Believe the hype... Espiona returns

It is not often that a runaway winner of Australia's most famous race has to share the hype with a horse having just her second start, but that is exactly what happened during the 2021 Melbourne Cup Carnival when there was as much discussion about the Listed Desirable S. victory recorded by Espiona (Extreme Choice) as there was surrounding Verry Elleegant's (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) feature win!

On the back of a 3.5l Warwick Farm maiden victory, the Chris Waller-trained filly was odds-on despite the rise in grade she was facing on Oaks Day. Well and truly justifying the short quote, she travelled sweetly midfield for James McDonald before exploding to the lead and winning untouched by 6.5l

One of Saturday's highlights is her return in the G2 Light Fingers S. - a race named in honour of a mare she has a bit in common with.

Both horses started their career in explosive fashion - Light Fingers (NZ) (Le Filou {Fr}) defeated at debut but sensational winning her next four enroute to big-race success. And she had lovely female line-breeding as does Espiona who is one of the seven stakes winners whose pedigree combines Not A Single Doubt and Snippets; the former being a grandson of the terrific mare Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) whilst the latter is her son.

Espiona is part of the great early success story that is Extreme Choice (Not A Single Doubt), the G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Moir S. winner who did what his daughter attempts to do on Saturday - remaining undefeated after three starts.

Diamond D-Day

On the back of a determined and impressive debut victory at Caulfield on Boxing Day, Jacquinot (Rubick) has held early favouritism for the G1 Blue Diamond S., and after Saturday he may well be all the shorter in markets as he lines up as favourite in the G3 Blue Diamond (Colts and Geldings) Prelude.

The recent Cranbourne jump-out winner is one of the three homebred runners in the race which sees two $800,000 colts - Philosopher (Zoutar) and Counttheheadlights (I Am Invincible) take on three others who are already winners; Semillon (Shalaa {Ire}), Daumier (Epaulette) and Lofty Strike (the Snitzel son of the G1 Golden Slipper winner Overreach {Exceed And Excel})).

The fillies' division is trickier with the favourite Miss Roseiano (by Exceed And Excel from the prolific Eight Carat {GB} {Pieces Of Eight {Ire}} family) not nominated for the Blue Diamond S. with connections to decide on the $55,000 late nomination after Saturday's race.

That may change come Saturday evening however with the likes of Latizia (Capitalist), Revolutionary Miss (a Russian Revolution filly line-bred to that stallion's family), No Diggity (from the final crop of Sebring) and English Riviera (Deep Field) among those showing considerable early promise.

Also worth a look are the expensive fillies Satin Love (an $80,000 Snitzel) and Bonheur (a $975,000 I Am Invincible).

Orr-some beginnings: the first Australian Group 1 of 2022

In what looks to be the strongest running of the G1 CF Orr S. (a race that has often been won by stars of the turf...(Black Caviar {Bel Esprit}, Typhoon Tracy {Red Ransom {USA}}, Lonhro, Elvstroem, Saintly {Sky Chase {NZ}}, Let's Elope {NZ} {Nassipour {USA}}, Vo Rogue {Ivor Prince {USA}}, Manikato {Manihi}}) in a number of years, an exciting field of 12 has been assembled - half of whom are already winners at the elite level.

Including the very exciting I'm Thunderstruck (NZ) (Shocking) who kicked off his excellent spring campaign with a fast finishing and somewhat unlucky G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. third behind his Orr rival Sierra Sue (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).

The aptly named Behemoth (All Too Hard) (as a $6000 yearling, one of the great bargain stories of recent times) has the advantage of a run under his belt having been game in defeat in the Listed Durbridge S. first-up. Second-up last time in he won the G1 Memsie S. over this same trip at this track. Not far away that day was the star Perth mare Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) who kicks off for the Danny O'Brien stable.

Last year's winner Streets Of Avalon (Magnus) came through the G2 Australia S. which this year saw Sinawann (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) charge home for an eye-catching second... earning him favouritism here. And should he succeed he will become his Juddmonte-based sire's fifth Group 1 winner in a fourth country!

