Caulfield, G3 Le Pine Funerals Easter Cup, $128,000, 2000m
Race summary
There was no catching Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday’s 2000-metre feature at Caulfield.
The 6-year-old was sent forward early in the race by rider Michael Dee, and he led every step of the way from there.
Inverloch and Dee daringly raised the intensity a long way out, striding clear by at least 3l coming up to the home turn.
His exertions began to take a toll as he tired late in the race, but he held of the late challenge of Midterm (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) by half a neck. Savacool (NZ) (Savabeel) finished another 1.25l behind in third.
Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young for an OTI Racing syndicate, Inverloch has had 23 starts for seven wins, six placings and $484,576 in stakes. This was his second stakes win, having won the Mornington Cup Prelude over the same course and distance on March 14.
Pedigree notes
Inverloch is by the superb stallion Fastnet Rock, who stands for a service fee of $165,000 (inc GST) at Coolmore. He has sired 1259 winners from 1768 runners worldwide, including 156 stakes winners.
In Australia, his progeny have featured 846 winners from 1157 runners including 96 individual black-type winners.
The dam of Inverloch is the blue-blooded mare Ideal (GB) (Galileo {Ire}).
Ideal is a Galileo half-sister to Camelot (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}), who won the G1 English Derby, Irish Derby, English 2000 Guineas and Racing Post Trophy and has been a successful sire in both hemispheres.
Ideal herself was a winner, and she is the dam of four winners from four foals to race. Aveiro (Ire) (Declaration Of War {USA}) and The Corporal (Ire) (Dansili {GB}) won two races each in France and the UK, while Ideal’s final foal Harpocrates (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) was a winner at two last year and placed in the G3 Acomb S., Listed Caravaggio S. and Listed Marble Hill S.
Caulfield, G3 Elvis Thurgood Anniversary Cup, $128,000, 1400m
Race summary
After finishing second in the G3 Mannerism S., G3 Matron S. and G2 Sunline S. in her last three starts, consistent mare Bam’s On Fire (Universal Ruler) broke through on Saturday for a deserved black-type win.
Ridden by Jamie Kah for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the 4-year-old went straight to the lead and never gave her rivals any chance.
Seabrook (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) had sat right on her tail throughout the race and tried to run her down in the straight, but Bam’s On Fire rose to that challenge and held her comfortably at bay, scoring by 1.25l.
Seabrook was second, a 1.35l ahead of Sircconi (Nicconi) and Manolo Blahniq (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}).
Owned by Seymour Bloodstock, Bam’s On Fire has now had 19 starts for five wins, 11 placings and $474,320 in prizemoney.
Pedigree notes
Bam’s On Fire was bred in Western Australia by Ken Nightingale, who bought her dam Im Your Fire (NZ) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) for just NZ$5500 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Weanling Sale in 2010. Bam’s On Fire was bought on Seymour Bloodstock’s behalf by bloodstock agent Mark Pilkington.
Bam’s On Fire is by Universal Ruler, who stands for a service fee of $6600 at Scenic Lodge Stud in Western Australia.
Universal Ruler has sired 91 winners from 166 runners, with Bam’s On Fire becoming his ninth individual stakes winner. That list is headed by Perth Group 3 winners The Velvet King and Lady Cosmology.
Im Your Fire was unraced but is a half-sister to I’m Your Venus (Show A Heart), who won the G3 Easter Cup at Riccarton and placed in the Listed Inglewood S. and South Island Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
Their dam Oaky Miss (Rory’s Jester) is a half-sister to the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. winner Leveller (Redoute’s Choice), whose daughter Frolic (Husson {Arg}) won the G2 Reisling S. and finished second in the Golden Slipper.
Im Your Fire is the dam of two foals to race, both winners.
Caulfield, Listed Neds Galilee Series Final, $120,000, 2400m
Race summary
Robbie Griffiths scored an impressive win in the 3-year-old feature with a recent recruit to his stable, Royal Crown (Helmet).
The gelding won a maiden race in February from the Michael Kent stable before joining Griffiths in early March. He has won two of his three starts since then, including an impressive staying performance in Saturday’s black-type feature.
Ridden by Mark Zahra, Royal Crown moved up on the outside of Coin Collector (All Too Hard) at the top of the straight and quickly put that rival away to take a clear lead.
Bellx (Rock Hero) produced a strong finish in between those runners and briefly posed a threat, but Royal Crown kept going too strongly and held on to win by 1.25l. Bellx was second, with another 0.5l back to Coin Collector in third.
