Morphettville, G3 Breeders' S., $127,250, 1200m
Race summary
Godolphin filly Cloudy’s (Frosted {USA}) experience shone through here, allowing her to fend off a raw Karacasu (Headwater) who was going around at start number three.
The James Cummings-trained 2-year-old was positioned third in the run by leading local hoop Todd Pannell after stepping quickly into stride out of barrier one. Pannell refused to engage in a speed battle and allowed the leader to bowl along under his own steam prior to following the inside rail through to the line.
Karacasu stalked Cloudy in to the straight and let down with a flashing light run to miss by the narrowest of margins.
Isles Of Avalon (Toronado {Ire}) stuck on commendably into third after sitting outside a hot speed, while Princess Raffles (Sir Prancelot {Ire}) worked home into fourth after being shuffled out wide on straightening.
Pedigree notes
Cloudy is a Godolphin homebred out of Darley bred Listed winner Applegate (Exceed And Excel). However, American Group 1 winner Link River (USA) (Gone West {USA}) features in her second dam line.
Applegate currently has a filly by Impending at foot while in foal to So You Think (NZ).
Cloudy’s sire Frosted (USA) is responsible for this year’s G1 Blue Diamond S. runner up and G1 Golden Slipper S. third place getter Ingratiating.
Morphettville, G3 Chairman’s S., $127,250, 2040m
Race summary
Royal Mile (Danerich) secured a maiden Group success for rising apprentice Jacob Opperman en route to adding a fourth consecutive to his name.
The Lee Creek-trained galloper worked hard early to cross and take up the running. However, his fitness and will to win reigned supreme. On straightening the 3-year-old talent looked vulnerable but continued to fight through to the line under the urges of Opperman.
Montepulciano (All Too Hard) held out a hard finishing Shebringzit (Sebring) who snuck up the inside and was doing her best work late.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Mornington-based trainer David Brideoake, Royal Mile was a $26,000 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase by Lee Creek from the draft of Wellington Park. He is second progeny of unraced galloper Street Blaze (Street Sense {USA}), who herself is out of three-time Listed winner Raven Protector (Hector Protector).
Royal Mile’s sire Danerich was $500,000 2004 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale purchase who claimed the G3 McNeil S. His dam Millrich (Rubiton) is a half-sister to the dam to triple Group 1 winner and dual The Everest winner Redzel (Snitzel).
Morphettville, G3 Listed H C Nitschke S., $107,250, 1400m
Race summary
Incredulous Dream (Press Statement) stormed down the inside to take out a competitive edition of this fillies' feature.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 3-year-old stepped evenly into stride before settling down back in the field.
Leading local hoop Barend Vorster rode a patient and confident race, waiting for the gaps to present before asking his mount to let down.
From there she went straight past a labouring Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who tired after leading the field up before fending off flashing filly Way To Go Paula (Nostradamus) who ultimately quinellaed the race.
Pedigree notes
Incredulous Dream was a $340,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Spicer Thoroughbreds via the draft of breeders Aquis Farm. She is the second survived offspring of 1000 metre winner Incredulous, making her a half-sibling to dual Group 2 winner Global Exchange (Dundeel {NZ}) who now races in Hong Kong under the name of Enjoying. Incredulous is out of Group 3 winner Simply Believe (Fr), who herself is a half-sister to the grandam of dual Group 3 winner So Si Bon (So You Think {NZ}).
Incredulous has recently been served by Pierata after losing two foals and missing during the past three seasons.
Morphettville, G3 Listed Holdfast Insurance City Of Adelaide H., $107,250, 1400m
Race summary
High-rating gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock) secured a second consecutive victory, in a dominant lead all the way showing.
Leading Victorian hoop Damian Lane took luck out of the equation and mustered up from barrier seven before switching his mount off.
From there Lane sat pretty prior to letting down to win by convincing margin ahead of talented local hope Morvada (Mossman) and rank outside Master Chum (Clangalang).
Consistent mare Magna Bella (Magnus) was far from disgraced running a bold race in fourth.
Pedigree notes
Groundswell was a $2.3 million 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale Purchase by Anthony Freedman Racing via the draft of his breeders Arrowfield Stud. He is out of 1100 metre winner The Broken Shore (Hussonet {USA}) making him a full sibling to four-time Group 1 winning mare Shoals.