Metallicity unveiled

It may not be one of the weekend's features but the Pierro Plate, the opening race at Randwick on Saturday, is a race everyone will be watching as it kicks off the career of the much hyped Metallicity (Zoustar), a $340,000 Inglis Easter graduate who has been so impressive winning three trials for his big group of high-flying owners.

With a drool-worthy pedigree (inclusive of crosses of the great mares Natalma, Lalun, Flower Bowl and Best In Show) Metallicity has the breeding to shine at debut. His half-sister Catch Me (I Am Invincible) took out the G3 Gimcrack S. at her first start whilst his dam's stakes-winning half-sister Ocean Jewel (Ocean Park {NZ}) kicked off her career with metropolitan success.

It could be the start of a big day for the Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) clan (one also represented in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) by Miss Roseiano), this imposing colt being a great grandson of that famed matriarch's G1 Captain Cook S.-winning daughter Our Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA}).

In a race of bluebloods, there are a couple of million-dollar Not A Single Doubt (Redoute's Choice) colts wanting to keep Metallicity honest - Flashing Steel (a descendant of the wonderful mare Summoned) and Northern Beaches (half-brother to the G2 Todman S. winner Aylmerton).

Te Rapa double play

It's a big Group 1 day in New Zealand with Te Rapa hosting the Herbie Dyke S. and the BCD Group Sprint with both races providing for intriguing clashes between in-form gallopers.

A horse well known to Australian racing fans, The Chosen One (NZ) (Savabeel) looked to have a bit in hand recording his first Group 1 success in the Thorndon Mile first-up, a race in which he defeated Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) who is again his main Herbie Dyke rival having lost no fans with her strong finish having found some trouble early in the straight.

The BDC (formerly known as the Waikato) Sprint is a race that has really thrown up some stars - racegoers fondly remembering the back-to-back wins recorded by the mighty Sunline (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) while the likes of Te Akau Shark (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) and Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) have shone in recent years.

The race has also proven a breeding ground for stallion prospects having been won by the likes of Xtravagant (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Tavistock (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) and Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill {USA}).

No entires take their place this time around but it is still an exciting race with Levante (NZ) (Proisir) looking to make it two in a row on the back of her G1 Telegraph success whilst Entriviere (NZ) (by the 2010 winner Tavistock {NZ}) had plenty of excuses as a beaten odds-on favourite in that race.

Stars back on show

Well she is back, the reigning G1 Melbourne Cup heroine Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) for the third summer in a row kicking off her campaign in the G2 Apollo S., a race in which she was a strong finishing third last year, also picking up nicely late when fourth the year before.

She tackles a strong field where one of her rivals is Colette (Hallowed Crown) who attempts to become only the fourth horse (Winx {Street Cry {Ire}} the most recent) to win this race more than once.

At Caulfield the G3 Kevin Hayes S. sees the return of Argentia who - as a daughter of the mighty Frankel (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and the four-time Group 1 winner Princess Coup (Encosta De Lago) could easily lay claim to being one of the best-bred fillies in the country. Lame after her only spring outing, she was super winning at her Flemington debut last June.

A couple of high-class New Zealanders also create interest in Melbourne, the reigning New Zealand Horse Of The Year Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) having her first run (a deserved odds-on favourite in the G3 Bellmaine S) since her G1 W.S Cox Plate fifth while Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) makes his debut for the Danny O'Brien stable in the G3 T.S Carlyon Cup.

Meanwhile, of the eight sprinters contesting the G2 Rubiton S, six are resuming - including last year's G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Artorius (Flying Artie), the spring's G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel), the G3 Vain S. winner Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) and the up-and-comer Extreme Flight (Extreme Choice) who won three in a row before racing in tight room in the G1 Coolmore Stud S.

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Maximal, the three-quarter brother to Juddmonte Farms' undefeated superstar and now premier sire Frankel (GB) may have finished back in the field at his only start to date in Australia, but everything about the 4-year-old horse now points to a big and successful 2022 campaign.

