Frank Meduri named NSW Breeder of the Year
In conjunction with the New South Wales Racehorse Owners’ Association, the Australian Turf Club hosted the 2021 Thoroughbred Breeders New South Wales annual awards on Villiers S. day at Randwick on Saturday.
The event was a great way for New South Wales industry participants to see out the year, and the awards once again showcased how many of Australia’s leading thoroughbred champions are sourced from the state’s prime breeding regions.
The NSW President’s Breeder of the Year Award, sponsored by Carrazzo Consulting, went to Frank Meduri – breeder of G1 Newmarket H. winner Zoutori (Zoustar) and his Group 3-winning full sister Kiku (Zoustar).
Gallery: A few photos of the TBNSW Award acceptors
HQ Insurance Champion NSW Sire was Yarraman Park’s superstar I Am Invincible, who sired 208 winners of 335 races from just 358 runners in the last racing season. The Horsepower NSW Champion First Season Sire was Newgate’s Extreme Choice, who had a remarkable 24 per cent stakes winners to runners, headed by Golden Slipper hero Stay Inside.
The G1 Goldmine NSW Champion Broodmare of the Year was Retsina (Redoute’s Choice), dam of G1 Canterbury S. winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) and multiple stakes winner Athiri (Lonhro).
Half-brother to Villiers winner at Inglis Classic
A half-brother to Saturday’s impressive G2 The Agency Villiers S. winner Brutality (Shamus Award) will be offered at the 2022 Inglis Classic Sale.
Brutality’s dam Star Salute (General Nediym), whose three foals to race have all been winners, has a colt by Russian Revolution in the HP Thoroughbreds draft, set to go through the ring as Lot 267 during the Inglis Classic Sale at Riverside Stables in February.
Second winner for Russian Revolution
Newgate Farm stallion Russian Revolution sired his second winner when Rise Of The Masses made a winning debut in Saturday’s Festive Season 2YO Maiden H. at Kembla Grange.
The high-class son of Snitzel has now had two winners from six runners among his first crop of 2-year-olds. He is set to play a big part in next month’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, with 39 yearlings in the catalogue.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Rise Of The Masses is raced by his breeder Go Bloodstock. He is out of Ruud Awakening (Bernardini {USA}), who won the G1 Diamond S. and the Restricted Listed Karaka Million. She is the dam of two winners from two foals to race.
Gateway to the Stradbroke for Apache Chase
All roads lead to the G1 Stradbroke H. next June for Apache Chase (Better Than Ready), who was a superb winner of Saturday’s $250,000 Roku Gin The Gateway at Eagle Farm.
Ridden by Jim Byrne, the talented 4-year-old was on another level to his opposition and charged to victory by 2.5l.
Bought for $50,000 from Eureka Stud’s draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Apache Chase has now won eight of his 18 starts and more than $1.3 million.
He won the G3 Fred Best Classic in May before finishing outside the placings in his first tilt at the Stradbroke, and he has been in exceptional form this spring with three wins and a fourth in the $7.5 million Golden Eagle from only four appearances.
“He’s a star,” Forster said. “They think they’re going to serve it up to him, and it is going to bring him undone.
“He’s a totally different horse now (to last season’s Stradbroke), and we’ve spent a long time trying to get him to relax. He’s relaxing now and he’s just a nice horse, Jimmy loves him and he’s got a good opinion of him.”
Another Group win for Rockstar
Not even a 60-kilogram topweight was enough to stop the well-related Packing Rockstar (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) in Saturday’s G3 J Swap Sprint at Te Rapa.
Previously the winner of five of his 16 starts including the G2 Japan Trophy at Tauranga in March, the 6-year-old gelding held sway against a talented field on Saturday with Leith Innes in the saddle.
“That was so awesome and I’m just so happy about it,” trainer and part-owner Lauren Brennan said. “He obviously likes freewheeling out in front, he can’t be interfered with and doesn’t over-race. Leith (Innes) rated him beautifully and they just couldn’t catch him, even with the 60 kilograms.
“This is a real family affair with this horse, with our daughter Kate helping us at home while Mickey (husband) drives the truck and helps out as well.”
By star sire Fastnet Rock, Packing Rockstar is out of Anabandana (Anabaa {USA}), who was New Zealand’s champion 2-year-old in 2010-11 with victories in the G1 Diamond S. and Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
Packing Rockstar is now set to target the G1 Railway S. at Ellerslie on New Year’s Day.
