Flemington, G1 Seppelt Wines Newmarket H., $1,250,000, 1200m
Race summary:
Golden Rose winner Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) collected another Group 1 triumph with a sparkling performance against an elite sprint field.
Ridden by Glen Boss for Godolphin trainer James Cummings, the super-talented colt raced in fourth place as Banquo (Written Tycoon), Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible) disputed the early pace.
But when Boss let him rip down the outside, Bivouac swiftly put an end to the race as a contest. He raced to the front with a scintillating burst of speed, careering away to win by 2.5l in one of the standout performances of an exceptional 3-year-old crop. The 1200 metres were run in 1:09.21 on a Soft 5 track.
Loving Gaby was second, a length ahead of Gytrash and Zoutori (Zoustar).
Bred and raced by Godolphin, Bivouac has won six of his 13 starts and more than $2.14 million. He had previously won the G1 Golden Rose, G2 Run to the Rose, G3 Kindergarten S., G3 Vain S. and Listed Lonhro Plate, and he placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. at Flemington.
Pedigree notes:
Bivouac is by Exceed And Excel, who himself won this race in 2004. Bivouac is one of 15 individual Group 1 winners for the exceptional Darley stallion, who stood for a service fee of $88,000 in 2019.
The dam of Bivouac is Dazzler (More than Ready {USA}), who won two races.
Dazzler is a half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Guelph (Exceed And Excel), who is the dam of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Encryption.
Dazzler is also a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and promising White Robe Lodge sire Ghibellines.
Dazzler is out of Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}), who won the G1 Sires’ Produce S. Her dam is Camarena (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), who won the G1 Queensland Derby and is a half-sister to the dam of four-time Group 1 winner and sire Sepoy.
Dazzler is the dam of three named foals, all of them winners. Coruscate (Exceed And Excel) has won four races and placed in the G2 Skyline S. and G3 Pago Pago S.
Bivouac was born in the spring of 2016, and Dazzler subsequently had a filly by Medaglia D’Oro (USA) in 2018 and a colt by Lonhro in 2019.
Flemington, TAB G1 Australian Cup, $1,500,000, 2000m
Race summary:
A week after successfully defending his title in the G2 Blamey S., Fifty Stars (Ire) (Sea the Stars {Ire}) stepped up to the big time and claimed his first Group 1 win.
It continued a rich history in the race for the Hayes family, with the late Colin Hayes winning it three times and son David now a six-time winner of the weight-for-age feature.
Fifty Stars settled third-last for jockey John Allen before producing a withering finish, storming home over the top of the field for an impressive 0.5l win.
Perth raider Regal Power (Pierro) was second, with Melbourne Cup hero Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) 0.75l away in third in an encouraging comeback performance.
Raced by Ryco Equine Pty Ltd, Fifty Stars has had 23 starts for 10 wins, three placings and more than $2 million in prizemoney. David Hayes trains him in partnership with his son Ben and nephew Tom Dabernig.
Pedigree notes:
Fifty Stars became the 13th individual Group 1 winner for his sire, the former outstanding racehorse Sea The Stars (Ire). Two of those have come in Australia, with Fifty Stars joining Sydney Cup hero Shraaoh (Ire).
The dam of Fifty Stars is Swizzle Stick (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}), who was unraced. She has produced two winners from three to race.
After Fifty Stars was born in 2015, she produced the unraced Sistercarmel (Ire) (Lawman {Fr}), the unplaced Revolver (Ire) (Slade Power {Ire}), and a 2018 colt by Sea The Stars.
Swizzle Stick is a half-sister to Viztoria (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}), who was champion 2-year-old filly in Ireland in 2012 and champion older female sprinter in Ireland two years later. She won the G2 Park S., G3 Athasi S. and two Listed races, and she placed in the G2 Criterium de Maisons-Laffite and British Champions Sprint.
The dam of Swizzle Stick and Viztoria Is Viz (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), who won at Listed level in Italy.
Swizzle Stick’s third dam Bold Example (USA) (Bold Lad {USA}) is the granddam of Group/Grade 1 winners and sires Zilzal (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) and Awe Inspiring (USA) (Slew O’ Gold {USA}), and there are more than a dozen other stakes winners among her descendants.
Flemington, G2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce S., $200,000, 1400m
Race summary:
The Stawell training partnership of Terry and Karina O’Sullivan celebrated one of their biggest wins as Lunar Fox (Foxwedge) sprung a surprise in the Flemington 2-year-old feature.
Under a perfectly timed ride from Brett Prebble, Lunar Fox settled in fifth place before unleashing a powerful finish out of the pack.
