Rosehill, G3 Emirates Park Dark Jewel Classic, $160,000, 1400m
Race summary
A late jockey change proved to be a blessing for James McDonald as he piloted Irithea (Snitzel) to victory in the G3 Dark Jewel Classic at Rosehill for trainer Bjorn Baker. Josh Parr had been booked to ride the mare however was sidelined due to a shoulder injury sustained earlier in the week at Warwick Farm.
Ready To Prophet (Smart Missile) took the early lead and kept it for the majority of the race, leading by 3l until the final turn. There looked to be a fight for the placings down the straight however, Irithea nabbed the lead in the final 50 metres with a photo for second, this went to Into The Abyss (Foxwedge) and Ready To Prophet had to settle for third.
Pedigree notes
Irithea comes from a deep family. Her dam Kirovskaya (French Deputy {USA}) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Cesario (Jpn) (Special Week {Jpn}), who has produced three Group 1 winners in her career with another stakes placed half-sister producing Group 3 winner and Spendthrift sire Overshare.
There are 12 stakes winners under Kirovskaya’s second dam including champions Anna Pavlova (GB) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Gothenberg (Ire) (Polish Patriot {USA}), and Fascinating Rock (Ire) (Fastnet Rock).
Rosehill, Listed TAB Luskin Star S., $112,000, 1300m
Race summary
Ranier (Lonhro) was strongly supported off the back of his resuming win and he had no trouble remaining unbeaten this preparation.
He settled in the first four and when rider Hugh Bowman asked him for a serious effort he responded positively.
Brave Song (Your Song) showed marked improvement to make late ground for second with the 3-year-old Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) gave a good account of himself to run into third.
Pedigree notes
Ranier’s dam Kanzan (Commands) was a smart mare and she won five races, including the G3 Glenlogan Park Stud S. and a brace of Listed events.
She is a half-sister to the Listed Winning Edge Plate winner Kordia (Epaulette) and their dam is Cherry Lodge (Grand Lodge {USA}).
She is a half-sister to the Listed Morphettville Guineas winner Liberty Rose (Royal Academy {USA}) and also on the pedigree page is the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think {NZ}) and the G2 Avondale Guineas winner Dragon Leap (Pierro).
Rosehill, Listed Coolmore Denise’s Joy S., $112,000, 1100m
Race summary
Fituese (Deep Field) continued her immaculate run of form with another commanding performance to win with ease.
The John Thompson-trained filly had the leaders within her sights at the top of the straight and when rider Rachel King pressed the button she lengthened stride impressively.
Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel) gave a good account of herself for second following a break and Sally’s Day (More Than Ready {USA}) did well to come off a BM64 win for a slice of black type.
Pedigree notes
Fituese was purchased for $55,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale and is a daughter of Cattlo (Tiger Hill {Ire}).
She won two modest sprint events and is a half-sister to the three-time winner and sire Tobique (Redoute’s Choice).
They are out of Mammoth (Maizcay) and she is a daughter of the four-time Group 1 winner Mannerism (NZ) (Amyntor {Fr}), the dam of the Group-winning siblings Dandify and Manner Hill.
Rosehill, Listed Yarraman Park Woodlands S., $112,000, 1100m
Race summary
Macroura (Snitzel) continued and outstanding 2-year-old season for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace with another convincing victory.
She was given a cost trip behind the pace on the fence and once into the clear in the straight she proved far superior to remain unbeaten in three appearances.
Mabroosha (Dream Ahead {USA}) suffered her first defeat when beaten into second and Panna Cotta (Fastnet Rock) took third off the front-runner Bellevue Star (Sebring).
Pedigree notes
Macroura is a daughter of the winning Zabeel (NZ) (Zenaida {NZ}) and she is a half-sister to the three-time Group 1 winner Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone {USA}).
Their dam Madison Avenue (NZ) (Morcon {GB}) is an unraced half-sister to the G2 Queen Elizabeth S. winner and G1 Sydney Cup runner-up Hear That Bell (NZ) (Ring The Bell {NZ}).
Also featuring further back in the family is Allegro (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}), whose nine wins included the G1 Captain Cook S.
Rosehill, Listed Arrowfield Ortensia S., $112,000, 1100m
Race summary
Dirty Work (Written Tycoon) continued a good run of form in the Listed Ortensia S., notching up his third win in a row this preparation and his first win at stakes-level. Trained by John, Wayne and Michael Hawkes and ridden by Tommy Berry, the colt is owned by Spendthrift Australia.
Dirty Work jumped well and settled into fifth place on the rail, with Villami (Foxwedge) taking the lead in the early stages of the race. Star Boy (Pluck {USA}) made his bid for the lead at the 300 metre mark, however this was short lived as Dirty Work kicked away from the 200 metre mark and easily won by 2.5l, leaving Star Boy in second with Bon Amis (Bon Hoffa) 2.6l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Dirty Work was an $800,000 yearling purchase for Spendthrift from the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale out of Sledmere Stud's draft.
The 3-year-old is living up to his price tag having already amassed over $200,000 in prizemoney. He is out of the twice successful mare Maidel (Ad Volorem {USA}), who is a half sister to the G3 MRC Ethereal S. winner Gamay (Pierro), and the Listed-winning and G2 ATC Silver S. placegetter Meidung (Bernadini).
His pedigree also features the Group 1 placed and twice successful G2 ATC Warwick S. winner Pinwheel (Lonhro). Maidel has produced a yearling full-sister and a weanling full-brother to Dirty Work and last visited Newgate Farm stallion Capitalist.
Flemington, The Andrew Ramsden S., $320,000, 2800m
Race summary
Mark Zahra made perfect use of the inside gate for Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and settled her into a good rhythm behind the pace.
Oceanex finished in determined fashion over the closing 300 metres to take major honours and book a place in the G1 Melbourne Cup later this year.
King Of Leogrance (Fr) (Camelot {GB}) was sent out a short-priced favourite and looked the winner when he ambled to the front half-way down the straight, but couldn’t withstand the challenge of the mare. Super Girl (So You Think {NZ}) continued her good run of recent font form to claim third.
Pedigree notes
Oceanex was a NZ$70,000 graduate of New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
She is out of Danex (NZ) (Danasinga) who won only one race, but she was placed at Group 2 level and finished fourth in the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
She is also the dam of the G3 Rough Habit Plate winner Amexed (NZ) (Pentire) and a family that has produced the Group 1 winners Ryan Mark (NZ) (Thorn Bird) and Calm Harbour (NZ) (Spectacular Love {USA}).
Ascot, G3 Amelia Park - Roma Cup, $160,000, 1200m
Race summary
Vega Magic (Lope De Vega {Ire}) has been a sprinting marvel with Group 1 wins in his younger days in the Goodwood H, and the Memsie S.
A change of stable has now got the 7-year-old back in form with the gelding successful first-up here for trainers Sean and Jake Casey.
It was the 14th win of his career and came at the expense of The Velvet King (Universal Ruler) and Durendal (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Pedigree notes
Vega Magic is a son of Admirable (Magic Albert), who landed a couple of sprint events during her racing days and all four of her foals to race have been successful.
Her second dam Starlight Express (Century) was a stakes performer and is a sister to the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Century Miss.
Most notably, this is the family of the recently-retired G1 All Aged S. winner Pierata and his brother Ashokan won the G3 Skyline S. and finished third in an edition of the G1 Golden Rose S.
