Launceston: G3 Ladbrokes Launceston Cup, $250,000, 2400m
Victorian raider Aurora's Symphony (Glass Harmonium {Ire}) proved a dominant winner of the G3 Launceston Cup, with the Symon Wilde-trained gelding breaking through for a deserved first stakes success.
A five-time winner before Wednesday, including a last-start victory in the Colac Cup, Aurora's Symphony was put into stakes class for the first time and measured up beautifully.
Harry Coffey put him in the perfect position to pounce and the 5-year-old delivered a strong finish to win by 1.5l from G3 Hobart Cup winner Ho Ho Khan (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), with another 0.5l back to the early leader The Risk Factor (The Factor {USA}) in third.
Wilde purchased the son of Glass Harmonium (Ire) from the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Blue Gum Farm and sold for $40,000.
Bred by a consortium headed by Rupert Legh, he is one of four winners by Aurora's Hot (Fantastic Light {USA}), the half-sister to G1 Sydney Cup winner Niwot (Galileo {Ire}).
Aurora's Hot produced a Highland Reel (Ire) colt last year and then visited Kermadec (NZ).
It’s the second year in a row that the progeny of now-pensioned Blue Gum Farm stallion Glass Harmonium have won the race, after Glass Warrior's win last year.
G3 Armidale Stud Vamos S., $150,000, 1400m
Take The Sit (Tough Speed {USA}) claimed back-to-back success in the G3 Vamos S. for the Bill Ryan stable, following in the footsteps of her illustrious former stablemate Still A Star (Toronado {Ire}).
Given a perfect ride by Brendon McCoull, Take The Sit broke her stakes duck in style, defeating the fast-finishing Estoril Park (Pride Of Dubai) by 1.5l, with her Leon and Troy Corstens stablemate Yes Baby Yes (Dissident) in third.
Take The Sit now takes her career record to seven wins from 18 starts, while she has now won over $236,000. That's an excellent return considering she cost Ryan just $16,000 when purchased from the 2018 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale, where she was offered by Armidale Stud.
She was bred by Armidale Stud, which stands her versatile sire Tough Speed (USA), now a producer of six stakes winners.
Her dam, Tula (Lago Delight), a sister to Listed Tasmanian Guineas winner Brainpower (Grand Royale {USA}), was a five-time winner on the track, but has just produced the one winner. Tula produced a brother to Take The Sit last year and then visited Alpine Eagle.
Listed Steve's Liquor Mowbray S., $125,000, 1600m
Former Singapore galloper Lim's Cruiser (Casino Prince) continued his Tasmanian renaissance, claiming the Listed Mowbray S. at Launceston in a thrilling finish.
The 9-year-old had won the Listed Tasmanian S. two starts back for trainer Scott Brunton and while he could only finish fourth in the Listed Thomas Lyons S. last time out, made amends when holding off his fast-finishing stablemate Mandela Effect (Turffontein) to register a 10th career win. The Ben and JD Hayes-trained Biometric (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) finished third.
Six of Lim's Cruiser's wins have been in stakes races, with four of those Singapore while he also competed with merit in Group 1 sprints in England in 2019.
His amazing career started with Gillian Heinrich on Brisbane having been purchased for $17,000 as a yearling at the 2014 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He was then sold to Mick Dittman for $100,000 through the Eliza Park draft at the 2015 Magic Millions National Racehorse Sale, heading to Singapore.
Bred by Patinack Farm, he is one of 21 stakes winners for Vinery Stud stallion Casino Prince. His dam, Hope Downs (Good Journey {USA}) has produced to winners and is the daughter of South African Grade 1 winner Battle Maiden (Zim) (Goldkeeper {USA}).
Pukekohe Park: Listed Grangewilliam Stud 'Derryn' Oaks Prelude, NZ$60,000, 1600m
Iffraaj (GB) filly Miss Ella (NZ) came out on top in the Listed 3-year-old filly’s race to snare her second win and first black type at her sixth start for Stephen Marsh with Michael McNab the winning jockey.
She defeated Outfit (NZ) (Tivaci) with Astern filly Miss Madison in third.
Bred by Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay from Zabeel (NZ) mare Miss Zenella (NZ), runner-up in the G1 Queensland Oaks, Miss Ella is the third of her siblings to post a win, and the first to record black type.
Her grand dam, Danehill (USA) mare Diamond Like (NZ) was a Listed winner and also placed at Group 1 level. Diamond Like is the daughter of Group 1-winning Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and the sister to Viking Ruler and Kempinsky as well as Chimeara, dam of Group 1-winning De Beers (NZ) (Quest For Fame {GB}).
Miss Zenella’s only foal since Miss Ella is by Almanzor (Fr) having slipped the year following Miss Ella.
