Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Rosehill, G2 City Tattersalls Club Hobartville S., $400,000, 1400m
Race summary
New Zealand galloper Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) has extended his unbeaten record to five with a devastating romp over a field of top tier Australian 3-year-olds.
The Murray Baker and Anthony Forsman-trained gelding stepped slowly from the machine, but recovered to take up a midfield position with cover.
At the top of the straight he looked destined to be a hard luck story, but a split-second decision by rider Hugh Bowman to abandon his initial run and head toward the rails proved a winning move.
From there, he shot clear of the leading pair Peltzer (So You Think {NZ}) and Prime Star (Starspangledbanner) to prevail by 1.8l, ahead of runner up North Pacific (Brazen Beau) who hit the line with intent.
Pedigree notes
Aegon was a NZ$150,000 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale Book 1 purchase by Andrew Forsman from the draft of Waikato Stud.
He is the fourth foal out of five-start maiden winner Toss Up (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who herself is out of a three-quarter sister to the dam of G2 Eight Carat Classic and G2 Westbury Classic-placed mare Tavy (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Toss Up’s grandam Head Of The River (GB) (Shirly Heights {GB}) is the dam of 1996/97 Australasian 2-year-old Filly of the Year and G1 ARC Ellerslie Sires' Produce S. winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
Rosehill, G2 Iron Jack Silver Slipper S., $250,000, 1100m
Race summary
Blueblood colt Home Affairs (I Am Invincible) has held out a fast-finishing Rocket Tiger (Cluster) in a dominant second up display.
James McDonald used barrier one to his advantage aboard the Chris Waller-trained galloper, pressing forward to take up a prominent position in behind Direct (Siyouni {Fr}), who couldn’t stick on over the concluding stages.
Kathy O’Hara found herself posted aboard Rocket Tiger from barrier two and was forced to push out onto Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) to find a run. This caused King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) and Tiger Of Malay (Extreme Choice) to suffer impeded runs.
Highly touted debutant Dio (Zoustar) failed to live up to expectations, fading into a distant seventh after settling outside of runner up Rocket Tiger.
Pedigree notes
Home Affairs was an $875,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling purchase by Tom Magnier of Coolmore Stud from the draft of Torryburn Stud.
He is the second foal out of three-time winner Miss Interiors (Flying Spur), making him half-brother to G1 Caulfield Gunieas placed colt Aysar (Deep Field).
Miss Interiors herself is a half-sister to former superstar juvenile, G1 Oakleigh Plate winner and Newgate Farm sire Russian Revolution.
Rosehill, G2 Irresistible Pools & Spas Millie Fox S., $200,000, 1300m
Race summary
The Chris Waller-trained mare Subpoenaed (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) has added a second Group 2 to her resume with a dominant first-up performance.
The consistent 4-year-old proved that she can handle all conditions, settling in the back half of the field before letting down under premiership leader James McDonald on a testing soft surface.
Madam Rouge (Zoustar) was brave in defeat, finishing 0.8l second after being held up at a vital stage in the straight, while the well supported Positive Peace (Stratum) was disappointing upon resumption, fading into a distant fifth after securing a soft lead from the inside draw.
Pedigree notes
Subpoenaed was bred by Frontier Bloodstock and V T W Breeding Company. She is part-owned by leviathan owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir.
Her dam Notice Received (NZ) (O’Rielly {NZ}) won five times between 1200 metres and mile and is out of a half-sister to G3 Swettenham Stud S. winner and G2 AJ Moir S.-placed mare Apple Danish (Danehill).
Notice Received’s most recent foal, a colt by Almanzor (Fr), was purchased by Yes Bloodstock, Chris Waller Racing and Bruce Perry Bloodstock for NZ$560,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale.
Rosehill, Listed Parramatta Cup, $140,000, 1900m
Race summary
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding Sacramento (Pierro) was too tough for a strong field of resuming stayers.
The rising talent was taken forward from barrier six by Sam Clipperton and never looked back, despite being challenged by The Lord Mayor (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop) and Sikandarabad (Ire) (Dr Fong {USA}) upon straightening.
Last year’s winner Mustajeer (GB) (Medicean {GB}) failed to rebound from a disappointing spring carnival, fading into fourth after securing an economical midfield run, while fellow Australian Bloodstock import and stablemate Raheen House (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) only beat one runner home.
The jury remains out on former spruik import Dadoozdart (GB) (Dawn Approach {Ire}) after another unplaced performance on Australian soil.