Larimer Street (Brazen Beau) had raced in second and took over in the straight in a promising move, but he was no match for the finish of Lunar Fox as that runner swept past to win by 0.75l Prebble stood up in the saddle in a jubilant salute.
Larimer Street was second, just ahead of the favourite Ole Kirk (Written Tycoon).
Lunar Fox was a last-start maiden winner at Ballarat on February 23. He has now had five starts for two wins, a placing and $185,900 in stakes for a group of 19 owners. TKO Racing paid $40,000 to buy him from the draft of breeders Kelly Thoroughbreds at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes:
Lunar Fox is by Foxwedge, who stands for a service fee of $16,500 at Woodside Park Stud. He has sired 322 winners from 508 runners, and Lunar Fox became his 16th individual stakes winner.
The dam of Lunar Fox is Grant’s Moon (USA) (Malibu Moon {USA}), who won seven races in the United States including the Listed Alma North S.
Grant’s Moon is a half-sister to the stakes-performed Fighting City Hall (USA) (Smart Strike {Can}), while her dam is a three-quarter-sister to the dam of Group 1 winners and sires Singspiel (Ire) and Rahy (USA).
Other notable members of the family include Boston Common (USA) (Boson Common {USA}), who won 12 races including the G2 Jerome H. at Belmont Park. He also placed in the G1 King’s Bishop S. at Saratoga.
Grant’s Moon is the dam of two winners from four foals to race. Since producing Lunar Fox in 2017, she has had a filly foal by Holler and a filly by Frosted (USA).
Flemington, G2 TAB Kewney S., $200,000, 1400m
Race summary:
An impressive winner of the $1 million Inglis 3YO Sprint in her last start on February 12, talented Rubick filly Rubisaki produced the perfect follow-up in Melbourne on Saturday.
Ridden by Billy Egan for trainer Patrick Payne, she sat near the back of the 14-horse field before producing a flying finish down the Flemington straight. She soared past Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) and went clear to win by 1.25l.
Pretty Brazen finished second, 0.5l ahead of Fascino (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}). The previously undefeated How Womantic (The Wow Signal {Ire}) finished 4l from the winner in eighth.
Rubisaki has now had eight starts for six wins, finishing second in both of the other two. She has earned $975,800 in stakes. She was an $85,000 purchase from Edinburgh Park’s draft at the 2018 Inglis Classic Sale.
Pedigree notes:
Bred by Edinburgh Park’s Ian Smith, Rubisaki is by the young Coolmore stallion Rubick. Standing for a service fee of $38,500 in 2019, Rubick has made a massive impression with his first couple of crops to hit the racetrack, headed by Everest hero Yes Yes Yes.
Rubick has sired 42 winners from 101 runners, with Yes Yes Yes, Condo’s Express and Rubisaki winning at black-type level.
Rubisaki is out of Senro Kisaki (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who won two races. She is out of a half-sister to River Cara (USA) (Irish River {Fr}), who won the Listed Criterium du Languedoc at Toulouse.
Senro Kisaki is the dam of four named foals, and all of them are winners. Victory Marvel (I Am Invincible) won five races in Hong Kong, while Zizzis (Sizzling) is a four-race winner who finished fourth in the Listed Lightning S. in Adelaide.
Senro Kisaki had a colt by Sizzling in 2018 and a filly by So You Think (NZ) in 2019. She returned to Rubick for her subsequent mating.
Flemington, G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders’ S., $160,000, 1200m
Race summary:
Following a 5l debut win at Bendigo last month, Minhaaj (Exceed And Excel) stepped up to stakes level on Saturday and delivered a repeat performance.
Unhurried in the early stages of the race by jockey Daniel Stackhouse, Minhaaj sat just behind the leading group as the field positioned themselves in the middle of Flemington’s straight track.
But then Minhaaj burst into contention down the outside with a scintillating turn of foot. She streaked clear over the last 150 metres, winning by 4.5l.
Last-start G1 Blue Diamond fifth placegetter Muntaseera (I Am Invincible) finished second, edging out the third-placed Succeed Indeed (Akeed Mofeed {GB}).
Minhaaj is trained by David and Ben Hayes and Tom Dabernig for owner-breeder Shadwell Stud, and she has now earned $110,150 from two starts.
Pedigree notes:
Minhaaj became the 166th individual stakes winner for the exceptional Darley stallion Exceed And Excel, whose overall tally now stands at 1437 winners from 2049 winners worldwide. He has been represented by 680 winners from 907 runners in Australia.
Exceed and Excel has now sired 103 individual 2-year-old stakes winners.
The dam of Minhaaj is the Lonhro mare Telaawa, who was a winner and is a half-sister to Group 3 winners Charmed Harmony (Hussonet {USA}) and Suyoof (Magic Albert).
