Johnston over the moon as patience reaps Group 1 reward

Written by

Bren O'Brien

5 min read

Once deemed 'too gangly' for the yearling sales, Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) rewarded the faith that Bylong Park's Richard Johnston showed in him when he claimed an upset win in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill on Saturday

The overwhelming assessment of Think It Over as a yearling was that he would be a horse that would take considerable time, and on that advice, Johnston decided he'd be the one off the farm that would be retained to race.

"He was a very gangly weanling and yearling, being out of a Zabeel mare and by that stallion (So You Think). We always felt he would take time, and anybody considering buying him would be weighing up the same thing," Johnston told TDN AusNZ.

Slowly, slowly

As mentioned, the resultant foal was notable in that he looked to be a project of patience. Those early impressions weren't wrong but he always showed athletic ability and he would break his maiden at Goulburn as an autumn 3-year-old.

One thing that became apparent after his first campaign was that he also had an appetite for racing, and he was transferred to trainer Kerry Parker from initial trainer John Sargent with expectations he might make a stayer.

"The connection with Kerry began when I had horses with Guy Walter and Guy had a very high opinion of Kerry as a trainer of stayers. The one I had back then wasn't going to cut the mustard with Guy, so he suggested I put it with Kerry. We started a business relationship off the back of that," Johnston said.

"We gave him plenty of time, the trainer and Glen Boss have both said, it took him time. It looks like the penny has only dropped for him this campaign," he said.

"We gave him (Think It Over) plenty of time, the trainer and Glen Boss have both said, it took him time. It looks like the penny has only dropped for him this campaign." - Richard Johnston

While Think It Over broke through for his first stakes win in the $500,000 G3 Craven Plate last year, the external feedback on him was that, even as a spring 5-year-old, he still had more physical improvement to come.

Think It Over

"He has taken that time to mature both mentally and physically. Lizzie Jelfs made a comment last preparation that he looked like a boy amongst men in the saddling enclosure," Johnston said.

"He now looks so much bigger and stronger. I spoke to Brett Howard when he went through the mounting yard yesterday and he said he saw him and feels like there is still more improvement to come."

Coming of age

On Saturday, he came of age, grabbing the bit in the final 200 metres to charge between runners and defeat Group 1 winners Dreamforce (Fastnet Rock) and Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) as well as a host of other highly credentialled runners.

Think It Over

Heading towards the G1 Doncaster Mile on April 10, the feedback from trainer and jockey is that Think It Over is a horse who can very much remain performing at the Group 1 level.

"He doesn't lay down and he can sustain a run. Bossy got off him and said he's such a clean-winded horse," Johnston said. "It'd be a dream come true if we can knock the Doncaster off."

Having prevailed at weight-for-age, Think It Over will drop 7.5kg into the Doncaster, which is run under handicap conditions. He is now second-favourite for the $3 million race at $9.

In winning on Saturday, Think It Over became the seventh Group 1 winner for Coolmore's So You Think, who at $38,500 (inc GST), was the busiest stallion in Australia for the 2020 season with a book of 261 mares.

So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore

So You Think has 16 yearlings for sale at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Click here to view.

So You Think

Think It Over

George Ryder Stakes

Doncaster Mile

Kerry Parker

Richard Johnston

Maguire's miracle mating sets up Slipper success

Written by

Bren O'Brien

7 min read

While Paul Maguire does not hold any official title in G1 Golden Slipper S., winner Stay Inside's (Extreme Choice) career, nobody knows better than the man who planned the mating that produced the colt, how unlikely it was that he came to be foaled in the first place.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Racing is full of sliding-doors moments, but few can match the 'what if' story of Stay Inside, bred from a stallion with fertility issues out of a mare whose breeding record is best described as patchy.

It was Maguire who sourced his dam, Nothin' Leica Storm (Anabaa {USA}), sight unseen out of the Inglis Sydney Weanling and Broodmare Sale for just $1000 in 2015 and started out the journey that six years later would lead to her colt's dominant win in the world's richest 2-year-old race at Rosehill on Saturday.

"I am always looking for hidden diamonds. I always used to go through the pass ins (lots)" Paul Maguire said.

"I am always looking for hidden diamonds. I always used to go through the pass ins (lots)," - Paul Maguire

"Myself and my wife, Lyn, we have always liked Anabaa mares and we try to ensure our mares are by the leading broodmare sires and 70 per cent of them would fit that category.

"We had bought another Anabaa mare earlier that same season and when Nothin' Leica Storm was passed in at an Inglis sale I rang Simon Vivian. I left a message to ask why this mare had fallen through the cracks, and he texted me back and asked if he could get back to me the next day."

Moderately performed as a winner of one of her 20 starts on the track, Nothin' Leica Storm had a bit on the pedigree page, with her dam Nothin' Leica (Nothin Leica Dane) a half-sister to the dam of G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Wonderful World. That was enough to convince Maquire to take a punt on her.

