G1 Melbourne Cup, $7,750,000, 3200m
Those following racing in the late 1990's have cherished memories of the superstar galloper Octagonal (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) racing away to ten Group 1 victories.
An achievement equalled yesterday by the wonderful mare Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) who hails from the same sireline and the same family as the oh so popular 'Occie'.
Aptly named a "Princess Of The Turf" by racecaller Matthew Hill as she shot 4l clear of the favourite Incentivise (Shamus Award) who certainly lost no fans in defeat, Verry Elleegant recorded the 15th win of a stunning career that has seen her amass in excess of $14.2 million in stakes.
Bred by Don Goodwin, the mare with humble beginnings is one of 14 stakes winners sired by the lightly raced Hawke's Bay maiden winner Zed (NZ) whose sire Zabeel (NZ) has been represented by three G1 Melbourne Cup winners: Might And Power (NZ), Jezabeel (NZ) and Efficient (NZ).
Kicking off his stud career at a fee of NZ$500, Zed began his career at Little Avondale Stud, from there heading to Erewhon Station where he served a variety of non thoroughbred mares!
On the back of promising results, Zed made the move to Grangewilliam Stud where he still resides.
Verry Elleegant's dam is the two-time winner Opulence (NZ) (Danroad) who has also produced by Zed the Group 3-placed, eight-time winner Verry Flash (NZ).
Opulence is a great granddaughter of Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) who also happens to be the third dam of Zed - giving Verry Elleegant a 4 X 4 cross of her own fourth dam.
A daughter of the mighty Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}), Cotehele House has had 45 runners as a line-breeding subject and of the 27 winners six are stakes winners with three of those also being descendants; Fair Trade (by Danewin), Quilate (Bramshaw) and Fiscal Fantasy (Skilled) who have all been successful at Group 3 level.
Also carrying a 3 X 3 Danehill (USA) cross, Verry Elleegant boasts duplications of three other influential mares within six generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alihbai {GB}).
Again served last spring by Zed, Opulence also has a 3-year-old (the Perth-based Affluential {NZ} who is yet to race) and a 2-year-old (yet to be named) by him. She has just one other daughter - Black Lace (NZ) (Towkay) who in early September produced a black (those Eight Carat genes!) filly by Zed.
This is a family in form with Cotehele House's great great grandson Jonker (Spirit Of Boom) proving the versatility of this clan's genes by winning the G1 Manikato S. over 1200 metres a couple of weeks ago.
This year's Cup was a victory for female line-breeding with runner-up Incentivise line-bred to another great mare in Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) whilst the third-placed Spanish Mission (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) is bred on a 6 X 6 cross of his own sixth dam Thong (USA) (Nantallah {USA}).
G3 Maribyrnong Plate, $200,000, 1000m
It was three wins in a row in this juvenile dash for jockey Luke Nolen who had the promising Brereton (Zoustar) putting his nose out at the right time.
The Peter Moody-trained colt, bred by Widden Stud Australia and Saconi Thoroughbreds, was purchased for $1 million at this year's Magic Millions Yearling Sale by the Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock.
He is stakes winner number 25 for the Widden-based Zoustar who enjoyed Cup week success taking out the 2013 G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Brereton is the fifth foal and third winner for the G3 WA Champions Fillies' S. winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (Red Ransom {USA}) who has also produced the four time-winning, South African-based filly Boomps A Daisy, also by Zoustar.
In early September producing a full sister to Brereton, Fuddle Dee Duddle is a half-sister to the G2 Gilgai S. winner Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) and to the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).
Also able to claim the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing (Beautiful Crown {USA}) amongst her relations, Fuddle Dee Duddle has a yet to race 3-year-old Sebring filly (Daisy Head Mayzie) with the Mitchell Beer stable whilst her yearling is a colt by Trapeze Artist.
G3 The Hong Kong Jockey Club S., $200,000, 1400m
The second Flemington stakes winner for the day for Written Tycoon, Rich Hips did a great job winning the same feature contest two years running.
Bred by Woodside Park Stud and purchased for $130,000 by First Light Racing, Busuttin Racing and Paul Willetts at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, she is now an eight-time winner from just 23 starts.
