Randwick, G1 Colgate Optic White S., $500,000, 1600m
Race Summary:
Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) was a weight-for-age star in the autumn, and he returned to top form with a powerful come-from-behind performance.
Ridden patiently by Kerrin McEvoy, the 6-year-old sat at the back of the nine-horse field for most of the 1600-metre journey. McEvoy began to improve his position approaching the home turn, and he angled his mount to the outside at the top of the straight.
The elite Godolphin galloper produced an irresistible finishing burst in the soft ground, charging past his opposition and forging clear to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) finished second, with Happy Clapper (Teofilo {Ire} third and Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) a much-improved fourth. Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom {USA}) and in-form Samadoubt (Not A Single Doubt) were close up behind the first four.
Pedigree Notes:
Avilius is by Pivotal (GB), who boasts 987 winners from 1361 winners worldwide. He has sired a total of 149 individual stakes winners, with 30 at Group 1 level. They include Dubai World Cup winner African Story (GB), English Oaks heroine Sariska (GB), elite sprinter Somnus (GB) and top-flight miler Farhh (GB).
Avilius and the Listed winner Peck are Pivotal’s two stakes winners in Australia, while Blair House (Ire) was second in last year’s G1 Caulfield S. and fourth in the Group 1 Underwood S.
Dam of Avilius is the winning Sunday Silence mare Alessandria (GB), who has also produced three other black-type winners. Saint Baudolino (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) won the G2 Deauville Prix d’Ornano and G3 Chantilly Prix de Guiche, and placed in the G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris.Army Bulletin (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) won the Listed Maisons-Laffitte Prix de Suresnes and placed in three stakes races including the G2 Prix Eugene Adam. Well of Wisdom (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}), a 2-year-old in this European season, has won the Listed Longchamp Prix Roland de Chambure and placed in two Group 3 events.
Second dam, Group 1 performer Tereshkova (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), is a full-sister to the Group 1 winner and sire Lycius (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}).
Randwick, G2 Bowerman’s Office Furniture Shorts, $500,000, 1100m
Race Summary:
Pierata (Pierro) staked his claim for favouritism in next month’s $14 million TAB The Everest with a hard-fought victory.
The Greg Hickman-trained sprinter sat close to the pace in the small field and when asked to lengthen stride by rider Tommy Berry he responded posively.
Pierata finished strongly to beat Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and the front-runner Redzel (Snitzel). They both did their Everest chances no harm and neither did Graff (Star Witness), who was a close fourth.
Pedigree Notes:
Pierata is out of November Flight (Flying Spur) who won seven races, including the G3 Millie Fox S.
Also the dam of the G3 Skyline S. winner and G1 Golden Rose S. placegetter Ashokan (More Than Ready {USA}), November Flight is out of November Song (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and she is a half-sister to the Listed Champagne S. winner Crozier (Godswalk {USA}).
It’s also the family of the G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Natural Blitz (Maroof {USA}).
Randwick, G2 Darley Tea Rose S., $200,000, 1400m
Race Summary:
In an enthralling edition of this fillies’ feature it was Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) who prevailed in a tight finish.
The Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old had suffered her first career defeat at her previous outing and she produced a sterling performance to return to winning form.
Funstar raced in third spot and rounded off strongly at the expense of Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) who stormed home and the favourite Libertini (I Am Invincible) was a close third.
Pedigree Notes:
Funstar is a half-sister to the G1 Queensland Oaks and G2 Then Roses winner Youngstar (High Chaparrel {Ire}).
She is out of Starspangled (Ire) (Danehill {USA}), who is a sister to the G3 Give Thanks S. winner Downtown (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) with their dam the multiple Group 1 winner User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}).
Randwick, G3 Bill Ritchie H., $140,000, 1400m
Race Summary:
Chris Waller made the right decision to miss the G3 Cameron H. at Newcastle on Friday with G2 Queensland Guineas winner Kolding (NZ), who finished too strongly for his opposition to win the G3 Bill Ritchie Handicap at Randwick today.
Kolding was luckless first-up in the G3 Tramway Stakes at Randwick when he only found clear galloping room when it was too late. He made amends with a last bound win over Fierce Impact who was first-up and peaked on his effort late.
Kolding is now exempt from the ballot in the G1 Epsom H. which will be run at Randwick in two weeks time and he will be asked to carry the feather weight of 50.5kg.
Kolding's jockey Glen Boss said post race “I was confident at the top of the straight that I was going to run really well but when Nash on Fierce Impact put three quarters of a length on me really quick I thought, ‘oh gee that’s just too good’ but to his credit he lifted when I asked him to.
“That’s a good sign heading towards the Epsom.”
Pedigree Notes:
Kolding is the best performed son of Ocean Park this season, who is closing on 50 winners for the season. From Danzero mare Magic Star, he is a half-brother to 11-time winner and multiple Group-winner Sampson (Dubai Destination {USA}) and Listed winner Miss Upstart (Snippetson).
Magic Star is a half-sister to consistent Queensland black-type winner Make Mine Magic (Canadian Silver), a seven-time stakeswinner and million dollar earner.
