Listed Hill Smith S., $107,250, 1800m
It was a nice return to the state for the South Australian Country Wide Breeding Syndicate-bred Cerberus (Dundeel {NZ}) who made it two Hill Smith S. victories in a row for stable (Anthony and Sam Freedman) and stallion.
Dundeel (NZ) was represented in this race last year by Ain'tnodeeldun (Dundeel {NZ}) and the Arrowfield Stud-based stallion has now sired 16 stakes winners.
Also part of a great day for Fastnet Rock (his 16th stakes winner as a broodmare sire), Cerberus was purchased by James Harron for $750,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the third foal and second winner for the city winner Scarlet Moretta (Fastnet Rock) whose dam hails from a wonderful French family, able to claim amongst her close relations the Group 1 winners Vallee Enchantee (Ire) (Peintre Celebre {USA}) and Vespone (Ire) (Llandaff {USA}).
Scarlet Moretta missed last year but she has a yearling filly by Tosen Stardom (Jpn) whilst her 2-year-old Churchill (Ire) colt was claimed by the Danny O'Brien stable for $170,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Boasting Sir Tristram (Ire) (Sir Ivor {USA}) and Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) crosses, Cerberus is also line-bred to the latter's dam Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), also the dam of Dundeel's grandsire Sadler's Wells (USA).
Listed XXXX Queensland Cup, $130,000, 2406m
It was a fight to the line at the end of the 2406 metres, Honorable Spirit (Charm Spirit {Ire}) putting his nose down right when it counted.
Bred in Victoria by Mr T.R Pascoe, the tough campaigner recorded the eighth win of his 26-start career and his first in stakes company.
The 10th stakes winner for the multiple Group 1-winning former Windsor Park shuttler Charm Spirit (Ire), he was a $100,000 purchase at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale (purchased by Henry Dwyer); resold online in August last year for $22,500.
He is one of three winners for the two-time winner Z'Honor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who was served last spring by Brazen Beau having produced a colt by that same stallion last November.
The 223rd stakes winner for Zabeel (NZ) as a broodmare sire, Honorable Spirit is a grandson of the G1 Easter H. winner Honor Bound (NZ) (Honor Grades {USA}) whose dam Amrica (NZ) (Amalgam {USA}) won two Group 3 races.
