Eagle Farm: G1 XXXX Doomben Cup, $1,000,000, 2100m
The best of a brilliant day at Eagle Farm for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden, and following their victory in the previous race (the G2 Sires' Produce S.), Huetor (Fr) (Archipenko {USA}) nipped up the inside rail to overturn short-priced favourite Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) and claim victory in the G1 Doomben Cup.
Huetor made his first stakes victory a Group 1, his previous best being a fourth in the G2 GCTC AD Hollindale S. As a lightly raced 5-year-old he now has an impressive tally of six wins for 16 starts, amassing just shy of $900,000 in prizemoney.
He has put himself amongst one of six Group 1 winners for Archipenko, and makes up his 25th stakes winner.
Unsurprisingly, given that he was imported from France, Heutor's pedigree is almost exclusively European. He is out of the Peintre Celebre (USA) mare, Briviesca (GB). Impressively for the dam, this is not the first Group 1 winner she has produced; Those honours go to Villa Marina (GB) (Le Havre {Fr}) who won the G1 Prix de l'Opera at Paris Longchamp.
Briviesca has a trio of Listed victories to her name and is from the family of Madame Chiang (GB), a Group 1 winner who is also by Archipenko.
G1 Queensland Derby, $1,000,000, 2400m
Jumping from barrier 17 of 18 was no hindrance to Pinarello (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who held on in The Derby to show all the class you'd expect from a horse named after the 15-time Tour de France winning Italian bicycle manufacturer.
Respected in the market after his last-start win in the G2 Auckland TR Championship S., he handled the step up in trip well and held on to become Tavistock's ninth Group 1 winner.
His dam, Zonza (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), has produced three stakes winners from her four progeny to race, the others being Listed winner Bavella (Snitzel) and G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. winner Vernazza (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Pinarello is a homebred for the Lindsay family and under his dam follows a 2-year-old full sister yet to race. Zonza was covered last year by Bivouac, having missed the previous season.
G1 TAB Kingsford-Smith Cup, $700,000, 1300m
Having disappointed in his last attempt at this grade, when running in the 2021 G1 BRC Stradbroke H., Apache Chase (Better Than Ready) made all the running and held on gamely to land the spoils in his first Group 1.
He cost Michael Sherrin just $50,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale and is one of six stakes winners for his sire, Better Than Ready.
Before Apache Chase's victory, the top perfomer for his dam, the imported Silken Whisper (USA) (Diesis {GB}), was her first produce, the G2 Bill Stutt S. winner Churchill Downs. It seems rather fitting that, being her last of 11 progeny, Apache Chase now carries the flag for his her.
Silken Whisper is out of the Listed winner Yaguda (USA) (Green Dancer {USA}), and the talented Forbidden Love (All Too Hard) also comes from the family.
G2 XXXX Sires' Produce S., $1,000,000, 1400m
Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) sat off the fast pace set by Swiss Exile (Pariah) before swooping late in fine style to take the G2 Sires' Produce S. for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.
This was a first win for the filly since moving to the father and son training team after winning the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic at Pinjarra in February, and her record is now three wins from six starts.
She was purchased by Justin Warwick at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $50,000. She becomes the first stakes winner for her dam Saxabelle (Saxon) who is herself well-related, being a half-sister to Special Kiseki (Special Bond) who is the dam of stakes winners Showy Chloe (Alfred Nobel {Ire}), Special Reward (Demerit) and El Rijes (Eternity Range {USA}).
Following Sheeza Belter, Saxabelle has a yearling colt by More Than Ready (USA) to come through, and she also visited Aquis' Brave Smash (Jpn) last year.
Sheeza Belter remains the only stakes winner for her first season sire Gold Standard, though this win is great timing for Widden Stud who have recently acquired the stallion after the closing of Spendthrift's Australian operation.
G2 ANZ Bloodstock News The Roses, $250,000, 2100m
Taking advantage of an good jump from barrier three, Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) made the most of a prominent position to win the G2 The Roses by 0.2L. Despite the luck of the draw, the filly still had to show great toughness to find a gap when nearly boxed-in by Chilko Lake (Vancouver) heading into the home straight.
Ridden by Craig Williams, Barb Raider added a second Group 2 victory to her name having previously claimed victory in the G2 VRC AV Kewney S., amongst a host of impressive placings which include a 0.2l second last time out in the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks.
Her dam, Graebarb (Host {Chi}) was herself a winner over 1200 metres and is a reasonably unexposed broodmare having just one other named foal who is as yet unraced. She was bought as a weanling at the 2013 Inglis Great Southern Bloodstock & Weanling Sale for just $38,000 which looks a shrewd investment now that Barb Raider becomes the first stakes winner on Graebarb's page since her third dam, Lady Chancery (Durham Ranger {USA}) bred G1 WATC Derby winner Firing Range (Kala Dancer {GB}).
G3 Living Turf Premier's Cup, $200,000, 2400m
Pressing on down the back straight from her midfield position, 4-year-old Mare Splendiferous (Pride Of Dubai) put the field to the test in the G3 Living Turf Premier's Cup and held on gamely to win in a photo for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott.
Claiming her second Cup, following her victory in the Listed SAJC Port Adelaide Cup, Splendiferous added a first Group 3 victory to her name. Cup races are unsurprinsingly to her liking as her dam, Magical Mist (NZ) is by High Chaparral (Ire).