Their dam is Magic Harmony (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who placed in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and is a half-sister to the dam of G1 Blue Diamond winner and sire Reward For Effort.
Reward For Effort is also a half-sister to Bahia (Snippets), the dam of Golden Slipper winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and rising star Standout (Exceed And Excel).
Minhaaj is Telaawa’s only named foal. She produced another Exceed And Excel filly in 2019.
Flemington, G3 Schweppervescence Trophy, $160,000, 1600m
Race summary:
Relishing the rain-affected ground, Paint The Town Two (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) collected her first piece of black type with a tenacious performance at Flemington.
Put in a handy position just behind the leaders by jockey Jamie Kah, the 5-year-old mare surged forward in the straight and overpowered the front-running Greysful Glamour (Stratum) and Fabric (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
She then faced another challenge as Bam’s On Fire (Universal Ruler) dived through on her inside and Fidelia (Not A Single Doubt) finished strongly out wide. But Paint The Town Two refused to be defeated, holding out those challenges and winning by a short head. Bam’s On Fire was second, with 0.75l back to Fidelia in third.
Paint The Town Two is trained by Bevan Laming for owner-breeder The Oaks Stud. She has now won six of her 24 starts, placing in another 10 and earning $325,847 in stakes.
Pedigree notes:
Paint The Town Two is by Darci Brahma (NZ), a million-dollar yearling who excelled on the racetrack with Group 1 victories in the TJ Smith Classic (JJ Atkins), New Zealand 2000 Guineas, Telegraph H., Waikato Sprint and Otaki WFA Classic.
Standing at The Oaks Stud for a service fee of NZ$15,000 at The Oaks Stud, Darci Brahma has been a highly successful stallion, finishing in the top five on the New Zealand premiership on five occasions. He has been represented by 458 winners from 625 runners, with 44 individual stakes winners.
This season has been a particularly strong one for Darci Brahma, who sits in second on the New Zealand premiership and has sired more than 50 individual winners since the beginning of August. A key contributor has been his 2000 Guineas-winning son Catalyst (NZ).
The dam of Paint The Town Two is Italic (GB) (Medicean {GB}), who won three races and is out of a half-sister to the stakes winner and G2 Arlington Classic placegetter Winter Quarters (USA) (El Gran Senor {USA}).
Italic’s granddam is also the third dam of Exultant (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), who has won 11 races including the G1 Hong Kong Vase, Hong Kong Gold Cup and Champions & Chater Cup.
Italic is the dam of four winners from four foals to race, with Paint The Town Two her first stakes performer.
She has returned to Darci Brahma for every subsequent mating, producing the placed Cecilia (NZ) in 2016, a filly in 2017 and a colt in 2018.
Ellerslie, G1 Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Cup, NZ$500,000, 3200m
Race summary:
Ellerslie’s time-honoured staying feature produced a massive upset as Roger That (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) spectacularly upstaged his more-fancied rivals.
The 7-year-old was ridden by Sam Collett, who claimed her first Group 1 victory in this race 12 months ago aboard the favourite Glory Days (NZ) (Red Giant {NZ}).
While her 2020 mount came into the race with much less fanfare, Collett showed huge faith in her mount’s staying ability. After racing midfield behind a strong pace, she set him alight with 700 metres to run. He surged forward out wide, swooping to the front coming up to the home turn.
Roger That might have been expected to tire in the straight, but he stubbornly refused to do so. He kept himself out of the reach of the chasers, who gave their all but couldn’t quite reel him in. Roger That won by 0.75l from the Mike Moroney-trained Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}). Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) was another head away in third.
Roger That went into Saturday’s race as the earner of NZ$124,425. That has now swelled to NZ$424,425, with six wins and 13 placings from 34 starts. He is trained at Tauranga by Antony Fuller.
Pedigree notes:
Roger That is by Shinko King (Ire), the sire of 319 winners from 483 runners with 20 at black-type level. Roger That became his seventh Group 1 winner, joining Eskimo Queen (NZ), C’est La Guerre (NZ), Barinka (NZ), Bramble Rose (NZ), Azkadellia (NZ) and Close Up (NZ).
Roger That is the only winner from two foals to race for Heather Lyn (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}), an unraced daughter of five-time stakes-winning mare De Montfort (NZ) (Random Chance {NZ}).
De Montfort is a half-sister to King Johny (NZ) (Seasoned Star), who won the G3 Manawatu Classic and placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby and G2 Tulloch S. He also finished fourth in the Australian Derby.
