Caulfield, G1 Ladbrokes Caulfield Guineas, 1600m, $2,000,000
Race Summary:
Super Seth (Dundeel {NZ}) came from the clouds for a superb victory in the famously stallion-making Caulfield Guineas.
After a strong pace was set up by the South Australian runner Roccabascerana (Fighting Sun), it was Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) who made what looked like it would be a winning move.
Trying to follow in the footsteps of his Caulfield Guineas-winning sire All Too Hard, and trying to make history as the first unbeaten winner of the Guineas, the Sunshine Coast gelding produced a powerful sprint in the straight and powered clear.
But Alligator Blood began to wobble in the last 100 metres, while Super Seth was gaining momentum. He produced an enormous finish from a long way back, catching Alligator Blood right on the line in a photo finish. Super Seth was ridden to victory by Mark Zahra.
Groundswell (Fastnet Rock) finished 2.25l behind the first pair in third place, with Subedar (Sepoy) just behind him in fourth and the favourite Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}) fifth home.
Super Seth is trained by Anthony Freedman for an ownership group that includes Pinecliff Racing, Railway Regulars and seven other individuals. Freedman and Pinecliff also combined with the third-placed Groundswell.
Super Seth has now won four of his seven starts and more than $1.4 million in stakes. He had previously won the G3 H.D.F. McNeil S., ran third in the Listed Anzac Day S. and was a fast-finishing fifth in the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude in his previous start.
Pedigree Notes:
Super Seth was bred by Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd and Planette Thoroughbred. He was a $280,000 purchase at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock.
Super Seth is the fourth individual Group 1 winner for Arrowfield stallion Dundeel (NZ), joining Yourdeel (NZ), Castelvecchio and Atyaab. Dundeel is the sire of 53 winners overall from 110 runners, with nine individual stakes winners.
Super Seth is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Salutations, who has produced three winners from four foals to race. Wild Planet (Animal Kingdom {USA}) won three races including the Listed Scone Inglis 3YO Guineas and Poseidon S., and he placed in five other stakes races including the G3 VRC Carbine Club S.
Salutations produced a Dundeel filly in 2017, named Salutadeel, and returned to the same stallion last spring.
The second dam Toast of the Coast (Rory’s Jester) won the G2 Yallambee Classic and Listed Birthday Card H. and placed in the G3 Tranquil Star S. and Thoroughbred Club S.
Caulfield, G1 Ladbrokes S., 2000m, $1,000,000
Race Summary:
The purchase of Cape of Good Hope (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) paid off immediately for David Hayes, with the well-related import making a perfect start to his Australian career.
Ridden by Mark Zahra in the dark blue colours of part-owners Coolmore, the entire settled in sixth place as the well-performed pair of Gailo Chop (Fr) (Deportivo {GB}) and Homesman (USA) showed the way.
Veteran Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars), a last-start winner of the G1 Underwood S., came off their tail and dashed to the lead 150 metres from the finish, but Cape of Good Hope loomed on his outside.
That pair locked horns through the last 75 metres in a desperate two-horse war, which Cape of Good Hope won by a nose.
Completing a great result for David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig, stablemate Harlem (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) finished third. Favourite Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) made up ground out wide down the straight and was fourth.
Cape of Good Hope is now the winner of three of his 11 starts and has gone past $1 million in prize-money. The Cox Plate and Mackinnon S. are his likely targets through the remainder of the spring.
Pedigree Notes:
Cape of Good Hope boasts a pedigree of the highest class. He is by world-champion sire Galileo (Ire), who has sired 1461 winners from 2139 runners including 308 at stakes level.
His 83 individual Group or Grade 1 winners include eight in Australia – Linton, The United States (Ire), Niwot, Sousa, Foundry (Ire), Seville (Ger), Adelaide (Ire) and now Cape of Good Hope.