Raced by a big group of owners, Royal Crown has now had six starts for three wins and a placing, earning $127,250 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Royal Crown was bred by Illowra Stud in Victoria.
He is by Helmet, who stood at Darley from 2012 to 2017. Helmet has sired 320 winners from 562 runners worldwide, with 12 individual black-type winners headed by the G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire).
In Australia, Helmet’s 258 runners include 167 winners with six at stakes level. The best of those is La Tene, who won the G2 Angus Armanasco S. and VRC Sires’ Produce S.
The dam of Royal Crown is Princess Regina (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who has now produced two black-type performers. Oncidium Ruler (Strategic) placed in this same race four years ago, and also finished third in a Listed Pakenham Cup.
Princess Regina is out of a full-sister to The Bandette (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), who won the G2 Herbert Power S. and placed in the G1 Sydney Cup and Ranvet S.
Her dam is also a three-quarter sister to G1 Tancred S., Queen Elizabeth S. and Spring Champion S. winner Prince Majestic (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}), Listed winner Bi Noble (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}) and the dam of Group 1 performer King Johny (NZ) (Seasoned Star). This family received a major upgrade recently with King Johny’s half-sister producing the G1 Auckland Cup winner Roger That (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}).
Since producing Royal Crown in 2016, Princess Regina returned to Helmet to produce a filly in 2017 and a colt in 2018. She was served by Palentino last spring.
Ascot, G2 Schweppes WA Derby, $320,000, 2400m
Race summary
William Pike bided his time on the hot favourite Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock), settling midfield and one off the fence before easing out wide before the turn.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained filly jogged to the front 250 metres from home and then coasted clear to score easing down by 4.75l.
Red Hot Tip (Red Hot Choice) chased in vain for second with Criminal Code (Maschino), who led at the top of the straight, finishing third.
Pedigree notes
A $300,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale buy, Tuscan Queen is a daughter of the G3 Frances Tressady S. winner Tavarnelle (Zabeel {NZ}).
She is out of a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand Thoroughbred S. winner Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), who produced the G3 Adrian Knox S. winner Crafty Irna (Starcraft {NZ}).
Zirna is also sister to the Listed Northland Breeders’ S. winner Amazing Me (NZ) and a half-sister to the Listed Jayco Cup Gothic S. winner Vandalo (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Morphettville, Listed Furphy S., $100,000, 1000m
Race summary
Bella Vella (Commands) collected her first piece of black type with a dominant front-running performance in Adelaide on Saturday.
Ridden by apprentice Lachlan Neindorf, the 5-year-old mare broke well from the inside gate and quickly took up a position at the head of the field.
She was closely pursued for most of the race by Tavisan (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who loomed as a major threat coming up to the home turn.
But Neindorf turned Bella Vella loose and she sprinted away, opening up for a commanding victory by 1.75l.
Kabini (Written Tycoon) finished well to run second, a length in front of Equal Love (Equiano {Fr}).
Trained and part-owned by Will Clarken, Bella Vella has had 27 starts for eight wins, eight placings and $379,560 in prizemoney.
Bella Vella was a $100,000 purchase at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Part-owner John Kelton bought her for $22,500 through last year’s Inglis Digital Monthly April Sale.
Pedigree notes
Bella Vella became the 80th individual stakes winner for accomplished stallion Commands, who has been represented by a total of 973 winners from 1317 runners.
The dam of Bella Vella is the winning American mare Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}), who is a half-sister to two Listed winners in the United States.
Their dam Wedded Bliss (USA) (His Majesty {USA}) also placed at Listed level, and she is a half-sister to four stakes winners including Winged Victory (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}), who won the G3 Fort Lauderdale H. and placed in the G1 Churchill Downs Turf Classic and the G2 Royal Ascot King Edward VII S.
Another half-sister to Wedded Bliss is the unraced Constant Companion (USA) (Relaunch {USA}), whose daughter Forever Together (USA) (Belong to Me {USA}) won the G1 Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf S., the G1 First Lady S. and two editions of the G1 Diana S. at Saratoga.
Forget the Weather is the dam of three foals to race, all of them winners. Bella Vella’s younger half-sisters Fabulous Fran (More Than Ready {USA}) and I Love Luka (Wandjina) have both won races, while the 2-year-old Typhoon Force (Smart Missile) has yet to race.
Forget The Weather had a colt by Shooting To Win in the spring of 2019, then was served by Churchill (Ire).