The Broken Shore herself boasts an imposing pedigree page hailing from the 1st dam line of ill-fated champion sire and multiple Group 1 winner Redoute’s Choice as well as dual Group 1 winner and G1 Cox Plate-placed galloper Manhattan Rain.
The Broken Shore has been served by Written Tycoon this season after missing and losing a subsequent foal to I Am Invincible in recent seasons.
Groundswell’s sire Fastnet Rock currently stands at Coolmore Stud and is responsible for Group 1-winning superstar and ill-fated broodmare Atlantic Jewel.
Doomben, Listed Brisbane Truck Show Tails S., $125,000, 1630m
Race summary
French Group 1 winner Olmedo (Fr) (Declaration Of War {USA}) secured his maiden Australian triumph with a display of front running excellence.
The Annabel Neasham-trained entire was fierce in front and wanted to get the job over and done with from the outset. As a result, Ryan Maloney allowed the 6-year-old to roll along under his own steam before asking for the ultimate effort with a furlong to run. From there Olmedo continued to find the line holding out a fast finishing Reloaded (Snitzel).
The first two past the post gapped the rest of the field with Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) rounding out the minors alongside the David Vandyke-trained Constant Flight (Written Tycoon).
Pedigree notes
Bred by Dream With Me Stable Olmedo is the second and final progeny of French winner Super Pie (USA), who herself is out of Group 3 winner Super Lina (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}). She also hails from the extended family of G1 Breeders' Cup winner Steinlen (USA) (Habitat {USA}).
Olmedo’s sire Declaration Of War (USA) was a dual Group 1 winner in his own right and has sired 2019 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare.
Doomben, Listed Eureka Stud Princess S., $125,000, 1630m
Race summary
The Chris Waller-trained Easifar (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai) finished the better of highly rated filly Tycoon Evie (Written Tycoon) in a fiercely contested finale.
The latter did plenty of work early to cross from barrier nine under Mark Du Plessis. Once taking up the runner she quickly switched off and trucked into the straight looking like the winner. However, Easifar continued to pin back the margin over the finale furlong before extending to a soft victory over the concluding stages.
Rank outsider Deep Sceiva (Deep Field) found hard late to finish a distant third, while the Tony Gollan-trained Good Soize (Adelaide {Ire}) was far from disgraced finishing fourth at her first start since December last year.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Llanhennock Trust Easifar was a $220,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Woppitt Bloodstock via the draft of Wentwood Grange.
She is the second last progeny out of unraced mare, Storm Fronts (Hurricane Sky), making her a half-sibling to dual Group 3 winner Readytogorightnow (More Than Ready {USA}). Storm Front’s also hails from the direct dam line of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Miss Danehill (Danehill {USA}) and dual Group 2 winner Pentastic (Pentire {GB}).
Easifar’s sire Pride Of Dubai is the only horse to complete the G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Sires’ Produce S. double. He is responsible for numerous Group-performed gallopers in his short time standing at Coolmore Stud.
Doomben, Listed TAB Mick Dittman Plate, $125,000, 1100m
Race summary
Jockey Michael Cahill found his way out of traffic in time to get the job done aboard Lord Olympus (Olympic Glory {Ire}).
The Mark Newnham-trained galloper settled back in the field after breaking moderately into stride from barrier 11.
Rather than swing out wide Cahill opted to plot an inside path which proved the winning move and once in the clear with 150 metres to run the flashy 3-year-old attacked the line with intent and finished the better of Zingalong (Favelon) and Xerri (Snitzel).
Godolphin galloper Andermatt (Snitzel) finished off into fourth after enduring a tough run in transit.
Pedigree notes
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, Lord Olympus was a $70,000 2019 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale purchase by Darby Racing and de Burgh Equine via the draft of Arrowfield Stud. He is the final progeny of $360,000 2005 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale purchase, Lady Zabelia (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), making him a half-sibling to G2 Pago Pago S. winner Time For War (Snitzel).
Lady Zabelia is out of Listed winner Miss Powerbird (Mukaddamah {USA}) who herself is a half-sibling to the dam of G1 VRC Oaks winner Mosheen (Fastent Rock).
Lord Olympus’s sire Olympic Glory (Ire) is a four-time Group 1 winner who reigned supreme in both England and France. His most successful raced progeny is dual Group 1 winner Watch Me (Fr).
