G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas, $1,000,000, 1600m
The Team Hawkes-trained Yearning (Snitzel) has lived up to her substantial pedigree by claiming an upset victory in the G1 Schweppes Thousand Guineas at Caulfield.
The daughter of four-time champion stallion Snitzel and Group 1 winner Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) produced a powerful finish from the rear of the field to defeat Elusive Express (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) by 1l, reversing the result from the G2 Edward Manifold S. at Flemington earlier this month. Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) finished third, another 1.75l adrift.
It was a patient ride from Damien Thornton which yielded a second Group 1 success for the jockey. He sat her back near last off a strong pace, she came widest in the straight and after enduring a bumping duel with Zouzarella (Zoustar), was able to finish over the top of her rivals.
It was Yearning's second win from seven starts and her first at stakes level, powering her career prizemoney to $728,000.
Bred by Arrowfield Stud, she becomes the 18th individual Group 1 winner for Arrowfield resident Snitzel, who is enjoying a stellar season with three elite winners in the past month.
She was sold by Arrowfield Stud privately as a yearling, but it retained a major interest in her and she races in its black and yellow colours.
She is the first foal from Rising Romance, who was purchased privately by Arrowfield after her racing days, where she won a G1 Australian Oaks and was placed in several other Group 1 races.
Rising Romance is one of five winners from Postponed (USA) mare Post Romance (NZ), who was a daughter of stakes-placed Pretty Wicked (NZ) (Sir Tristram {ire}).
Rising Romance's now 2-year-old colt by Snitzel, Magic, was purchased for $2.5 million at this year's Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Hawkes Racing, while she has a yearling colt by Snitzel and visited that stallion again.
G3 Catanach's Jewellers Blue Sapphire S., $200,000, 1200m
G3 Catanach's Jewellers Ladies' Day Vase, $200,000, 1600m
Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) delivered a stakes boost to her impressive race record with a tough victory in the G3 Ladies' Day Vase.
The 4-year-old Symon Wilde-trained mare, having her ninth start, registered her fifth career win, lifting under Linda Meech to hold off Foxy Frida (Foxwedge), with Harmony Rose (Glass Harmonium {Ire}) in third.
Meech surged Sirileo Miss to the lead at the top of the straight and had to weather a host of challengers, before holding strong to the line.
She takes her career prizemoney to close to $350,000, an excellent return on her $60,000 purchase price.
Wilde paid that for her through the Miranda Park draft at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Her dam, She's Sirius (Galileo {Ire}), a half-sister to Listed winner Spectralite (Stratum), has produced seven winners from seven to the track, among them the stakes-placed Sophia's Choice (Fastnet Rock).
She's Sirius has a yearling colt by Merchant Navy but wasn't served last year.
Sirileo Miss' Coolmore-based sire Pride Of Dubai, the Champion First Season Sire of 2019/20, now has 13 stakes winners.
G3 Neds Coongy Cup, $200,000, 2000m
The Edward Cummings-trained 4-year-old mare Duais (Shamus Award) added the third stakes success to her burgeoning resume with a fast-finishing victory in the G3 Neds Coongy Cup.
Having her final lead-in run before Saturday's G1 Caulfield Cup, Duais, a winner of last season's G1 Queensland Oaks, charged home over the top of her rivals to cause a minor upset, with Wentwood (GB) (Pour Moi {GB}) in second and hot favourite Floating Artist (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in third.
Duais, having her third run for the campaign, was settled well back in the field for Michael Dee, well off the pace set by Floating Artist and wasn't called upon to make her run until the 300-metre mark.
Her and Wentwood, who was on the outside, closed on the leader inside the final 100-metre mark and it was Duais who stayed on the better, prevailing by 0.2l.
She now has won five of her 13 starts and nearly $900,000 in prizemoney.
Bred by Matthew Irwin, Duais is the fifth foal out of Meerlust (Johannesburg {USA}), making her a half-sister to G3 Sunshine Coast Guineas winner Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince).
Meerlust hails from an extended family littered with black type, with influential mare Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dance {Can}) her third dam, putting her on the same page as Group 1 winners and sires Encosta De Lago and Flying Spur.
Newgate Farm stallion and dual Group 1-winning sprinter Russian Revolution also features in that family alongside the likes of Group 1-winning sire Holy Roman Emperor (Ire).
David Vandyke trains the unraced 3-year-old sibling to Duais by the name of Amity Gal, while Meerlust recent foaled an All Too Hard filly.