Trainer John O’Shea made it clear that whatever Maximal puts on show at Royal Randwick on Saturday, his first start back in what is a planned extensive campaign, it will be only a glimpse of great stuff to come.

“He’s first-up and we’ve had a little look at him now,’’ said O’Shea. “We’re happy with the way he’s going.’’

Maximal is a dual Listed placegetter in Europe who finished fourth in the G1 St James' Palace S. His only run in Australia to date, in the Golden Eagle, was for a respectable sixth after drawing the outside barrier for his introduction to Australian racing.

“I think he’ll improve on whatever he does on Saturday,’’ O’Shea said. “He’s got a long campaign ahead of him. He'll go to the Chipping Norton in a couple of weeks and then we’ll see where we fit in.

“He’s a horse of good quality. If with a bit of racing he can adapt to Australian ways, I think he’s got a bit to offer.’’

Bowman buoyant

Maximal’s jockey for the Apollo S. Hugh Bowman also thinks very highly of the son of Oasis Dream (GB) mare Joyeuse (GB), the half-sister to European Group 1 stars, the undefeated Frankel, Bowness Stud-standing Bullet Train (GB), and Noble Mission (GB), a stallion that last year was added to the Japan Bloodstock Breeders' Association stallion roster for the 2021 season, a new recruit from Lane’s End, Kentucky.

Bowman rates the horse as potentially one of the sport’s next big things to be knocking on the door of Verry Elleegant (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) and Nature Strip (Nicconi) for number one rankings.

Sights set on sire status

And Gnarwarre-based Rosemont Stud, who shares an interest in Maximal with his breeder Juddmonte Farms, also the breeders of that star family of sires, are very excited on the eve of his run and big campaign.

Rosemont’s General Manager, Bloodstock, Ryan McEvoy, said Maximal was certainly bought with an end game of potentially being a stallion for the stud.

“He’s a horse that we did a lot of work and background with on his form and rating and we thought he would definitely measure up in Australia. His form is pretty undeniable from a European viewpoint,’’ McEvoy said.

“That form is certainly good enough to measure up here and clearly the pedigree is there. There’s some really appealing factors about him."

McEvoy said Maximal had continued to please the stable and getting him down to Australia for that first preparation was ultimately about acclimatising him.

“We had a shot at the Golden Eagle and he ran super I thought,’’ McEvoy said. “For a horse that was not long in the country and John had not had a lot of time to get to know the horse. He ran great and set up a great foundation for him to have a positive prep this time in.

“Expect to see a solid run (Saturday) and hopefully a run that is a bit of a flashing light for a second and third-up tilt at Group 1 level. He’s going to run really well but I think he’ll be really at his peak in the next four to six weeks. Once he gets to a mile I think we’ll see the best of him.’’

O’Shea said, so far, Maximal was doing everything right on that path to putting himself on a stallion roster and had a lovely demeanour to match his good looks.

“In terms of his strength and development, he is a magnificent specimen now whereas he was a bit wintery last season,” O’Shea said.

Maximal was up to 25kg heavier, had a real spring in his step and a glow to his coat. O’Shea said he would be best over a middle-distance and is likely to need a mile to be a winning chance at weight for age level.

The Apollo S. is his autumn launchpad rather than target race with the G1 Chipping Norton S. over 1600 metres in a fortnight the look to race for Maximal.

Lost And Running matures

Bowman also has talked up Per Incanto (USA) 5-year-old gelding Lost And Running (NZ) to be alongside Maximal at the door of Nature Strip and Verry Elleegant bidding to knock for the top spot in Australian racing. But O’Shea is not as confident that journey begins on Saturday in the G3 Southern Cross S. mainly due to carrying 61kg in the race.

“He’s first-up. He’s got 61kg but we’re happy enough with him,’’ said O’Shea. “He’s had a good foundation. We think he’s finally matured and we’re very happy with where he’s at.’’

Lost And Running, from Danroad mare Dreamlife (NZ), will at very least get a good run on Saturday from barrier five and is expected to be significantly further forward than what he normally is, said O’Shea.

“He can be competitive. The impediment of the weight is probably going to be enough to make it difficult for him to win but we are really happy with where he’s at and he will run very well.”

The Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale graduate from the Blandford Lodge draft was purchased for $40,000 and has earnings of over $2.2 million, significantly bolstered by $1 million for his fourth placing in The Everest behind Nature Strip, and a win in the million-dollar The Hunter at his last start. He has trialled strongly twice in recent weeks.

Lost And Running has both a full sister and full brother, the colt being sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale in 2020 to Tartan Meadow Bloodstock for NZ$210,000.

Filly goes for four straight

Exciting 3-year-old filly Jal Lei (Sebring) steps up to stakes grade on Saturday in the G2 Light Fingers S. as she bids to extend her winning streak to four in a row.

The Segenhoe-bred filly out of Exceed And Excel mare Lesley’s Choice has impressed in her four starts to not be out of the placings and O’Shea rates her as a “nice filly’’.

“She has a good record and is stepping up to stakes grade on Saturday so it will be good to see how she fares,’’ he said.

Jal Lei, a $180,000 Inglis Easter graduate has a full sister, Vivid Fortress, now with Mitchell Bloodstock having been retired with two wins to her name, and a half-sister by Russian Revolution, Bochkareva, was bought last year by Edmonds Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000.

Chad Schofield, who with wife Hannah welcomed baby boy Archer into the world this week, has the ride on Jal Lei.

“I used him when he was just out of his time,’’ O’Shea said of Schofield. “He rode for me when I was at Godolphin and rode for us in Melbourne and I always found Chad to be a very competent rider. He’s doing a good job and working hard.’’

O’Shea was expecting to be competitive across the autumn and wasn’t at all drawn into comment about horses in other stables.

“We just keep rowing our own boat,’’ he said.

Cover Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

The Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Mr Mozart, a winner of last spring’s Listed Exford Plate, will contest a competitive edition of the G2 Rubiton S., which features G1 Blue Diamond S. hero Artorius (Flying Artie), well-related colt Oxley Road (Exceed And Excel) and the exciting Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Marine One (Capitalist).

While Mr Mozart is being set for mile features this preparation, victory on Saturday would come as no surprise to Jamieson Park’s Stud Manager Sam Munro if the 3-year-old can replicate his first-up fourth behind fellow rival Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) at this track and trip, 1100 metres, last campaign.

“He’s had a couple of nice jump-outs and the stable thinks he’s forward enough to front up,” Munro told TDN AusNZ. “He’s beaten the (current) favourite Artorius when he won his stakes race at Flemington, but it really does depend on just how forward he is on Saturday.

“He holds nominations for the (G1) Australian Guineas and some other big races throughout the Championships (G1 Doncaster Mile and G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint) and with the way the Hawkeses go about things, they’ll determine where he goes based on his early performances.”

Mr Mozart, the first foal out the former Team Hawkes-trained G3 Ladies' Day Vase-winning, dual Group 2-placed Euro Angel (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) was never destined for sales ring despite his enviable pedigree and outstanding physical attributes.

“We’re part-owners (managing) of Mr Mozart and the plan with the partnership that raced the mare (Euro Angel) was always to breed from her and race the progeny as she is a very well-bred mare,” Munro said.

“He was always a nice horse, there’s so much strength in that family, she’s from a top-class European family and had exceptional ability herself, so with him being her first foal she’s a very exciting broodmare.”

Euro Angel, a winner of three career starts up to 1600 metres, is out of the New Zealand Listed-winning, G1 Champions Mile-placed Polish Princess (GB) (Polish Precedent {USA}), making her a half-sister to the dual G2 Hollindale S. winner Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), the G2 Tulloch S.-winning, G1 Australian Derby-placed Polish Knight (NZ) (Encosta De Lago) and the dual Hong Kong Group 3 winner Zebrowski (NZ) (Savabeel), who was placed second in the G1 Australian Derby before his departure last year.

A host of European stakes-performers feature throughout Euro Angel’s pedigree as does dual Australian Group 1 winner turned Widden Stud stallion Russian Camelot (Ire).