Stay Inside

"I was anxious to get her, so I simply rang in the morning and bought the horse having not laid eyes on her. I found the vet clinic where she was at and secured her from there," he said.

"I was anxious to get her, so I simply rang in the morning and bought the horse having not laid eyes on her (Nothin' Leica Storm). I found the vet clinic where she was at and secured her from there" - Paul Maguire

Maguire sent Nothin' Leica Storm to Written Tycoon, then standing for $19,800 (inc GST), and she produced a colt, which Maguire sent through the draft of his good friends, Lyndhurst Stud Farm, at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. The return of $140,000 was an excellent one, however, the foal died not long after being purchased leaving the mare without an early runner to further her breeding career.

Nothin' Leica Storm had subsequently missed to both Rich Enuff and Show A Heart, and that heightened Maguire's concerns, and when she successfully got in foal to Extreme Choice in his first season, he was faced with a commercial decision.

"Having looked at the stats in the Studbook, we realised Extreme Choice had fertility issues. I started to think that her first foal had died and then she had missed twice the following year. Now the next sire she visited had fertility issues, so I thought we’d had to trade out of her, which we did," Maguire said.

"I am a commercial business person and we sold her in foal for $90,000 to a table which included Henry Field and Bruce Slade was there, and she went to Kingstar.

"I always work on the business principle, that you sell when something has reached its peak in value, which in hindsight, may or may not have been right."

A minor miracle

History will record Kingstar Farm as the breeder of that Extreme Choice colt, who on Saturday became a Golden Slipper winner. Stay Inside was sold by Kingstar as a foal to Newgate for $60,000 before Richard and Michael Freedman and Rick Connolly Bloodstock picked him out at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000.

1/2

While there have seen so many hands in his success, the man at the very start of the journey appreciates better than most, how much of a miracle Stay Inside really is.

"It’s a needle in a haystack job when you think about it," he said. "That mare has only had a 30 per cent success rate. I think they have got one other filly out of her. She seems to have kept on missing.

"I wouldn't say it’s a fluke, because technically, it’s a very good mating. We’d love to have held the mare and said we were the official breeder of the Slipper winner but, in reality, we couldn't have afforded to have kept that mare, if she was going to have those fertility issues."

Extreme Choice has proven problematic in his three seasons at Newgate, producing crops of 48, 29 and 39, albeit with increasing fertility percentage. Maguire returned to him the season after he produced Stay Inside with another Anabaa mare of his, Anabarbie.

The subsequent colt proved a hit at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, selling for $220,000, the third-highest price in Book 2, to Kacy Fogden.

"You’d have to say that Extreme Choice really is a quality horse. When I first saw him parade down at Newgate on a Sunday morning, he was stunning. He is such a strong back-ended horse. He's got that lovely depth of girth and all of those things," Maguire said.

Stay Inside after winning the G1 Golden Slipper

Newgate support pays off

Maguire takes satisfaction that he has not only played a significant role in providing Extreme Choice with his first Group 1 winner in his first crop, but also in the creation of a next-generation stallion for Newgate, who he has been a strong supporter of in the past decade.

Extreme Choice | Standing at Newgate Farm

"You have to take your hat off to Henry Field. From a greenfield start in the space of 10 years, he has achieved so much," he said.

"We sent three mares to Henry in the first year he kicked off at Newgate. What he has achieved has taken other people generations to achieve.

"What he (Henry Field) has achieved has taken other people generations to achieve. - Paul Maguire

"I reckon we'd have three mares that would suit Stay Inside, I hope Henry looks after us," he said, tongue in cheek.

Maguire also paid tribute to the strong relationship with Bruce Slade in his time dealing with Newgate, while Lyndhurst Stud farm and the Kruger family have also been important and play host to the Maguires' current broodmare band of eight.

"Griff (Kruger) is very sharp when it comes to breeding recommendations. We get breeding advice from a range of people. We've used people like Simon Vivian and Vin Cox over the years and we now do a bit with Neil Jenkinson," he said.

His name may not feature anywhere in the Golden Slipper honour boards, but Saturday sits as a high point on Maguire's 30-year association with racing.

"I used to ride a horse barefooted and barebacked to school when I was 13-years-old, living on the Northside of Brisbane, and that's where my connection with horses started," he said.

From breeding and racing stakes winners like Gene's Interest (Foreign Interest) and Director's Special (Wrong Page {USA}) in the 1990s and 2000s to his successes as a commercial breeder in recent times, he now has a story to tell about a $1000 mare, a miracle mating and a colt that won Australia's greatest 2-year-old race.

Extreme Choice has one yearling heading to the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Lot 366 from Keysbrook offered by Willow Park Stud.

View pedigree

Stay Inside

Paul Maguire

Golden Slipper

Extreme Choice

Newgate

Guth's dinner surprise as Lunar salutes in WA Oaks

Written by

Bren O'Brien

5 min read

Old mates Bob Guth and Nick Curtis were able to celebrate the happiest of coincidences at dinner on Saturday night as Lunar Impact (Real Impact {Jpn}), whose dam, Moonsong (Redoute's Choice) they had purchased together 15 years ago, won the G3 WA Oaks at Ascot in a massive upset.