Cape of Good Hope’s dam is Hveger (Danehill {USA}), who placed in the G1 Australasian Oaks. But she has found her greatest fame in the broodmare barn with five winners, headed by the remarkable Highland Reel (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), whose 10 wins included the G1 King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S., Breeders’ Cup Turf, Prince of Wales’s S., Coronation Cup, Secretariat S. and two editions of the Hong Kong Vase. He also placed in seven other Group 1 races including the Cox Plate and Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe. He stands at Swettenham Stud for a service fee of $16,500.
Idaho (Galileo {Ire}) has been another strong performer, winning the G2 Great Voltigeur S., G2 Hardwicke S. and G3 Ormonde S. and placing in the G1 Epsom Derby, Irish Derby and King George VI & Queen Elizabeth S.
Valdemoro (Encosta de Lago) placed in the G1 VRC Oaks and Vinery Stud S.
Hveger is out of Circles of Gold (Marscay), who won the G1 Australian Oaks and produced elite performers Elvstroem (Danehill {USA}) and Haradasun (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
Caulfield, G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas, 1600m, $1,000,000
Race Summary:
Godolphin’s Flit (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) prevailed in a pulsating three-way finish to the first classic of the 2019-20 Australian racing season.
A stakes winner as a 2-year-old and an eye-catching unplaced runner in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude two weeks ago, Flit was a warm $2.35 favourite among a talented line-up of fillies.
Flit settled in a midfield position for jockey Hugh Bowman as Southbank (Fastnet Rock) set the pace, pursued by I Am Eloquent (I Am Invincible), Lyre (Lonhro) and the Prelude winner Acting (NZ) (Savabeel).
Southbank still had plenty to offer in the straight and went for gold, kicking away by 2l.
But Flit moved off her back 175 metres from the finish and began to steadily eat into her advantage.
Then Missile Mantra (Smart Missile) suddenly joined in, storming home out wide from second-last.
The three fillies fought out a heart-stopping, head-bobbing battle to the finish, which Flit won with a perfectly timed lunge at the line.
The James Cummings-trained Flit has now had six starts for two wins and three placings, earning more than $900,000 in prize-money.
Pedigree Notes:
Flit became the 25th individual Group or Grade 1 winner for globally influential sire Medaglia d’Oro (USA), who has sired a total of 858 winners from 1342 runners. His other elite performers in Australia and New Zealand have been Astern, Vancouver and the New Zealand Derby winner Crown Prosecutor.
A Godolphin home-bred, Flit is out of Glissade (Redoute’s Choice), who was a winner as a 2-year-old and placed in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude. She is the dam of three winners from three foals to race. Flow (Street Cry {Ire}) has won five races and placed in the G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas and the Listed Carrington S., Winter Challenge H., Rowley Mile and Civic S. Speedway (Street Cry {Ire}) was a two-race winner.
Glissade is a full-sister to Pleaides (Fastnet Rock), who won three races and placed in the G3 Belle of the Turf S.
Their dam Steflara (Zabeel {NZ}) won three races including the G3 AJC Breeders’ Classic, and she as produced three winners from four foals to race. Her dam was the multiple stakes winner Blue Storm (Bluebird {USA).
Glissade produced a filly by Street Boss (USA) in 2018 and a filly by Frosted (USA) in 2019.
Caulfield, G1 Lamaro’s Hotel Sth Melbourne Toorak H., 1600m, $500,000
Race Summary:
He was born in Japan, began his racing career in England and kicked off his Australian career in low-level handicaps, but on Saturday Fierce Impact (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) became a Group 1 winner.
The 6-year-old entire came out on top in a highly competitive 18-horse handicap field, finding the line strongly under Craig Williams to reel in the front-running Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}).
Night’s Watch (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) and Age of Chivalry (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}) ran home strongly to lodge late challenges, but Fierce Impact was full of running all the way to the line and had them covered by a 1.75l.
The Matthew Smith-trained runner has now had 20 starts for four wins, eight placings and more than $600,000 in prize-money. His previous best win had been the G3 Summer Cup, while he has placed in the G3 Bill Ritchie H. and in the Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood.