Euro Angel foaled a sister to Mr Mozart in 2019, Angel Flight, who has since joined the Hawkes stable and is showing nice ability during her education, according to Munro.

“On type she’s a bit shorter coupled and stronger, not quite as tall as Mr Mozart; but Euro Angel also has an outstanding weanling colt by Pierro and is back in foal to Snitzel,” Munro said.

“When going to Pierro (for her third cover) we wanted to try something different and wanted to go to a proven stallion, it’s a good mating on paper and with the way she’s (Euro Angel) bred if he (the weanling Pierro colt) can develop into a good horse he’s a stallion prospect that is an outcross.”

Strong draft for Jamieson Park

The resumption of the Jamieson Park-bred G1 Railway S. heroine Inspirational Girl in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr S. couldn’t have come at a better time for the farm, with the Bob Peters-owned mare's half-sister, a filly by The Oaks shuttle stallion U S Navy Flag (USA), set to go through its draft at next month’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Sale.

Lot 116 is the final foal out of Be Inspired (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), as the decision was made to retire the dam of Inspirational Girl, and Listed winner Ruettiger (Duporth) and the Group 3-placed Brookspire (NZ) (Hinchinbrook) after she failed to get into foal for the fourth time in five years this season.

Munro said the filly is a lovely type and that he is impressed with how U S Navy Flag has stamped his first Southern Hemisphere crop.

“He was a very good, tough racehorse who had numerous starts as a 2-year-old, we liked the War Front-line, and he has a good middle-distance pedigree,” Munro said.

Jamieson Park will be represented by a further 13 yearlings at the New Zealand Bloodstock Sale, eight fillies and five colts, most notably Lot 11 a filly by I Am Invincible out of G1 Thorndon Mile winner Thee Auld Floozie (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Munro is also excited by what awaits Lot 516, a ‘lovely’ Pierro filly out of the well-related Redoute’s Choice mare Rare Delight, herself a sister to the dam of G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Booker (Written Tycoon) and Listed winner turned Waikato Stud stallion Banquo.

“She (Lot 11) is the standout in our draft on pedigree, she’s out of a good tough mare, and with Thee Auld Floozie being by Mastercraftsman this filly is bred on the same cross as Loving Gaby,” Munro said.

“I really think Rare Delight is going to be quite a good broodmare, she is by Redoute’s Choice and Pierro’s out of Redoute’s mares has a 20 per cent stakes winners to runners.”

Jamieson Park will offer a colt by first-crop sire Ardrossan, who they raced in partnership with Waikato Stud along with a filly from the first crop of G1 Australian Derby hero Ace High (NZ).

Munro has solid expectations of what could await Lot 316, Ardrossan out of Indian Sky (Stravinsky {USA}), at the Karaka complex after the first two yearlings by Ardrossan offered at public auction brought $170,000 and $70,000 at the recently completed Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

The G3 Concorde S.-winning, G1 Waikato Sprint-placed son of Redoute’s Choice, who has stood at just NZ$3000 plus GST thus far, has seen a significant pedigree update since being retired to stud, with his half-brother Incentivise (Shamus Award) bursting onto the scene last year via three Group 1 victories and a second-placing in the G1 Melbourne Cup.

“He (Ardrossan) has thrown some lovely types, and this colt is no different, he’s an imposing stallion and upgrades the five to six mares we send him each year,” Munro said.

“He is one of the more dominant stallions we send our mares to, he was a very talented racehorse, and we think he’s a smokey chance of being a very good sire in the future.”

Munro is confident that the National Yearling Sale can ride the coattails of the booming Australian market despite the likelihood that international buyers won’t be on the ground at Karaka due to New Zealand’s stringent COVID protocols.

He said the quality of the New Zealand thoroughbred combined with their success on Australian shores will see trans-Tasman buyers active online and through local agents.

“Last year with COVID we weren’t sure what was happening, so we sent the bulk of our horses to Australia but this year we are keeping a big draft at home,” Munro said.

“We are really supporting the Karaka Sale as people are now used to buying horses online and I can’t see why it won’t be a strong Sale.”