Bob Guth, who had bought Nick Curtis out of Moonsong after her racing days, bred Lunar Impact and sold her as a weanling, a 'big and gawky' filly he knew would struggle to make an impression at a yearling sale.

Guth, who keeps his mares, including Moonsong, at Newhaven Park, had heard from John Kelly that Western Australian trainer David Harrison had a big opinion of Lunar Impact, who after securing a price of $26,000 as a foal, was sold through the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $62,500.

Lunar Impact as a weanling

"John rang him around nine months ago and his feedback was that she is a really, really good filly and he had put her out because he didn't want to be tempted to run her as a 2-year old," Guth told TDN AusNZ.

"He has believed in her all along, as you can see in that he has nominated her and run her in these stakes races."

"He has believed in her all along, as you can see in that he has nominated her and run her in these stakes races." - Bob Guth

Despite the positive reports, Guth admits watching on his phone at dinner with Curtis in disbelief as Lunar Impact, who started at $51, led all the way, fighting back doggedly down the home straight to edge out Pure Devotion (So You Think {NZ}) and Temptacion (All Too Hard) in a thrilling finish to the $250,000 race.

Not many breeders can boast of getting the better of Bob Peters in a WA Oaks with the leviathan owner and breeder having won the race 11 times. It was a complete coincidence that Guth and Curtis had opted to catch up on Saturday.

In doing so, Lunar Impact became the first Australian stakes winner for former Arrowfield shuttle stallion Real Impact (Jpn), with Guth revealing the influence that Arrowfield Bloodstock Manager, Jon Freyer, had upon his decision to send Moonsong to the son of the legendary Deep Impact (Jpn) in his first season.

"I'm close friends with Jon Freyer from Arrowfield. He encouraged us to buy Moonsong in the beginning. He did the mating for her first foal, Man Of Choice, which was modelled around Redoute's Choice, being by Manhattan Rain. He suggested Real Impact would suit and he has proven correct," Guth said.

Real Impact, who had Lauda Sion (Jpn) win the G1 NHK Mile Cup in his home country last year, has had 21 winners from 61 runners in Australia.

Freyer was also the man who signed for Moonsong on Curtis and Guth's behalf at the 2006 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, where she cost $275,000 from the draft of Milburn Creek.

"We gave her to David Hayes to train. She ran fourth in a stakes race in Adelaide and she had a lot of ability and ended up winning a couple of races," Guth said.

"She has had a very chequered breeding record. She's missed a few times and has had three dead foals. But we have always believed in her ever since the first foal, Man Of Choice."

Starting out strong

Man Of Choice (Manhattan Rain) sold for $60,000 at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Trained by Luke Price, he showed plenty of talent and having won two of his first five starts, was tested at stakes level, running third in a G3 Gloaming S. and then third in a G1 Spring Champion S.

Man Of Choice as a yearling

"He later ran second in the Phar Lap S. and John Muir from Milburn Creek rang me to congratulate me, thinking he had won. By that time the photo had come up and it went against him," Guth recalls.

Subsequent to Man Of Choice, Moonsong produced the multiple winners Luna Tune (Charge Forward) and Lady Montoya (High Chaparral {Ire}) but Guth admits he didn't hold out great hopes for Lunar Impact as a foal.

"I sold her as a weanling because she was just so big and gawky, I didn't think she'd make into a sale yearling," he said.

Guth was heartened by the feedback coming back to him from Harrison in Western Australia and has watched with interest as the filly has continued to improve, albeit Saturday's win was her maiden success.

"It’s exciting and no doubt this has put the mare on the map. She has had four to the races for two stakes horses and a couple of other multiple winners. She is doing a good job. Those Redoute's Choice mares are just gold," he said.

Guth harbours high hopes for Moonsong's latest offering, a filly by Better Than Ready foaled last year.

"She's at Newhaven. She's a lovely filly, a really leggy filly and she'll go to the sales next year, to whatever sale John Kelly recommends for her," he said.

"She is in foal to Frosted, who I think is the most wonderful stallion. He's the most beautiful horse I have ever seen."

Lunar Impact

Real Impact

WA Oaks

Bob Guth

Nick Curtis

Moonsong

Vinery's Star takes Wellington Boot

3 min read

Written by Bren O'Brien

Sonnet Star (Star Turn) has delivered another feature 2-year-old win for the progeny of first-season sires, claiming the $200,000 Wellington Boot after a brilliant ride from Robbie Dolan.

After a dramatic build-up to the race, which saw pre-race favourite Tidal Impact (Shalaa {Ire}) for Wyong trainer Damien Lane scratched at the barriers, it was her stablemate who captured the major end of the prizemoney after slicing through late to defeat In The Blink (Pierro), with Mabel (Dream Ahead {USA}) in third.

