Morphettville, G3 Furphy RN Irwin S., $120,000, 1100m
Race summary
Following an outstanding Melbourne campaign, Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}) enjoyed a triumphant Adelaide homecoming on Saturday.
The 4-year-old entire began his current campaign with an exceptional win in the G1 Lightning S., then placed in the G1 Newmarket H. and G1 William Reid S.
Brought back home by Morphettville trainer Gordon Richards, Gytrash sat in third place in Saturday’s sprint feature before lodging his bid at the top of the straight for jockey Jason Holder.
He produced a potent finishing burst that high-class mare Sunlight (Zoustar) could not match, bounding away to win by 3l. Sunlight finished second, 1l in front of Home Of The Brave (Ire) (Starspangledbanner).
Richards bought Gytrash for $40,000 at the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, and he is raced by a large syndicate of owners. He has now had 18 starts for eight wins, nine placings and $1.1 million in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Gytrash was bred by Packaging Investments Aust Pty Ltd, Haltrow Pty Ltd and Glastonbury Farms.
He is by Lope De Vega (Ire), who shuttled to Australia between 2011 and 2014. Those four crops have produced 176 winners from 265 runners, with 17 individual stakes winners including Group 1 winners Santa Ana Lane, Vega Magic and Gytrash.
The dam of Gytrash is Miss Barley (Fastnet Rock), an unraced half-sister to the Listed Keith McKay H. winner Strawberry Storm (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
Strawberry Storm is the dam of the Listed-placed Movie (Red Ransom {USA}), who in turn produced Goodfella (Snitzel), who won the Listed Brian Crowley S. and placed in the G3 Festival S., B.J. McLachlan S. and Magic Millions 3YO Guineas.
Miss Barley’s dam Wheatland Lady (USA) (Strawberry Road) placed at stakes level in Kentucky, and is a sister to three stakes performers including Strawberry Girl (USA) (Strawberry Road). Strawberry Girl is the dam of the New Zealand Group 1 performer and sire Danroad and three other black-type performers.
Miss Barley has been represented by two winners from two foals to race.
She was bought for just $4000 by Western Australian trainer and breeder Justine Erkelens at the 2017 Magic Millions Perth Winter Mixed Sale. Since then, she has produced the unraced Pouakai (Demerit) and was served last spring by Universal Ruler.
Morphettville, G3 Schweppervescence S., $140,000, 1800m
Race summary
After a string of solid performances at stakes level, Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani {Ire}) broke through for a deserved Group 3 win in Saturday’s 3-year-old fillies’ feature in Adelaide.
Trained by Tony and Calvin McEvoy, Silent Sovereign finished second in the Listed Morphettville Guineas in September, then fourth in the Listed Hill Smith S., sixth in the G2 Wakeful S. and ninth in the G1 VRC Oaks.
She returned to stakes level two weeks ago with a fourth placing in the Listed Laelia S., and on Saturday she raised her game to a new level.
Rider Barend Vorster positioned Silent Sovereign in fifth place behind tearaway leader Sphera (Reward For Effort), who opened up a lead of almost 10l during the middle stages of the race.
She began to drop back towards the pack coming up to the home turn, and Silent Sovereign started to warm up and move into contention.
The race developed into a two-filly war between Silent Sovereign and Selica (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), and Silent Sovereign gained the upper hand inside the last 100 metres and won by 0.5l.
Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) finished well to fill third spot, 1.75l behind the first pair.
Silent Sovereign has now had eight starts for two wins, a placing and $137,100 in prizemoney. He was bred by nonagenarian Donald Moyle, who shares in the ownership.
Pedigree notes
Silent Sovereign is by Dalakhani (Ire), who shuttled to Australia from 2013 to 2015. His three Australian crops have produced 30 winners from 105 runners, with Silent Sovereign joining Dalasan as the second stakes winner.
Silent Sovereign’s dam is Silent Surround (Face Value), whose three wins included the G3 SAJC Sires’ Produce S. She also placed in the G2 Wakeful S., G2 Edward Manifold S. and the Listed Tokyo City Cup and Balaklava Cup.
Silent Surround is the dam of two foals to race, both stakes winners. Silent Sovereign’s older half-brother Silent Command (Commands) has won three races including the Listed Morphettville Guineas.
Silent Surround is out of a half-sister to Station Hand (Rancher), who won the G2 T.S. Carlyon Cup and placed in the G1 Australian Cup twice, as well as the G1 Cox Plate, G2 Blamey S., G2 Memsie S. and G3 Waterford Crystal Mile.