Ellerslie, G2 Manco Easter H., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Race summary
Something about 1600 metre races at Ellerslie brings the very best out of the talented but enigmatic Demonetization (All Too Hard), and it was more of the same on Saturday as he produced one of the standout performances of his 27-start career.
Previously a winner of the G2 Auckland Guineas and placed in the G2 Rich Hill Mile over this course and distance, along with a fourth in a previous renewal of this race, the Nigel Tiley-trained gelding dropped well back in the early stages of this year’s edition of the time-honoured open handicap.
With Sam Collett in the saddle, Demonetization unleashed a fierce finish from fourth-last at the home turn, charging to the front and scoring by a widening margin of 4l.
Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel), a half-brother to Saturday’s G3 James H B Carr S. winner All Hallows’ Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) finished second, with Marroni (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) third.
Raced by the N & P Balia Family Trust, Demonetization has now had 27 starts for seven wins, six placings and just under NZ$250,000 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Demonetization was bred in Australia by Peters Investments Pty Ltd and was a $65,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock at the 2015 Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale. He then made two trips through the Karaka sale ring, fetching NZ$160,000 at the 2016 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale before his current owners secured him for NZ$220,000 at the Ready to Run Sale later that year.
Demonetization is one of 19 individual stakes winners to date for All Too Hard, who stands at Vinery Stud. He has an overall total of 290 winners to his name from 442 runners.
The dam of Demonetization is Midnight Special (Zabeel {NZ}), a winning sister to the stakes winners Rainbow Styling (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Zingaling (Redoute’s Choice).
Another of the mare’s siblings, Be Inspired (Zabeel {NZ}), is the dam of Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}), the winner of the G1 Railway S. in Perth this season.
Midnight Special has had four foals to race, all of them winners including three stakes performers. Neverland (Big Brown) won the Listed Challenge S. and Carbine Club S., and finished second in two editions of the G2 Perth Cup. Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}) has finished second in the Listed Melvista S. and third in the Perth Cup.
Midnight Special had another three So You Think (NZ) colts in 2018, 2019 and 2020.
Ellerslie, G2 Trelawney Stud Championship S., NZ$100,000, 2100m
Race summary
Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking) lived up to his name with a remarkable victory in Saturday’s Ellerslie 3-year-old feature, defying $75 odds and clearing maiden grade in style.
Trained by Shaun and Emma Clotworthy, Hezashocka began his career only last month with a second placing at Pukekohe. He then finished fifth at Ellerslie in his only other start on April 3.
Thrown in at the deep end on Saturday against some proven black-type performers, Hezashocka rose to the occasion and upstaged his higher-rated rivals.
Ridden by apprentice jockey Masa Hashizume, who had never before won a stakes race, Hezashocka surged out of midfield and hit the lead halfway down the home straight.
He faced a big late challenge from the last-start Group 3 winner Joy Alone (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}), but dug deep and held on by a nose. The multiple stakes-placed Milford Sound (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) finished another 0.75l away in third.
Raced by a group of owners that includes former Ellerslie racecaller Keith Haub, Hezashocka has now had three starts for one win and more than NZ$55,000 in stakes.
Pedigree notes
Shaun Clotworthy secured Hezashocka from Book 3 of the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, where he cost just NZ$18,000.
He is by the Melbourne Cup and Australian Cup winner Shocking, who stands at Rich Hill Stud. Shocking is the sire of 138 winners from 265 runners, with Hezashocka becoming his 13th individual stakes winner.
Hezashocka is out of the placed mare Shezakiwi (NZ) (Brilliance {USA}), whose half-siblings Kiwi Lady (NZ) (Ruby’s Jester) and Oriental Profit (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) are both stakes placegetters. Their dam Luscious Lady (NZ) (Al Akbar) also placed at Group 3 level.
A full sister to Shezakiwi, Brilliant Kiwi (NZ) (Brilliance {USA}), is the dam of the Group 1-placed Brilliant Shine (NZ) (Guillotine {NZ}).
Luscious Lady is a sister to another multiple stakes placegetter in Hi Yo Wassup (NZ) (Al Akbar), while another of their siblings is the dam of G1 New Zealand Derby placegetter Glorious Lad (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}).
Hezashocka is the first named foal out of Shezakiwi, who has subsequently had colts by Haradasun and Derryn.