Sonnet Star as a yearling

Dolan sat the Vinery Stud homebred in the iconic 'green with a white V' back along the rail, with plenty of pace on up in from set by Mabel and Mezinjit (More Than Ready {USA}).

Favourite Bourbon Flyer (Flying Artie) looked to be the one set to challenge as he peeled off the leaders' backs, but he failed to come on and could only manage fourth. Dolan pushed through in between runners and the Star Turn filly, who was having her second start, had all the momentum, and prevailed by 1.15l.

Lane was rapt with the success, albeit in unusual circumstances after Tidal Impact's pre-race mishap.

"Racing is a funny game, isn't it? Obviously, I'm really, really thrilled for Vinery, for a big operation like that, it’s really good to get a horse for them and she's a really nice filly," Lane said.

He described it as one of his career highlights as a trainer.

"It’s got to be right up there, especially to be associated with Vinery. They didn't have to give somebody like me a horse," he said.

"She's a ripper. She came in to have a couple of weeks pre-training from the breakers and she's gone on. She has just got so much upside. She's just been a great filly to do anything with."

She becomes the fifth winner for Vinery's freshman stallion Star Turn, who is currently sixth in a very competitive race to be proclaimed Australia's Champion First-Season Sire.

Star Turn, sire of Sonnet Star | Standing at Vinery Stud

"We’ve had a bit of luck with the Star Turns. They are horses that we will be hearing about for while," Lane said.

Sonnet Star is out of Seven Sonnets (Poet's Voice {GB}), a dual winning half-sister to Group 2-winning sprinter Happy Galaxy (Nadeem) from the family of G1 Dubai World Cup winner Monterosso (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and his dam, the Group 1 winner Porto Roca (Barathea {Ire}), who is Sonnet Star's third dam. Group 1-winning mare Silent Sedition (War Chant {USA}), also features on the page.

Seven Sonnets was purchased off the racetrack by Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $25,000 in 2017. She produced Sonnet Star and was then sold to Sun Bloodstock in foal to Star Turn again. That resultant filly was sold as a weanling for $10,000, while Seven Sonnets produced a Thronum filly last year before missing to that stallion.

Star Turn has two yearlings for sale at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.

Click here to view

Wellington Boot

Star Turn

Sonnet Sar

Vinery

Daily News Wrap

Sires' fate for Godolphin duo to be determined

The remaining autumn plans for Godolphin duo Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) and Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) will be determined on Monday after they filled the placings behind Stay Inside (Extreme Choice) in Saturday's G1 Golden Slipper S.

James Cummings told Racenet that he felt the pair had the G1 Inglis Sires’ ‘written all over them’ after their powerful late finish to capture the placings in the Rosehill feature.

Anamoe

“I think Anamoe’s effort was nothing short of exceptional,” Cummings said. “From where he was forced to get to from his extreme wide barrier, I thought Rachel (King) delivered perfectly on the plan and her execution was good enough to beat all bar one other horse.

“Proud of his effort and the other colt was very, very game late to finish third. Cummings said his team would meet on Monday to discuss if the stable would push on with the star colts who have already had a busy 2-year-old season.

“They are both nominated and we will wait and see how they pull up but you would have to imagine they have Sires' Produce written all over them, particularly the second horse,” Cummings said.

“I am also conscious they don’t have to run if we don’t want to so we will talk about it on Monday.”

Derby date awaits for Montefilia

Trainer David Payne is set to give Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) a shot at becoming the first filly to win the G1 Australian Derby in 10 years.

Montefilia finished on well for third in the G1 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday and her trainer believes she can get the measure of the colts and geldings up to 2400 metres on April 10.

Montefilia as a yearling

“I will put in a nomination for next week (G1 Vinery Stud S.) but I think I am going to go to the Derby,” Payne told Racenet.

“She can beat the colts, I guarantee. She has shown (on Saturday) another 20 metres and she wins and she will be so comfortable over that distance.

“I will keep her to the 3-year-olds and then look to a Melbourne Cup because she will stay all day.

“If you look at her, she is just a stayer and if I run over anything shorter than 2000 metres you are wasting your time.”

Second winner for Divine Prophet

The Kacy Fogden-trained Angel Like has secured a second win for the first-crop progeny of Aquis Farm freshman Divine Prophet at the Sunshine Coast.

Divine Prophet, sire of Angel Like | Standing at Aquis Farm

Having her first start, Angel Like relished the Soft conditions to win over 1000 metres by 1.5l, beating Not Another (Headwater) and Top Bird (Top Echelon).

The filly is a homebred for Aquis and is out of the imported mare Anna House (USA) (Awesome Again {USA}).

She joins Bleriot as a winner for Divine Prophet, who has also had Fortunate Kiss place at Group 3 level.

Rawiller's autumn over

Nash Rawiller will miss the next four Saturdays due to a pair of careless riding suspensions at Rosehill on Saturday.

