G1 TAB Australian Cup, $1,500,000, 2000m
Race summary
Homesman (USA) (War Front {USA}) took out a thrilling edition of this time-honoured feature, prevailing by the narrowest of margins under G1 Melbourne Cup-winning hoop Jye McNeil.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained galloper was set a task in the run, plotting a three-wide course after failing to find cover from barrier 14. Despite the undesired passage, McNeil trusted his mount’s match fitness and continued to work forward into a four-wide position.
Upon straightening, McNeil asked the 7-year-old the question and his mount quickly responded to get the better of Best Of Days (GB) (Azamour {Ire}).
Chapada (Bullet Train {GB}) did well to get home for third ahead of Paradee (Epaulette).
Pedigree notes
Bred by Joseph Allen, Homesman is the second last progeny of English-placed mare My Annette (USA) (Red Ransom {USA}).
She hails from a rich pedigree full of black-type performed gallopers. Her dam Andover Way (USA) (His Majesty {USA}) was a Group 1 winner and has thrown nine black-type winners from her 11 foals to race.
My Annette’s final foal War Cabinet (War Front {USA}) is a Listed placed full brother to Homesman.
G1 Seppelt Wines Newmarket H., $1,250,000, 1200m
Race summary
Zoutori (Zoustar) has added a Group 1 victory to his resume with a dominant display of his sprinting prowess here.
The Mathew Ellerton and Simon Zahra-trained gelding wasn’t held back by the topweight of 57kgs and quickly extended past Perth sprinter Indian Pacific (Zoustar) when asked for the ultimate effort by Luke Currie.
Amish Boy (Star Witness) confirmed that the inside lanes were superior in the straight, sticking on into third after following Indian Pacific and Zoutori wherever they went.
Pedigree notes
Zoutori was a $160,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Ellerton and Zahra Racing from the draft of Amarina Farm.
He is the second of five foals out of unraced mare, Atotori (Haradasun), who herself is from the extended family of former champion English filly and G1 Phoenix Champion S. winner Park Express (GB) (Anonhoora).
Zoutori is also a half-brother to talented Chris Waller-trained filly Kiku (Zoustar), who is building an imposing record at Sydney midweek level. Their dam Atotori’s most recent offspring is a filly born in 2019 by Divine Prophet.
G2 TAB Kewney S., $200,000, 1600m
Race summary
The Danny O’Brien-trained Starelle (More Than Ready {USA}) has broken her maiden at start number eight, nosing out high-rating fillies Chica Fuerte (Hinchinbrook) and Personal (Fastnet Rock) in a blanket finish.
The Group-placed 3-year-old settled last in running under Craig Williams and despite spotting the leaders more than 10l, the jockey never panicked, sitting pretty on his mount until a gap presented 300 metres from home.
When asked for an effort, Starelle shot through the narrow opening and levelled up alongside Chica Fuerte and Personal who had already broken clear.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Hesket Bloodstock, Starelle was passed in for $240,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she was offered by Amarina Farm.
Starelle is out of G2 Queen of the South S. winner Star Of Giselle (Reset), who herself is a half-sister to G2 Kewney S. winner Solicit (Street Cry {Ire}). The pair also hail from the extended family of G1 STC Winfield Classic winner, Kapchat (NZ) (Centaine).
Star Of Giselle’s first foal Starlike (Exceed And Excel), sold for $300,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. She is currently in foal to Dundeel (NZ).
G2 MSS Security Sires’ Produce S., $200,000, 1400m
Race summary
The Peter Moody-trained galloper Lightsaber (Zoustar) is building an imposing record after winning his third consecutive race at start number four.
The classy juvenile was gifted a lovely ride by Luke Nolen, rolling forward from barrier three to lead the field from start to finish. His task wasn’t made easy with last-start G1 Blue Diamond S. contestant, Wolves (Wolf Cry) applying the pressure after crossing from barrier 12.
Victory never looked in doubt at any point in the straight for Lightsaber, despite the Team Hawkes-trained Saif (Pride Of Dubai) and Godolphin-bred Micro (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) working home well into the minors.
Pedigree notes
Bred Emirates Park, Lightsaber was an $80,000 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase by JCS Racing from the draft of Aquis Farm. He is the second of four foals out of unraced mare Dream Cirque (Dream Ahead {USA}) who herself is a from the extended family of champion sire and multiple Group 1-winning sprinter, Fastnet Rock (Danehill {USA}).
Dream Cirque was recently served by Emirates Park and Newgate Stud’s sire Tassort and currently has a colt by leading first-season sire Capitalist at foot.
G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders' S., $160,000, 1200m
Race summary
The well supported favourite La Rocque (Kuroshio) was most impressive in an all the way win in the G3 TBV Thoroughbred Breeders' S. The John McArdle-trained filly was able to cruise over and take control of the race after jumping well from out in gate six.
