Significant success
Significance (Frankel {GB}) continued his good form to add a first black-type success with a dominant display in the Listed De Bortoli Christmas Cup at Randwick.
Clare Cunningham took over his training at the start of his current campaign and made all the running to post his third win from his last four starts.
The Warwick Farm-based horsewoman will see how Significance comes through Saturday's race and is eyeing a crack at the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick on Boxing Day.
Significance | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Fabergino bounces back
Western Australian mare Fabergino (Maschino) took advantage of an easier assignment to score at Flemington on Saturday.
The Tiarnna Robertson-trained grey had tailed the field home in the G1 VRC Classic, but found the company in the Living Legends Sprint much more to her liking.
“She was super and came through her last run well and appreciated the big drop in class. It’s good to get a win on the trip. She’ll stay here and have a couple of weeks in the paddock and then race on,” Roberts said.
Dream start to career
Beltoro (Toronado {Ire}) had no trouble keeping his unbeaten record intact with another smart display to win at Flemington.
Successful on debut at Bendigo, he was the least experienced runner in the Lexus Legends Plate but dealt comfortably with his rivals for rider Jack Hill.
“There’s plenty of upside to him, he was most impressive. He looks like he’s got a very bright future,” trainer Robert Hickmott said.
He has yet to confirm future plans for the 3-year-old, but the G1 Australian Guineas in the autumn could be a possible target.
Shownoroses upsets in feature
Under-rated mare Shownoroses (NZ) (Showcasing {NZ}) made full use of an electric beginning from a wide barrier to lead her rivals a merry dance as she took out the feature race at Te Rapa on Saturday, the G2 Cal Isuzu S.
The 4-year-old had put the writing on the wall that she was ready to take out a stakes race when finishing second in the G2 Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders’ S. at Pukekohe last month.
Showoroses (NZ)
“That was unbelievable and an excellent ride from Vinnie,” trainer Joanne Surgenor said. “We had talked about it before the race and we felt the only way to win was to go forward and lead.
“I have so many people to thank including everyone who has helped me out over the last two months. It’s been hard work but we’re here and we’ve won a Group 2 so thank you everybody.
“She has a really good turn of foot and needs to get in front, not be held up and has a kick to go.”
First stakes success
Promising mare Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) added valuable black type to her burgeoning race record when she prevailed in a desperate finish to the G3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa.
The Robbie Patterson-trained 5-year-old had gone close at stakes level at her last start when finishing second in the Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint in early November.
Coventina Bay (NZ) (pink cap)
“I’ve got to take my hat off to this horse. She’s only 15 hands and has had a lot of issues. She was a real hard horse early on, but she’s got the heart of a lion,” trainer Rob Patterson said.
“Our targets have been these handicap Group races as she is only a little horse and we can get her in down in the weights.
“I think we have to look at the G2 Rich Hill Mile and then maybe the G1 Thorndon at Trentham after that.”
Daring ride pays off
Apprentice Callum Jones made the most of a late call-up when he guided outsider Ocean Billy (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) to victory in Saturday’s G3 SKYCITY Hamilton Waikato Cup at Te Rapa.
Trainer Bill Pomare had struggled to book a rider for the 5-year-old leading into the race and turned to the inexperienced Jones, who had ridden the horse to win an open handicap at Ruakaka back in September.
Ocean Billy (NZ)
Jones threw caution to the wind midway through the 2400 metre feature as he sent Ocean Billy to the lead and never looked like being reeled in.
“I had a feeling that the further this horse went the better he would be,” Pomare said. “I couldn’t get a jockey as I asked several to ride him and, in the end, I thought I know someone who has won on him so that’s why the boy was on him. He’s had five rides for me now and won three of them, so I’m rapt for him.”
Staying future
Lightly-raced Cambridge visitor Whimsical (NZ) (Savabeel) showed she will be a force to be reckoned with in the upcoming age-Group staying features when she produced a gritty performance to take out the G3 Lawnmaster Eulogy S. at just her third start.
The Stephen Marsh-trained filly had hinted she had plenty of ability when she easily accounted for her maiden rivals over 1400 metres at Te Rapa last month.
Whimsical (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“She’s a filly with a lot of potential who has just got better and better,” stable representative Todd Pollard said. “She showed plenty when she had her first trial at Ellerslie back in July and has just kept going up a level at each outing.
“She is probably the biggest 3-year-old filly we have in the stable and just looks like a stayer in the making so we did think the 1600 metres would be right up her alley.”
Colt looks smart investment
A hefty investment at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale earlier this year by Te Akau’s David Ellis returned an early winning dividend at Te Rapa where Sword Of State (Snitzel) was successful on debut.
Bred by Go Bloodstock, the colt was a $600,000 purchase out of Newgate’s draft and was sent out an odds-on favourite in the Lowe Schollum Jones 2YO Premier after trialling well for trainer Jamie Richards.
Sword Of State jumped quickly to lead and one behind the saddle from rider Opie Bosson in the run home saw him explode clear to score by 6.5l.
“He’s a natural running 2-year-old and that’s what he’s bred to do. We might look at Ellerslie and the G2 Eclipse S. on New Year’s Day and then the G1 Matamata Slipper and the Group 1s at Ellerslie (Diamond S.) and Awapuni (Sires’ Produce S.),” Richards said.
He is the first foal of the 2-year-old winner and G2 Sweet Embrace S. runner-up In The Vanguard (Encosta De Lago), a daughter of the G2 Flight S. winner Sharp (Danzero).
Elite winner to Taylor Made
Grade I winner Instilled Regard (USA) has been retired from racing and the son of Arch (USA) will take up stud duties at Taylor Made. The 5-year-old will stand for a fee of US$12,500 (AU$16,585) for the 2021 season.
Bred by Katie Rich Farms, Instilled Regard began his career on dirt, finishing second in the 2017 GI Los Alamitos Cash Call Futurity S. and captured the 2018 G3 Lecomte S. Fourth in the G2 Risen Star S. that term, the dark bay filled the same spot behind eventual Triple Crown hero Justify (USA) in both the GI Santa Anita Derby and GI Kentucky Derby.
Transferred to Chad Brown, Instilled Regard was off the board in the GI Pennsylvania Derby, after which he was switched to turf, finishing third in the GI Hollywood Derby. Winless in his first three starts of 2019, he finished off the season with a victory in the G2 Fort Lauderdale S. Third in the GI Pegasus World Cup Turf Invitational S., he closed out his career with victories in the G2 Fort Marcy S. and the GI Manhattan S.
Group 1 target
Savabeel colt Brando (NZ) took a step closer to a Group 1 goal when he won for the second time in his three-start career at Te Rapa.
The 3-year-old finished determinedly to land the Dunstan Horse Feeds Premier and is likely to make his next appearance at Ellerslie on Boxing Day in the Listed Shaw’s Wires Ropes Uncle Remus S. and then on to the G1 Levin Classic.
“That was really encouraging and he showed some grit. He had an injury in the spring, but that may be a blessing as he’s really improved with the time,” trainer Jamie Richards said.