Rawiller had already been due to start a suspension on Sunday for a separate careless riding charge and will miss next Saturday, both days of The Championships and All Aged S. Day after two more charges were laid by stewards.

He will now be out of the saddle until Thursday, April 29.

Rawiller drew the ire of stewards for his rides on Avilius (GB) (Pivotal {GB}) in the G1 George Ryder S. and Four Moves Ahead (Snitzel) in the G1 Golden Slipper.

Bowman aboard Bivouac

Hugh Bowman has secured the ride on Bivouac (Exceed And Excel) in the G1 TJ Smith S., replacing Glen Boss.

Boss has ridden the star Godolphin colt to two Group 1 wins and has ridden him twice this time in for fifth and fourth placings.

Bivouac

“They (Godolphin) were obviously unhappy with what happened on him the other day,” Boss said.

“You’ve either got to keep winning on them or have people that are a bit more understanding, and I didn’t have either. I was happy with the way I rode him and thought I gave him every chance. Out of my five rides, he won two Group 1s and ran second in The Everest.

“This is the game we’re in. You’ve got to roll with the punches and I wish them all the best,” he said.

Ironclad headed towards spring Group 1s

A campaign aimed at the G1 Cox Plate could be on the agenda for Saturday's smart Listed Bendigo Golden Mile winner Ironclad (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}).

While a shot at the Group 1 weight-for-age feature may seem a big step for the 5-year-old Will Clarken-trained import, managing owner Australian Bloodstock's Jamie Lovett told Racing.com that he was a very progressive horse.

“He has come through the handicaps exactly like Mugatoo did when he arrived,” Lovett said.

“There is no ceiling with him yet so why not dare to dream? He could be a Cox Plate horse.

“The plan at this stage is probably to give him a break and set him towards some targets in the Spring maybe like a Toorak.

“With his rating set to go up we are going to have to start aiming a little bit higher.”

Melody on song for Aussie trip

Champion mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) continued her preparation for her upcoming assignments in Australia with an exhibition gallop between races at Tauranga on Saturday.

Melody Belle (NZ)

Jockey Opie Bosson was impressed with Melody Belle's work over 1400 metres ahead of her first try over 2400 metres in next Saturday's G1 Tancred S.

“She was nice and relaxed,” said Bosson, on dismounting.

“She’s been a wonderful mare to me and the family. She knows how good she is and her work was excellent.”

Jordsjo chases more stakes success

A breakthrough stakes win for jockey Anna Jordsjo could be a sign of more success to come.

Jordsjo saluted aboard Mileva (Headwater) in the Listed Manihi Classic at Morphettville on Saturday and the Norwegian-born jockey is hoping the pair can go on a winning spree in the next couple of months.

“I love her so much, she’s definitely my favourite horse,” Jordsjo said.

“To get my first black-type win for Dan (Clarken) and Oopy (MacGillivray), who have been such amazing supporters and made my transition into a senior (jockey) easy, it's huge and I can’t thank them enough for the opportunities they’ve given me.

“It’s probably the best day I’ve had on a racecourse."

The 3-year-old filly will now be aimed at the Listed Redelva S. and perhaps the G2 Tobin Bronze S.

Les Crayeres heads for a spell

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Les Crayeres (NZ) (Redoute's Choice) will head to the spelling paddock after notching her fourth win in eight starts on Saturday.

Co-trainer Ken Kelso said the promising mare would be set for the spring after securing a hard-fought win over 1400 metres at Tauranga.

“She can go in the paddock now for a couple of months and then we can get her ready at our own pace for the spring,” he said.

“She still has a lot of maturing to do and that’s why we kept her mainly to the shorter distances during this campaign.

“I think when she strengthens up that a mile to 2000 metres will be ideal for her and we definitely think she has the ability to be competitive in stakes company.

“She has a pretty smart sprint on her and travels comfortably in her races, so we will be concentrating on getting some more experience under her belt and looking for some black type with her.”

International News Wrap

14 min read

Florida Derby winner Known Agenda earns spot in Kentucky Derby

Seven-time Florida Derby-winning trainer Todd Pletcher hadn’t been in the G1 Florida Derby winner’s circle since 2018 but Known Agenda (USA) (Curlin {USA}) put the two-year dry spell behind him with a 2.75l win in the race.

Coming into the 1800 metre Florida Derby off an 11l Allowance Optional Claiming race victory, it was a return to the G1 Kentucky Derby trail for the colt after two previous starts in prep races.

Known Agenda proved to be a more professional runner this time as he relaxed under Irad Ortiz Jr. in midpack. After spending the run around the far turn looking for a hole on the rail, the colt was angled to the outside for the race-winning move. He drifted to the middle of the track in the stretch but it didn’t lose him much ground as he raced away from Soup And Sandwich (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) by 2.75l to earn 100 points toward the Kentucky Derby with race favourite Greatest Honour (USA) (Tapit {USA}) third.

