G1 Stella Artois Caulfield Cup, $5,000,000 2400m
Race Summary:
Mer De Glace (Jpn) (Rulership {Jpn}) came to Australia as the winner of her last four starts, including a pair of Group 3 wins in the hands of Damian Lane, who spent two months riding in Japan earlier this year.
Lane was instrumental in persuading the stayer's connections to bring him to Australia and it proved an astute move with the 5-year-old proving the superior stayer.
Mer De Glace settled back from a wide draw before improving 700 metres from home and he maintained a sustained finish to comfortably account for Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) and Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Pedigree Notes:
Mer De Glace is out of Sunday Silence’s (USA) daughter Glacier Blue (Jpn), who won three times up to 1400 metres.
She is a half-sister to the black type winner Grass Bomber (Jpn) Machiavellian {USA}).
Glacier Blue is also a half-sister to the G1 Middle Park S. winner and successful sire Zieten (USA) and to his G1 Newmarket Cheveley Park S. winning sister Blue Duster (USA).
G2 McCafe Caulfield Sprint, $300,000, 1000m
Race Summary:
Miss Leonidas (I Am Invincible) has an abundance of pace and she used it to good effect with a bold showing off the front. She was travelling comfortably on straightening and when God Of Thunder (More Than Ready {USA}) made his bid closer to the fence the mare rallied strongly.
God Of Thunder ran creditably off the back of a Benchmark 88 placing and the genuine 8-year-old Malibu Style (Magnus) took third money.
Pedigree Notes:
Miss Leonidas is a daughter of Happy Play (Barathea {Ire}) who has a 100 per cent record at stud with all seven of her foals to race successful. The dam is a half-sister to the G1 Metropolitan H. and G2 Brisbane Cup winner Newport (Encosta de Lago) and to Fresh Boy (Perugino {USA}), who ran second in a G1 VRC Sires’ Produce S. before he was successful as Lim’s Passion in Singapore.
The family also features the G3 Arlington Park Laurance Armour H. winner Samourzakan (Ire) (Shardari {Ire}) and his half-brother Samiri (Fr) (Lashkari {GB}), a Listed winner in France.
G2 Schweppes Tristarc S., $300,000, 1400m
Race Summary:
Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) enjoyed an easy run on the quarters of the leader and she put the issue beyond doubt soon after straightening.
The genuine 5-year-old scooted clear and under a soft ride from Craig Williams was far too good.
Angelic Ruler (Universal Ruler) is as consistent as they come and she ran well yet again for second with Spanish Whisper (Lope De Vega {Ire}) collecting third money.
Pedigree Notes :
The winner is out of Retsina (Redoute’s Choice) who has also produced the multiple Group placegtter Athiri (Lonhro).
The dam is a daughter of the G1 QTC Sires’ Produce S. winner Star Shiraz (Sequalo), who also finished runner-up in the G1 Coolmore Classic.
The family also includes the stakes winners Classic Day (Coronation Day) and In His Tride (Rothesay).
G3 New Zealand Bloodstock Ethereal S., $200,000, 2000m
Race Summary:
Progressive filly Gamay (Pierro) went to another level here with a strong staying performance to boost her G1 VRC Oaks hopes. Prepared by Archie Alexander, she raced just behind the leading punch and when produced in the straight by rider Declan Bates she finished determinedly.
Vegas Jewel (NZ) (Shocking) was beaten for the first time in her three-start career, but lost no admirers after coming wide on the turn and ran home resolutely with Celestial Falls (Hinchinbrook) a sound third after working early before getting to the front.
Pedigree Notes:
Gamay was a NZ$110,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sales purchase and she’s a half-sister to the stakes winner and G2 Furious S. runner-up Meidung (Bernardini {USA}).
The dam Amish (Canny Lad) won one minor race and is half-sister to the two-time G2 Warwick S. winner Pinwheel (Lonhro). Amish’s mother Quilt (Danehil {USA}) is a sister to the G2 Stan Fox S. winner West Point and a half-sister to Charming City (Chief’s Crown {USA}), who won multiple Listed events in Hong Kong.