Pedigree Notes:
Fierce Impact is by the late, great Deep Impact (Jpn), a seven-time champion sire in Japan. He has sired 992 winners from 1327 runners with 139 individual stakes winners – 43 at Group 1 level.
Fierce Impact was bred by Keiai Orthopedic Appliance Co., Ltd and was bought by David Redvers for 66 million yen as a weanling at the JRA Select Weanling & Foal Sale. Smith later paid £120,000 to secure him at the Tattersalls Horses-in-Training Sale at Newmarket.
Fierce Impact is out of Keiai Gerbera (Jpn) (Smarty Jones {USA}), who won nine races including the G3 Procyon S., G3 Capella S. and two Listed races.
She is the dam of two winners from three foals to race, with both of them now Group 1 winners. Fierce Impact’s full-brother Keiai Nautique (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) won the G1 Tokyo NHK Mile Cup.
Caulfield, G2 Alfa Romeo Schillaci S., 1100m, $400,000
Race Summary:
Godolphin may have doubled their hand for next weekend’s Everest, with Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) earning the Melbourne Racing Club’s slot in the $14 million feature with a strong win in Saturday’s Schillaci.
Ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, the G1 Stradbroke H. winner raced in third-last position before warming into his work before the home turn.
He chased the front-running Ball Of Muscle (Dubawi {Ire}) down the straight, getting the better of him in the last 150 metres and having him covered by a long neck at the finish. The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) was another head away in third.
The James Cummings-trained Trekking has now won nine of his 22 starts and more than $1.8 million in stakes.
Cummings and the Godolphin team will decide on Sunday whether Trekking will take his place in next Saturday’s Everest alongside stablemate Alizee (Sepoy), who is the confirmed runner for Godolphin’s slot.
Pedigree Notes:
Trekking is by the late Street Cry (Ire), the sire of 1116 winners from 1533 runners, with 131 individual stakes winners headed by the champion mares Winx and Zenyatta (USA).
Trekking is one of two winners from two foals to race for the Redoute’s Choice mare Outdoor, who herself won three races.
Outdoor is a daughter of Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}), the winner of the G1 VRC Oaks, Australian Oaks and Arrowfield Stud S. She also won the G2 Edward Manifold S., Wakeful S and Angus Armanasco S., and she placed in the G1 Turnbull S. and Thousand Guineas. She has produced stakes winners Minnesinger (Lonhro) and Entertains (Street Cry {Ire}).
Caulfield, G2 Ladbrokes Herbert Power S., 2400m, $400,000
Race Summary:
Talented New Zealander The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) earned his way into next week’s G1 Caulfield Cup with a timely return to top form.
The 4-year-old had made an encouraging start to the season with a fifth placing in the G2 Feehan S., but disappointed his trainers Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman with a last-start ninth in the G1 Underwood S.
Switching to a handicap and stretching out to 2400 metres made a world of difference as The Chosen One produced an irresistible surge out of midfield.
He finished over the top of last year’s Melbourne Cup placegetter Prince of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}), with Sully (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) 3l behind the first pair in third place.
There was some pre-race drama with Steel Prince (Ire) (Nathaniel {Ire}) scratched at the barriers.
The Chosen One, bred and part-owned by the renowned Dennis brothers from the South Island of New Zealand, has won five of his 14 starts and more than $520,000 in stakes. He is now a four-time stakes winner, having previously won the G3 Frank Packer Plate (2000 metres), G3 Manawatu Classic (2000 metres) and Listed Zacinto S. (1600 metres).
Pedigree Notes:
The Chosen One is one of 91 individual stakes winners for Waikato Stud’s star stallion Savabeel.
The Herbert Power winner comes from one of the Dennis brothers’ finest families. He is the first named foal out of The Glitzy One (Flying Spur), who won eight races and was placed in five black-type events including the G3 Canterbury Gold Cup.