“To be honest, he’s a horse that reminds us a lot of Vino Rosso,” said Pletcher. “Personality-wise, obviously being a chestnut son of Curlin, but he’s taken a little while to kind of put everything together. We kept seeing talent in the mornings that he wasn’t necessarily displaying in the afternoons but we knew it was there.”

The 13th Grade 1 winner for Curlin (USA), who is also the grandsire of the Jeff Ruby Steaks winner Like The King (USA) (Palace Malice {USA}), Known Agenda is out of Grade 1 winner Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}). That mare is a half-sister to Exceed And Excel’s Grade 3 winner Klammer (GB) and that runner’s stakes-placed full brother The Warrior (Ire).

Like The King reigns in Jeff Ruby Stakes

Racing his way into the Kentucky Derby with a 100 point Jeff Ruby Steaks victory was Like The King to close a big day at Turfway Park.

Second, in the local prep for the Jeff Ruby, the colt used nearly every metre of the 1800 metre race on the synthetic surface to get his victory. The colt was happy to use his rail-side draw to his advantage as he stuck close to the fence when running near the back of midpack. Like The King switched to the outside for his race-winning run and circled the field as they came into the stretch to have a clear path.

Avoiding a drifting horse, he galloped to the front with a late-running Sainthood (USA) right behind him to see former shuttler Mshwish’s (USA) son finish second by 1l and Hockey Dad (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) finish third.

Like The King is the first foal out of the stakes-placed Like A Queen (USA) (Corinthian {USA}). They hail from the family of 2017 Kentucky Derby runner and G1 Florida Derby second State of Honor (USA) (To Honor And Serve {USA}).

Adventuring continues Godolphin’s good day

A Saturday that saw Godolphin shine around the world continued into the late afternoon when homebred Adventuring (USA) (Pioneerof The Nile {USA}) was an authoritative winner of the Bourbonette Oaks.

Winning a spot in the Kentucky Oaks by earning 50 points in the 1600 metre race, Adventuring spent the early part of the race at the back of the field as the SF Bloodstock co-bred Spritz (USA) (Awesome Again {Can}) set the pace. Adventuring joined in on the race as they turned into the field and it was a battle between the pair as Spritz fought back until the final 100 metres when Adventuring pulled away to win by 2l over Spritz under a hand ride.

Adventuring is a second-generation homebred for Godolphin, who also bred and raced her Champion 3-Year-Old Filly dam Questing (GB) (Hard Spun {USA}). Adventuring is also a half-sister to Medaglia d’Oro’s (USA) Grade 2-placed Romantic Pursuit (USA) with the family also including Dawn Approach’s (Ire) Australian-bred, South African Group 1-placed son Alyaasaat.

Frosted’s Cave Hill wins Rushaway

It was another stakes winner for Frosted (USA) on Saturday when Cave Hill (USA) won the Rushaway S. at Turfway Park.

Frosted (USA) | Standing at Darley

Racing over 1700 metres on the All-Weather track, the Godolphin colt raced in midpack through the early stages of the race. As they entered the stretch, he made his move as he ranged up beside the longtime leader. It didn’t take long for him to take command as he pulled away to win by 2l over Extrasexybigdadee (USA) (Congrats {USA}) with Editor In Chief (USA) (Curlin {USA}) in third.

One of three stakes winners for his dam Painted Lady (USA) (Broad Brush {USA}), Cave Hill finds multiple Southern Hemisphere runners under his second dam. New Zealand’s Champion Stayer Sir Charles Road (Myboycharlie {Ire}) is joined by his dam’s half-brother War Affair (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), Singapore’s Horse of the Year. War Affair’s dam had her last foal in 2011 while Sir Charles Road's dam produced a Darci Brahma (NZ) filly in November.

Godolphin’s Mystic Guide romps in Dubai World Cup

A delay in running when two horses got loose before the G1 Dubai World Cup was no problem for Godolphin’s energetic Mystic Guide (USA) (Ghostzapper {USA}), who was a runaway winner of the Dubai World Cup.

Racing over 2000 metres in the final race of the night, Mystic Guide was a prominent runner in the field throughout. As the field rounded the far turn, Mystic Guide moved up to challenge Hypothetical (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}). That runner quickly gave in and there were no other rivals for Mystic Guide as he raced to win by 3.75l over Chuwa Wizard (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) with Medaglia d’Oro’s Magny Cours (USA) in third.

"Today he proved he is a champion and I know he is going to get better, and better,” said jockey Luis Saez. “What a nice horse, he has all the ability. It’s an honour for me. This was my dream as a little kid and I can’t believe I’m here now. It's a dream come true."

The 13th Grade 1 winner for Ghostzapper (USA), Mystic Guide is out of the five-time Grade 1 winner Music Note (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}), who is also a half-sister to dual Grade 1 winner Music Chimes (USA) (In Excess {Ire}). The colt’s champion third dam It’s In The Air (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) also sees Australian Group 1 winner Alverta (Flying Spur) and Group 3 winner Aerobatics (Exceed And Excel) under her name

Mishriff wins again in Sheema Classic

Switching back to turf for his second run of the year saw Saudi Cup winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) add another Group 1 to his resume in the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic Presented by Longines.

