Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Race-Day Recap
Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s filly Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant {NZ}) proved far too good for Paris Dior (Pierro) and Sejardan (Sebring) to bring up win number two in the $2 million R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick on Saturday.
Capitalist colt Sebonack dominated the G3 Chairman’s S. sparking hopes it is his first step to getting onto a stallion roster.
Cythera (I Am Invincible) bravely holds out a fast-finishing Lady Laguna (Overshare) to take the Listed Darley Lonhro Plate in the opening of a big day for 2-year-olds at Randwick.
Eight days out from his wedding, Jye McNeil was making sure he had plenty of money to pay for it, chalking up a four-race streak of wins at Caulfield.
What's next for Generation? Eustace rules out the G1 Oakleigh Plate after the Snitzel colt’s G3 Manfred S. win.
It was a repeat performance for Winning Rupert filly Jemeldi taking out the 2-year-old race at Doomben again ahead of Spirit Of Boom colt Spiritualised.
New Zealand country Cups king Kilowatt (NZ) (Shocking) claims his biggest scalp to date.
She’s a star
Xtravagant Star (Xtravagant {NZ}) showed her class at Randwick on Saturday to win the $2 million R. Listed Inglis Millennium, relegating the more highly fancied Sejardan (Sebring) and Paris Dior (Pierro) to the placings and booking herself a start in the Golden Slipper.
Xtravagant Star, winner of the R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Trainer Tony McEvoy said he now has a beautiful decision to make for Xtravagant Star, between running in the G1 Blue Diamond S. or concentrating on the G1 Golden Slipper S., there for the choosing.
Connections of Xtravagant Star after winning the $2 million R. Listed Inglis Millennium at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Jockey Chad Schofield said the Melbourne filly’s run was very impressive for a horse which would usually lead.
McNeil stocks the bar
Eight days out from his wedding, Jye McNeil was making sure he had plenty of money to pay for it, chalking up a four-race streak of wins at Caulfield and finishing the day with a fistful of five.
“The day’s definitely going to help pay for the wedding anyway, I know that much,’’ said McNeil.
“The day’s definitely going to help pay for the wedding anyway, I know that much.’’ - Jye McNeil
Headlined by the win in the G3 Manfred S. on the Maher and Eustace-trained Snitzel colt Generation, McNeil started his run in the second aboard Worthily (Point Of Entry {USA}).
He was on the winner in the third, fourth and Generation in the fifth and then teamed with the $11-priced Melba Storm (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) in the eighth to get the win for Busuttin Racing.
McNeil drew praise from far and wide for all rides, but of particular note was that from Dave Eustace.
Jye McNeil was in red-hot form at Caulfield netting a fistful of five race wins | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“Ciaron was pretty mindful to just let the horse really travel deep into the race. As I said (to Jye) before the race, he’s a colt and there’s a bit of improvement there,’’ said Eustace.
“He got it spot on, he let him just travel deep into the straight and when he asked him to quicken, he quickened well. It was a nice watch, really.’’
Generation next?
Dave Eustace said after Generation claimed the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield that the colt was building a good record and was obviously a colt that has done very little wrong and would hopefully continue. In his past six starts, he’s had four wins and two thirds.
Generation, winner of the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
But Eustace all but ruled out a start alongside stable star Marabi (I Am Invincible) in the Oakleigh Plate, saying Generation was not quite sharp enough for that.
“The Zeditave is back here which we would consider and the Newmarket is probably there for consideration as well, being down in the weights and a bit later on,’’ Eustace said.
“Maybe something like the William Reid S., but he’s got to win another race before going to races like that,’’ he added.
Connections of Generation after winning the G3 Manfred S. at Caulfield
“It’s great for these owners. And Yulong are involved in the horse too so who knows, he might end up back there one day.’’
Cythera spoils Lady’s day
Overshare filly Lady Laguna’s two-in-a-row could not be extended to a hat-trick, while being heavily backed for the Darley Lonhro Plate to open the big day for 2-year-olds at Randwick. But the Annabel Neasham-trained runner showed plenty of courage after sitting wide throughout to almost catch debut runner, Cythera (I Am Invincible).
Cythera, a $420,000 purchase and a half-sister to G2 Australia S. winner Thronum (Snitzel), with Tommy Berry doing the steering had beaten off the James Cummings Spacewalk (Exosphere) and looked to be comfortably home.
Cythera (red cap), winner of the Listed Darley Lonhro Plate at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
But Lady Laguna, ridden by James McDonald, showed why there has been plenty of faith in her, rallying for one final dip at the winner to fall just a half-head short.
Spacewalk, although tiring after leading the field into the straight under the riding of Hugh Bowman, held on to fill the placings.
“She is a lovely filly moving forward,’’ said winning rider Tommy Berry of Cythera, who is trained by the Snowdens.
