Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Morphettville, Listed TAB Lightning S., $107,250, 1050m
Race summary
Beau Rossa (Unencumbered) notched up his second stakes success this season with a dominant display on return here.
The Will Clarken-trained 3-year-old jumped evenly into stride from barrier one and settled down two pairs back on the rail.
The exciting prospect trucked up into the straight under a hold before levelling up alongside eventual third placegetter Esta La Roca (NZ) (El Roca) under his own steam entering the final furlong.
From there he extended away to a commanding 3.3l triumph under hands and heels riding from Todd Pannell.
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Parlophone (I Am Invincible) looked to have recaptured some of her juvenile brilliance on return and rocketed into second position.
Fourth placegetter Maha (Pride Of Dubai) couldn’t stick with Parlophone when the whips got cracking at the 150-metre mark.
Pedigree notes
Bred and sold by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds, Beau Rossa was an $80,000 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale purchase by Will Clarken and David Jolly.
He is the third and best-performed progeny of juvenile winner My Choisir (Choisir), who herself is out of dual Listed winner Prancelot (Jeune {GB}).
Her extended family features a host of Group-performed gallopers including Group 3 French winners Sealy (Fr) (Filiberto {Fr}) and Lesotho (Fr) (Lyphard {Fr}).
Her most recent progeny on the ground is a filly by Puissance De Lune (Ire) born in 2019.
Beau Rossa remains the fourth individual sakes winner this season by his ill-fated sire Unencumbered who passed away from post-surgery complications in 2018, aged seven.
Otaki, Listed Courtesy Ford Ryder S., NZ$50,000, 1200m
Race summary
Ima Roca Bee (NZ) (El Roca) broke her maiden status here at start number four.
The Karyn McQuade-trained filly was slow into stride but quickly mustered up under apprentice Erin Leighton to take up a position.
On straightening Leighton was shuffled back to last aboard the juvenile but opted to force the issue and weave a path through the field.
From there, she managed to peel towards the outside of the rain-affected surface before levelling up alongside runner-up Yeaboi (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) and pulling away over the concluding stages to score by 1l.
Flash Mary (NZ) (El Roca) secured a nice run in transit and knocked away into third while Bellacontte (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) finished a distant fourth.
Pedigree notes
Ima Roca Bee is out of the maiden mare Shelly Bee (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), who herself is a half-sister to G1 Metropolitan H. winner Herculian Prince (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}).
The pair hail from the second damline of G3 Rotorua S. winner Sleeping Beauty (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).
The Everest and dual Group 2 winner Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) is featured in their third damline alongside G1 Doncaster H. and G1 Epsom H. winner Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago).
Shelly Bee’s most recent progeny to go under the hammer was a colt by Complacent who sold for NZ$70,000 at this year's New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
She is currently in foal to Complacent after missing to Summer Passage in 2020.
Ima Roca Bee is the second individual stakes winner for her sire El Roca this season.
He will stand the upcoming breeding season at Westbury Stud for a service fee of NZ$8000 plus GST.
