G1 Neds Blue Diamond S., $1,500,000, 1200m
Race summary
Artorius (Flying Artie) has gone one better than his sire Flying Artie in taking out Victoria’s most prestigious juvenile sprint.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained colt settled nearest to last on the rails and looked destined to run into trouble. However, Luke Currie produced a gem of a ride, patiently piecing his way through the field before producing his mount out wide.
Godolphin pair Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) rounded out the minors after working home out wide from back in the field.
Boom filly Enthaar (Written Tycoon) was forced to work hard from barrier 14 to cross and eventually folded after setting a solid speed. Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) and General Beau (Brazen Beau) were both left flat-footed at the top of the straight after attempting go with the leader and finished eighth and fifth respectively.
Pedigree notes
Artorius was a $120,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Anthony Freedman Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock from the draft of Vinery Stud.
He is the best performed of four foals by his unraced dam Gracie’s Lass (Redoute's Choice), who is out of Listed winner and G1 Hollywood Starlet S. runner-up Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).
This makes her a half-sister to G1 VRC Classic winner, Delectation (Shamardal {USA}).
G1 Neds Oakleigh Plate, $500,000, 1100m
Race summary
Portland Sky (Deep Field) and Celebrity Queen (Redoute’s Choice), shared Group 1 honours after the judge was unable to split the pair.
The Matt Laurie-trained colt found himself engaged in a speed battle with fellow lightweights Anders (Not A Single Doubt) and Ancestry (The Brothers War {USA}), but was able to quicken while the others were left flat footed.
With 100 metres to run, apprentice Teo Nugent looked destined for a maiden Group 1 glory on his own, but star hoop William Pike had other plans, rallying his mount under hard riding along the inside rail.
Kemalpasa (Magnus) produced a massive first-up run, finishing 0.2l third after being caught three-wide with 57kg on his back, while lightly raced 4-year-old Brooklyn Hustle (Starspangledbanner) hit the line hard after being held up until the final furlong.
Pedigree notes
Portland Sky was an $85,000 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale purchase by Matt Laurie Racing from the draft of Alwyn Park Stud and is the first foal of 12-start maiden Sky Rumba (Shrewd Rhythm).
She is a daughter of unraced mare Line Of Flight (Bletchley Park {Ire}), who is a half-sister to three time G1 winner Scenic Shot (Scenic {Ire}).
Celebrity Queen is a Peters Investments' homebred out of R. Listed Bolton Sprint H. winner Celebrity Miss (More Than Ready {USA}), who herself was bred and raced by Peters Investments.
Celebrity Miss is out of G1 South Australian Oaks and G1 MVRC Tesio S. winner Miss Margaret (Marscay), making her a half-sister to G2 WATC Karrakatta P. winner Confront (Bluebird {USA}).
Confront was sold to Hong Kong for an undisclosed fee and won the G3 HKJC Repulse Bay Road H. as Ambitious Leader.
G1 Lamaro’s Sth Melbourne Futurity S., $500,000, 1400m
Race summary
Star New Zealand mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) has announced herself as a bona fide superstar, after accounting for a field of elite middle-distance gallopers.
Damian Lane didn’t panic after finding himself caught three-wide without cover and continued to work his mount into the superior going out wide. From there Probabeel levelled up and shot past the labouring Behemoth (All Too Hard) with a furlong to run.
Arcadia Queen (Pierro) and Mr Quickie (Shamus Award) were superb in their returns, rattling home to fill the minors after settling at the tail of the field, while 3-year-olds Ole Kirk and Crosshaven couldn’t match it with the older horses, finish second last and last respectively.
Pedigree notes
Probabeel was a $380,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase by David Ellis from the draft of Waikato Stud.
She is the only raced foal out of Listed NZ Bloodstock Sprint winner and G3 Lowland S. placed Far Fetched (Pins).
Far Fetched’ is a half-sister to G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude and G3 Manfred S. winner Legless Verve (Pins).
G2 Carlton Draught Peter Young S., $200,000, 1800m
Race summary
Paradee (Epaulette) has dismantled a field of high-class stayers, en route to her third consecutive success over 1800 metres.
The Danny O’Brien-trained mare was taken forward from barrier one by John Allen and settled in the box seat with cover. From there Allen used his mount race fitness to advantage, pushing four-wide on the turn before asking for a final effort on straightening.
Last start winner Shared Ambition (Ire) (Born To Sea {Ire}) lost no admirers, running on strongly into second after plotting a three-wide course under, Mark Zahra.
The resuming Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) was brave in defeat, sticking on into third, while Nonconformist (Rebel Raider) and Angel Of Truth (Animal Kingdom {USA}) hit the line hard from the rear.
Pedigree notes
Paradee was bred by Viera Group and sold for $240,000 through Bowness Stud to Robert Anderson at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the second of four foals out of the unraced mare Icy Heels (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), who herself is out of South American Group 3 winner Lady Cat (Chi) (Sir Cat {NZ})
Lady Cat is out of 1995 Champion Older Mare in Chile Arabian Lady (Iroko), who herself is a multiple G2 winner.
