Group 1 Kingsford-Smith Cup
Race Summary:
The Bostonian (NZ) claimed his second Group 1 victory of the Brisbane Winter Carnival, backing up his Doomben 10,000 success, with a 0.75l win in the Kingsford-Smith Cup at Eagle Farm.
Brilliantly ridden by Michael Cahill, The Bostonian sat just in behind the early leaders and securing a run at the 300m, he rushed past Irithea (Snitzel) and then held off Princess Posh (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) to win again.
He will now head towards the G1 Stradbroke Hcp at the same track in two weeks' time, looking to complete an unprecedented sprint treble.
Raced by his breeder David Archer and trained by Tony Pike, The Bostonian has now won nine of his 16 starts and over $1.25m in prizemoney.
Pedigree Notes:
The Bostonian is the sole Group 1 winner for his sire Jimmy Choux (NZ), who will stand at Western Australia's Rosalee Park in WA from 2019.
He is out of Keepa Cheval (NZ) (Keeper), who has produced three winners, but before The Bostonian's efforts was better known as the sister of prolific Group 1 winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}). It is also a family of stakes-winner and Group 1 placed Commander Cheval (NZ) (All Glory {NZ}) and stakes winners Radio Sky (NZ) (Kreisler {Ire}) and Grey Invader (NZ) (Brilliant Invader).
Keepa Cheval has an unnamed Shamexpress 3-year-old filly, and unnamed Makfi (GB) 2-year-old colt, a Rip Van Winkle (Ire) yearling filly and foaled a colt to Iffraaj {GB}) last year before visiting Almanzor (Fr).
Group 2 BRC Sires' Produce S.
Race Summary:
After three stakes placings, it was fourth time lucky for talented two-year-old Strasbourg (I Am Invincible).
Having settled in the rear half of the field, Tommy Berry produced a perfectly timed run in the straight to reel in the front-running Garibaldi (I Am Invincible) inside the last 150 metres.
The favourite Accession (Brazen Beau) got warmed up late in the race and charged home on Strasbourg’s outside, but he was too far in front and kept going too strongly, winning by a long neck. Garibaldi held on gallantly for third, three-quarters of a length behind the first pair.
Pedigree Notes:
Strasbourg was a $750,000 yearling purchase by the China Horse Club, Newgate Farm and WinStar Farm.
He is the eighth two-year-old stakes winner this season for champion sire I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), who sits at the top of the Australian two-year-old sires’ premiership this season.
Strasbourg is the first named foal out of the Dane Shadow mare Danish Spy, who herself won five races and placed in the G2 Queen of the South S. She is a half-sister to the stakes winner Forest Spy (Shinko Forest {Ire}), and her dam Super Snooper (Zeditave) also won at Listed level.
Danish Spy subsequently produced another I Am Invincible colt, who fetched $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale earlier this year.
Group 3 Grinders Coffee Roasters S.
Race Summary:
Godolphin added another stakes victory to their impressive season early on the Eagle Farm card when Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) won her first career Group stakes.
Quickly after the start Savatiano took up second position and galloped a few lengths behind a keen Quilista (Scandal Keeper {USA}) in the 1300 metre race. As Quilista came back to the field with 400 metres to run, Savatiano was the first – and only - to take the lead from her as they hit the 300 metre mark. From there, Savatiano easily galloped to victory with Tommy Berry aboard.
The jockey had an easy job in the final 100 metres as Savatiano merrily built on her margin to win by 2 ¾ lengths over race favourite Quilista, who finished second in front of Eckstein (I Am Invincible) by half a length.
Pedigree Notes:
A Godolphin homebred, Savatiano is from winning Redoute’s Choice mare Retsina, who is a daughter of Group 1 winner Star Shiraz (Sequalo). There are seven stakes horses under Savatiano’s first four dams with Star Shiraz the most accomplished.
Savatiano is Retsina’s first foal and has won or placed in seven stakes races. The mare produced placed Athens (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) the following year and her 2-year-old Athiri (Lonhro) is Group 2 placed and was fourth in the Group 1 Blue Diamond.
The mare has a Hallowed Crown weanling colt and returned to Lonhro on a 6 November cover last year for a full sibling to Athiri.
Group 3 LordMayor's Cup
Race Summary:
Tom Melbourne (Ire) (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) looked home free in the Group 3 Lord Mayor’s Cup until Order Again (NZ) (Iffraaj (GB)} rushed up in the final 100 metres to relegate the gelding to second yet again.
While Tom Melbourne set the pace, Order Again split the field when running mid-pack on the rail. As the field turned into the straight Order Again came out a few paths to find a clearing but still had four horses in front of him if he wanted the lead. That changed in just a few strides when he manoeuvred through a hole and only had Tom Melbourne in front of him.
Order Again drew even with the fan favourite 75 metres to go before heading him and pulling away in the final 50 metres to win by three-quarters of a length. Recording his 14th runner-up finish, Tom Melbourne finished a length in front of fellow OTI Racing owned Irish-bred Le Juge (Dansili {GB}) to give trainer Chris Waller the second and third place finishers.
