The Valley, G1 Charter Keck Cramer Moir S., $1,000,000, 1000m
Race summary
Pippie (Written Tycoon) couldn’t be caught as she bounced out of the barriers, went straight to the front and never looked back, going on to win by 0.75l.
Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) was huge late in the piece as he stormed home to finish second, with Bella Vella (Commands) finishing 0.2l away in third and Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) running on well to score fourth.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Eureka Stud, Pippie was purchased by Chris Meagher for $60,000 at the 2017 Inglis Classic Sale from the Eureka draft and is out of Coupe Express (Ne Coupez Pas {USA}), who herself won six races.
Coupe Express is a half-sister to Timely Truce (Brief Truce {USA}), who placed in the Listed Merson Cooper S., Talindert S. and the colts and geldings’ division of the Blue Diamond Preview.
Her second dam Zofagal (Zoffany {Ire}) is a half-sister to Merry Ruler (The Carpenter {USA}), who won the G2 Hobartville S., and G2 Phar Lap S., placed in another seven stakes-races and finished fourth in the G1 Epsom H.
The Valley, G2 E.J. Whitten Time to Test Stutt S., $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Glenfiddich (Fastnet Rock) proved his class to lead the trip and land an elusive maiden stakes win here.
Twice placed at Group 1 level, the 3-year-old colt jumped well and lead comfortably under Luke Nolen before kicking clear and going on to win by 2l.
Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) ran home strongly to finish second, while Holyfield (I Am Invincible), who sat off Glenfiddich throughout the run, held on gamely to finish another 0.2l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Purchased by Griffiths Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the draft of Edinburgh Park, Glenfiddich is one of two winners from three to race out of Nothing But A Dream (USA) (First Defence {USA}).
His second dam is the stakes-winning Darling Alice (USA) (Northern Flagship {USA}), who is also responsible Smokin’ Alice (USA) (Smoke Glacken {USA}), the dam of R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas winner Eleven Eleven (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed-placed War Memorial (Fastnet Rock).
Glenfiddich also becomes the 160th individual stakes winner for champion Coolmore sire Fastnet Rock.
The Valley, G2 Four’N Twenty Stocks S., $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Tasmanian mare Mystic Journey (Needs Further) returned to the winner’s stall for the first time in over a year with a tough win here.
The 5-year-old sat back in the field and wide without cover but tracked up around the bend and showcased her class as she edged out Perfect Jewel (Redoute’s Choice) to score by 0.2l.
One More Try (Dane Shadow) put up a career-best performance, coming home 4.25l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Purchased for $11,000 by trainer Adam Trinder at the Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale from the draft of Armidale Stud, Mystic Journey is out of White Gold (NZ) (Colombia {NZ}), who has produced the stakes-performed Leodoro (Jayemzed), winners Gold Phoenix (Jayemzed) and Emerald Crown (Needs Further), and Oh So Gold (Savoire Vivre {GB}), who is responsible for the dual Listed winning 2-year-old Mystical Pursuit (Needs Further).
White Gold is a sister to stakes-placed Oronero (Colombia {NZ}), while further back, the fourth dam, Lanna D'Oro (Habitat {USA}), is a half-sister to Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {GB}) and a full sister to Habibti (GB) (Habitat {USA}).
The Valley, G3 Piper-Heidsieck Scarborough S., $160,000, 1200m
Race summary
Swats That (Shamus Award) had no luck in the run but her class got her over the line to land her first stakes win.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained filly was caught three-wide with no cover throughout the run but had plenty left in the tank heading into the straight and kicked away to win by 2l.
The Phillip Stokes-trained Highly Discreet (Street Boss {USA}) was impressive late as she ran on from back in the field to finish second, while Dirty Thoughts (So You Think {NZ}) was game after leading the trip and holding on to finish another 2.1l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Swats That is one of two winners from two to race out of the unraced Bel Esprit mare It Is A Mosquito. The filly’s third dam is champion mare Let’s Elope (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), who also produced Group winners Outback Joe (Elvstroem) and Ustinov (Seeking The Gold).
Swats That also becomes the eighth stakes winner from Rosemont Stud sire Shamus Award.
The Valley, G3 Ladbrokes JRA Cup, $200,000, 2040m
Race summary
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Al Galayel (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) continued his rich vain of form and landed his first stakes victory with a dominant win here.
Given a near perfect ride by Ben Melham, the 7-year-old gelding settled just behind the frontrunners and tracked up around the bend, kicking clear in the straight with the minimum of fuss to win by 2.25l.
Plain Ciel (Ger) (Mamool {Ire}) ran on well to finish second while 2018 G1 Australian Derby winner Levendi (Pierro) stuck on well after leading the trip to finish 2.25l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Al Galayel is one of six winners from six to race out of Glympse (Ire) (Spectrum {Ire}), making him a half brother to Supercharged (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is the dam of Listed winner Encapsulation (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
The gelding’s second dam is stakes winner Seasonal Pickup (USA) (The Minstrel {Can}), who is also the third dam of multiple Group 1 winner Designs On Rome (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}).