Kolding has now earned $449,400 after his win today, and was purchased at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale in 2017 for NZ$170,000.
Randwick, G3 The Agency Real Estate Kingston Town S., $160,000, 2000m
Race Summary:
The Chris Waller trained Finche backed up very good first-up effort in the G2 Chelmsford Stakes with a tough staying effort in the G3 Kingston Town Stakes, overhauling Stampede in the closing stages of the race.
After enjoying the perfect run in transit, Finche relished the extra distance, showing a good turn of foot to leave his rivals in his wake.
The lightly raced son of Frankel (GB) is now outright favourite with most corporate bookmakers, he firmed from $50 before today's win to as low as $15 for the worlds richest two mile handicap, to be run on the first Tuesday in November at Flemington.
After finishing fourth in last year's Melbourne Cup, Finche looks ready to go closer in Australia's most famous race in 2019.
Kerrin McEvoy who partnered Finche today, has a hat-trick of Melbourne Cup wins and said after the race “I’m sure Chris is eyeing off the big race in November again and it’s nice to get him winning here and it will be good to see how he can progress from here”.
Chris Waller is looking forward to getting him to the Melbourne Cup and will map out a suitable plan for him in coming days.
Pedigree Notes:
Finche is by champion racehorse and sire, Frankel (GB). He is out of Woodman (GB) mare Binche (GB), also the dam of four-time Group 1 winner Proviso (GB) (Dansili {GB}) and G1 Royal Ascot Prince of Wales’s Stakes winner Byword (Peintre Celebre {USA}), a Champion in France.
Binche is a half-sister to Binary File (GB), a Champion in Scandinavia.
Hastings, G1 Windsor Park Plate, NZ$200,000, 1600m
Race Summary:
It was all too easy for Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands), who won the Windsor Park Plate for the second year in succession and lifted her career tally of Group 1 victories to eight.
Ridden by Opie Bosson, the all-conquering mare sat in midfield as Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}), Shadows Cast (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Vigor Winner (Declaration of War {USA}) went to war in front. Melody Belle smoothly moved forward into striking distance as the field approached the home turn.
Unleashed by Bosson in the straight, Melody Belle sailed past her outclassed rivals and went clear to win by two and three-quarter lengths. In-form veteran Sultan Of Swing (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}) made up late ground to finish second, with Mongolian Marshal (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) third.
The early speed battle set up a time of 1:34.17 for the 1600-metre feature – the fastest since Jimmy Choux (NZ) (Thorn Park) clocked 1:34.05 in 2011.
Pedigree Notes:
Melody Belle is by Commands, a three-time leading sire of winners in Australia. The son of Danehill has sired 973 winners from 1317 runners, with 79 individual stakes winners.
Melody Belle’s eight Group 1 victories put her at the top of that list, while Appearance, Purple, Epaulette, Undue, Paratroopers, Commanding Jewel, Holler, Skilled, Russeting, Manuel and Erewhon have also scored at Group 1 level.
Melody Belle is out of the winning mare Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and descends from a decorated New Zealand family made famous by James and Annie Sarten. Melody Belle was bred by the Sartens’ daughter Marie Leicester.
Meleka Belle is a half-sister to four black-type performers including Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who finished second in the Listed Champagne S. and third in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Hastings, G3 Hawke’s Bay Breeders’ Gold Trail S., $70,000, 1200m
Race Summary:
Aretha (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) made a triumphant 3-year-old return with a gritty display after jumping well and making all in front.
She was hotly pursued in the closing 100 metres by Bavella (Snitzel), who was also resuming, but stuck to her task determinedly to win by the barest of margins. The G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas is on the programmes of both Aretha and Bavella.
Pedigree Notes:
Bred and raced by Greg McCarthy, Aretha is out of the unraced Stravinsky (USA) mare Tsikory (NZ), who is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Fiumicino (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Their dam Latte (NZ) (Maroof {USA}) failed to win, but she has a rich pedigree as a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Horcliks (NZ) (Three Legs {GB}), whose multiple Group 1 wins included a Japan Cup.
She also found fame as a broodmare, producing the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Brew (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and his G2 Avondale Guineas winning sister Bubble (NZ).
Riccarton, Listed New Zealand Bloodstock Canterbury Belle S., NZ$50,000, 1200m
Race Summary:
Miss Federer (NZ) (Swiss Ace) drew an outside barrier but her gate speed was evident when she easily crossed the field to lead.
Rider Kylie Williams kicked her clear at the top of the Riccarton straight and she kept up a strong gallop to hold out the late charge of All About Magic (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) with Woodcote Lass NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) running on well to take third.
Pedigree Notes:
A NZ$10,000 Karaka purchase by trainer Andrew Carston, she is a daughter of Halobelle (NZ) (My Halo {Arg}) who was a two-time Listed winner and has also produced Miss Federer’s stakes performed sister Starlight Angel (NZ).
Halobelle is a half-sister to the multiple winner and G2 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile runner-up Benelli (NZ) (I Conquer {NZ}) and a family that features the former champion German sprinter Ferro Sensation (Ger) (Paolini {Ger}).
