Group 2 AD Hollindale S., Gold Coast
Race Summary:
While heavy rain washed away the hopes of many sets of connections across the meeting’s seven black-type races, Life Less Ordinary (Ire) (Thewayyouare {USA}) was completely unfazed.
The tenacious seven-year-old settled in a midfield position before sailing past his rivals in the straight, opening up for a decisive victory.
Stablemate Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {Ire}) mounted a similar run in the straight and proved best of the rest, with the emergency Hallelujah Boy (Jpn) (Tosen Phantom {Jpn}) racing on the pace and sticking on gamely for third.
Pedigree Notes:
Life Less Ordinary is one of 10 stakes winners for Thewayyouare (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}), who shuttled to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand from 2010 to 2014.
Two of those have been at Group 2 level, with Toast of New York (USA) winning the UAE Derby in 2014. He also placed in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Classic and Pacific Classic.
Life Less Ordinary is one of two winners out of Don’t Cross Tina (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), whose third dam is the G1 Kentucky Oaks and Matron S. winner Lucky Lucky Lucky (USA) (Chieftain {USA}).
Group 3 Gold Coast Guineas, Gold Coast
Race Summary:
The filly Pennino (Easy Rocking) coped with the heavy conditions best and made all the running to comfortably hold the chasers at bay.
She was well-rated by Matthew McGillivray and, with the benefit of a first-up run under her belt, stayed on strongly to beat Defence Missile (Love Conquers All).
The longshot Million (Epaulette) came on for third with the disappointment of the race the favourite Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom). He was caught wide on the pace and drifted out to tail the field home.
Pedigree Notes :
Pennino is a daughter of Alpha Girl (Clang) and is a sister to the Listed Sunshine Coast Cup winner Balboa Rocks.
Further back in the pedigree is the G2 Grand Prix S. winner So Good (Sovereign Edition {Ire}), the G2 Reisling S. winner Ginzano (Mister C {USA}) and G3 Epona S. winner Aliyana Tilde (Snitzel), who was also runner-up in the G1 Australian Oaks.
Group 3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, Gold Coast
Race Summary:
Stronger (Not A Single Doubt) enjoyed the rain-affected conditions at the Gold Coast for the first stakes victory of his career.
He improved from the back of the field with 800 metres to run and was able to produce a sustained finish in the hands of the very much in-form Blake Shinn.
The favourite Accession (Brazen Beau) was gallant in defeat and they were well clear of the filly Take Tea (Testa Rossa) back in third.
Pedigree Notes :
A $1,050,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale purchase by James Harron Bloodstock, Stronger is a half-brother to the black type performer Tiger Silk (All American).
Their dam Star Pupil (Starcraft {NZ}) is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Bachman (All American), former Singapore Horse of the Year Stepitup (Hussonet {USA}).
Star Pupil’s sister Ain’tnofallenstar also proved her worth on the track with a pair of Listed successes.
Listed Silk Stocking Handicap, Gold Coast
Race Summary:
It took until the last race of the card at the Gold Coast but Godolphin added to their 2019 stakes total on Saturday when Demerara (Commands) earned her first stakes victory.
The 4-year-old joined her stablemate at the back of the field with only a few horses beat early on as Spirit’s Choice (Spirit of Boom) set the pace a few lengths in front of the field. Demerara went nearly widest of all as the field turned into the straight of the 1200 metre race with only stablemate Epidemic (Lonhro) finding a wider path but the move paid off.
With turf from the heavy track flying up behind her, Demerara flew down the centre of the track to draw even with the leading Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}) at the 200 metre mark. It was a knockout battle from there with Quilista only letting the other mare get more than a head in front of her in the final 40 metres.
The rest of the field was four lengths behind them with Cymbalism (Denman) the best of that pack, finishing three quarter lengths in front of Sexy Eyes (Written Tycoon).
Pedigree Notes:
Demerara is the second stakes winner from her dam Rum Cruise (Canny Lad), who produced Listed winner Limes (Commands) and Listed place getter Orujo (Exceed and Excel).
Rum Cruise is a full-sister to Group 2 winner Helm and from Group 1 winning mare Happy Sailing (Galleon), who is also a half-sister to the dam of Group 2 winner Hello Darl (Metal Precieux). Overall there are nine stakes winners under Demerara’s first three dams.
Rum Cruise’s youngest foal is a 3-year-old Epaulette filly named Sevres with the mare missing or slipping her pregnancies the last few years.
Listed Australian Turf Club Trophy, Gold Coast
Race Summary:
Coldstone (Fr) (Gold Away) looked like he may be willing to challenge for the lead out of the barrier but that was quickly ended when he tucked in on the fence and took up position closer to the back end of the field.
It was an open race as the field turned into the straight with Coldstone desperately needing a gap if he was going to challenge for the lead. As the field entered the final 250 metres and the field again spread out, he was given exactly what he needed and got to work.
He slipped between the two leaders in the final 100 leaders and entered a duel with Music Magnate (NZ) (Written Tycoon) but proved too strong in the final 50 metres and relegated that rival to second. Malvern Estate (Redoute’s Choice), who had battled with Music Magnate before Coldstone entered the battle was able to hold on for third over Tribal Wisdom (Makfi {GB}).
Pedigree Notes:
Vraona (GB) (Fantastic Light {USA}) is the dam of four winners from four foals with wins in countries ranging from France to Tunisia to Australia.
A three-time winner herself, Vraona produced Coldstone as her second foal with her first racing in Hong Kong as Entrusting (Fr) (Kavafi {Ire}). Coldstone is the only stakes winner under his first three dams but there are three other Listed winners under his fourth dam with that mare also a Listed winner herself.