Pedigree notes
Sacramento was $160,000 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale purchase by Paul Moroney Bloodstock from the draft of Supreme Thoroughbreds.
He is the second of five foals out of G3 Vanity S.-winning mare Alzora (Redoute’s Choice).
Alzora herself is out of G1 Yorkshire Oaks runner up Bineyah (Ire) (Sadlers Wells {USA}). That mare a full sister to the dam of G2 Matamata Breeders' S. winner Te Aku Coup (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Morphettville, G3 Lord Reims S., $122,250, 2600m
Race summary
Tralee Rose (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) has confirmed her status as potential staying superstar, with a 3.5l interstate domination.
The Symon Wilde-trained mare had the race at her mercy upon straightening, ambling up alongside Farooq (Frankel {GB}) in a four-wide position before going past him like he was standing still.
Fellow Victorian Long Arm (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) finished a credible second, hitting the line with intent after settling nearest to last, while last year’s winner Eperdument (Americain {USA}) finished the best of the locals in third.
Pedigree notes
Tralee Rose was bred by prominent breeders Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan and sold for $50,000 through Cambridge Stud to Cameron Cooke Bloodstock at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
She is out of R. Listed-placed mare Star Of Tralee (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who is a half-sister to four-time Australian Group 1 winner, Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}).
Serenade Rose herself is the grandam of two-time Group 1-winning Darley-bred and Godolphin-trained sprinter, Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}).
Ellerslie, G2 AJC Avondale Guineas, NZ$120,000, 2100m
Race summary
Rocket Spade (Fastnet Rock) confirmed he was on target for a tilt at the G1 Vodafone New Zealand Derby with a strong staying display.
Runner-up over ground against the older horses at his prior appearance, the colt was given plenty of time to find his feet before rider Craig Grylls sent him around runners 800 metres from home.
He produced a sustained home-stretch finish to account for on pace runners Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}) and On Display (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Pedigree notes
Rocket Spade was bred by Sun Kingdom and was offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Tyreel Stud.
Hermitage and Wexford Stables signed the ticket at $425,000 for the colt, who is out of Affairoftheheart (NZ) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) and she won six races and was stakes-placed.
She is a half-sister to the two-time Group 1 winner Soriano (NZ) (Savabeel), whose brother Kaiser Franz (NZ) won the G3 Premier’s Cup, and their dam Call Me Lily (NZ) (Just A Dancer) was successful in the Listed Wagga Cup.
Ellerslie, G2 Wallen Concreting Avondale Cup, NZ$100,000, 2400m
Race summary
Robusto (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) finished well back in the G3 Wellington Cup and she turned her fortunes around at long odds for Murray Baker and Andrew Forsman.
The 6-year-old was given an economical run behind the pace by rider Sam Collett and finished powerfully along the fence to edge out the Australian visitor Sound (Ger) (Lando {Ger}).
The lightweight Star Tsar (Fastnet Rock) was in the party all the way and found the line strongly for third with Platinum Invader (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) fourth.
Pedigree notes
Robusto was bred by Jomara Bloodstock, who remain in the ownership, and is a sister to the multiple winner and Group 2 placegetter Bobby Dee (NZ).
Their dam is Adriatico (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who won a modest 1400 metre race, and she is from an international family that includes the G3 Curragh Desmond S. winner Swift Gulliver (Ire) (Gulch {USA}).
Robusto’s sire Zed (NZ) has produced 14 individual black-type winners from his Grangewilliam Stud base with his leading light the six-time Group 1 winner Verry Elleegant (NZ).
Ascot Park, Listed ILT Ascot Park Hotel Southland Guineas, NZ$70,000, 1600m
Race summary
Chokito (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) is a genuine filly and she dug deep to post the first stakes success of her career for trainers Mel and Warwick Coles.
She was taken straight to the front by rider Samantha Wynne and, after slipping clear at the top of the straight, showed great tenacity to hang on for a slender victory.
The maiden Milford Sound (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) gave a strong account of himself to finish second and Gone With The Wind (Sebring) had her chance and boxed on well for third.
Pedigree notes
Chokito provided her Valachi Downs-based sire Vespa (NZ) with the first black-type success of his stallion career.
The filly was bred by Fairdale Stud and Goodwood Stud and is the first foal of the Pins mare Pretty Woman (NZ).
She is a daughter of the G3 High S. winner Howmuchyacharging (NZ) (Howbaddouwantit {USA}) and the family of the G3 Rupert Steele S. winner Rock You (Oregon {USA}) and the G3 Royal S. winner Marnie’s Magic (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}).
