G1 Ladbrokes Cox Plate, $5,000,000, 2040m
Race summary
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace scored their maiden G1 Cox Plate as imported galloper Sir Dragonet (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) burst through the pack in the Moonee Valley straight to score the feature race.
Ridden by Glen Boss, Sir Dragonet settled in the second half of the field as his stablemate Grandslam (Myboycharlie {Ire}) set a solid tempo out in front.
As the front runners weakened, the backmarkers began to make their move approaching the straight and there was a line of chances across the track with Sir Drangonet bursting through with an electric turn of foot to run away and win by 1.25l.
Fellow imported horse Armory (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) came home in second while Russian Camelot (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) was another 0.75l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Sir Dragonet is out of Group 3-placed mare Sparrow (Ire) (Oasis Dream {GB}), who herself is out of stakes winner and G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up All Too Beautiful (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {Ire}).
Sir Drangonet’s third dam is breed shaping mare Urban Sea (USA) (Miswaki {USA}), who is responsible for champion sires Sea The Stars (Ire) and Galileo (Ire) as well as young sire Born To Sea (Ire) and a number of other stakes winners.
G2 McCafe Moonee Valley Gold Cup, $500,000, 2500m
Race summary
Last year’s G1 VRC Oaks winner Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) returned to the winner’s stall with an impressive win here.
The Danny O’Brien-trained 4-year-old settled at the tail of a very strongly run race and began circling the field approaching the bend, before hitting the front at the 100 metre mark and going on to win by 2.5l.
Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) also came home well to score second while Oceanex (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) stuck on well after racing on the speed to finish another 0.5l away in third.
Pedigree notes
A NZ$120,000 purchase for O'Brien at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale from the Westbury Stud, Miami Bound is out of G1 VRC Oaks winner Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), who along with this filly, has produced the Listed winner De Little Engine (Encosta De Lago).
Arapaho Miss, who has had five winners from her six foals to the track, is out of the Listed-placed imported mare Happy Heart (Fr) (Exit To Nowhere {USA}), who also produced the Group 1-placed Heartsareforlove (Hussonet {USA}), who contested this race back in 2010.
Arapaho Miss has a 3-year-old filly by Swiss Ace named Gabriellagrace and a yearling brother to Miami Bound.
G2 Lexus Fillies’ Classic, $300,000, 1600m
Race summary
The quick back-up was no issue for Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) as she blitzed her rivals and scored her first stakes win here.
The Leon and Troy Corstens-trained 3-year-old was given a well-rated ride by Craig Williams as she led from point to post and ran away in the straight to win by 3.75l.
Ecumenical (Zebedee {GB}) came home in second with Miss Inbetween (Fighting Sun) another 2l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred and sold by Sledmere Stud, Yes Baby Yes was purchased by Flemington Bloodstock and Malua Racing for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the third foal out of winning Exceed And Excel mare Exabelle, who herself is out of Avabelle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), the half-sister to G1 New Zealand S. winner Gaze (Cape Cross {Ire}).
Exabella has an unraced 2-year-old named No Baby No (Shooting To Win) and a yearling filly by Speith (NZ) while she is currently back in foal to Dissident.
G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile, $300,000, 1600m
Race summary
Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) returned from a long break with a win as he went all the way to score here.
In a five-horse field, the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained gelding jumped from barrier two and won the battle for the lead under Ben Melham and never looked in doubt as he kicked away on the bend and went on to win by 2l.
Age Of Chivalry (NZ) (He’s Remarkable {NZ}) landed his third stakes placing this campaign as he stuck on for second while veteran Kings Will Dream (Ire) (Casamento {Ire}) was another 1.25l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Homesman has a rich international pedigree and he’s a half-brother to the Listed winner and G1 July Cup runner-up U S Ranger (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
Their dam is My Annette (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}) and she is a half-sister to the multiple Group 2 winner and successful sire Dynaformer (USA).
They are out of the G1 Aqueduct Top Flight H. winner Andover Way (USA) (His Majesty {USA}) and the G1 Belmont Suburban H. winner and sire Offlee Wild (USA) also features on the page.
