XXXX Golden Eagle, $7,500,000, 1400m
There was a sizeable roar at Flemington as Victorian I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) made a successful raid on the Golden Eagle, so strong to the line winning his sixth race from just nine starts.
Bred in New Zealand by Mr T Forlong and Ms J Jones he is one of the 15 stakes winners and two Group 1 winners sired by Rich Hill Stud's G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking (Street Cry {Ire}).
His dam, the lightly raced Primadonna Girl (Edenwold) is doing a great job, this fellow just her second foal with her first being the G2-placed Hong Kong winner Cantstopthefeeling (NZ) (Swiss Ace).
Served last spring by Ocean Park (NZ) having produced a Charm Spirit (Ire) colt last September, Primadonna Girl is out of a half-sister to the stakes-placed Samudera (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the multiple Group winner Reno Belle (NZ) (Balmerino {NZ}), he is line-bred to the close relations Northern Dancer (Can) and Halo (USA), also boasting a strain of Machiavellian (USA) from that same family.
Classique Legend S., $1,000,000, 1500m
Eduardo (Host {Chi}) never looked in any danger of defeat en route to the tenth success of his 24 start career, one that has seen him amass in excess of $4.8 million in stakes.
Bred by his part-owner Jane Kaufmann, the son of the late multiple Group 1-winning Hussonet (USA) stallion Host (Chi) is one of the three winners produced by the unraced Blushing (Fantastic Light {USA}).
Her dam is the city winner Lavina Bay (Dehere {USA}) whose dam is the G3 Lightning H. winner Peggy Ann (NZ) (Bletchingly), in turn, daughter of Avon Angel (NZ) (Avon Valley {GB}) who was the joint third top filly on the 1984/85 Australasian 3-Year-Old Classification, winning 10 races including the G1 Rosemount Wines Classic.
