Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
G1 Sky Racing Tattersall’s Tiara, $600,000, 1400m
Race summary
Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) justified her connections' decisions to race on once again by securing a second consecutive Group 1 success and third in total.
The Mike Moroney-trained mare etched her name alongside Dane Ripper (Danehill {USA}) and Srikandi (Dubawi {Ire}) as the third galloper to claim the G1 Stradbroke H. and G1 Tattersall’s Tiara double.
Jockey Craig Williams found cover from barrier 14 aboard the 5-year-old and worked his way towards the superior outside going when finding clear air in the straight.
Once asked to extend Tofane let down to score by a commanding 2l margin over a fast finishing Nudge (Fastnet Rock) and the recent $850,000 Inglis Chairman’s Sale purchase Sweet Deal (Casino Prince).
The Chris Waller-trained Madam Rogue (Zoustar) wasn’t far behind the aforementioned trio in fourth.
Pedigree notes
Tofane was withdrawn from the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Select Yearling Sale and now races in the colours of prominent owner Rupert Legh.
She is the second of six foals out of 1600 metre winner Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}), who herself is a half-sister to G1 Flight S. winner Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and G1 Queensland Oaks winner Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Her extended family is also littered with black-type performers, including five-time European Group 1 winner User Friendly (GB) (Slip Anchor {GB}) who reigned supreme in the time-honoured G1 The Oaks and G1 Irish Oaks.
Baggy Green’s most recent progeny to go through the ring is an unraced colt called Benaud (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}). He was knocked down at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale to John O’Shea Racing and Laurel Oak Bloodstock for NZ$280,000. She currently has a weanling filly who is a full sibling to Tofane on the ground.
Tofane’s sire Ocean Park (NZ) is continuing to cement his status as a producer of top-class racehorses. He is responsible for nine individual stakes winners this season, three of those have prevailed at Group 1 level, including the G1 All Aged S. winner Kolding (NZ). He is also the sire of Star Of The Seas (NZ) who himself has finished second in two Australian Group 1s this season alone.
Ocean Park will stand this breeding season at Waikato Stud for a service fee of NZ$30,000 + GST off the back of his progeny's recent success.
G3 Eureka Stud WJ Healy S., $175,000, 1200m
Race summary
Away Game (Snitzel) secured a perfectly timed ride by talented young hoop Stephanie Thornton and thus powered over the top of classy mare Exhilarates (Snitzel) in the shadows of the post to claim her first victory in more than 12 months.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 3-year-old relished being ridden cold and showed a strong turn of foot when asked to let down out wide in the straight by Thornton.
Away Game's stablemate and third placegetter Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) was superb in defeat. The fellow 3-year-old was forced to duck and weave between runners in the middle of the straight.
The Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained King Of Hastings (Ilovethiscity) was the first male past the post and rounded out the top four under Jim Byrne.
Pedigree notes
Bred and sold by Mill Park Stud, Away Game was a $425,000 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase by Kerri Radcliffe Bloodstock.
She is the sixth survived foal out of the Listed Chairman's S. third placegetter Elusive Wonder (Elusive Quality {USA}), thus making her a full sibling to the Listed winner and dual Listed placegetter Modern Wonder.
Elusive Wonder herself is a half-sister to Listed winner Tantra (Royal Academy {USA}). She also hails from the first damline of New Zealand Listed winner Oak Park (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Elusive Wonder currently has a weanling colt by Coolmore sire Merchant Navy on the ground and has since missed to Zoustar.
Away Game is the 13th individual stakes winner this season for her Champion Arrowfield Stud sire Snitzel. He will stand his 13th season at the Hunter Valley farm for a service fee of $165,000 (inc GST).
G3 Tattersall’s Cup, $200,000, 2400m
Race summary
Incentivise (Shamus Award) cemented his status as a genuine spring Cups contender with a devastating 12l romp here.
The Steven Tregea-trained gelding had won his previous three starts by a combined 25.8l and again never looked to leave second gear despite being challenged by Group 1 winner Mirage Dancer (GB) (Frankel {GB}) on straightening.
