Rosehill, G2 Iron Jack Missile S., $200,000, 1200m
Race summary
Last month Eduardo (Host {Chi}) snapped a 21-month losing streak with a victory at Rosehill, and now he has gone back-to-back with a Group 2 triumph.
Ridden by Nash Rawiller, the lightly raced 7-year-old showed explosive gate speed and immediately took a commanding lead.
He faced challenges in the straight but dug deep and fought them all off, winning by 1.5l.
Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) finished second, with Imaging (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) third.
Glenall (Redoute’s Choice) crossed the finish line in fourth place, ahead of Mister Sea Wolf (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
After initially starring in the stable of Sarah Zschoke, Eduardo is now trained by Joe Pride for a big syndicate of owners.
He has now won five of his 14 starts and earned a total of $476,900 in prizemoney.
Pedigree notes
Eduardo was bred by Jane Kaufmann in Victoria, who retains a share of the ownership.
He is by the late Hussonet (USA) stallion Host (Chi), who stood in Australia from 2008 to 2019. He is the sire of 147 winners from 248 runners with six individual stakes winners.
Eduardo has been one of Host’s standout performers, along with Philippi who won the G2 Tulloch S. and Alister Clark S. and placed in the G1 Australian Derby.
Eduardo is one of three winners from three foals to race for the Fantastic Light (USA) mare Blushing. Her other two winners are My Angus (Domesday) and Watch Me Blush (Keffelstein).
Eduardo’s granddam is Peggy Ann (NZ) (Bletchingly), who won seven races including the G3 QTC Lightning H. She is a daughter of Avon Angel (NZ) (Avon Valley {GB}), who won the G1 Rosemount Wines Classic and placed in the G1 George Ryder S.
Rosehill, Listed Schweppes Rosebud, $140,000, 1100m
Race summary
Anders (Not A Single Doubt) scored his third win in a row, and his first at stakes level, with a dominant front-running performance.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt burst out of the starting gate and went straight to the lead, and the chestnut colt never relinquished that position.
With Jason Collett in the saddle, he kicked away in the straight and streaked away to score by 4.75l.
Last season’s Group 1 performer Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon) finished the race off well to take second place, with The Face (Rubick) third and Kumasi (Snitzel) fourth. Sixgun (Snitzel) missed the start badly but recovered well for an eye-catching fifth.
Racing in the blue colours of Aquis, Anders has now won three of his seven starts and $206,615 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Anders was bred by Arrowfield Stud and was a $670,000 purchase by Aquis Farm and Ciaron Maher Racing at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He became the 73rd individual stakes winner for the retired Arrowfield stallion Not A Single Doubt. The top-class sire has now been represented by a total of 670 winners from 927 runners, headed by 14 winners at Group 1 level.
Anders is out of Madame Andree, a daughter of the Kentucky Derby winner War Emblem (USA).
Madame Andree’s dam is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Exciting Story (USA) (Diablo {USA}) and Kentucky Oaks placegetter Sweeping Story (USA) (End Sweep {USA}).
Madame Andree is the dam of three foals to race, all of them winners. Battleground (Snitzel) placed in the Listed Gosford Guineas.
The mare produced a colt by Shalaa (Ire) in 2018 and a Snitzel filly last year, then was served by Pariah.
Flemington, G3 Aurie’s Star H., $160,000, 1200m
Race summary
Damien Oliver won the Aurie’s Star for the fifth time with a perfectly-timed finish aboard Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).
Awkwardly placed and bumped soon after leaving the gates, the Godolphin 9-year-old was then kept out in clear air on the outside and improved into third place.
Favourite Great Again (Viscount) surged to the lead inside the last 300 metres in what looked like a winning move, but Home Of The Brave got warmed up and came home over the top of him to edge him out by 0.75l.
Another 0.5l away in third was Game Keeper (Fastnet Rock).
Trained by James Cummings, Home Of The Brave has now had 34 starts for eight wins, 11 placings and just under $1.1 million in stakes.
This was the seventh stakes win for Home Of The Brave, who had previously won the G3 Criterion S., G3 John of Gaunt S. and three Listed races in the UK, along with the G2 Theo Marks S. in Sydney.
Pedigree notes
Home Of The Brave was bred in Ireland by Earl Ecurie Du Grand Chene.
He is by Starspangledbanner, who has overcome fertility issues early in his career to sire 138 winners from 228 runners including 14 individual stakes winners.
Home Of The Brave’s dam Blissful Beat (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) is a half-sister to the Group winners Rashbag (GB) (Reprimand {GB}) and Suggestive (GB) (Reprimand {GB}).
Another star performer from this family is Al Shemali (GB) (Medicean {GB}), who won the G1 Dubai Duty Free at Meydan.
