Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Rosehill, Listed XXXX Winter Cup, $150,000, 2400m
Race summary
Knights Order (Ire) (So You Think {NZ}) proved too strong here third-up.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained gelding landed in the box seat after jumping from barrier one under regular stable rider Tim Clark and was the beneficiary of a moderate tempo.
Clark injected some speed into the race at the 600-metre mark and started to get to work on his mount and from there levelled-up alongside the labouring, Inverloch (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), before bursting clear over the final 300 metres en route to a commanding 1.7l romp.
The ever-consistent Parry Sound (Pierro) had to settle for another minor placing and held second just ahead of the Joseph Pride-trained Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who was doing his best work later after settling back in the field.
Wu Gok (Sebring) rounded out the first four after battling away fairly in the straight.
Pedigree notes
A $250,000 gns (AU$498,750) 2018 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training purchase by McKeever Bloodstock and Gai Waterhouse Racing, Knights Order is the final foal out of British mile winner Lamanka Lass (USA) (Woodman {USA}), who herself is a half-sister to dual European Group 1 winner Far Lane (USA) (Lear Fan {USA}).
Knights Order is a half-brother to G2 Santa Anita Oak Tree Derby winner Dark Islander (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) and hails from the extended family of G2 Epsom Diomed S. winner Arod (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Knights Order’s sire So You Think (NZ) is building an imposing record at stud of late and has sired 12 individual stakes winners and two individual Group 1 winners in Australia this season alone. He will stand this upcoming breeding season at Coolmore Stud for a fee of $77,000 (inc GST) off the back of his progeny’s recent success.
Wanganui, Listed John Turkington Forestry Ltd Castletown S., NZ$50,000, 1200m
Race summary
With the benefit of a winning run at the Cambridge trials last month, Danger Strykes (NZ) (Astern) successfully resumed here after placing at her only appearance during the summer.
The filly settled in fourth spot and one off the rail and when rider Ryan Elliot asked her for an effort in the straight she responded positively to score narrowly, but well.
Ima Roca Bee (NZ) (El Roca) finished at a rate of knots after getting back in the field and Bellacontte (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) was another to come from the tail to secure a cheque for third.
Pedigree notes
Danger Strykes is the second black-type winner for Darley stallion Astern, whose daughter Seradess opened his account when she was successful in the Listed Cinderella S.
Passed in at New Zealand Bloodstock’s National Yearling Sale when offered by Wentwood Grange, Danger Strykes is out of the stakes-performed Stryker mare She Is Stryking.
She is a grand-daughter of the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner Fashion Victim (Rory’s Jester) with the G3 Bunbury Cup winner Celestial Show (Serheed) also on the pedigree page.
Wanganui, Listed AGC Training S., NZ$50,000, 1600m
Race summary
Supreme Heights (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}) is both talented and genuine and she was a deserved winner for trainer Mark Brosnan and rider Lynsey Satherley.
The dual Group 3-winning 5-year-old was given a cosy run in second spot to the turn before hitting the front 350 metres from home and she stayed on strongly to win with authority.
Crowning Star (Hallowed Crown) drove between runners in the straight with a stout finishing run for second and the pacemaker Hartley (NZ) (Azamour {Ire}) stuck on grimly for second.
Pedigree notes
Supreme Heights is a daughter of the Stark South (USA) mare Summer Heights (NZ) and she is a sister to the G3 Summer Cup winner Rising Heights.
The major name in the pedigree is former Champion Australian 3-Year-Old Miler Sky Heights (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who was a four-time winner at Group 1 level.
Supreme Heights is one of a quartet of black-type winners sired by Jimmy Choux (NZ) with the three-time Group 1 winner The Bostonian (NZ) his flagship performer with Two Illicit (NZ) and Manolo Blahniq Group 2 and three winners respectively.