Happy to trade last place back and forth with Dubai Future (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) early in the 2410 metre race, it wasn’t until the stretch run where he advanced his position. Racing down the centre of the track, the 4-year-old stuck his neck in front of Chrono Genesis (Jpn) (Bago {Fr}) just before the line with Loves Only You (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) another neck back in third and Walton Street (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) rounding out the top four. The colt gave John and Thady Gosden their second winner of the night after the pair took out their joint trainers license earlier this month.

“I thought he had to dig deep today in the final furlong,” said jockey David Egan. “I thought he was going to curl up on me, but it just shows how good he is. Over 12 (furlongs), if he’s ridden with restraint and put in a rhythm, he could be deadly in Europe this year."

Mishriff’s 18-year-old grandam Acts of Grace (USA) (Bahri {USA}) has lived in Australia since 2016 with four Australian-born foals, including the named duo of 3-year-old Miss Balooshi (Pride Of Dubai) and 2-year-old Cabeoteur (So You Think {NZ}). The mare had another Pride Of Dubai filly last year as well.

Mishriff’s extended family includes Pride Of Dubai and top European sires Invincible Spirit (Ire) and Kodiac (GB).

Invincible Spirit (Ire) | Standing at the Irish National Stud

Lord North easily wins Dubai Turf

Lord North (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) added another Group 1 victory to his name on Saturday with an easy victory in the G1 Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP Racing.

Running over 1800 metres on the lawn, Lord North settled into the back of the pack four paths off the rail as he galloped comfortably around Meydan. In the last 400 metres, Lord North switched into gear and pulled away for a 3l win with Frankie Dettori only giving him a few taps at the beginning of his run. On a day of “almosts” for Japan, they saw Vin De Garde (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) finish second 1l ahead of Felix (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}).

“We were always hoping he would run well as he was in brilliant form out here,” said co-trainer Thady Gosden. “But he definitely put that race to bed very well from pretty far back. We will take him home now and then maybe give him a break and target the race he won last year at Ascot."

The second winner on the card for his sire after G2 UAE Derby winner Rebel’s Romance (Ire), Lord North is one of two winners for his winning Giant’s Causeway (USA) dam Najoum (USA). That mare is a half-sister to Grade 1 winner Bandini (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) among three stakes horses. Najoum’s stakes-placed half-sister My Mammy (USA) (Came Home {USA}) saw her stakes-winning daughter Sweet Victory (USA) (Blame {USA}) imported to Australia in 2017.

Purchased by Boomer Bloodstock at the 2016 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale, Sweet Victory has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by All Too Hard and a weanling colt by Dundeel (NZ).

All Too Hard | Standing at Vinery Stud

Extravagant Kid upsets Al Quoz Sprint

Trainer Brendan Walsh returned to the scene of his 2019 G2 UAE Derby win on Saturday to register a second victory in two Meydan starts with Extravagant Kid (USA) (Kiss The Kid {USA}) in the G1 Al Quoz Sprint.

Racing under Ryan Moore, Extravagant Kid originally joined the far rail group in the race over the straight 1200 metres before making his way to the stand’s side half-way through the run. It wasn’t until the final 200 metres that Extravagant Kid looked like he may be a threat as he made his way to the front of his group with Acklam Express (Ire) (Mehmas {Ire}) far in front in the other group.

In the end, Extravagant Kid and Final Song (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) finished in front of their group to take first and second overall with Acklam Express settling for third.

"What an unbelievable race," said owner David A Ross. "His trainer Brendan Walsh had a good feeling about him, he came into the race well, Brendan had him prepped well. He really liked the venue here and we thought we would take advantage. As an 8-year-old, what about that?"

Eight-year-old Extravagant Kid (USA) is one of four winners from four to race out of the winning With Distinction (USA) mare Pretty Extravagant (USA). He is the first stakes winner in his family in four generations with his fifth dam the dam of two Grade 1 winners and three other stakes horses as the first black-type on his page.

Zenden wins bittersweet Golden Shaheen

The highs and lows of racing were experienced within seconds of each other in the G1 Dubai Golden Shaheen Sponsored By Gulf News when winner Zenden (USA) (Fed Biz {USA}) put in a career-best performance before fatally breaking down after the line.

Racing over the same 1200 metre distance that saw him win a stakes race in the United States last out, the 5-year-old horse went straight to the lead and never stopped. Jockey Antonio Fresu sat like a statue on his mount until asking him to kick on in the stretch. Zenden was too dominant for the rest of the field, winning by an easy 3.25l over Red Le Zele (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}) with Canvassed (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) in third.

The first Grade 1 winner for his sire, Zenden is out of a half-sister to multiple Grade 1 winner Sweet Reason (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) and the Grade 3-winning, Grade 1-placed Don’t Forget Gil (USA) (Kafwain {USA}).

