G1 Schweppes All Aged S., $480,000, 1400m
Race summary
A breakthrough season for Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) reached a Group 1 pinnacle in Saturday’s All Aged S. at Randwick.
The Michael Moroney-trained 4-year-old started this season in August in BM78 grade. She stepped up to stakes class later in the spring and won the G3 Northwood Plume S. and Begonia Belle S., and her rise continued into the autumn with a close Group 1 placing in The Galaxy at Rosehill.
But Saturday was the one her connections desperately wanted. Ridden by Kiwi jockey Opie Bosson, Tofane settled in sixth spot as White Moss (Mossman) led the field up to the home turn.
The defending All Aged S. champion Pierata (Pierro) cruised into contention in the straight and was seemingly set for a Group 1-winning career swansong, but then Tofane joined in and spoiled the party.
Tofane drew up on Pierata’s outside and the two fought a stirring battle to the finish, and it was Tofane who prevailed by a nose in a tight photo.
The mare races in the colours of Rupert Legh, who shares ownership with many others including Ballymore Stables, Wright Racing, Werrett Bloodstock and Gee Gee Equine Ltd.
Tofane has had 14 starts for five wins, three placings and more than $800,000 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Tofane was bred by Gordon Cunningham, the founder and owner of respected New Zealand nursery Curraghmore. She was bought privately by Ballymore Stables.
She is by young Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ), a Cox Plate winner who has become an excellent source of winners at stud with 133 winners from 218 runners.
Ocean Park sired his first Group 1 winner earlier this season when Kolding (NZ) won the Epsom H. at Randwick, and that runner later won the $7.5 million Golden Eagle. His other progeny include Group 2 winner Oceanex (NZ) and Group 1 placed Star Of The Seas (NZ).
Tofane is the first foal to race out of Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}). A winner herself, Baggy Green is a three-quarter sister to this season’s Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).
The second dam is User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), who won eight races including the G1 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, St Leger and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud.
She produced eight winners from 10 foals to race including Group 3 winner Downtown (Ire) (Danehill {USA}).
Since Tofane was born in 2015, Baggy Green has produced No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) in 2016 and Bradman (NZ) (Pins) in 2017. They have each raced once. She had another colt by Pins in 2017 and a colt by Reliable Man (GB) in 2018. She returned to Ocean Park last spring.
The Pins colts have sold for NZ$40,000 and NZ$85,000 in Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
G1 Moet & Chandon Champagne S., $400,000, 1600m
Race summary
Two weeks on from his victory in the Sires’ Produce S., King’s Legacy (Redoute’s Choice) repeated that result and completed an autumn Group 1 double.
Ridden again by his Sires’ Produce-winning jockey Hugh Bowman, King’s Legacy raced in midfield behind a steady pace set by surprise leader Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock). The expected front-runner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) blew the start and was at the back of the field early in the race, then worked forward to sit outside Glenfiddich.
The front-running Glenfiddich still had plenty to offer in the straight, but King’s Legacy got out into the clear and wore him down to score a narrow but authoritative win. Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) finished well wider out to run third, just over 1l behind Glenfiddich.
King’s Legacy was a $1.4 million purchase by syndicator James Harron at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the valuable colt has now won three of his six starts and $884,100 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
King’s Legacy was bred by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia Pty Ltd, and was sold through their draft on the Gold Coast.
He is one of 38 individual Group 1 winners for his late sire Redoute’s Choice. He is also the champion stallion’s second Champagne S. winner, following on from Samantha Miss in 2008.
King’s Legacy is out of Breakfast In Bed (Hussonet {USA}), who won seven races and placed in the Listed Nudgee H., Just Now H. and the Gai Waterhouse Classic.
Breakfast In Bed is a half-sister to Oohood (I Am Invincible), the winner of the G1 Flight S. and placegetter in the G1 Golden Slipper, Sires’ Produce S., Caulfield Guineas and Blue Diamond.
Breakfast In Bed’s dam Bella Sunday (Sunday Silence {USA}) is a half-sister to the stakes winner and excellent sire Not A Single Doubt.
Their dam Singles Bar (Rory’s Jester) is dam or granddam of more than half a dozen stakes performers, including the Golden Slipper placegetter and sire Zizou.
Both of Breakfast In Bed’s two named foals have been winners. Three-year-old filly Do Not Disturb (Fastnet Rock) has won two races to date over 1100 metres and 1400 metres.
Breakfast In Bed has a yearling filly by Redoute’s Choice, and she produced another filly by I Am Invincible in the spring of 2019. She was then served by Pierro.
G3 Cactus Imaging Frank Packer Plate, $140,000, 2000m
Race summary
Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) bridged the gap from a last-start maiden victory at Wyong to black type company with aplomb.
He was patiently handled by James McDonald and they emerged with a strong finishing effort over the closing 150 metres for the gelding’s second win from four appearances.
Bottega (Snitzel) made ground gamely to take second money from the front-runner Entente (Dundeel {NZ}), who wilted in the final stages after dashing 5l clear 350 metres from home.
Pedigree notes
Kinane was a NZ$150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale purchase and is out of Tres Rapide (NZ) (Nom Du Jeu {NZ}).
She is out of a half-sister to the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic winner Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and to Manten (Encosta De Lago), who was successful on nine occasions and was runner-up in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
They are out of the two-time black type winner Dazzling Belle (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}).