Tommy Berry | Image courtesy of Sportpix
She is also the first Australian runner for the partnership of Iron Racing and George Moore Bloodstock.
It was the second Listed Lonhro Plate winner for her Yarraman Park-based sire (with Supreme Idea successful two years ago) and his 75th stakes winner.
Jemeldi dominant at Doomben
The 2-year-olds were also in action up north at Doomben with Winning Rupert filly Jemeldi dominating the small field with in-control riding by Tiffani Brooker.
Jemeldi, coming off a win at the Sunshine Coast where she had proved too strong for Tony Gollan’s Spirit Of Boom colt Spiritualised put in a repeat performance, heading to the front, showing some smarts to settle and then strong to the line without ever looking seriously threatened.
Trained by Sunshine Coast-based Tom Button, Jemeldi from Schipper (Elusive Quality {USA}) was a $50,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase from the Daandine Stud draft.
Sherry on top
Tom Sherry went race-to-race on the big stage of Royal Randwick on Saturday, giving Shadow Crush (Per Incanto {USA}) back-to-back wins at the track when they stormed down the centre of the track to pick up the Deep Field filly Sky Command in the Ranvet Sprint.
Shadow Crush, winner of the Ranvet Sprint at Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
It had been a similar finish in the previous race, the Midway H. for Sherry to get his first win in the double aboard King Ratel (Animal Kingdom {USA}), although the big run home at the end of the 1600 metres was by necessity rather than design after King Ratel missed the start by 3l, with Pecuniary Interest (Excelebration {Ire}) making that bad outlook slightly better when coming out 8l off the field.
Deserved Dunedin Gold Cup win for Kilowatt
After more than three years as a star of the South Island’s country cups, underrated stayer Kilowatt (NZ) (Shocking) stepped up to stakes class for a career-best victory in Saturday’s Listed Alleviate Administration Dunedin Gold Cup over 2400 metres at Wingatui.
Originally trained by Jacob McKay at Matamata, he was relocated to the Riverton stable of Kelvin and Aimee Tyler in 2017. His 10 victories since then include the Summer Cup, Gore Cup, Tapanui Cup and two editions of the Wyndham Cup, along with a placing in the Listed Riverton Cup in 2019.
Kilowatt (NZ), winner of the Listed Dunedin Gold Cup at Wingatui | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
On Saturday, he claimed his biggest Cup yet. Ridden by Brandon May, the 8-year-old sat at the back of the field before advancing out wide as the field made its way down the side of the track.
Kilowatt kept on coming, moving up to third turning for home and striding clear down the straight. The NZ$14.30 outsider drew clear for an emphatic 2l win over Riviera Rock (NZ) (Road To Rock) and Asathought (So You Think {NZ}).
“That was a really good effort today,” Kelvin Tyler said. “He’s been a good horse for our stable for a number of years now. He started out up north, but he came down to us when he was a lightly raced 4-year-old. He’s done a great job for us since then and has won a good Cup race every year. He deserved this one."
“He’s (Kilowatt) been a good horse for our stable for a number of years now. He’s done a great job for us since then and has won a good Cup race every year. He deserved this one." - Kelvin Tyler
Kilowatt handed a first New Zealand black-type victory for South African-born jockey May, who has ridden eight winners since arriving in New Zealand in mid-2020.
Palmetto strides to Dunedin Guineas victory
Underrated 3-year-old Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) defied a betting drift to claim the Listed Positive Signs Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui with a swooping late run that carried him to a comfortable 2l victory.
The Sally McKay-trained runner had looked to have real potential when winning impressively at Riccarton back in June at his only 2-year-old start, but in five subsequent runs had failed to return at the head of the field.
Palmetto (NZ), winner of the Listed Dunedin Guineas at Wingatui | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The 1500 metres of Saturday’s contest was expected to suit the long-striding customer and so it proved as he settled towards the rear in the early stages before storming home down the middle of the track for rider Shankar Muniandy, to defeat Canterbury raider Shameless Tart (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) and maiden runner Master Marko (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
McKay had been looking forward to her charge stepping out over more ground but felt he may have been better suited to his next challenge which will be the Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas over 1600 metres at Invercargill in a fortnight.
“He’s still got a lot to learn but has been going well without really threatening to win,” she said.
“He was always going to relish a step up in distance, although I told his owners he would go a good race today but would be cherry ripe for the Southland Guineas in a fortnight. I thought he could feature, but he has blown me away by just how well he has hit the line for a really impressive win.”
"I thought he (Palmetto) could feature, but he has blown me away by just how well he has hit the line for a really impressive win." - Sally McKay
From the third crop of White Robe Lodge resident stallion Ghibellines, Palmetto is the second foal of Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Carolina Island (NZ) and is closely related to a host of European stakes winners. Palmetto becomes the fourth individual stakes winner for Ghibellines along with Markus Aurelius (NZ), Smokin’ Romans (NZ) and El Gladiador (NZ).
