, who has had just three crops to race.
Champion Two-Year-Old of his year, the son of Lonhro is proving that his above average ability is not limited to the track, having been crowned Leading First and Second Season Sire by Earnings with his first two crops.
Pierata is from the Group 3 winner November Flight (Flying Spur), and is a half-brother to Group 3 winner Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}) The mare unfortunately missed to Pierro last spring, but has a yearling by Rubick, who was purchased by Coolmore in conjunction with Ciaron Maher Racing at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $900,000.
Group 3 Frank Packer Plate, Randwick
Race Summary:
The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) is now likely to head home for a break after gaining a measure of compensation for an unlucky fourth at his previous appearance in the G1 Australian Derby.
He came from last after a troubled run in the Classic and again powered home from the tail end for an impressive victory.
The Chosen One cornered four wide and held a strong gallop to beat Dealmaker (Dundeel {NZ}) and Purple Factor (Pins). The well-fancied filly Amangirl (All Too Hard) was unplaced after being denied galloping room in the straight.
Pedigree Notes :
The winner is a son of The Glitzy One (Flying Spur), who was successful on eight occasions and was a Group 3 placegetter.
The second dam is the two-time Group 1 winner The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and she has also produced the four-time Group 3 winner The Diamond One (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
La Bella Diosa (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), winner of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, is also a member of this illustrious family.
Group 3 JHB Carr S., Randwick
Race Summary:
Laburnum (Denman) made her own luck from a wide gate and went forward early to sit upsides with the leader.
The filly kicked clear 300 metres from home and had enough in reserve to hold out the favourite Into The Abyss (Foxwedge), who stormed home once into clear air.
So Take (Street Boss {USA}) got home late for third money ahead of Ashrani (I Am Invincible), another closer from the back.
Pedigree Notes :
Denman filly Laburnum is the first winner for the Redoute’s Choice mare Runes, who was a minor race winner over 1850 metres.
The dam is a sister to the Group 3 winner Mearss (Redoute’s Choice) and a half-sister to Chetwood (Exceed And Excel), also successful at Group 3 level.
The pedigree also features the presences of the top-flight winners Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}), Drum (Marauding {NZ}), Anamato (Redoute’s Choice), Dealer Principal (Flying Spur) and the rising stallion star Dundeel (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Group 3 Japan Racing Association Plate, Randwick
Racing Summary:
Taikomochi (Snitzel), I’m A Princess (High Chaparral {IRE}) and Goathland (IRE) (Teofilo {IRE}) led rounding the first turn, before Sam Clipperton took hold of the mare, allowing the other two runners to take up the running. The field bunched at the 800m mark, with Tommy Berry onboard All Too Soon (All Too Hard) taking off from last to hit the front with 600m to go.
Entering the straight All Too Soon and Taikomochi attempted to give their rivals the slip, but were captured at the 100m mark by Grey Lion (IRE) (Galileo {IRE}), who tracked the leaders on the inside fence before being switched to the outside by Kathy O’Hara, to run out the winner by 1.3 lengths.
Second placegetter Emperor’s Way (Roman Emperor {NZ}) made his run with the winner but was found wanting with All Too Soon staying on to finish third.
Pedigree Notes :
Grey Lion is by breed shaping champion sire Galileo, whose progeny have claimed 626 stakes races worldwide, amassing almost $300 million in prizemoney.
The Japan Racing Association Plate winner is a brother to triple Group 1 winner Golden Lilac (IRE) (Galileo), a half-brother to Listed winner Golden Guepard (IRE) (Hurricane Run {IRE}), out of Group 1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Grey Lilas (IRE) (Danehill {USA}).
The Matthew Smith trained galloper is bred on the highly successful Galileo/Danehill cross which has produced 47 stakes winners headlined by champion Frankel (Galileo).
Group 3 Hall Mark S., Randwick
Race Summary:
Miss Que (Fastnet Rock) and favourite Home Of The Brave (IRE) (Starspangledbanner) lead soon after the jump, with Music Magnate (Written Tycoon), Dothraki (Mossman) and Easy Eddie (Easy Eddie) settling in behind them. Winner Trekking (Street Cry {IRE}) settled two back outside Tyzone (Written Tycoon) with runner up Brave Song (Your Song) two lengths astern of the rest of the field rounding the home turn.
With 300m to go, Miss Que set sail for home, with the rest of the leading quartet appearing likely to be in the finish before Trekking started to work home out wide to claim them in the last 50m. Brave Song made up many lengths to finish second whilst Redouble (Redoute’s Choice) followed the winner home to claim third.
Pedigree Notes :
Bred by Darley, Trekking is by leading sire Street Cry (IRE), who has sired seven Southern Hemisphere bred stakes winners this season, headlined by the incomparable Winx.
Whilst Street Cry is no longer with us, his bloodlines are ably represented at stud this season by Street Boss (USA) (Street Cry), Pride of Dubai (Street Cry) and Territories (IRE) (Invincible Spirit) - who descends from the same female family.
Trekking is out of Outdoor (Redoute’s Choice), one of just three foals produced by Champion Three-Year-Old Filly Serenade Rose (Stravinsky), and is a full-brother to stakes performer Entertains (Street Cry).