Ellerslie, Listed Staphanos By Deep Impact Champagne S., NZ$50,000, 1600m
Race summary
Lady Maroal (NZ) (Power {GB}) and Atullibigeal (Street Boss {USA}) dominated New Zealand’s longest juvenile race from the front and had the finish all to themselves, moving more than 3l ahead of the rest of the field in the straight.
Lady Maroal clearly got the better of the duel inside the last 200 metres, but Atullibigeal lifted again and roared back up on her inside. In an exciting battle to the finish, Lady Maroal regained the ascendancy and scored by a head.
In third place, 3.75l behind the first pair, was Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Trained by Nigel Tiley and ridden by Michael McNab, Lady Maroal has now had four starts for two wins. She also finished fifth in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S. at the beginning of this month.
Pedigree notes
Lady Maroal was bred by Sir Patrick and Lady Hogan in partnership with Maroal Bloodstock’s Ron Saunders, who was on course at Ellerslie on Saturday at the age of 94. Lady Maroal races in the colours of Maroal Bloodstock, who bought her for NZ$40,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
The stakes-winning filly is by former Cambridge Stud shuttle stallion Power (GB), who stood at Oaklands Stud in Queensland this season for a service fee of NZ$11,000 (plus GST). He was New Zealand’s leading first-season sire in 2016/17, and he has sired a total of 214 winners from 396 runners with 19 stakes winners.
The dam of Lady Maroal is Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), who herself won four races including the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. and the R. Listed Super Bonus Classique – predecessor to the Karaka Million.
Lady Dehere is half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), as well as stakes winners Oratorio and Discorsi (Galileo {Ire}).
Another sibling, Dubai Express (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), is the dam of stakes-placed Rockadubai (Fastnet Rock), whose daughter Chabaud (NZ) (Lookin At Lucky {USA}) won the G2 South Australia Fillies’ Classic.
Lady Dehere is the dam of five winners from nine foals to race, with three of them now black-type winners.
Oracy (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) won the G2 Gauteng Guineas, G2 Dingaans H. and G3 London News S.
The Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) won the Listed Star Way S. and Counties Challenge S., then became a black-type producer through her son Bullish Stock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who placed in the VRC St Leger.
Lady Maroal is the latest addition to that list, while Ruthless Lady (NZ) (Keeper) was also Listed-placed.
Riccarton, G3 Coca-Cola Canterbury Gold Cup, NZ$100,000, 2000m
Race summary
Beauden (NZ) (Bullbars) continued his terrific run of form this preparation with another tough staying performance.
He was in to the clear at the top of the straight and fought doggedly to the wire for rider Ryan Elliot to win for the fourth time from his last six starts.
The Graeme and Debbie Rogerson-trained 6-year-old proved too strong for Hypnos (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) with Whale Song (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) a distant third.
Pedigree notes
Beauden is raced by breeder Joan Egan and is a son of the G2 Rich Hill Mile and Listed Wairarapa Thoroughbred Breeders' S. winner Belle Femme (Zeditave).
Her half-sister Flying Babe (Flying Spur) won the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Flying Babe (Flying Spur) to earn Champion New Zealand Filly of the Year honours.
Beauden is one of two individual stakes winner produced by Bullbars, who sired the Rogerson-trained G2 Eight Carat Classic winner and G1 New Zealand Oaks runner-up Contessa Vanessa (NZ).
Riccarton, Listed NZ Bloodstock Warstep S., NZ$50,000, 2000m
Race summary
Savabeel filly Atishu (NZ) again blitzed her rivals to win the Listed Warstep S. at Riccarton and be crowned New Zealand Bloodstock’s Southern Filly of the Year.
The 3-year-old, who had won the Listed NZB Airfreight S. by 7l at her previous outing, jumped well before rider Kozzi Asano allowed her to drift back and they were last at the top of the straight.
Once she was asked for a serious effort, the filly let down powerfully to sail past her rivals with Exquisite Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) finishing second ahead of Larpower (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Pedigree notes
Atishu was bred by Waikato Stud and purchased by Go Racing for NZ$260,000 at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale.
Her dam Posy (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) won two races and is a sister to Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
New Zealand’s Champion 3-Year-Old in 2008/09, Daffodil won the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas and Australian Oaks and added the G1 Windsor Park Plate as an older mare.
She is the dam of three stakes placegetters – Grand De Flora (NZ) (Savabeel), Grand Bouquet (NZ) (Savabeel) and Snowdrop (NZ) (Pins).