His fifth dam is where the page gets much stronger with Group 1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire)) and Group 1 Greyville Daily News 2000 winner Yulong Prince (SAF) (Gimmethegreenlight) among the horses under her.
Vraona’s two other foals of racing age are both multiple winners in Tunisia.
Listed Gold Coast Bracelet, Gold Coast
Race Summary:
Winning Ways (Declaration of War {USA}) proved to enjoy the heavy going at the Gold Coast on Saturday when registering her first stakes victory and sixth career win.
Running wide and keen early in the race, Winning Ways settled a few hundred metres into the race when she was the middle marker in the field. She continued to race a few paths off the fence and joined a pack of horses swarming the leader with 450 metres to go.
Continuing her wide run, Winning Ways ran up the middle of the track and stayed head to head with a few others eager to win the race in the final 200 metres with the filly beating race favourite Word For Word (So You Think {NZ}) by half length at the line.
It wasn’t far back to third with Etana (Shamus Award) less than a length behind the winner and half-length ahead of Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince).
Pedigree Notes:
The filly’s dam Skip Along (GB) is by supersire Galileo (Ire) and has continued the stallion’s winning tradition with the Danzig (USA) line by producing stakes winners from Danzig grandsons Danehill Dancer (Ire) and Declaration of War.
Skip Along’s first foal was her first stakes winner in two-time listed winner Dreamtime Dancer (Danehill Dancer), with her second foal Cosmologist (Uncle Mo {USA}) never earning blacktype but a seven-time winner.
A winner herself, Skip Along is from a Listed winner and a half-sister to a listed winner with blacktype found under each of her first three dams, including Group 1 winner Raffindale (GB) (Raffingora {GB}) under her third dam.
Winning Ways is the mare’s final foal with Skip Along dying soon after she was born.
Listed Great Easter S., Riccarton
Race Summary:
He Kin Fly (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) was ready to register his second stakes victory when he lined up under Lee Callaway at Riccarton Park in the 1400 metre race.
The gelding was sitting fourth behind the easily galloping Moyrabella (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and didn’t look in any hurry to challenge for the lead. Moyrabella looked like he’d be hard to catch in the straight with over a length on the field until he seemed to hit his limit when slowing down and letting the field catch him. Kiwi Ida (Squamosa) took full advantage of the situation and took over the lead with He Kin Fly right behind her.
It was a quick journey to the lead for He Kin Fly, taking over with less than 100 metres to the wire with Prosecco (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) also overtaking Kiwi Ida for second. While Moyrabella had dropped off in the closing stages, he still had enough stamina to finish fourth a few lengths behind the leading trio.
Pedigree Notes:
A $62,500 weanling from Karaka in 2013, He Kin Fly is the first foal from Listed winning Shi Kin Fly (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}).
The mare is the only stakes winner under her first two dams but stakes form is found again a few generations back with her third dam the Group 1 winner Raywood Lass (NZ) (Diplomatic Agent {USA}). There are five stakes horses under her fourth dam, including five-time Group 1 placed Royal Creation (NZ) (Vice Regal {NZ})
Shi Kin Fly has one other runner with that gelding also a winner. She has an unnamed 2-year-old Makfi (GB) filly and weanling Turn Me Loose colt waiting in the wings and was served by Vespa (NZ) in 2018.
Listed Champagne S., Riccarton
Race Summary:
Two-year-old All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) has proven to be a classy filly already in her career and on Saturday took it to the next level with a first stakes victory.
With Lisa Allpress aboard, All About Magic went two wide just behind the leader and set down for a battle in the final 300 metres with the leading Hot Tap (NZ) (Proisir). Neither refused to yield early on but All About Magic was just too good. Once she had her nose in front, she just continued to build her lead in the closing stages to win by an easy 2 ½ lengths.
Hot Tap, who’d set the pace in the 1200 metre race was a strong second by a long neck over Buck Shellfish (NZ) (Highly Recommended), who was only a nose ahead of fourth place Khitan Warrior (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
Pedigree Notes:
The first stakes winner for her dam Rosecroft (NZ), All About Magic is one of three winners from three to race out of her dam.
Rosecroft is from Group 2 winner Soltanto (NZ) (Tights {USA}) and a half-sister to Group 3 winner Temple Hills (NZ) (Marju {Ire}). Under All About Magic’s third dam is Group 1 New Zealand Oaks winner Solveig (Imposing) and Jon Snow (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) among nine Group 1 winners.
Rosecroft had a colt by Ghibellines in 2017 and was served by Belardo (Ire).
Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre S., Te Rapa
Race Summary:
Rainbow Dash (Showcasing {GB}) took her record to three wins in six starts when winning her first stakes victory on Saturday.
The filly challenged for the lead early on under Kelly McCulloch but yielded to Ramazzonti (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Whiskey Neat (Denman) after a brief battle and settled behind the pair.
By the 450 metre mark she was ready to challenge again but had work to do with three horses ahead of her until the final 100 metres. She drew even with the leading Ramazzonti as Whiskey Neat came with her and was able to pull away in the shadow of the wire to win by half a length.
The leading pair of Whiskey Neat and Ramazzonti had enough left to finish second and third respectively with Folk Dress (Pierro) close behind in fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
Rainbow Dash is one of two winners from two to race out of Sarsourti (NZ) (Ustinov). The 2-year-old filly is the first stakes winner for her winning dam, whose other winner is the four time winning Archduchess (Guillotine {NZ}).
Sarsourti has one stakes winning sibling and her granddam is also a stakes winner but the biggest stakes winner on her pedigree is found under her third dam with Hong Kong champion Sacred Kingdom (Encosta de Lago) and Group 1 placed Jabali (Exceed and Excel).
The mare missed in 2017 and wasn’t served in 2018.