G2 ZircoDATA Autumn Classic, $200,000, 1800m
Race summary
The Tom Dabernig and Ben Hayes-trained filly Parure (Fastnet Rock) accounted for a field of quality fillies in her first attempt at Group level.
She was gifted a lovely ride by Damian Lane, settling alongside Listed winner and Group-placed Khoekhoe (Turffontein).
The pair were neck and neck on straightening, but Khoekhoe couldn’t match the eventual winner for speed. However, he managed to pick himself up over the final 50 metres to finish third ahead of, Milton Park (Written Tycoon).
Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) hit the line nicely under light riding, after spotting the leaders more than 10l in the run.
Pedigree notes
Parure was a $155,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale purchase by James Bester Bloodstock from the draft of Morning Rise Stud.
She is out of G2 Edward Manifold S. winner Fontein Ruby (Turffontein) who herself is out of a three-quarter sister to two-time G1 Cox Plate winner Fields Of Omagh (Rubiton).
Fontein Ruby is also a half-sister to G1 ARC Eagle Technology S. winner The Mitigator (Master Of Design) and G2 VRC Wakeful S.-placed filly Palumbo (Sebring).
G2 Neds Angus Armanasco S., $200,000, 1400m
Race summary
Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) had been out of sorts during her Queensland campaign and she bounced back to her best here.
She was quickly out of the gates to sit outside the leader and rider Jamie Kah took the filly to the front soon after straightening and stayed on gallantly.
Runner-up Malacorne (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) made a late dive, but just came up short, and Impecunious (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) saw daylight late and drove strongly for third.
Pedigree notes
Yes Baby Yes was offered by breeder Sledmere Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and purchased by Flemington Bloodstock and Malua Racing for $120,000.
She is a daughter of Exabelle (Exceed And Excel), a winner on two occasions, and she is out of a half-sister to the G1 New Zealand S. winner Gaze (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) and the G3 Kenilworth Langerman H. winner Ready To Attack (More Than Ready {USA}).
Yes Baby Yes is the flagship performer for her Newgate-based stallion as a dual stakes winner having claimed top honours in the G2 Moonee Valley Fillies’ Classic to close out her previous preparation.
G3 Premier Signs Mannerism S., $160,000, 1400m
Race summary
Rich Hips (Written Tycoon) picked up where she left off with a tidy display to successfully kick off a new preparation.
Unsighted since she won the G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club S. on Melbourne Cup Day, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained mare enjoyed a good run near the pace and finished off strongly in the hands of Michael Dee.
Perfect Jewel (Redoute’s Choice) also made a pleasing return by running into second and Lunakorn (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) rushed into third.
Pedigree notes
Rich Hips was purchased by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing and Paul Willetts for $130,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale from the draft of Woodside Park Stud.
She is the third foal to race out of winning mare She’s Curvaceous (Flying Spur), making her a half-sister to G1 VRC Oaks fourth Hipster Girl (Nicconi).
Her second dam is the stakes-placed Vital Curve (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}), who also produced G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Velasco (NZ) (Flying Spur).
G3 Neds Zedative S., $160,000, 1200m
Race summary
Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) has plenty to live up to on pedigree and he has made a bold start to his career.
He followed up a debut win at Flemington with a smart display to quickly add black type to his record for trainer Peter Moody.
Rider Luke Nolen let him stride to the front and he was unchallenged to sprint home a comfortable winner from It’sourtime (Time For War) and Valaquenta (Street Boss {USA}).
Pedigree notes
Oxley Road was bred by Nick Vass and bought by Singapore-based trainer Stephen Gray, who remains in the ownership group, for $125,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The colt was offered by Newgate and is a brother to the G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Exceedance, now resident at Vinery Stud.
They are out of the Listed Proud Miss S. winner Bonnie Mac (NZ) (Thorn Park) and she is a half-sister to the G3 Grand Prix S. winner Upham (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and the G3 Epona S. winner Intimate Moment (Dubawi {Ire}).
Listed Neds Mornington Cup Prelude, $150,000, 2000m
Race summary
Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) continued his winning roll with another dominant staying performance under rider Billy Egan.
The Patrick Payne-trained gelding settled toward the back of the field before he began to pick up ground 800 metres from home and finished off resolutely in the run home.
San Huberto (Ire) (Speightstown {USA}) ran home well for second in his first appearance since the spring and Hang Man (Ire) (Windsor Knot {Ire}) made late ground for third.
Pedigree notes
Defibrillate was bred by the McInteer Family Trust and New Zealand trainer Graham Richardson, who prepared the horse for his first two wins before sending him to Payne and remains in the ownership.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Counties Bowl winner Italian Princess (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}) and they are out of the Groom Dancer (USA) mare Our Chickaroonie (NZ).
She is a half-sister to the multiple winner and stakes performer Stone Wash Jeans (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) and the family of the G3 Belmont Sprint winner and sire Universal Ruler.