Pedigree Notes:
A New Zealand-bred, Order Again is the second foal and first winner from the winning mare Glass Half Full (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Jetset Lad (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}).
This is the extended family of two-time Group 1 winner Perlin (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and Group 2 winner My Xpression (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) among nine stakes winners under Order Again’s first four dams.
Five-year-old Order Again is the youngest horse from Glass Half Full to run with the mare having unraced 3- and 4-year-olds in addition to a 2-year-old unnamed colt by Niagara.
The mare also has a yearling full brother to Order Again who sold for $210,000 at Karaka this year and a weanling full sister to the stakes winner as well. The mare was bred to Sacred Falls (NZ) in 2018.
Group 3 Fred Best Classic
Race Summary:
Military Zone (Epaulette) secured a spot in the Group 1 Stradbroke next month when he won the final race on the Eagle Farm card.
The Triple Crown Syndications-owned gelding raced in mid-pack during the 1400 metre race and had most of the field to beat as they swung into the straight. Jockey James McDonald angled the gelding out to gain clear running room with 350 metres left and it was exactly what he needed.
Military Zone passed most of the field in in the 75 metres after the 300 metre mark and drew clear with 100 metres to go.
He was flanked by Krone (Eurozone) and Baccarat Baby (Casino) from the time he hit the lead with the pair sticking to his tail. While it was clear Military Zone was the winner, it took a photo to determine second place with Baccarat Baby edging out Krone.
Pedigree Notes:
Military Zone is the second foal from Loading Zone (Street Sense {USA}), who has two foals of racing age with both making it to the track. The mare is a half-sister to two Listed winners and the dam of Group 2 winning Scarlet Rain (Manhattan Rain).
Her third dam is Group 2 winner Blixen, who is also the dam of Listed winning Avilde (Grand Lodge). Two-time Group 1 winner Toorak Toff (Show a Heart) was also produced by one of Blixen’s daughters.
Loading Zone’s yearling Kermadec colt was also sold to Triple Crown Syndications for $280,000 at the Inglis Classic Sale this year. Her weanling filly is by Manhattan Rain and she was served by freshman sire Russian Revolution last November for a 2019 foal.
Group 3 Grand Prix S.
Race Summary:
A call earlier this week to send Fun Fact (The Factor {USA}) to this race by trainer Bjorn Baker paid off for the gelding with a first career stakes victory.
Breaking best of the field, the 3-year-old gelding shot straight to the lead under Michael Cahill while galloping comfortably. He opened up a large margin on the field about half-way through the 2200 metre race but was cruising easily in front.
The field closed into his lead in the straight and with 200 metres to go it looked like there was a chance he’d be caught. Three horses were able to close the margin to under two lengths with Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice) closest of all but Fun Fact looked like he had more left in the tank as he crossed the line.
Angel Of Heaven was a length behind in second with Home Made (High Chaparral {Ire}) just a neck behind him in third with Trusty Lad (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) a further half-length back in fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
A $240,000 yearling at Magic Millions’ Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Fun Fact is from listed Canberra Cup winner Fill The Page (Dane Shadow).
The mare is the best of her dam’s runners and a full sister to Group 3 placed Patch Adams with Fun Fact now the second stakes winner in his first four generations.
Fill The Page has an unnamed Deep Field 2-year-old colt who was passed in at the 2018 Inglis Classic sale, a yearling Star Witness filly, and a weanling So You Think (NZ) colt. She was bred to freshman sire Merchant Navy last year.
Group 3 Premier's Cup
Race Summary:
The Candy Man (Casino Prince) made his seventh consecutive victory even sweeter on Saturday when he earned his first stakes victory.
The grey broke among the leaders in the 2200 metre race but was happy to yield the lead and sit in about fifth behind the leading Igraine (Ger) (Galileo {Ire}), who ran multiple lengths ahead of the field and was about five lengths ahead as they rounded the bend into the straight.
The mare turned into the straight with a sizeable margin but The Candy Man took advantage of an open rail to fly after the leader. He caught her with 150 metres to run and took over the lead at the 100 metre mark. Haripour (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) made a late run and nearly caught the gelding, finishing only a neck behind him. The victory took The Candy Man’s record to seven victories and two other top three finishes in 11 starts.
Igraine was able to keep the rest of the field behind her when finishing third with Luvaluva (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) fourth as the race favourite.
Pedigree Notes:
A $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Horses in Training Sale graduate as a 2-year-old, The Candy Man is the third stakes horse from Listed placed Melody (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who produced Listed placed Motifs (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) as her first foal and Listed winning Phrases (Casino Prince) as her second.
The mare is a half-sister to the dam of Group 2 winner Maygrove (Authorized {Ire}) and a granddaughter of Group 3 placed Attempting (Ire) (Try My Best {USA}), who produced two stakes winners herself.
Melody has produced four winners from five to race with all but one of those winners producing at least two victories. The mare’s youngest progeny is a Proisir filly, who was passed in at Karaka.