G2 Drummond Golf Vase, $300,000, 2040m
Race summary
Cherry Tortoni (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) returned to the winner’s stall for the first time since taking out the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final in July as he scored a tough win here.
The Patrick Payne-trained gelding settled back in the field in the early stages of the race and as the tempo slowed down the back straight, jockey Biilly Egan opted to make he move and circled the field, eventually hitting the front approaching the turn.
Cherry Tortoni showcased his class as he raced away in the straight to win by 0.2l.
Khoekhoe (Turffontein) gave good chase but couldn’t get past the winner and scored second place while Johnny Get Angry (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was another 7l back in third.
Pedigree notes
Cherry Tortoni’s dam Tortoni (Strategic), who has also produced the two-time winner Café Tortoni (Reset), is a daughter of the G1 One Thousand Guineas winner Whisked (Whiskey Road {USA}).
Tortoni is a half-sister to multiple Group 1 winner Tie The Knot (Nassipour {USA}) and to the Listed winners Hood (Shamardal {USA}) and Dream Ballad (Singspiel {Ire}).
The G2 Magic Night S. winner Ichihara (General Nediym) and the G2 Run To The Rose S. winner Menari (Snitzel), who also ran third in the G1 Golden Rose, are other members of the family.
Tortoni has a 2-year-old filly by former shuttler Bobby’s Kitten (USA) and a yearling filly by Churchill (Ire), while she is currently in foal to Mendelssohn (USA).
G3 PFD Food Services Red Anchor S., $200,000, 1200m
Race summary
The Matt Laurie-trained Portland Sky (Deep Field) added a valuable Group 3 win to his CV as he led from point to post to score a dominant victory here.
At just his fourth career start, the colt jumped from barrier one under Ben Melham and was challenged for the lead throughout the race but he managed to kick clear around the bend and went on to win by 0.75l.
Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) was tough after sitting three-wide with no cover and still running on for second while, while Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}) ran on late to finish another 1l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Portland Sky was purchased by Matt Laurie Racing for $85,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale from the draft of Alwyn Stud.
He is the first foal to race out of placed mare Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm) who herself is a half-sister to Listed winner London Line (Blackfriars). Further back, this is the family of multiple Group 1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}).
Sky Rumba has a 2-year-old colt by Blackfriars who was purchased by Simon Miller Racing for $170,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, while she also has a yearling filly by Sessions and this year foaled a colt by Universal Ruler.
G3 Powerflo Solutions S., $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) made it back-to-back stakes wins as she went all the way to win easily here.
Ridden by Jamie Kah, the Danny O’Brien-trained mare went straight to the front from barrier three and further confirmed that in the lead is the ideal place to be as she kicked away around the bend and went on to win by 0.75l.
I Am Eloquent (I Am Invincible) gave good chase to finish second and so did Paradee (Epaulette) as she came home another 0.1l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Golden Grove Stud Farm, Sovereign Award is one of two winners from four to race out of six-time winner Sovereign Charm (Show A Heart).
Sovereign Charm herself is out of Rollover (Flying Spur) who is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Talk To Angels (Don’t Say Halo {USA}) who is also the dam of Listed winner Magic Heaven (Magic Ring).
R. Listed Inglis Banner, $500,000, 1000m
Race summary
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace have unearthed another talented 2-year-old as the Rosemont Stud-owned Sneaky Five (Fastnet Rock) produced a professional performance to take out the rich race for juveniles.
Jumping from barrier three under Jamie Kah, the filly was able to sit just behind the frontrunners before peeling out around the bend and kicking clear in the straight, going on to win comfortably on the bridle by 1.25l.
It was a Maher and Eustace quinella as The Art Of Flying (Flying Artie) ran on well to finish second with Tempest Charm (Trust In A Gust) also finishing off strongly and coming home a further 0.3l away in third.
Pedigree notes
Sneaky Five was purchased by Rosemont Stud for $305,000 at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Golden Farms.
She is the third foal to race out of G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Small Minds (Canny Lad) who is also responsible for Listed scorer Beautiful Minds (So You Think {NZ}). Further back, this is also the family of 20-time winner Marwin Gold (Marwina).
Small Minds has a yearling brother to Sneaky Five and missed to Artie Schiller last year.