Since producing Silent Sovereign in 2016, Silent Surround has had the unraced 2-year-old Silent Don (Dundeel {NZ}) and fillies by Fiorente (Ire) and So You Think (NZ). She was served by Highland Reel (Ire) last spring.
Morphettville, Listed Winning Edge Presentations Redelva S., $100,000, 1100m
Race summary
Following on from a brilliant black-type win earlier in the day by stablemate Gytrash (Lope De Vega {Ire}), the promising 3-year-old Garner (Barbados) delivered a highly impressive performance of his own.
Ridden by Jason Holder for trainer Gordon Richards, the gelding burst out of the pack in the home straight and quickly asserted his superiority. He stretched out powerfully in the last 150 metres and went clear to win by 2.25l from Roccabascerana (Fighting Sun). The third placegetter was Sizzlefly (Sizzling), who finished another 0.5l away.
Garner has now had nine starts for four wins and five placings, earning $324,450 for his 11 owners, including breeder Mark Sheehan.
Pedigree notes
Garner became the first stakes winner for Redoute’s Choice stallion Barbados, who stands for a service fee of $4000 at Ducatoon Park in South Australia.
Commencing stud duties in Australia in 2013, Barbados has sired a total of 38 winners from just 54 runners.
Garner is out of Jaalippy (Foxhound {USA}), who won six races and placed in Adelaide’s Listed Matrice S.
Jaalippy’s third dam Pimento Dream (USA) (Cyane {USA}) won at stakes level and is dam or granddam of eight black-type performers in the United States.
From five foals to race, Jaalippy has a perfect record with five winners. Garner is the youngest of those, following in the footsteps of Nippy Lippy (Mint Lane {USA}), Washerwoman (Mint Lane {USA}), Flop (Stryker) and Jaamint (Mint Lane {USA}). Garner is the first to perform at stakes level.
Jaalippy followed Garner with the unraced 2-year-old Spinola Bay (Cluster), then had two colts by Zebedee (GB). She had another mating with Barbados last spring.
Caulfield, Listed Neds Bel Esprit S., $112,000, 1100m
Race summary
William Thomas (Nicconi) produced a remarkable performance to claim his first black-type win in Saturday’s sprint feature at Caulfield.
Ridden by Michael Dee for owner-trainer John Price, the 5-year-old gelding dropped back in the early stages of the race and was still last of the 16 runners as the field turned for home.
But then William Thomas started to go through his gears, and by the 150-metre mark he was at full flight. He stormed home down the outside, passing every runner and stretching out impressively to win by 1.5l. Humma Humma (Denman) was second, 0.75l ahead of Coruscate (Exceed And Excel).
William Thomas is now the winner of seven of his 20 starts, placing in another five and earning $456,460 in prizemoney.
William Thomas was a $13,000 purchase at the 2015 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, then fetched $110,000 at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale the following year.
Pedigree notes
William Thomas was bred by Riverslea Farm in New South Wales.
He is by the under-rated Nicconi, who has sired 322 winners from 447 runners. He has been represented by 19 individual stakes winners, headed by sprinting star Nature Strip. Nicconi stands for a service fee of $38,500 at Widden Stud – an increase from $24,750 last season and $11,000 two seasons before that, fees inclusive of GST.
The dam of William Thomas is the unraced Girls Rock (Fastnet Rock), whose dam is a half-sister to the stakes-winner Group Decision (Plush {NZ}) and black-type placegetter Our Sivart (Prego {Ire}).
Girls Rock has produced two winners from three foals to race, and William Thomas was her last foal. Her first foal Janis (Duporth) won seven races over sprint distances.
Ascot, Listed G3 Amelia Park WA Sires’ Produce S., $160,000, 1400m
Race summary
Watch Me Dance (I’m All The Talk) was the commanding favourite and once she got into clear air the result was never in doubt.
The Steve Wolfe-trained filly sat back off the pace and when rider Shaun McGruddy angled her wide she lengthened stride stylishly to get the job done.
Dom To Shoot (Shooting To Win) bounced back from an unplaced lead-up effort to finish second and Em Tee Aye (I’m All The Talk) sat behind the pace and boxed on well enough for third.
Pedigree notes
Watch Me Dance was bred by Mungrup Stud and is the first stakes winner for its resident sire I’m All The Talk, a Group 3-winning son of Stratum.
The filly is the first winner for Coventry To Rio (Oratorio), who is out of a half-sister to the G3 Up And Coming S. winner West End (Zephyr Bay). Watch Me Dance was a $34,000 purchase at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