Traduce (NZ) (Savabeel) got going late along the inside rail to claim third ahead of fellow local hope Romakash (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}).
Pedigree notes
Bred and retained by his trainer Steven Tregea’s Windemere Stud, and since the majority was purchased by prominent owners Brae Sokolski and Ozzie Kheir, Incentivise is out of the Listed-placed Miss Argyle (Iglesia), who is the dam of Waikato Stud sire Ardrossan and Listed winner Bergerac (Drumbeats).
Miss Argyle is a full sibling to Listed Doomben Slipper S. winner Diamondsondinside. G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic winner Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and G2 Queensland Guineas winner Express Air (Piccolo {GB}) feature in her first damline.
Incentivise is the 10th individual stakes winner and eighth individual Group winner this season for his rising Rosemont Stud stallion Shamus Award.
The son of Champion Sire Snitzel will stand this upcoming breeding season for a service fee of $33,000 (inc GST) at Rosemont Stud in Victoria.
Listed 97.3 Tattersall’s Gold Crown, $200,000, 2137m
Race summary
Zayydani (NZ) (Savabeel) secured Ben and JD Hayes their first victory in partnership here in devastating fashion.
The 4-year-old was the beneficiary of a well-timed ride by Andrew Mallyon. She settled just off midfield with cover before working towards the superior outside going into the straight.
From there she let down with a strong turn of foot to level up alongside her rivals en route to a 2.8l success ahead of a bold Walking Flying (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Windermere (All Too Hard) battled home bravely to stick on narrowly into third ahead of outside chance Cellarmaid (Husson {Arg}).
Pedigree notes
Zayydani was withdrawn from the 2018 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by breeder and vendor Trelawney Stud. She is the fifth foal out of the dual New Zealand winner Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), thus making her a half-sister to G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Makybe S. winner Grunt (NZ) who himself now stands at Yulong Stud.
Ruqqaya herself is a half-sister to five-time Group 1 winner and top Waikato Stud stallion Ocean Park (NZ). She is also a half-sister to the dam of Listed third placegetter Excelida (Exceed And Excel). The G1 ARC Easter H. winner Prince Kaapstad (NZ) (Kaapstad) features in her second damline. Her most recent progeny to go under the hammer was a NZ$500,000 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase by the name of Gmork (NZ) (Tivaci). She also has a yearling filly by Savabeel on the ground.
Zayydani is the 19th individual stakes winner for her outstanding G1 Cox Plate-winning sire Savabeel, who has sired four individual Group 1 winners this season, including high-profile middle distance gallopers Probabeel (NZ), Mo’unga (NZ) and Amarelinha (NZ).
He will stand the upcoming season at Waikato Stud for NZ$100,000 + GST.
Listed Tattersall’s Life Member S., $125,000, 1830m
Race summary
Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) broke his maiden status here at start number four in devastating fashion.
The Tony Pike-trained gelding settled in the box seat in the field of five before trucking up into the straight under his own steam.
From there he cruised to the front before extending to a commanding margain under light riding from replacement hoop Michael Cahill.
Balmaurice (Maurice {Jpn}) worked home the best of the rest to claim second ahead of General Wolffe (Wolf Cry) and Kaytee Reinado (Real Impact {Jpn}).
Pedigree notes
A NZ$250,000 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1 purchase by Pike Racing via the draft of Haunui Farm, Tutukaka is the fifth foal out of 1200 metre New Zealand winner Meleka Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), thus making him a half-brother to the 14-time Group 1-winning mare Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and NZ$900,000 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale purchase Exaltation (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt).
Meleka Belle is a half-sister to G1 NZ One Thousand Guineas third placegetter Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), who herself is the dam of dual New Zealand Group 2 third placegetter Desert Rain (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}).
Meleka Belle currently has a weanling filly named My Annie Belle (NZ) (Snitzel) on the ground while in foal to Coolmore Stud stallion Pierro.
Tutukaka is the 12th individual stakes winner for his late sire Tavistock (NZ) this season. Tavistock is responsible for this season's G1 Victoria Derby winner Johnny Get Angry (NZ) and a further five Group winners.