Group 1 targets for Mileva
Trainer Phillip Stokes has Group 1 goals in mind for Mileva (Headwater) after a stylish 1l win in the Listed Kensington S. at Flemington on Saturday.
The 4-year-old mare has now won six of her 12 starts and has been in particularly strong form since joining the Stokes stable this spring. From just three starts from her new base, she has won the Listed Alinghi S., placed in the G3 Begonia Belle S. and won the Kensington S.
Mileva wins the Listed Kensington S. | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“The team at home have done a great job with this mare, she loves the space between runs,” Stokes said. “She’s a mad fresh horse and spends most of her time up at our farm and just ticks over up there on the hill track and in the pool. We don’t jump her out between runs, she doesn’t need it. She’s very clean-winded, and that’s the key to her.
“We’ll keep her ticking over and look towards the Oakleigh Plate in February and then maybe on to a Robert Sangster.”
Special Reward breaks drought
Winless in 12 starts dating back to March 2020, Special Reward (Demerit) broke the drought with a 0.5l win in the Listed Fujitsu General Razor Sharp H. at Randwick on Saturday.
“That was a really good ride from Glyn (Schofield),” trainer Kris Lees said. “He’s got a stack of ability, he always has, but he’s been out of the winner’s circle for a long time.
Special Reward winning the Listed Razor Sharp H. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“I stressed today to try and not expose him until he really had to. He had a lapful of horse coming to the corner, so he didn’t have too long to think about it.
“He’s starting to get back down to his right weight and was able to get back to form.”
Special Reward has now won nine races and more than $1 million in stakes from 27 starts. He races in the colours of Australian Bloodstock, which were also carried to stakes success across the Tasman by unbeaten 2-year-old filly Wolverine (NZ) (Tivaci) in the G2 Hiddenbed Wakefield Challenge S. at Te Rapa.
Chester Manifold target for import
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace are targeting the Listed Chester Manifold S. on New Year’s Day with Lighthouse (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}) after a strong win at Flemington on Saturday.
The 5-year-old mare scored by 0.75l and is now unbeaten in three Australian starts, having previously won races at Kyneton and Ballarat last month.
Lighthouse began her career in the US, where she won three races including the Listed Music City S. at Kentucky Downs.
“The plan after Ballarat was this race and then the Chester Manifold, but we’ll have a chat to the guys back in America and thank them for sending her over,” Eustace said. “It’s great to win again, but black type is the plan.”
Bagot beckons Seawhatyouthink
A win in Saturday’s Vale Mahogany H. at Flemington has Seawhatyouthink (Fr) (So You Think {NZ}) on target for the Listed Bagot H. on New Year’s Day.
Trained by Matthew Williams for OTI Racing, the 6-year-old gelding has won four of his nine starts to date.
“He was nice and genuine right through the line today,” Williams said. “I think he’s still learning a little bit, he’s lightly raced and first time out to 2500, so he should take a little bit of benefit off that. We might have a look at a race like Bagot now.
“He did a tendon overseas and a few of the OTI horses have come out and done their rehab here through Andrew Cust at home. We got him up nearly to race and the tendon just flared up on us again, so we backed right off and gave him another good break and rehab program. He’s got some very very patient owners who certainly deserve the win today. This preparation he’s been lovely and sound, couldn’t be happier with him, he’s just a nice staying horse.”
Mightybeel too strong
Consistent stayer Mightybeel (NZ) (Savabeel) claimed a deserved black-type reward in Saturday’s Listed Egroup Security Christmas Cup at Randwick.
Racing in the colours of New Zealand syndicators Go Racing, the 4-year-old gelding has had 13 starts for five wins and four second placings. He was runner-up in the Listed ATC Cup at Rosehill two weeks ago.
Mightybeel (NZ) (white cap) wins the Listed Christmas Cup | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He certainly has been a good performer this preparation,” trainer Chris Waller said. “He’s just had a bit of time to strengthen up, and the New Zealand horses seem to come into their own once they do mature.
“A nice Hugh Bowman ride didn’t go astray, that was a 10-out-of-10 performance from him, and it makes it a bit easier when they ride them like that.
“I haven’t thought too much into where he heads next, today was the first time over 2400 metres. Now that he’s ticked that box, we’ll look at something similar no doubt in the next few weeks.”
O'Hara suspended
Jockey Kathy O’Hara was suspended for careless riding aboard Capital Elle (Capitalist) in the Inglis Nursery at Randwick on Saturday.
O’Hara pleaded guilty to the charge, and her suspension will run from Thursday through to New Year’s Eve.