The Glitzy One’s dam is The Jewel (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who won the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, G1 International Stakes and G3 Doomben Roses. She also finished an unlucky second in the G1 Queensland Oaks and was fourth in the G1 Queensland Derby.
The Jewel produced five winners from six foals to race, headed by the five-time stakes winner The Diamond One (Tale of the Cat {USA}) and stakes-placed The Glitzy One, The Precious One (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and The Bold One (NZ) (Fastnet Rock).
The Jewel’s half-sister Star Affair (NZ) (Star Way {GB}) has been an outstanding broodmare with either winners including La Bella Diosa (NZ) (So You Think {NZ}) in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and G2 Surround S., Solid Billing (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}) in the G3 AJC Summer Cup, and Group 1 placegetters Thy (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and Galileo’s Galaxy (Galileo {Ire}).
Another half-sibling to The Jewel is The One (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who won the G3 Danehill S. and placed in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
Caulfield, G3 Thoroughbred Club S., 1200m, $200,000
Race Summary:
The fillies’ sprint feature was widely expected to be at the mercy of Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible), but lightly raced Sydney raider California Zimbol (I Am Invincible) had other ideas.
Making her Melbourne debut, California Zimbol slid forward in the first 200 metres to take the lead under Kerrin McEvoy.
Loving Gaby sat in third position before moving up beside the leader rounding the home turn, but California Zimbol produced a decisive turn of foot in the straight. She scampered away for an emphatic win, scoring by 2.25l.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden for owner Howard Liang, California Zimbol has now won three of her five starts and $215,000 in stakes. Her only previous black type was a second placing in the Listed Oxlade S. in Doomben.
Pedigree Notes:
California Zimbol headed a quinella for I Am Invincible, and she became the star sire’s 48th individual stakes winner. It was the second time in three years that I Am Invincible has sired the Thoroughbred Club S. winner, with Invincible Star winning it in 2017. In between times, the race was won by the super sprinter Sunlight (Zoustar).
California Zimbol was bred by Harry Mitchell and Michael Freedman, and she was a $450,000 purchase at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
Her dam Zimaretto (Anabaa {USA}) was a placegetter on the racetrack but has become a star broodmare. California Zimbol is her third stakes winner, joining From Within (Not A Single Doubt) and Cruden Bay (Not A Single Doubt). From Within has won six races including the Listed Alinghi S., while Cruden Bay took out the Listed St Albans S.
The second dam, Borely (GB) (Reprimand {GB}), is a sibling to four stakes winners or dams of stakes winners. Her half-sister Swizzle (GB) (Efisio {GB}) is the dam of multiple stakes winner and G1 Hong Kong Mile and Champions Mile placegetter Packing Whiz (Ire) (Trade Fair {GB}).
Caulfield, G3 Bass Strait Beef S., 1200m, $200,000
Race Summary:
She mixes her form, but Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) showed on Saturday that when she brings her A-game she is a force to be reckoned with.
The 4-year-old was a winner at Moonee Valley two starts back, beating the subsequent stakes winner Haut Brion Her (Zoustar). But she finished last at Caulfield in the G3 How Now S. on September 21, almost 10 lengths behind the winner Manicure (Exceed And Excel).
Saturday was a spectacular reversal of that form as Tofane produced a pulverising finish from near the back of the field to score an upset 1l victory over the favourite Manicure. Sweet Scandal (Sepoy) was another 0.75l behind Manicure in third place.
Trained by Michael Moroney for a large group of owners, Tofane has now won three of her eight starts and more than $264,000 in prize-money. This was her first stakes win, but she had previously placed in the G2 Euclase S. at Morphettville.
Pedigree Notes:
Tofane was bred by Gordon Cunningham, the founder and owner of respected New Zealand nursery Curraghmore. She was bought privately by Ballymore Stables.
She is by young Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ), a Cox Plate winner who has become an excellent source of winners at stud with 111 winners from 189 runners. He sired his first Group 1 winner last weekend when Kolding (NZ) won the Epsom H. at Randwick. Tofane is his fourth stakes winner.
