Morphettville: G3 R N Irwin S., $127,250, 1100m
It can be very disappointing when a mare doesn't go in foal but it looks to have been a blessing in disguise for Bella Vella (Commands) who on the back of this success can have another crack at the G1 Robert Sangster S. - a race which she won two years ago.
Bred by Mr G Watson, Bella Vella has been to stud twice without success - in 2019 served by Criterion (NZ) (Sebring) and last spring by I Am Invincible (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Making her way through the sales ring on two occasions, she was purchased for $100,000 by Paul Moroney at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and for $1,900,000 by Rosemont Stud at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.
One of her late sire's 80 stakes winners, she is out of the imported mare Forget The Weather (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}) whose stakes-placed dam Wedded Bliss (USA) (His Majesty {USA}) produced three stakes winners - Wedlock (USA) (Maria's Mon {USA}), Ever After (USA) (Kris S {USA}) and Extrovert (USA) (Wild Again {USA}).
Served last spring by Hanseatic (Street Boss {USA}), Forget The Weather produced a Zousain (Zoustar) colt in October with her previous foal being a colt by Churchill (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}). She also has a yet to race 2-year-old filly - Explosive Weather (Shooting To Win) - in the Brian and Ashley McKnight stable.
Listed Redelva S., $107,250, 1100m
Having been twice stakes-placed this time in, it was a deserved Listed breakthrough for Champagne Dreams (Reward For Effort) who has won four of her 10 starts.
Bred by Marant Group Holdings and purchased for just $15,000 by Finniss Lodge at the 2020 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale, Champagne Dreams is the 10th stakes winner for her late G1 Blue Diamond S.-winning sire.
Her dam is the placed Katella Bubbles (Johannesburg {USA}) whose first four foals have all made it to the track - all being winners, between them winning 18 races.
Served last spring by I Am Immortal (I Am Invincible) having missed the previous season, Katella Bubbles - whose third dam Night Off (GB) (Narrator {Ire}) won the G1 English 1000 Guineas - has a yearling colt by Holler (Commands).
Champagne Dreams carries a cross of the terrific broodmare Sans Tares (GB) (Sind {GB}) via her sons Wilkes (Fr) (Court Martial {GB}) and Worden II (Fr) (Wild Risk {Fr}).
Caulfield: Listed Bel Esprit S., $160,000, 1100m
It's onwards and upwards for the exciting Extreme Warrior (Extreme Choice) who was dominant at his first run since the spring.
One of the seven stakes winners from just 24 runners for his G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Moir S.-winning, Newgate Farm-based sire whose service fee has been increased to $275,000 (inc GST) this spring. Extreme Warrior is a half-brother to the Listed winner Thrillster (Starspangledbanner) out of a winning granddaughter of the dual Group winner Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}).
Bred by Winjana Park and purchased by Mick Price Racing and Dermot Farrington for $160,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Extreme Warrior is out of the winner Heart Of Thrills (Show A Heart).
Hailing from the family of Hong Kong Group 1 winner All Thrills Too (St Covet), she foaled a Written Tycoon (Iglesia) colt last September having had the previous season off. Her $1.2 million (Inglis Easter) 2-year-old Skidamarink (I Am Invincible) is a member of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable.
Extreme Warrior carries a 4 X 4 Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}) cross as well as duplications of Nijinsky II (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and Bletchingly (Biscay).
Doomben: Listed Princess S., $130,000, 1640m
Yet to miss a placing, the talented and consistent Canadian Dancer (Vancouver) relished the step up to the mile with this easy win.
Bred by Phoenix Thoroughbred (11) Ltd and purchased by Proven Thoroughbreds with Steve O'Dea Racing for $50,000 at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, she is the ninth stakes winner for her G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sire who relocates to Woodside Park, Victoria this spring.
Her dam is the imported mare Kicker (USA) (Hard Spun {USA}) whose stakes-winning dam Tenga (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) also produced the G1 Secretariat S. winner Startac (USA) (Theatrical {USA}).
Fellow Group 1 winner Harmonious (USA) (Dynaformer {USA}) also hails from this very strong international family. Producing just one foal - an Invader (Snitzel) colt who was sold online for just $1000 - since producing Canadian Dancer, Kicker is also dam of the two-time winner Irish Ring Kicker (Sebring).
Kicker's sire Hard Spun (USA) is bred on the same Danzig (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can})/Roberto (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}) cross as Vancouver's (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) dam.
Listed Mick Dittman Plate, $130,000, 1110m
What a lovely record the promising Rubiquitous (Rubick) is building, his first stakes success coming at his ninth start - it being his fourth win overall.
Bred by Stallion Racing Australia Pty Ltd and purchased for $35,000 by Chris Anderson Racing with Steve Morley Bloodstock at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Rubiquitous is the fourth stakes winner for his dual Group-winning, Swettenham Stud-based sire.
His dam is the city-placed, three-time winner Novaspirit (Bel Esprit) whose first three foals - all by Rubick (Encosta De Lago) are all winners including the stakes-placed One Shy Ruby.
Served last spring by Headwater (Exceed And Excel), she has another colt and filly by Rubick coming through with her yearling son purchased for $160,000 by Curtis Racing Stables at the recent Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
One of five winners for her dam Nova Gen (General Nediym), Novaspirit is a granddaughter of the stakes-placed Novajinsky (Celestial Dancer {Ire}) from the family of Listed Caloundra Cup winner King Latarmiss (Latarmiss {Ire}).
Listed Tails S., $130,000, 1640m
It was good to see last year’s G1 Queensland Derby winner Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) back in winning form here. Bred by Dr C.R Phillips, he was purchased by Mulcaster Bloodstock for NZ$130,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
One of the 27 stakes winners for his former shuttling sire, he is a half-brother to the G3 Keith Nolan Classic winner Cameo (Shamardal {USA}) out of the imported winner Portrait Of A Lady (USA) (A.P Indy {USA}) - half-sister to the G3 Prix de Cabourg winner Layman (USA) (Sunday Silence {USA}).
Served last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), she was previously in New Zealand with her yearling being a filly by Ocean Park (NZ) (Thorn Park).
Kukeracha is bred on a 6 X 4 cross of the wonderful mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Sadler’s Wells (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and son Nureyev (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
