Sweet success for mare

Jami Lady (Spirit Of Boom) never gave her rivals a look in when she led every step of the way to succeed at black type level for the first time in the Listed Bright Shadow S. at Eagle Farm.

The 4-year-old had won her previous start on the course last month and a trial victory at Deagon had kept her up to the mark.

"She’s built a really consistent record and definitely deserved that, she had placed in stakes company before,” trainer Steve O’Dea said.

"I’ve always thought she’s a better horse with a sit, but she’s matured now and she was able to take the lead, control the race and was strong thought the line.

“She’ll head to the Listed Gai Waterhouse now. It will be her first go at a slightly longer trip (1350 metres), but as I said she’s matured and relaxing better. The track at Ipswich will suit her.”

Strong HK Sale

A gelded son of I Am Invincible out of the Group 3-placed Utopia (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) stole the limelight at the Hong Kong Jockey Club’s International Sale, bringing a sale-topping price of HK$7.2-million (AU$1.3 million).

Purchased by Sze-To Kin Sun, the bay had been a $1 million purchase from the 2018 Inglis Easter Sale from the Torryburn Stud consignment, is a half-brother to the G1 South Australian Derby winner Volatile Mix (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

The Australasian-bred offerings found favour at the sale, accounting for the top six prices. Next up was a HK$6.5 million (AU$1.2 million) son of Zoustar bought by Wong Kwong Miu. The NZ$250,000 NZB Ready To Run purchase is out of Volkster (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Volkstok’n’Barrell (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

“This was a very good sale, it exceeded our expectations. Overall, we have to be pleased with the results and it might be a good sign for the economy in Hong Kong that things could be rebounding,” Hong Kong Jockey Club’s Director of Racing Business and Operations Bill Nader said.

While there were seven withdrawals, all 19 lots offered were sold for HK$74,300,000 (AU$13.75 million). The average of HK$3,910,526 (AU$724, 253) was up 37 per cent on last year, while the median climbed 42.5 per cent to HK$4,000,000 (AU$740,244).

Ryan gets it right

Sirrconi (Nicconi) handled a quick back-up with aplomb to coast away with the Listed Seppelt Wines Winter Championship Final at Flemington.

Runner-up seven days ago at Caulfield, he sat close to the pace under Daniel Stackhouse before putting his rivals to sword by 4l.

“He came here in terrific order and the back-up really worked, that was a dominant win,” trainer Nick Ryan said. “It was a lovely ride, he got the run of the race and I was confident he was a top three chance. To see him do that was great.”

Filly is flying

Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock) has earned a deserved break after completing a hat-trick of wins.

The filly lumped 60kg to victory in the TAB Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington under a fine ride from Jamie Mott, who also partnered her in her previous two successes.

“She’s in fantastic form and she’s done a great job as she’s been up a long time. It was a very good ride by Jamie, who had to be patient and found the gaps,” co-trainer Ben Hayes said.

“He’s got a great relationship with her and can stay on her as long as he wants if he keeps riding her like that. She might be looking for the paddock now and we’ll try and get some black type later on.”

Enable returns

Racing’s star mare Enable (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) will make her keenly-anticipated 6-year-old debut against six rivals in Sunday’s G1 Coral-Eclipse at Sandown.

Her G1 Prince of Wales’s S.-winning stablemate Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was not declared by John Gosden, but the field is still strong with Godolphin’s impressive G1 Coronation Cup hero Ghaiyyath (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Ballydoyle’s G1 Juddmonte International winner Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) engaged, with the latter set to carry the colours of his part-owner Masaaki Matsushima.

Restricted this year as a 4-year-olds and up race, the 2000 metre contest also features the G1 Nassau S. heroine Deirdre (Jpn) (Harbinger {GB}) to add more Japanese interest and the similarly high-class mare Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Current comes in

Humbolt Current (GB) (Fastnet Rock) won for the second time since relocating to Australia when successful in the Tattersall’s H. at Eagle Farm.

He was formerly owned by Her Majesty The Queen and won three times from William Haggas’ stable before he was sold to Star Thoroughbreds.

Humbolt Current opened his Australian account over 2400 metres at Rosehill last spring and had posted a number of minor placings before heading to Queensland to double his tally.

Richards hits century

Te Akau trainer Jamie Richards has raced to 100 wins this season in New Zealand.

Left stranded on 99 wins before the COVID-19 lockdown, Bak Da Master (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was his first runner since and delivered with a well-timed run to triumph in the Jumpers’ Highweight at Awapuni.

Having ended last season on 98 wins in his first term as solo trainer for Te Akau Racing, Richards leads the Trainers’ Premiership in terms of wins, prizemoney, Group and Listed wins and has the best strike rate among the top 10 trainers in the country.

Notable double

Jason Waddell enjoyed a memorable day at Te Rapa on Saturday with success as an owner and jockey.

He is a part-owned of Fonts De L’Algar (NZ) (Sacred Falls), who successfully resumed in the hands of Danielle Johnson and trainer Chad Ormsby in the Te Tapa Event Centre Maiden.

Waddell only took one ride and he made the most of that by guiding the Stephen Marsh-trained Osaka (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) to victory in the Website Angels H.

Quick start

Team Rogerson started a big day at Te Rapa on Saturday in fine style with a victory by promising 2-year-old De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).

The Tuhikaramea-based operation had a big team in action and was celebrating after the first event on the 12-race card with a gritty performance by the filly.

“She’s a good filly who hasn’t had a lot of luck in her racing so far,” Graeme Rogerson said. “Her last run was in the Karaka Million at Ellerslie and she should’ve finished closer than seventh as she didn’t get the best of runs.

“She had worked up well and we thought she would handle the track okay so we were confident of a good run. She has plenty ahead of her now and her long-term goal is the G1 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November.”

Bambry strikes treble

Foxton trainer Chrissy Bambry continued her red-hot run of form since racing recommenced following the COVID-19 hiatus, as she registered a winning treble at Awapuni on Saturday.

Bambry had struck a winning double last week when racing returned at Wanganui and she went one better on Saturday in similar fashion.

Speed Call (NZ) (Any Suggestion) made it two wins in a row in the second race of the day to win handsomely over 1550 metres before speedy winter galloper Deerfield (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) led all the way over 1000 metres in race four.

Bambry completed her treble when maiden galloper Dubai’s Moko (NZ) (Keeper) strode clear to win a rating 61 Pearl Series event.

“I think we have got some really good systems in place,” she said. “We have got good staff and that always helps and obviously having some nice stock to work with is crucial.”