Flemington, Listed Chester Manifold S., $140,000, 1400m
Race summary
Never Again (High Chaparral {Ire}) has taken time to mature, but he’s now at the height of his powers and a black-type winner for the first time.
The Clinton McDonald-trained 6-year-old settled off the pace under Michael Walker and when he asked the gelding the question in the straight he responded with a stout finish.
Vassilator (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) settled near the tail of the field and he found the line strongly to finish runner-up ahead of Brave Song (Your Song).
Pedigree notes
McDonald has an intimate knowledge of this family as he prepared the dam Rollon Rose (Encosta De Lago) to win a race before she went amiss.
He also had the thrill of training her half-brother Regal Roller (Regal Classic {Can}), a three-time Group 1 winner of the Futurity S., Toorak H. and Invitation S.
Other black-type performers on the first page include the Listed Oaklands Plate winner Sartorial Splendour (Beau Brummel {USA}) and Cizen Oldman (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), successful at Listed level in Malaysia.
Randwick, Listed January Cup, $150,000, 2000m
Race summary
Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) has been in grand touch this preparation and he earned further black-type success here.
The winner of the Listed Summer Cup at his previous run, the 6-year-old moved ominously into contention 300 metres from home and proved too strong in the run to the post.
The pacemaker Wolfe (Jpn) (Novellist {Ire}) dug deep to hold on to second money ahead of a much-improved Mr Marathon Man (GB) (So You Think {NZ}) and Laure Me In (Ad Valorem {USA}).
Pedigree notes
Spirit Ridge is out of former high-class mare Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy {USA}), winner of 11 races including two at Group 1 level.
She is a half-sister to Sightseek (USA) (Distant View {USA}) and she was successful on 12 occasions with five of them at the highest level.
It is a rich international family that also includes the three-time Group 1 winner Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy {USA}) and the G1 Breeders’ Cup mile winner Expert Eye (GB) (Aacclamation {GB}).
Awapuni, Listed Japac Homes Marton Cup, NZ$50,000, 2200m
Race summary
Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) made light of his 60kg to turn the defence of his Cup title into a procession, careering away to score by 3.5l.
He settled on the pace under jockey Ryan Elliot, who made his move before the turn and after surging well clear into the straight, Beauden coasted to the post with his rider high in the irons.
Grand Bouquet (NZ) (Savabeel) settled midfield on the fence and she ran on gamely to take second money with The Good Fight (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) coming on fairly for third.
Pedigree notes
Bred and raced by Joan Egan, Beauden’s sire Bullbars’ only other black-type winner has been the G2 Eight Carat Classic and G3 Sunline Vase winner Contessa Vanessa (NZ).
Beauden is a son of the former talented race mare Belle Femme (Zeditave), who won eight races including the G2 Rich Hill Mile and the Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders’ S.
She is a half-sister to the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Flying Babe (Flying Spur) and this is also the family of the Karaka Million winner Fort Lincoln (Charge Forward).