Her dam is the city-placed winner She's Curvaceous (Flying Spur), also the dam of the city placegetter Hipster Girl (Nicconi) who was fourth in the G1 VRC Oaks won by Set Square (Reset).
Slipping to Harry Angel (Ire) last spring, She's Curvaceous has a yearling filly by Rich Enuff and a yet to race 2-year-old (the $75,000 Inglis Melbourne Premier graduate Starvaceous) by Tosen Stardom (Jpn).
She's Curvaceous is a daughter of the stakes-placed Vital Curves (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}), dam of the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. winner Velasco (Flying Spur) who is in turn dam of the WATC G3 Sires' Produce S. winner Debellatio (Smart Missile) and the Listed Princess S. winner Devoirs (Dehere {USA}).
Listed Furphy Plate, $175,000, 1800m
A horse who really knows how to find the line, Milton Park (Written Tycoon) was terrific recording the seventh win of his 17 start career - and his second at Listed level off the back off a dominant all-the-way victory in the Sale Cup.
Bred by his owners Ms J Sampson and Miss M Taite, Milton Park is one of the 44 stakes winners sired by Yulong's reigning Champion Sire Written Tycoon. His dam is the Listed Ladies' Day Vase winner Gawne (Flying Spur), also the dam of the winners Fern (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Matron (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) - in turn the dam of the Listed Exford Plate winner Legionnaire (Stratum).
In late September foaling a Shooting To Win filly, Gawne is a half-sister to the G1 Railway S. winner Great Shot (Magnus) and to the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Casino Dancer (Casino Prince).
A great grandson of the G1 Orlando Wines Classic winner Satin Sand (Buena Shore {USA}), Milton Park has a lightly raced 3-year-old half-sister by More Than Ready (USA), Cavellita, whilst her 2-year-old is a colt by So You Think (NZ).
Listed TAB Trophy, $175,000, 1800m
It was an emotional win for connections (including the late Rob Gaylard's wife) of Spirit Of Gaylard (NZ) (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) who was so tough to the line breaking through at stakes level at just his fourth outing.
Bred by Mr A.W Jones and Mrs E.W Morris and purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock with Mitchell Freedman for NZ$120,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale (Book 2), he is the third stakes winner for his Swettenham Stud-based sire who won three times at Group level.
He is the first foal for the multiple city winner White Dove (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) who was served last spring by War Decree (USA) having produced a filly by that same stallion in September.
White Dove is a granddaughter of the French Listed winner L'Extra Honor (USA) (Hero's Honor {USA}), dam of the G1 Sun Chariot S. winner Majestic Roi (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) who produced the German Champion 3-year-old Miler Noor Al Hawa (Fr) (Makfi {GB}).
L'Extra Honor's dam L'Extravagante (Can) (Le Fabuleux {Fr}) - daughter of the great mare Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) is also the fourth dam of last weekend's G1 Coolmore Stud S. winner Home Affairs (I Am Invincible).
Spirit Of Gaylard is the fourth stakes winner (from just 22 winners from 36 runners) combining the close relations Shamardal (USA) and Street Cry (Ire). He has a lovely 4 X 4 cross of the G1 Irish Oaks heroine Helen Street (GB) (Troy {GB}).
Listed MSS Security Plate, $175,000, 1200m
It is an impressive winning strike rate that Quantico (I Am Invincible) boasts, this success the sixth of his 10 start career.
Bred by Yarraman Park Stud, Mr J E Abrahams and Harry Mitchell, he was purchased by the China Horse Club, John O'Shea Racing and Boomber Bloodstock for $1.05 million at the 2018 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
The 67th stakes winner for his Yarraman Park-based sire, he is the third foal and second winner for the triple Listed winner Hoss Amour (General Nediym) who, in mid-August, produced a colt by Hellbent with her previous foal - a filly - also being by that Yarraman stallion.
Hoss Amour is a granddaughter of the triple Listed winner Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}) who also has amongst her descendants the stakes winners Celeris (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Star Of Bombay (Atlante) and Royal Rumble (New Approach {Ire}).
Quantico boasts a cross of the four-time Group winner Diableretta (GB) (Dante {GB}) whose grandam Mumtaz Begum (Fr) (Blenheim II {GB}) is the ancestress of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}).