G3 Mostyn Cooper James HB Carr S., $140,000, 1400m
Race summary
Rising star Rubisaki (Rubick) capped a sensational season in style with her sixth consecutive victory.
Following outstanding recent performances in the $1 million Inglis 3YO Sprint, G2 Kewney S. and G3 PJ Bell S., the Patrick Payne-trained filly was the odds-on favourite to do it again on Saturday.
She was slightly slow to leave the gates and was clearly last early in the race, but rider Nash Rawiller never panicked. Rubisaki improved to third-last inside the first 200 metres, and as the field came up to the home turn she was creeping closer and travelling smoothly.
Rubisaki changed gears in the straight and rushed to the lead, then lifted again to hold out a big late challenge from Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
St Covet’s Spirit (Uncle Mo {USA}) finished third, 0.75l behind the first pair.
Carrying the colours of Joe O’Neill’s Prime Thoroughbreds, Rubisaki has now had 10 starts for eight wins and two seconds.
Rubisaki was bought for just $85,000 at the 2018 Inglis Classic Sale, and she has now earned more than $1.15 million in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Edinburgh Park’s Ian Smith, Rubisaki is by the young Coolmore stallion Rubick. Standing for a service fee of $38,500 in 2019, Rubick has made a massive impression with his first couple of crops to hit the racetrack, headed by Everest hero Yes Yes Yes.
Rubick has sired 44 winners from 108 runners, with Yes Yes Yes, Condo’s Express and Rubisaki all winning at black-type level.
Rubisaki is out of Senro Kisaki (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won two races. She is out of a half-sister to River Cara (USA) (Irish River {Fr}), who won the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse.
Senro Kisaki is the dam of four named foals, and all of them are winners. Victory Marvel (I Am Invincible) won five races in Hong Kong, while Zizzis (Sizzling) is a four-race winner who finished fourth in the Listed Lightning S. in Adelaide.
Senro Kisaki had a colt by Sizzling in 2018 and a filly by So You Think (NZ) in 2019. She returned to Rubick for her subsequent mating.
G3 Japan Racing Association Plate, $140,000, 2000m
Race summary
Life Less Ordinary (Ire) (Thewayyouare {USA}) returned to his form from the 2019 Queensland winter carnival with a determined victory at Randwick.
The Chris Waller-trained gelding claimed a career-best victory in the G2 Hollindale S. on the Gold Coast last May, then finished second in the G1 Doomben Cup.
He had been unplaced in six starts dating back to the spring, but turned things around on Saturday in the hands of rider Jason Collett.
After sitting in sixth place for most of the race, Collett got Life Less Ordinary into the open in the straight and sent him out in pursuit of the front-runner Greysful Glamour (Stratum).
That runner had an easy time in front and still had plenty of energy left in the straight, but Life Less Ordinary gradually finished over the top of the grey mare to claim a narrow win.
The winner’s stablemate Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) flashed home from second-last to run third, 1.25l behind Greysful Glamouor.
Life Less Ordinary races in the colours of major Waller client Richard Pegum. The 8-year-old has had 51 starts for nine wins, 18 placings and just under $1.3 million in prizemoney.
Pedigree notes
Born in Ireland, Life Less Ordinary is by Thewayyouare (USA), who shuttled to Windsor Park Stud in New Zealand between 2010 and 2014.
Thewayyouare is the sire of 226 winners from 437 runners worldwide, with 10 individual stakes winners headed by Life Less Ordinary and fellow Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Toast Of New York (USA).
In Australia and New Zealand, Thewayyouare has sired 68 winners from 144 runners. His three black-type winners in this part of the world are Life Less Ordinary and two Listed winners in New Zealand.
The dam of Life Less Ordinary is Don’t Cross Tina (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), who won over 1800 metres in Ireland and is out of a half-sister to the Grade 3 winner and Grade 1-placed Hard Drivin (GB) (Muhtarram {USA}).
Life Less Ordinary’s fourth dam Lucky Lucky Lucky (USA) (Chieftain {USA}) won the G1 Kentucky Oaks, G1 Matron S. and four other stakes races, along with placings in the G1 Demoiselle S., Spinster S., Alabama S., Frizette S. and Hollywood Oaks.
Don’t Cross Tina is the dam of two winners from three foals to race. Life Less Ordinary’s older half-brother Black Ice (Ire) (Great Exhibition {USA}) won two races in Ireland over two miles and further.
G3 TAB Hall Mark Plate, $140,000, 1200m
Race summary
Greyworm (Master Of Design) was a dual winner during his spring preparation and he has picked up where he left this autumn.
The 5-year-old won for the second time in three appearance this time around when he made all the running and kicked on strongly for his ninth victory from 15 starts.
Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}), who gave the winner 4kg, was a game second and stablemate Kementari (Lonhro) came on late for third.
Pedigree notes
The winner is the second stakes winner for Master Of Design, whose son The Mitigator won the G1 Thorndon Mile in New Zealand during the summer.
Greyworm is a son of Miracle Magic (Dash For Cash), who was successful on four occasions up to 1900 metres.
Black type form under the first two dams is absent, but further back in the pedigree is the G1 Australian Guineas winner Rock Classic (Fastnet Rock) and the Group 2 winner Astrodame (Flying Spur).
