Lean Mean Machine gets off to the perfect start
Aquis Farm’s first-season sire Lean Mean Machine got his career in the breeding barn off to the perfect start when his first runner, Freeman, broke her maiden at Doomben.
The 2-year-old filly defeated Boomster (Spirit Of Boom) by 0.3l, while Mishani Raider (Jet Spur) was another 0.2l away in third.
Lean Mean Machine | Standing at Aquis Farm
The Chris Munce-trained filly was purchased by Robyn Wise for $42,500 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale in 2021, before being snapped up by her trainer and Arthur Hoyeau for $240,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale the following year.
Brave Halo remains unbeaten
Lean Mean Machine’s barnmate, Brave Smash (Jpn) looks to have a potential star among his first crop in the shape of Brave Halo, who retained his unbeaten record by bringing up the third win of his career with a third victory at Ascot.
Trained by Sean and Jake Casey, the colt beat I’m Out (Nostradamus) by an impressive 5.3l, while Good Vibes (Capitalist) was another 0.8l away in third.
Brave Smash is covering his fourth book of mares at a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
Five winners for Vinnie
Not to be outdone by his son and barnmate Hellbent, who sired his first stakes winner, I Am Invincible also enjoyed a good day at the races, siring an impressive five winners.
The quartet of winners was headed by the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Kobenhavn who broke her maiden at Wyong, while 3-year-old gelding Johnny Dash who added a second to his record at Goulburn.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Meanwhile, the stallion was also represented by a winner at Rosehill courtesy of I Am Me and Rubamos and Warrioress landed their respective contests at Doomben and the Gold Coast.
Sheeza Belter bounces back in Hot Danish
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) bounced back from her luckless effort in The Invitation at Randwick two weeks ago with a victory in the G2 Hot Danish S. at Rosehill on Saturday.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden, the 3-year-old filly ran down early leader Lavish Girl (Xtravagant {NZ}) by 0.4l, with outsider More Secrets (More Than Ready {USA}) a further 0.75l back in third.
Co-trainer Paul Snowden explained that it had not all been smooth sailing for Sheeza Belter, with a few setbacks occurring along the way.
Sheeza Belter returns to scale after winning the G2 Hot Danish S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“There's no massive issues, just some infections and things like that that have taken time to get over and move on with," Snowden said. “Unfortunately, the work stops and basically (we) had to pull the pin at one stage and just stop and let all this settle down and go again.
“We gave her a really good chance in The Invitation. I know it was first-up and she profiles better when she gets into her preparation, but we probably had her as good as we could leading into it two weeks ago.
“Just to see her not get any daylight at all and just trucking in behind the main wall there was very frustrating. Here we are back on top of the ground and she's winning, so full credit to her.”
Ellsberg sparkles in Five Diamonds
The Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Ellsberg (Spill The Beans) handed his connections another big pay day on Saturday when he landed the $2 million Five Diamonds.
The Spill The Beans progeny has put together an impressive campaign this time in winning the G1 Epsom H. three back, before saluting in the Five Diamonds Prelude and now Saturday’s victory which takes his earnings over the $3.3 million mark.
Co-trainer Alexiou was confident his charge could handle the step-up in journey.
“I'm tickled pink for the horse,” Alexiou said. “Obviously, there was a few doubters today, but we always had a bit of a gut feeling he'd run it.
“I thought it was a solid gallop and he sustained a bit of pressure and was strong enough late.
“He's really stepping up this preparation. We always thought he's been a handy horse but obviously he's gone to a new level.”
Parr gets off the mark in New Zealand
Josh Parr got his spell in New Zealand off to a flyer when he steered the Mark Walker-trained Campionessa (NZ) to victory in the Listed Nautical Boat Insurance Metropolitan Trophy at Riccarton and the victory provided her sire, Contributer (Ire), with his fourth stakes winner.
The Sydney-based jockey has taken the opportunity to ride in New Zealand for the first time, where he will compete on all three days at Riccarton during New Zealand Cup Week, riding mainly for the Te Akau Racing team.
Josh Parr all smiles after winning the Listed Metropolitan Trophy at Riccarton | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
Owned by the Te Akau Campionessa Syndicate, she was purchased by David Ellis for NZ$60,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale from the draft of Mapperley Stud, who stand Contributer.
Fry, Rawiller and Thornton pick up suspensions
Three jockeys have been suspended on the final day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival on Saturday at Flemington.
Jarrod Fry broke whip rules aboard G1 Champions Mile runner-up Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}), while Nash Rawiller and Damien Thornton were suspended for careless riding on the undercard.
Behemoth retired
Three-time Group 1 winner Behemoth (All Too Hard) has run his last race with his trainer David Jolly, announcing his stable star’s retirement on Saturday.
After breaking his maiden at Morphettville in November 2018, Behemoth would go on to win back-to-back runnings of the G1 Memsie S. at Caulfield in 2020 and 2021, as well as the 2020 G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S.
“We've made the call to pull up on him, he's just been hanging in there by the skin of his teeth, I just felt that maybe it was time,” Jolly said.
“He's just lost a couple of lengths and we're battling to place him at the level, once they're at the top of the tree and they lose a couple of lengths, you're struggling.
Behemoth | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“When he had that bit of a jar up at Caulfield (after the CF Orr S.), we've struggled to get him back to his best, we think he's struggled with it mentally.”
Behemoth was last seen in the rescheduled G1 Manikato S. at Moonee Valley on Cox Plate Day and while Jolly says it was an admirable run, the Goolwa-based trainer believes the difficult decision to retire his stable star is the right one.
“A horse like him they're hard to come by, he has a bit of a cult following. I was a bit sad this morning, but you've just got to reflect on the job he's done for us and just appreciate him for what he's done,” continued Jolly.