Godolphin wins UAE Derby with Rebel’s Romance

Already looking to have multiple G1 Kentucky Derby runners thanks to their US-based 3-year-olds, Godolphin qualified another one to the race when Rebel’s Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) won the G2 UAE Derby Sponsored By Emirates NBD.

A winner of one of the preps for this race earlier in the season, Rebel’s Romance was ready to run over the 1900 metres on Saturday. Going about five paths wide in the first turn, Rebel’s Romance went from near last to midpack by the time they reached the far turn. Circling the field under William Buick, Rebel’s Romance had to catch Panadol (USA) (Flatter {USA}) to take the lead but was up to the task. It took him half the stretch to do it but when he did he easily pulled away to win by 5.5l with Panadol finishing second by 1.75l over New Treasure (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}).

“It’s great for the team,” said trainer Charlie Appleby. “Most importantly it’s good for His Highness Sheikh Mohammed, who has a lovely horse win on Dubai World Cup night. I’m just delighted we’ve managed to put one into the back of the net."

Rebel’s Romance is the second stakes horse for his stakes-placed Street Cry (Ire) dam Minidress (GB). A half-sister to a Group 3 winner, Minidress sees most of her family’s black type come thanks to her grandam with that mare also the grandam of Japanese champion and G1 Dubai World Cup winner Victoire Pisa (Jpn) (Neo Universe {Jpn}), Japanese champion Robe Tissage (Jpn) (War Emblem {USA}), and Group 1 winner Asakusa Den’en (Jpn) (Singspiel {Ire}) among others.

Exceed and Excel’s Secret Ambition Romps in Godolphin Mile

Exceed And Excel’s Meydan veteran Secret Ambition (GB) kicked off the card in the G2 Godolphin Mile Sponsored by Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum City-District One on Saturday with a 6l victory.

Racing to the front of the 1600 metre race on the dirt under Tadhg O’Shea, the entire was joined briefly with about 400 metres to run but he quickly said good-bye to that challenge. In a five-way battle for second, Golden Goal (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}) was able to take the position by a neck with Avant Garden (USA) (Tonalist {USA}) winning third by a short head over Snapper Sinclair (USA) (City Zip {USA}) with Urban Icon (GB) (Cityscape {GB}) another short head behind that finisher.

“All week I’ve been saying that in this race there was no more experienced horse for this distance,” said trainer Satish Seemar. “At the post position draw, he was prominent in every race they would show him in the videos. He’s the most deserving horse in this field and most experienced and it’s perfect.”

Secret Ambition is the second Godolphin Mile winner for his sire, who also saw Heavy Metal (GB) win the race. He was also half of a unique quinella for Exceed And Excel, who is the broodmare sire of Golden Goal.

Exceed And Excel | Standing at Darley

Secret Ambition’s dam is a half-sister to the dam of Australian Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Tatra (Hussonet {USA}). That gelding is out of Slovakia (USA) (Danzig {USA}), who was imported to Australia in 2006.

Subjectivist takes out Dubai Gold Cup

Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) was the second large-margin winner of the night when he romped home by 5.75l in the G2 Dubai Gold Cup Sponsored by Al Tayer Motors.

Racing over 3200 metres, Subjectivist settled comfortably into second just outside the leader early on. Sitting in that position until late in the backstretch, Subjectivist took command as they entered the far turn. By the time they hit the top of the stretch, he had open lengths on the rest of the field and jockey Joseph Fanning looked confident. There was no catching the 4-year-old in the final metres with Walderbe (Ger) (Maxios {GB}) taking second by a head over Away He Goes (Ire) (Farhh {GB}) in the end.

“We came here today thinking surely he was the one to beat,” said trainer Mark Johnston. “He was a Group 1 winner on his last outing, he didn’t have to improve – he just had to run up to his best.”

By former shuttle stallion Teofilo (Ire) Subjectivist is one of three stakes horses for his multiple stakes-placed Danehill Dancer (Ire) dam Reckoning (Ire), whose foals also include Group 3 winner and Classic-placed Sir Ron Priestley (GB) (Australia {GB}) and Group 2-placed Alba Rose (GB) (Muhaarar {GB}).

Florida Derby

Like A King

Known Agenda

Adventuring

Bourbonette Oaks

Frosted

Cave Hill

Rushaway Stakes

Mystic Guide

Dubai World Cup

Mishriff

Dubai Sheema Classics

Lord North

G1 Dubai Turf

Extravagant Kid

G1 Al Quoz Sprint

Zenden

Rebel's Romance

Exceed And Excel

Godolphin Mile

Subjectivist

Dubai Gold Cup

2YO & 3YO Winners By Sire

First Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

First Season Sires' Results

Results: Sunday, March 28

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Monday, March 29

Second Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

Second Season Sires’ Results

Results: Sunday, March 28

Second Season Sires’ Runners