De Montfort’s other siblings include the dams of Bagot H. and Tasmanian Oaks winner Parthesia (NZ) (Raise the Flag {GB}), stakes-winning sprinter Prince Oz (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) and five-time Group winner Blood Brotha (NZ) (Danzighill)
Ellerslie, G1 Sistema S., NZ$200,000, 1200m
Race summary:
Cool Aza Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) was a spectacular winner of the Karaka Million at Ellerslie in late January, and on Saturday he struck again over the same course and distance.
For the in-form combination of the Te Akau Racing ownership syndicates, trainer Jamie Richards and jockey Opie Bosson, Cool Aza Beel broke well from the inside gate and was prominent in the early stages of the juvenile feature. When Tivaan Warrior (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and Laced With Gold (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) were sent forward from wide gates, he was happy to take a sit behind them in third.
Bosson moved off the rail 500 metres from the finish, and Cool Aza Beel cruised up alongside the leaders at the top of the straight.
He changed gears and raced away, scoring by a length from the fast-finishing Vernazza (NZ) (More than Ready {USA}). The multiple stakes-placed maiden filly Kelly Renee (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) finished third, 2.5l behind the first pair.
Saturday’s Group 1 triumph was Cool Aza Beel’s fourth win from six starts, and it lifted his career earnings to NZ$707,560 for the Te Akau Sassy Beel Syndicate. He was a NZ$150,000 purchase from the draft of breeders Fairdale Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Pedigree notes:
Cool Aza Beel became the 20th individual Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud supremo Savabeel, who commanded a service fee of NZ$125,000 in 2019. A multiple champion New Zealand sire, he has been represented by 650 winners from 919 runners including 184 at stakes level.
Cool Aza Beel is out of Cool ‘n’ Sassy (Testa Rossa), who was bought by Fairdale for $13,000 at the 2016 Inglis Great Southern Sale.
Cool ‘n’ Sassy won three races, and her dam is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Malaguerra (Magnus). Another half-sibling, Tennessee Midnight (Danehill {USA}), won at Group 3 level and is dam of Group 1 winner Aloha (Encosta De Lago). Aloha is the dam of this season’s quality filly Libertini (I Am Invincible). Another close relative is the G1 Champagne S. winner Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook).
Cool Aza Beel was the first foal out of Cool ‘n’ Sassy, who has since produced another Savabeel colt and a colt by Iffraaj (GB).
Ellerslie, G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S., NZ$200,000, 2000m
Race summary:
Quality mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) was already a Group 1 winner over 1200, 1400 and 1600 metres, and on Saturday she mastered the step up to 2000 metres.
Facing an elite field of weight-for-age performers, Avantage and red-hot jockey Opie Bosson raced in midfield behind a sedate early speed.
Bosson peeled the favourite out into clear air at exactly the right moment and Avantage made her move in the straight, sprinting to a clear lead.
Group 1 winner True Enough (NZ) (Nom du Jeu {NZ}) and the exciting Supera (NZ) (Savabeel) chased hard through the last 150 metres, but Avantage ran the 2000 metres out strongly and held them at bay to win by 1.25l. True Enough was second, with a head back to Supera in third.
Trained by Jamie Richards, Avantage was bought for NZ$210,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
She has now won 10 of her 17 starts and more than NZ$1.42 million for her owners, the Te Akau Avantage Syndicate. She won the Karaka Million and G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. as a 2-year-old, then added the G3 Birthday Card S. at Rosehill last March.
This season she has won the G1 Telegraph over 1200 metres, G1 Haunui Farm WFA Classic over 1600 metres and now the New Zealand S. at 2000.
Pedigree notes:
Avantage was bred by Willie and Karen Calder, from Bluff at the bottom of New Zealand’s South Island.
She is one of 38 individual Group 1 winners for star stallion Fastnet Rock, alongside the likes of Atlantic Jewel, Mosheen, Shoals and Merchant Navy. The star Coolmore stallion has had an outstanding Ellerslie carnival, having also sired last Saturday’s G1 New Zealand Derby winner Sherwood Forest.
Avantage is out of Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who won three races including the Listed Warstep S. and placed in the G1 International S.
Asavant is a half-sister to D B Pin (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), the winner of six races including the G1 Centenary Sprint Cup in Hong Kong and a two-time runner-up in the Hong Kong Sprint.
Both horses are out of Pins ‘n’ Needles (NZ) (Pins), who won the G3 White Robe Lodge H. and placed in the G1 Thorndon Mile. She is the dam of five winners from six foals to race.
Asavant has so far been represented by two winners from three foals to race. Asathought (So You Think {NZ}) is currently still a maiden but is a black-type performer, having placed in the Listed Southland Guineas in February.
Asavant had a filly by Vancouver in 2017 and another filly by Fastnet Rock in 2018. She returned to Fastnet Rock in 2019.