Bought for her ownership group by James Bester for $100,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she becomes the second stakes winner for her dam following the success of Ballistic Boy (Smart Missile) who won the 2020 renewal of the G3 Rough Habit S. and was also second in the next race on the Eagle Farm card, the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup.
Further back in the pedigree, the second dam, Fairy Tipsy (Casual Lies) has bred the same number of stakes winners but Magical Mist looks likely to overtake her in time, perhaps with her next foal to race, the 2-year-old Yellow Brick (The Mission) who is already a winner.
Magical Mist boasts a strong pedigree being a half-sister to two stakes winners in Distill (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) and Mr Tipsy (Montjeu {Ire}), the latter being a prolific Cup winner herself.
Pride Of Dubai stands at Coolmore Australia for a 2022 fee of $16,500 (inc GST).
G3 Sky Racing Lord Mayor's Cup, $150,000, 1800m
BigBoyRoy took the honours in the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup and in doing so became sire Dissident's fourth stakes winner. Jockey James McDonald his mount straight to the front and slowed the pace in the middle section of the race before fending off all challenges in a performance described by Chris Waller's assistant Charlie Duckworth as "typically tough and game".
The gelding was bought by Mulcaster Bloodstock for $120,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He adds a significant boost to the pedigree page of his dam, Follonica (Flying Spur), as he is now her first stakes winner. Hopetoun Farm will be rubbing their hands having bought stakes-placed dam Follonica for just $6000 at the 2022 Inglis Digital March Sale.
Follonica is out of Get The Hint (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and, like BigBoyRoy, is her own dam's only stakes winner. However, Get The Hint is well-related, being a half-sister to Group 3 winner Wallstreet (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
Dissident stands at Riverdene Stud for $6600 (inc GST) in 2022.
G3 Mullins Lawyers Fred Best Classic, $250,000, 1400m
Sam Clipperton kept things simple aboard Godolphin homebred Vilana (Hallowed Crown) to notch the colt's first Group 3 win. Having raced just off the pace, Clipperton produced him with 400 metres left to run and the pair saw it out in convincing style.
In a typically strong Godolphin pedigree, Vilana is out of Retsina (Redoute's Choice) making him a half-brother to mutiple Group 2 winner Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) and multiple Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro). Retsina is out of Star Shiraz (Sequalo) who won the G1 QTC Sires' Produce S.
Following Vilana, Retsina has also produced the 2-year-old Rakomelo (Lonhro) who is Group 3 placed and was covered last year by Blue Point (Ire).
Retsina became the fifth Group winner for Twin Hill Stud's Hallowed Crown, who will stand for $11,000 (inc GST) in 2022.
G3 TAB BRC Sprint, $250,000, 1300m
Brad Stewart was the first to press the button and that may have been decisive as his mount, Soxagon (Rocker), prevailed by just a nose in a bunch finish that involved four horses crossing the line with less than a head between them.
Soxagon is out of Strike On Goal (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), a half sister to stakes-performer Dark Bishop (NZ) (Pentire {GB}). Strike On Goal's dam, As Promised (Carnegie {Ire}) is a half-sister to G3 VRC St Leger winner Desert Clearance (NZ) (Desert Prince {Ire}).
Listed Magic Millions Helen Coughlan S., $150,000, 1200m
Last tasting Listed success as a 2-year-old in the MRC Redoute's Choice S., Najmaty (I Am Invincible) added a second stakes success to her record when swooping wide and late to beat the talented Salateen (I Am Invincible).
Her win can be upgraded as she was one of few horses to find success from running off the pace at Eagle Farm that day and she finished off an exceptional day for trainers Peter and Paul Snowden.
Najmaty was bred and retained by Emirites Park and she is the third foal out of dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor).
Her win was perhaps further justification for the $1.55 million spent on her full sister by Sheamus Mills Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Najmaty is by leading Australian General Sire in I Am Invincible, who will stand the upcoming season for $247,000 (inc GST) at Yarraman Park Stud.
Belmont: G3 Belmont Sprint, $200,000, 1400m
God Has Chosen (Playing God) prevailed by 0.5l in the G3 Belmont Sprint under Clint Johnston-Porter and provided a belated first black-type success for his now retired dam, Celtic Feva (Dr Johnson {USA}). Perhaps more pertinently he was the ninth stakes winner and second Group 3 winner for his sire, Playing God.
Coming into the race with seven wins from 11 starts, God Has Chosen has been incredibly consistent for his trainer Lindsey Smith and gained a deserved stakes success and can now boast more than $350,000 in prizemoney.
Playing God will stand for $16,500 (inc GST) at Darling View Thoroughbreds in WA this upcoming season.
Pukekhoe: Listed Barfoot & Thompson Auckland Futurity S., NZ$70,000, 1400m
On just his second start, Leedox (NZ) gained Listed success for his trainer, Andrew Forsman. In doing so he gave his sire Time Test (GB) a fifth stakes victory, and a first in the Southern Hemisphere for Little Avondale.
Leedox is out of the winning mare Bella Carolina (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and was bought for NZ$220,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Bruce Perry Bloodstock.
He becomes his dam's second stakes winner, after Listed winner and Group 1 fourth, Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). He hails from the family of Dress Circle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Time Test will stand the upcoming season at NZ$10,000 (plus GST).