Tofane is the first foal to race out of Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}). A winner herself, Baggy Green is a three-quarter sister to last week’s G1 Flight S. winner Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and a half-sister to G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).
The second dam is User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}), who won eight races including the G1 Epsom Oaks, Irish Oaks, Yorkshire Oaks, St Leger and Grand Prix de Saint-Cloud. She produced eight winners from 10 foals to race including Group 3 winner Downtown (Ire) (Danehill {USA}).
Since producing Tofane in 2015, Baggy Green has produced the unraced No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) in 2016, another colt by Pins in 2017 and a colt by Reliable Man (GB) in 2018. The Pins colts have sold for $40,000 and $85,000 in Book 1 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2018 and 2019 respectively.
Caulfield, Listed The Big Screen Company Weekend Hussler S., 1400m, $175,000
Race Summary:
Mornington trainer Kerry Edwards scored a black-type win on Caulfield Guineas day with stable favourite Rox The Castle (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}), who is now the winner of eight of his 14 starts and more than $400,000 in stakes.
The 5-year-old gelding, who Edwards affectionately calls Kevin, got into a tough early tussle for the lead but came out on top after the first 100 metres. He had a much easier time of it from that point on, given a perfectly paced front-running ride by Luke Nolen.
Rox the Castle quickened stylishly in the straight, staying out of the reach of a late charge by Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) to win by 0.5l. Renewal (Dream Ahead {USA}) finished the same margin away in third.
Pedigree Notes:
Rox the Castle was bred in New Zealand by Southern Ventures (Karaka) Ltd.
He is by the G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Castledale (Ire), who started shuttling to Te Runga Stud in 2006 and stood in New Zealand for more than a decade. He has sired 108 winners from 170 runners, including seven stakes winners. His best Australasian performers include Castlzeberg (NZ), who won the G2 Waikato Guineas and placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby, and the three-time stakes winner Moss ‘n’ Dale (NZ).
Rox the Castle is one of two winners from two foals to race out of Run Roxy Run (Rock of Gibraltar {Ire}). The winner of five races, Run Roxy Run also placed in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ S. and was fourth in the G2 Eight Carat Classic.
Run Roxy Run’s other runner is Rox the Castle’s full-brother Rainbow Fish (NZ), who has won eight races in Malaysia.
Run Roxy Run died two years ago, but she has produced two subsequent foals, both by Reliable Man (GB).
Caulfield, Listed Inglis Debutant S., 1000m, $175,000
Race Summary:
Only fourth in a trial last week, Tanker (Pride Of Dubai) had blinkers applied for his raceday debut and went up several notches with a brilliant performance.
Ridden by Ben Allen, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained runner went back in the early stages of the race and sat in third-last position. But he produced a swift turn of foot in the straight, bounding to the lead and stretching out impressively to win by two and a quarter lengths.
Euphoric Summer (Not A Single Doubt) and Queen of Rocks (Fastnet Rock) filled the minor placings.
Pedigree notes:
Tanker is the first Australian runner and winner for the Street Cry (Ire) stallion Pride Of Dubai. He has a 100% record overall from two runners, with his very first runner Platinum Dubai (NZ) winning at Otaki in New Zealand on September 26.
Pride of Dubai was himself a brilliant 2-year-old, winning the G1 Blue Diamond and ATC Sires’ Produce S.
Tanker was bred by Ian Smith and was a $170,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
His dam Calcatta (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) was also a stakes winner at 2, winning the Listed Duquetteville S. in Adelaide. Calcatta is the dam of two winners from three foals to race, with Lady Naturaliste (Choisir) winning the Listed Cinderella S. at Morphettville.
Second dam Calchris (Commands) won six races including the Listed J Cadell Garrick H. and the Silk Stocking. She is the dam of the five winners from five foals to race. Calcatta’s Listed win makes her the top performer, but Calculated (So You Think {NZ}) was also a winner at 2 and placed in the Magic Millions Guineas.
