Ascot, Listed Lex Piper S., $100,000, 1600m
Race summary
Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) finally delivered on his early promise, dismantling a quality black type field by 5.4l.
Chris Parnham settled further forward than usual aboard the Grant and Alana Williams-trained gelding and tracked stable mate Brave Battle (More Than Ready {USA}) into the straight.
Parnham quickly levelled up alongside Castillo De Lago (Alfred Nobel {Ire}) before shooting clear with a furlong to run.
Flash Ducati (Blackfriars) finished the best of the rest, working home into second ahead of Castillo De Lago and Em Tee Aye (I’m All The Talk).
Pedigree notes
Western Empire is raced by leviathan owner Bob Peters and is out of former G2 Perth Cup winning Peters Investments-bred and raced mare, Western Jewel (Jeune {GB}).
Western Jewel is a half-sister to former stable mate and listed winner Western Blaze (Hard Spun {USA}). She is also from the family of multiple Group 1-placed galloper Timeless Action (Serheed {USA}).
Ascot, Listed Schweppes Ascot 1000 Guineas, $100,000, 1800m
Race summary
Brave Angel (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) produced an enormous effort to reel in the well supported Solaia (Toronado {Ire}) here.
The Simon Miller-trained galloper settled three-wide the trip but managed to let down with an electric turn of foot after spotting Solaia more than 4l with a furlong to run.
The Grant and Alana Williams-trained trio of Pure Devotion (So You Think {NZ}), Fashion Queen (Al Maher) and Spritely Star (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) finished the best of the rest with the latter pair dead heating in fourth.
Pedigree notes
Bred in Western Australia by Botsky Pty Ltd, Brave Angel was passed in at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale after failing to meet the reserve price of NZ$50,000 set by vendors Brighthill Farm.
He is the fifth of six foals out of maiden winner Svita (Success Express {USA}), who herself is a half-sister to G2 Sandown Guineas winner, Schilling (Bianconi {USA}).
Svita was purchased for $80,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Broodmare Sale by Murrulla Stud through vendors Amarina Farm. She has since foaled a $45,000 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by Impending.
Sunshine Coast, Listed Tattersalls Members’ Cup, $125,000, 1600m
Race summary
Hail Manhattan (Manhattan Rain) extended his unbeaten streak to three with a strong on paced performance here.
Apprentice Aidin Thompson produced a lovely ride aboard the Peter and Will Hulbert-trained gelding, pushing forward from barrier four to land in the box seat with cover. From there he levelled up alongside leading contender Wapiti (Love Conquers All), before shooting clear from subsequent runner up Dissolution (Snitzel).
Ligulate (Domesday) was enormous in defeat, flashing home into fourth after spotting the lead more than 10l in the run, while Wapiti stuck on into fifth.
Pedigree notes
Hail Manhattan is the first of two foals out of four-time winner, Beggin (Beicio). Beggin herself is from the family of G1 STC Orlando Wines Classic winner, Strawberry Fair (Whiskey Road {USA}) and G1 CF Orr S. winner Barkada (Spectrum {Ire}).
Otaki, G1 El Cheapo Cars WFA Classic, NZ$200,000, 1600m
Race summary
Top-class mare Avantage (Fastnet Rock) posted her eighth Group 1 victory here and she once again did it in style.
She was three wide early before rider Opie Bosson took her to sit on the leader’s quarters and they took control of the race 300 metres off the post.
Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) finished off gamely but Avantage never looked in serious danger and Travelling Light (NZ) (El Roca) made late ground from the back for third.
Pedigree notes
Avantage was sold on behalf of breeders Willie and Karen Calder at New Zealand Bloodstock's National Yearling Sale by The Oaks Stud where she was purchased by Te Akau’s David Ellis for NZ$210,000.
She is a daughter of the Listed Warstep S. winner Asavant (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who has also produced the multiple winner and stakes performer Asathought (So You Think {NZ}).
Asavant is a half-sister to the G1 HKJC Centenary Cup winner D B Pins (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and they are out of the G3 White Robe Lodge S. and G1 Thorndon Mile runner-up Pins ‘N’ Needles (NZ) (Pins).
Matamata, G2 J Swap Contractors Matamata Breeders’ S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Race summary
Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) was a smart debut winner and she had no trouble bridging the gap to black-type company at her second appearance.
She settled in third spot and one of the rail before rider Craig Grylls drove the Graham Richardson and Rogan Norval-trained filly to the front 200 metres from home.
Fonsalette (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) got well back in the running and powered home to cut Beldarra (Hinchinbrook), who made the running, out of second money.
Pedigree notes
Bonny Lass was bred by Sandy Moore, who has remained in the ownership, and is a son of Posh Bec (NZ) (Le Bec Fin {NZ}).
She was a speedy mare who won three sprint events and finished runner-up in the Listed Soliloquy S. and is a half-sister to the multiple winner Time To Celebrate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who was also Group 3-placed in Hong Kong.
Bonny Lass is the sixth individual stakes winner for her Hallmark Stud-based sire Super Easy (NZ) with the dual Group 3 winner Prom Queen (NZ) his best representative to date.
Matamata, G3 Waikato Stud Slipper, NZ$70,000, 1200m
Race summary
Te Akau’s Jamie Richards produced the quinella with Sword Of State (Snitzel) defeating his more fancied stablemate On The Bubbles (Brazen Beau) by a wide margin.
Sword Of State idled along in front and slipped clear at the top of the straight and rider Troy Harris had an easy time of it from that point, bolting home by 6.5l.
On The Bubbles settled fifth before he peeled three wide before the turn and fought on well without ever looking a winning hope and Dragon Biscuit (Choisir) was third.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Go Bloodstock, Sword Of State was bought for $600,000 by David Ellis at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where the colt was offered by Newgate Farm.
He is the first to race for In The Vangard (Encosta De Lago), who was a juvenile winner and runner-up in the G2 Sweet Embrace S. She is a daughter of the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Sharp (Danzero) and the family of the G1 Flight S. winner Angst (Kala Dancer {GB}).
In The Vangard, who was served by Merchant Navy last year, had a Russian Revolution filly sell at the Gold Coast this year for $100,000 to Next Level Syndications.
Matamata, Listed Matamata Veterinary Services Kaimai Plate, NZ$50,000, 2000m
Race summary
Paisley Park (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) completed a red letter day for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall when she completed a stables' double for the stable.
Following the winning lead of Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) in the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S., Paisley Park settled in third spot and he finished determinedly for the sixth win of his career.
Runner-up Pep Torque (NZ) (Nadeem) made a race of it with a strong finish along the fence and Yatima (NZ) (Savabeel) finished off well from the back for third.
Pedigree notes
Paisely Park was bred by Garry Christini, who remains in the ownership, and is a son of Musical Magic (GB) (Mozart {GB}), whose last foal by Dalghar (Fr) is a yearling.
She has produced four winners and is a half-sister to the winner and black-type performer Natalie Jane (Ire) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}). Further back in the pedigree is the G3 National S. winner Li’l Kontra (Krupt).
Paisley Park is the 43rd individual stakes winner for the ill-fated Azamour (Ire), who briefly shuttled to Brighthill Park before he was sadly put down in 2014 after a serious injury at The Aga Khan Stud.