G3 Ladbrokes Moonga S., $200,000, 1400m
Race Summary:
The race unfolded perfectly for Streets Of Avalon (Magnus), who was able to get across and stalk the leaders. He strode to the front 150 metres from home and had enough in reserve to win his sixth race at the expense of the West Australian sprinter Variation (War Path {USA}).
European Group 1 winner Royal Meeting (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was beaten for the first time but not disgraced when third. He was a touch slowly away before working into the race, but looked anchored under his 60kg in the straight and battled on for his placing.
Pedigree Notes:
Streets Of Avalon was bred by Warren Racing, who remain in the ownership, and is out of the Black Minnaloushe (USA) mare Kamuniak (NZ). She is a sister to the former champion New Zealand 2-year-old Joker’s Wild (NZ), who won the G1 Ellerslie Sires’ Produce S. and the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. Their dam Miss Rory (Rory’s Jester) is a three-quarter sister to the dam of the Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner and Group 2 placegetter Chuckle (Danehill {USA}).
G3 Ladbrokes Classic, $350,000, 2000m
Race summary :
Thought Of That (So You Think {NZ}) continued his rapid progress with an outstanding front-running performance to strike at the first time of asking in black type company.
An 8l winner of a Donald maiden at his previous appearance, he handled the rise in class with aplomb.
The colt strode to the front under Linda Meech and stayed on strongly after being well clear on straightening. Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}) was a distant second with Brilliant Venture (Zacinto {GB}) third.
Pedigree Notes:
Thought Of That was purchased for $100,000 at the Inglis Sydney Easter Yearling Sale and is the first winner for the Danehill Dancer (Ire) mare Hold Me Closer.
The dam is a half-sister to the Listed Tommy Smith Slipper winner and G1 Golden Slipper runner-up How Funny (Rory’s Jester).
She in turn produced the Listed Tatt’s Classic winner Jester’s Girl (Commands), the dam of the Listed Canberra Guineas winner and multiple Group placegetter Assimilate (Sebring).
Listed Carlton Draught Alinghi S., $175,000, 1100m
Race Summary:
Humma Humma (Denman) remained unbeaten this preparation when she powered home from the back of the field for a clear-cut victory. The John McArdle-trained mare has resumed in fine fashion at The Valley and, in similar, vein she bided her time at the back before rider Jamie Mott asked her for a serious effort in the straight. She responded positively and sailed passed Demerara (Commands) and Prophet’s Thumb (I Am Invincible) for an easy win.
Pedigree Notes :
Humma Humma, an $80,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale buy, is a half-sister to the multiple winner Strela (Smart Missile) and they are out of Humma Mumma (Bel Esprit). The dam was successful on four occasions and is a half-sister to the Listed Mercedes Benz S. winner Vignette (Spectrum {Ire}).
The G2 South African Oaks winner Wind Chill (SAF) (Silvano {Ger}) and the G2 Turffontein John Skeaping Trophy winner Grey Arrow (SAF) (Western Winter {SAF}) add an international flavour to the pedigree.
Listed Polytrack Gothic S., $175,000m, 1400m
Race Summary :
Alabama Express (Redoute’s Choice) was prominent all the way and showed a steely resolve in the run home. The colt raced on the leader’s quarters and finished off strongly in the closing 200 metres to beat the front-runner Hilo (Lonhro) for the second win of his four-start career.
Heirborn (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) came on generously from back in the field to finish an encouraging third in his return after winning both of his starts during a winter preparation.
Pedigree Notes :
A $280,000 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate, Alabama Express is a son of Lago Ovation (Encosta de Lago) and she is a daughter of the Italian stakes performer Rekindled Applause (GB) (Royal Applause {GB}).
She is a half-sister to the G2 Dato Tan Chin Nam S. winner Rekindled Interest (Redoute’s Choice) and the North American Group 3 winner Where We Left Off (GB) (Dr Devious {Ire}).
