Group 1 Robert Sangster S.
Race Summary:
It was billed as a particularly even renewal of the mares’ sprint feature, but Spright (Hinchinbrook) proved otherwise with a superb come-from-behind performance.
Breaking from gate 13, Spright was taken back to second-last by jockey Damien Oliver and still had only one horse behind her at the top of the straight.
But she unleashed a ferocious finishing burst down the outside, getting up to win by a length and a quarter from Cool Passion (Not a Single Doubt), who led for most of the 1200-metre journey. Bella Martini (Stratum) was another head away in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Spright is one of four named foals out of the winning Dash for Cash mare Dashoff. Three of those have been winners, headed by Spright and the Group 3-placed Mine Two (I Am Invincible).
Spright was a $12,000 purchase at the 2014 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale, then cost $100,000 at the 2015 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Spright became the fourth individual Group 1 winner for her sire Hinchinbrook (Fastnet Rock), joining Press Statement (Caulfield Guineas, JJ Atkins S.), Beat The Clock (Chairman’s Sprint Prize, Centenary Sprint Cup) and Seabrook (Champagne S.). He has had a particularly outstanding week, with Beat The Clock’s victory in the Chairman’s Sprint Prize at Sha Tin coming just last Sunday.
Overall, Hinchinbrook is the sire of 209 winners from 321 runners, with 18 of those being successful at black-type level.
Group 1 Schweppes Oaks
Race Summary:
A cool head prevailed when the experienced Damien Oliver picked a winning path for the gifted filly Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
He was in trouble into the straight, but Oliver was patient and switched back to the inside for a clear run and the David Brideoake-trained filly was more than up to the task.
She powered home to beat Mirette (Unencumbered) and House Of Cartier (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}) with Qafila (Not A Single Doubt) finishing off strongly from the back for fourth.
Pedigree Notes :
Princess Jenni was bought out of Phoenix Park’s draft to New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale in 2017 for NZ$120,000.
She is the only foal to race from the Zabeel (NZ) mare Glitzabeel (NZ), who won five times up to 2100 metres.
Glitzabeel is a grand-daughter of the G2 Magic Night S. winner Precious Glitter (Danehill {USA}), who is a half-sister to the G3 Hawkesbury Gold Cup winner and G1 Australasian Oaks placegetter Beauty Watch (Belong To Me {USA}).
Group 2 Euclase S.
Race Summary:
Western Australia raider Valour Road (Frost Giant {USA}) paid back his connections for their decision to send him east with a Group 2 victory in Adelaide.
Valour Road controlled the pace from the beginning, galloping around the track with his ears pricked as Humma Humma (Denman) tried to stay close behind him. Jockey Luke Currie started urging him on with 300 metres to run as he was tackled by Humma Humma and the gelding responded, putting away that runner.
But as soon as Humma Humma dropped back, Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) made his own charge up the rail to make a serious challenge for the lead. Valour Road wasn’t going to back down easily, continuing to run on with his rival looming and was able to get himself to the line first.
It was a close finish for the top three spots with Gytrash (Lope de Vega {Ire}) less than a length behind the duo in third with Humma Humma holding his own against the rest of the field in fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
A $60,000 purchase at Magic Millions’ Perth Yearling Sale in 2017, Valour Road is the first foal and only starter from Melba Avenue (Street Sense {USA}), who was a winner herself.
Melba Avenue is a half-sister to Group 3 winner and stakes producer Raspberries (Lonhro) with the pair out of a daughter of Listed winner Ice Cream Sundae (Sovereign Red {NZ}), who is the dam of Group 1 winner Flavour (Rubiton) and the granddam of Group 1 winner Sonntag (Teofilo {Ire}).
Melba Avenue’s 2-year-old War Chant colt was sold for $48,000 at Yarradale Stud’s Private Yearling Sale last year with the mare foaling a City Place colt last year. The mare shipped to the Hunter Valley last year where she was served by Darley’s Exceed And Excel.
Group 2 Queen Of The South S.
Race Summary:
Coming close to a victory in two previous Listed stakes, Music Bay (Choisir) finally broke through when at the Group 2 level on Saturday.
Music Bay challenged the leading Tahitian Dancer (Dawn Approach {Ire}) for the lead, pushing the other mare nearly every step of the way when racing less than a length behind her. She got tired of playing that game with 300 metres left and got serious, taking over the lead at the 200 metre mark.
Music Bay pulled away from the former leader from there but had to worry about Snogging (I Am Invincible), who was running fast from the back of the field. The finish came just in time with Music Bay beating Snogging by a little under a neck with Clearly (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire} the best of the rest in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Music Bay became the first stakes winner for Illicitly (Kaapstad {NZ}), who is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Piachay (NZ) (Danasinga) and Group 3 winner Utility (NZ) (Flying Spur).
Illicitly’s second dam is champion Eastern Joy (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), whose sister Josette Nicole (NZ) brought even more Group 1 type to the family as the granddam or great granddam of two Group 1 winners with one other sister the dam of Group 1 winner Russian Pearl (NZ) (Soviet Star {USA}).
Music Bay has a yearling half-brother by Wandjina who sold for $40,000 at Inglis Easter this year and her dam was served by Shooting to Win in 2018.
Group 3 D C McKay S.
Race Summary:
A Listed winner already, Despatch (Written Tycoon) stepped up to the next level when winning an Adelaide Group 3.
The gelding broke beautifully to put himself exactly where he wanted in midpack a few lengths off the leader. He’d raced a few paths off the fence throughout the 1100 metre affair and used that to his advantage to have a clear path when he was ready to go for the lead.
He ranged up to the leaders with 200 metres left but had to battle with Haunted (Lonhro) for the lead. Zalmona (Good Journey {USA}) took advantage of the distraction to race up his outside in the final 100 metres but had no chance to catch him. The gelding settled for second while Haunted made it another weekend with a stakes placing for Godolphin when finishing third.
Pedigree Notes:
A pinhook success, Despatch sold for $40,000 as a weanling before bringing $195,000 as a yearling at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
He is the final foal from Zoccoletta (Fasliyev {USA}), who was a three-time winner herself and produced three winners from four foals.
The most accomplished member of his family is his grandam Vita (Thunder Gulch {USA}), who was a Group 3 winner and her granddaughter Tahanee (Arg) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).
Despatch is the final foal from his dam.
Listed Queen Adelaide S.
Race Summary:
It was a second straight victory for Absolute Flirt (Stratum) and first stakes win for the filly at Flemington on Saturday when she rolled to the Queen Adelaide victory.
It was a major battle for the lead straight from the barrier with four different fillies taking their turn in the position quick out of the gate before Absolute Flirt settled in third behind Italian Witness (Star Witness) and Hearty Lass (Wandjina).
The chestnut easily came up on the outside of the leaders with 300 metres to run and took over the lead 100 metres later. She wasn’t challenged in the final stages of the race but did have two pursuers with Balaabel (Not a Single Doubt) making up ground with every stride to finish second by half a length. Li’l Kontra (Krupt), who has proven to be a model of consistency this season with eight on-the-board finishes in eight starts, was third.
Pedigree Notes:
Absolute Flirt is the first named foal from her winning dam Bisutti (Northern Meteor), who is a half-sister to Listed winner Pressing (Sebring).
The family is full of black type under Absolute Flirt’s first three dams but it’s under her fourth that the first Group 1 form appears with Group 1 winner Choice Bro (Choisir) and two-time Group 1 runner-up Cargo Cult.
Bisutti has a yearling colt by Shamius Award, a weanling three-quarter brother to Absolute Flirt by Stratum Star, and she was served by Supido on a September 13 cover in 2018.
