G3 bet365 Geelong Cup, $400,000, 2400m
Race Summary:
Prince Of Arran (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) has taken a giant step into securing a spot in next month's G1 Melbourne Cup with a hard-fought success in the G3 Geelong Cup.
The 7-year-old tracked just off the speed in the race and Michael Walker took him to the front soon after straightening. The well-supported True Self (Ire) (Oscar {Ire}) charged home late, but the Charlie Fellows stayer held him to the line to record his second stakes success in Australia. Haky (Ire) (Muhtathir {GB}) finished third.
Last year, he won the G3 Lexus S. to get himself into the Melbourne Cup and this year, he only needs a small penalty to guarantee him a run in this year's edition.
The globetrotting stayer has now won six of his 37 starts and over $1.4 million in prizemoney.
Pedigree Notes:
Prince Of Arran is out of Storming Sioux (GB) (Storming Home {GB}), who has produced three other winners; Dromcus (Teofilo {Ire}), Makawee (Farhh {GB}) and Souter (Poet's Voice {GB}). She is out of Group 3 winning mare Sueboog (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who also produced the champion French colt Best of The Bests (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}), as well as the dam of Raven's Lady (GB) (Raven's Pass {USA}).
That is also the family of Australian Listed winner Raw Impulse (GB) (Makfi {GB}).
Bred by Rabbah Bloodstock, he is one of two-stakes-winners in Australia for the Glenview Park stallion Shirocco (Ger).
Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers Geelong Classic, $140,000, 2200m
Race Summary:
Long Jack (So You Think {NZ}) put himself firmly in calculations for next month's G1 Victoria Derby with victory in the Listed Roderick Insurance Brokers Geelong Classic.
The colt, trained by New Zealand-based partnership Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman, proved the superior stayer in the 2200 metre event, overcoming a difficult run in the straight to overpower the leading chances Southern Moon (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) and Relucent (NZ) (Savabeel) in the final stages.
It was significant bounce back to form for Long Jack, who had finished sixth in his past two starts having won in his first start in Australia at Ballarat back in early September. He has now won two of his six starts.
Pedigree Notes:
Long Jack is a homebred for the Doyle family out of the imported mare Extravaganza (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), the sister to Group 3 winner Energizer (Ger).
The third dam Enthused (USA) (Seeking The Gold {USA}) is a Group 2 winner and has left stakes winners A Thread of Blue (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) and Norman Invader (USA) (War Chant {USA}).
Extravanganza was purchased by Belmont Bloodstock for £70,000 pounds out of the 2014 Tattersalls December Mare Sale.
Listed The Breeze Retirement Community S., $140,000, 1200m
Race Summary:
Smart Coupe (Smart Missile) has picked up a valuable stakes success winning The Listed Breeze Retirement Community S. at Geelong.
The 5-year-old mare, owned by syndicate headed by First Light Racing and trained by Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra, was first-up into Wednesday's race and showed her class to beat Gina's Hope (Written Tycoon) by 1.25l over the 1200 metres, with Into The Abyss (Foxwedge) third.
A $22,000 buy at the 2016 Magic Millions Tasmanian Sale, that was her fifth win from 20 starts and she takes her prizemoney to over $315.000.
Pedigree Notes:
Smart Coupe becomes the 14th stakes winner for her sire Smart Missile and the first stakes winner for her dam Coupe (Spinning World).
Coupe, who was a winner of the G2 Edward Manifold S. has produced four winners from her eight runners to the track and his now retired with Smart Coupe the best of them.
The second dam, Kingston Coup (USA) (Seattle Slew {USA}) also foaled Group 1 winner Coup De Grace (Roi Danzig {USA}) and is a three-quarter sister to Group 3 winner Rose Of Portland (Seattle Slew {USA}) and a half-sister to G1 Victoria Derby winner Portland Player (Theatrical {Ire}). The third dam is the Group 1 VRC Oaks winner Spirit Of Kingston (Bletchingly).
