Daily News Wrap

7 min read

See You In Heaven shines at Morphettville

See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) completed a treble of stakes wins this season with a dominant performance in the G3 Breeders’ S. at Morphettville on Saturday.

Previously the winner of the G3 Ottawa S. at Flemington and the Listed Dequetteville S. at Morphettville, the talented 2-year-old lived up to her hot favouritism with another emphatic 1.9l victory on Saturday.

“I always get nervous when they’re short odds like that, but it was a relief to see how well she did,” co-trainer Richard Jolly said.

See You In Heaven, winner of the G3 Breeders' S. at Morphettville | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“We’ll either keep her for the (South Australian) Sires’ Produce or the National Stakes. I’d like to think that she’d run a mile and we’d get her to the Thousand Guineas, which would be a target.”

See You In Heaven capped a Saturday metropolitan double for Aquis Canungra stallion Divine Prophet, who also sired Eagle Farm winner Three Wise Men.

Undefeated Illation steps up

Exciting colt Illation (So You Think {NZ}) stepped up to stakes level in style in Saturday’s Listed HC Nitchske S. at Morphettville.

An easy 4.5l winner of his only previous start, the 3-year-old faced a stiffer test on Saturday but took it in his stride, charging away to win by 3.8l.

Illation, winner of the Listed HC Nitchske S. at Morphettville | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“He’s bred to be a 2000-metre horse, so he is a really, really promising colt and the question now is what to do with him next,” co-trainer Mick Price said. “The Cox Plate is the dream, I’d put a circle around that race.

“We’ll be setting some good plans for his spring in his 4-year-old year. I thought this might not be the most suitable race for him from barrier one, but you saw his turn of foot to get him out of jail and that’s what we were hoping for.”

Goodwood goal for Regardsmaree

Illation's sire So You Think (NZ) also struck black-type success at Sandown on Saturday, with the Listed Ladbrokes Anniversary Vase set to be a springboard into the G1 The Goodwood H. at Morphettville for impressive winner Regardsmaree.

Also successful in the VOBIS Gold Sprint at Caulfield last Saturday, the 5-year-old gelding is now an eight-time winner from 27 career starts.

So You Think (NZ) | Standing at Coolmore

“Obviously, we wouldn’t have run him today if we didn’t think he was well, but he was hard-fit, and we might have an exciting three weeks as we might keep him fresh go to Adelaide,” trainer Nick Ryan said.

Regardsmaree became So You Think's 40th individual stakes winner.

O'Shea targets The Big Dance

Trainer John O’Shea has his sights set on Sydney’s latest pop-up race for Kirwan’s Lane (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), who surged to a hard-fought victory in the G3 Richmond Club Hawkesbury Cup on Saturday.

O’Shea will aim the 5-year-old gelding towards the $2 million The Big Dance at Randwick in the spring, aiming to qualify via next month’s Scone Cup.

Kirwan's Lane (NZ), winner of the G3 Hawkesbury Cup | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“We are going to Scone, and hopefully we can run one-two there and get into The Big Dance,” O’Shea said. “We really look forward to participating in that race on Melbourne Cup Day.

“I don’t think he was overly comfortable in the ground today, but he goes good enough to get through it. He has a great second-up record, loves a mile and loves Tom Sherry (jockey).”

Tycoonist masters the conditions

The Heavy track at Hawkesbury was a major concern for the Chris Waller stable as Tycoonist (Written Tycoon) stepped up to stakes level in Saturday’s Listed Hawkesbury XXXX Gold Rush, but the 4-year-old handled conditions with aplomb.

Ridden by Chad Schofield, Tycoonist won by 0.43l in his first start in a black-type race. He has now had 22 starts for five wins and 10 placings.

Tycoonist, winner of the Listed Hawkesbury Gold Rush | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

“We were slightly concerned the track might have been too Heavy,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said. “While his stats on a Heavy surface look really good, they were at a lower level and a weaker grade.

“We were certainly concerned when the rain fell this morning, but he seemed to get through it well.”

Upstart share for US$450,000

Offered as the final lot at Friday's Keeneland April Horses of Racing Age Sale in Lexington, a share (2.5% fractional interest) in Airdrie Stud's Upstart (USA) was hammered down for US$450,000 ($636,000) to Mike Freeny, who operates Dunquin Farm in nearby Paris, Kentucky, with his wife Pat.

The Upstart share was the second-priciest offering at the sale. The Taylor Made-sales consigned lot 23, recent Carousel S. winner Acting Out (USA), fetched $600,000 ($850,000) from Will and Sarah Farish.

Bold Derby audition from Jungle Magnate

Jungle Magnate (NZ) became the second stakes winner for Westbury Stud stallion Tarzino (NZ) with a strong come-from-behind performance in Saturday’s G3 Chairman’s S. at Morphettville.

Previously a third placegetter in the G2 Moonee Valley Vase in the spring, the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained 3-year-old has now emerged as a key contender for the G1 South Australian Derby on May 14.

“We’re buying the Tarzinos,” said Price, who trained Tarzino himself to win the Victoria Derby and Rosehill Guineas.

Jungle Magnate (NZ), winner of the G3 Chairman's S. at Morphettville | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

“We know the breed. They are tough horses. They are good-boned horses. They have scope, good size and strength about them, and he is doing a good job, that stallion. They make very good Derby and Oaks types.

“This horse will be back for the South Australian Derby. I think he’ll get the distance, and let’s hope he can win.”

Exo Lady takes Dalrello

Consistent performer Exo Lady (Exosphere) upstaged the hot favourite Steady Ready (Better Than Ready) in Saturday’s Listed Treasury Brisbane Dalrello S. at Eagle Farm, collecting the fourth win of a career that spans only five starts.

Given a front-running ride by Jim Byrne for trainer Desleigh Forster, Exo Lady kept finding more and more in the straight and edged out Steady Ready by 0.2l in a tight finish.

Exo Lady, winner of the Listed Dalrello S. at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally

“The really good thing about it was when that horse came up to her today, she kicked and found more,” Forster said. “She is just a little bombproof filly. She switches off and just does what she needs to do.”

Agreeable win a boost for Freedmans

A first-up victory at Sandown on Saturday by Agreeable (Sebring) provided a timely boost for the Freedman family.

The 4-year-old mare is trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman. The family is grieving the sad loss during the week of Lee, Anthony, Richard and Michael Freedman’s mother Del.

“The Freedmans have had a bit of devastation this week with Anthony and the boys’ mum passing away yesterday,” said Rod Douglas, racing manager for owner Pinecliff Racing’s Jonathan Munz.

“It’s a bit of a sombre time for them, but hopefully this puts a cheer on their face.”

Bonny Lass brilliant in Breeders’ S.

Quality filly Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) produced a mighty performance to overcome a wide gate and win Saturday’s G3 Inglis Sales Cambridge Breeders’ S. at Te Rapa.

Ridden by Craig Grylls for trainers Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall, Bonny Lass was trapped three wide all the way but still summoned a sprint in the straight, surging to the lead and holding out the fast-finishing Wairau Cove (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) by 1.25l.

“All I could think was that if she won from the trip she had had, then she is a very special filly,” Richardson said.

Bonny Lass (NZ), winner of the G3 Breeders' S. at Te Rapa | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk

“We know she was tough, but that was beyond expectations really. She stuck it out when she had every reason to throw it away, so we are very proud of her.”

Richardson has a long-range target of the G1 Railway S. on New Year’s Day for Bonny Lass, who has now had 10 starts for five wins and three placings. She had previously won the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. as a 2-year-old last season, along with placings in the G1 Sistema S. and Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.

Daily News Wrap