G2 Lee Steere S., $250,000, 1400m
Winning a stakes race each year for the last three years, Massimo (Sessions) has proven a wonderful horse for connections with this latest success being his ninth from 27 starts.
It was a deserved win on the back of two brave seconds this time in for the Oakland Park Stud-bred 5-year-old whose sire is a G2 Shorts-winning son of Lonhro.
To date the sole stakes winner for his sire, Massimo is the penultimate foal produced by the stakes-placed dual city winner Highest (Marscay) who has also produced the metropolitan winners He's A Moral (Not A Single Doubt), Onya Head (Helmet) and Altitude (Danzero), who is turn dam of the G1 Golden Rose S. winner Exosphere (Lonhro).
Highest is a daughter of the Listed winner Consular Belle (Can) (Pro Consul {Can}), also dam of the stakes winners Vibrant Virgo (Zabeleta {USA}) and Tell Me Straight (Is It True {USA}) and ancestress of stakes winners Impressing Matters (Viscount), War Room (War Chant {USA}), Genuine Girl (Is It True {USA}) and Destino (Bletchley Park {Ire}).
Bred on a 5 X 3 cross of Biscay (Star Kingdom {Ire}), Massimo is also line-bred to his own family, being a descendant of the influential Frizette (USA) (Hamburg {USA}) whose most famous descendant Mr Prospector (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}) features in Lonhro's pedigree.
Listed Fairetha S., $125,000, 1400m
Newgate Stud's Winning Rupert became the third son of Written Tycoon (Iglesia) to sire a stakes winner when this lightly raced and promising 3-year-old raced away to an easy victory - his third success from just four starts.
Bred in New South Wales by SF Bloodstock and purchased by trainer Simon Miller for $80,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, It'sarayday is one of seven winners (from as many foals) for the imported Wild Soiree (USA) (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}).
Recently foaling a colt by Tassort having produced a Super One filly last spring, Wild Soiree - also dam of the multiple city winner Federal Court by Star Witness - is a half-sister to the G3 Vanity S. winner Musidora (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), dam of the Group 3 winners Tulip (Pierro) and Sacred Eye (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Wild Soiree's grandam is the multiple stakes winner Grand Luxe (Can) (Sir Ivor {USA}) who has carried on the fine work set by her high-achieving dam Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}); her descendants including the big-race winners Flying Spur (Danehill {USA}), Encosta De Lago (Fairy King {USA}), Aube Indienne (Fr) (Bluebird {USA}), Erupt (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), Pear Tart (Dehere {USA}), I Am A Star (I Am Invincible), Hi Happy (Arg) (Pure Prize {USA}), Hinz (Arg) (Pure Prize {USA}) and Hispanidad (Arg) (Pure Prize {USA}).
It was a good day for Winning Rupert's breeder Jeff Cullen of Wicklow Lodge who cheered home Tycoon Evie (Written Tycoon) in the last race at Eagle Farm; she being a full sister to Winning Rupert.