Jockey Jamie Mott had a strong hold of the filly approaching the business-end of the race when all her rivals were under hard riding. Approaching the 300 metre mark Mott asked her for her supreme effort and she showed good acceleration to win well.
Flying Evelyn (Not A Single Doubt) continued on with a promising second after running on well to win on debut at Moonee Valley. She looked to do everything right in the run and was given a nice ride with cover back on the inside but lacked the speed of the winner.
Her Empire (Deep Field) showed good pace from the inside gate and had her chance but was found out over the final 150 metres stepping up from 1000 metres to 1200 metres and she finished in a weakening third position.
Pedigree notes
La Rocque is the third foal out of Bianslick (Bianconi {USA}) who raced once. Bianslick has produced Ray’s Dream (Squamosa) who has won four races including a win over 1000 metres as a 2-year-old, along with a full sister to La Rocque named Archipeta Beach who was also a winner at 2-years-old.
Bianslick's latest foal a Magnus filly sold for $65,000 at this year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale to Matthew Brown Racing on account of Musk Creek Farm.
The second dam Slickly (Hurricane Sky) was unraced but is a half-sister to the G2 Schweppes Crystal Mile and G2 Alister Clark S. winner Cliff’s Edge (Canford Cliffs {Ire}). Further back in the pedigree is the 1983 G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winner All Along (Fr) (Targowice {USA}).
G3 Lexus Matron S., $160,000, 1600m
Race summary
Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) has bounced back to her best, producing a dominant display of front running excellence under a daring, Damian Lane.
The Danny O’Brien-trained mare broke cleanly from the machine and continued to extend her margin to more than 8l at the 800 metre mark. From there, the trailing bunch headlined by Spanish Reef (Lope De Vega {Ire}) and Silent Soverign (Dalakhani {Ire}) presented with runs, but despite their efforts couldn’t reel in the tearaway leader.
Quantum Mechanic (Deep Field) finished the best of the rest, flashing home into second while the well-supported Lunakorn (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) disappointed, finishing a distant last after failing to let down when presented at the top of the straight.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Golden Grove Stud, Sovereign Award was withdrawn from the 2017 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. She is out of six-time winner Sovereign Charm (Show A Heart), who won her races in South Australia and the Northern Territory.
Sovereign Charm hails from the extended family of G3 WATC Sires' Produce S. winner Lordhelpmerun (Playing God).
Her most recent offspring is a full brother to Sovereign Award, born in 2019. She has since been served by Barbados and is currently in foal to him.
Listed Incognitus S., $140,000, 1100m
Race summary
Marboosha (Dream Ahead {USA}) has announced herself as an exciting sprinter on the rise, with a dominant first-up victory against class opposition.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained filly found herself in a sticky position with less than 400 metres to run but quickly extended into stride when a gap presented. From there she continued to accelerate under the urges of Dean Yendall, before running straight past subsequent place getters, Supreme Idea (I Am Invincible) and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).
The unbeaten streak of Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) came to an end, with the highly rated colt failing to stick on after being given every chance in transit. Trial star Pinkham (Written Tycoon) couldn’t make amends for her shock debut failure, finishing a distant seventh after leading the field up to the final furlong.
Pedigree notes
Bred and retained by Emirates Park, Marboosha is the first of four foals out of unraced mare, Boomex (Exceed And Excel). Boomex is out of multiple Group 1-winning juvenile Boom Time Savings (Secret Savings {USA}), who herself is a half-sister to G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner, Boomwa (Mutawaajid).
Boomex was most recently served by champion sire I Am Invincible and has a colt by No Nay Never (USA) at foot.
Listed Furphy Ale March S., $140,000, 1400m
Race summary
Enigmatic gelding So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}) has notched up his seventh victory at start number 62, prevailing by 0.1l in a thrilling Flemington finish.
The Lindsay Park-trained 7-year-old found himself parked in a perfect midfield position after breaking cleanly into stride. From there he continued to relax under Mark Zahra before working off the back of eventual third placegetter Pretty Brazen (Brazen Beau) at the top of the straight.
Lone filly Odeum (Written Tycoon) never had a chance at success, finding herself pocketed on the rail and unable to work into the clear at any stage in the straight, while eventual runner-up Holbien (Pierro) looked to have the race at his mercy until the very last stride.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Morning Rise Stud, So Si Bon was a $250,000 2015 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by trainer Robbie Laing from the draft of Newgate Farm. He is the third of four foals out of Listed-winning mare Black Minx (NZ) (Lonhro) who herself is out of G2 Emancipation S. winner Faith Hill (Danehill {USA}).
Black Minx is also from the extended family of G2 MRC Autumn Classic winner Global Exchange (Dundeel {NZ}).
She hasn’t produced a foal since four-time Singapore winner Blackwolf Run (All Too Hard) in 2014.
