Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Australian tracks hosted eight Group 1 events for 3-year-old fillies this season, and while the likes of regular top-company producers Snitzel and Sebring are among the winning sires, it was pleasing to see a few new names added to the honour roll.
The country’s pre-eminent trainer, Chris Waller, was the only conditioner to win multiple Group 1s with 3-year-old fillies; he took home the Surround S. and Vinery Stud S. respectively.
Chris Waller was the only trainer to secure multiple Group 1s with 3-year-old fillies in the 2021/22 season
There appeared to be no one dominant 3-year-old filly of the season, however it should be noted that the terribly wet Sydney autumn would have impacted a number of fillies’ ability to perform to their optimum level.
Obviously, the value of each of the eight fillies has soared since becoming Group 1 winners, but for some, like Yearning (Snitzel) and Glint Of Hope (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}), their worth has doubtless catapulted to the top-end of the market.
Hopefully these fillies, as well as some of the beaten brigade, go on with the job as 4-year-old mares.
Tivaci filly soars in Flight
The first Group 1 of the 2021/22 season for 3-year-old fillies – the Flight S. - took place at Randwick on October 2.
Queensland filly Startantes (Star Turn), who would go on to win the G1 Tattersall’s Tiara in June, was sent off favourite, while Mallory (Not A Single Doubt), She’s All Class (I Am Invincible) and Swift Witness (Star Witness) were all well fancied. It was a shock result, however, with Regan Bayliss guiding the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Never Been Kissed (NZ) (Tivaci) to a 0.29l victory, with Hinged (Worthy Cause) second and Startantes third.
Bred by Waikato Stud and raced by Garry and Mark Chittick, Never Been Kissed handed Tivaci a maiden Group 1 success. Tivaci will stand the upcoming breeding season at Waikato Stud for NZ$20,000 (plus GST).
The filly is the first foal out of winning mare Movie (NZ) (Savabeel), who was trained by David Hayes and Tom Dabernig for the Chitticks. Her second dam is Group 3 victress and Group 1 placegetter Tootsie (NZ) (Pins), who has thrown multiple-Group 2 winner Ocean Emperor (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Never Been Kissed is also from the same family as brilliant mare Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) - a four-time Group 1 star.
Never Been Kissed backed up and ran second behind Profondo (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in the G1 Spring Champion S., before placing second to Mr Mozart (Snitzel) in the G2 Phar Lap S.
Blueblood causes Thousand Guineas boilover
Following her top run in the Flight S., Hinged was the popular elect for the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on October 13.
Again, it was a surprise result, though, with $26-chance Yearning claiming a stunning last-to-first victory under Damien Thornton for Team Hawkes. Elusive Express (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) finished second, with Barb Raider (Rebel Raider) in third.
With a Group 1 on her CV, Yearning became an incredibly valuable filly. Not only is she by Champion Sire Snitzel, her dam, Rising Romance (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}) won the G1 Australian Oaks in 2014.
Yearning was Snitzel’s 114th stakes winner and 18th Group 1 winner.
The filly carries the colours of her breeder, Arrowfield Stud, and has a 2-year-old full brother named Magic in the same stable. He is still a maiden, but placed twice at Group level during his juvenile campaign. Also bred by Arrowfield Stud, Magic topped proceedings at last year’s Inglis Easter Sale with a $2.5 million price tag.
Magic, full brother to Yearning, topped the 2021 Inglis Easter Sale at $2.5 million | Image courtesy of Inglis
Yearning was winless in four additional starts but ran third in the G2 Angus Armanasco S. at Caulfield in February.
Four-time Champion Sire Snitzel stands at Arrowfield Stud this season for $220,000 (inc GST).
Godolphin homebred lands Victorian Oaks
Flemington hosted the time-honoured VRC Oaks on November 4, and, as if often the case, the Wakeful S. victress was triumphant. That filly was Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}) – a Godolphin homebred, trained by James Cummings. Under the urgings of Damien Oliver, Willowy nailed Douceur (No Nay Never {USA}) in the last stride, while Biscayne Bay (Sebring) was third.
It was a second Group 1 success for Kermadec (NZ), Montefilia being the first, who stands at Darley’s Victorian base for $16,500 (inc GST).
Willowy’s dam, Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}), won five races including the G2 Sandown Guineas in 2002. Dextrous is also the dam of Group 1 victor Skilled, Group 2 winner and G1 Golden Slipper runner-up Sidestep and Group 2 winner Ambidexter. Willowy is also related to Listed victress Accumulation (Last Tycoon {Ire}).
Following her Oaks victory, Willowy was spelled and wasn’t seen during the autumn.
Hinged a Worthy Group 1 winner
A Heavy 10 confronted the 15 fillies for the G1 Surround S. at Randwick on February 26, and the $500,000 feature was billed as a match race between the Chris Waller-trained pair Fangirl (Sebring) and Espiona (Extreme Choice). It was another Waller runner, though - Hinged – a daughter of Worthy Cause – that ploughed through the mud under Brenton Avdulla to claim the prize, handing her sire a first elite-level success. Startantes ran second, with Espiona third.
Bred by prominent Darling Downs owner-breeder Dr Kim McCasker, Hinged commenced her career in Queensland in the care of trainer Michael Nolan. As a 2-year-old she had seven starts, winning five and running second twice. She was then purchased by a syndicate of owners headed by Brae Sokolski’s Yes Bloodstock, with McCasker retaining a share.
Hinged is the first foal of Tints (Tycoon Ruler), whom McCasker purchased for $10,000 from the 2012 Magic Millions QTIS Yearling Sale. Tints won 12 races, amassing $247,150 in prizemoney. Hinged is related to My Pink (USA) (Slew O’Gold {USA}) – a 2000-metre winner in France and a sibling to three European stakes winners.
A Group 3-winning son of Choisir, Worthy Cause stands at Queensland nursery Clear Mountain Fairview for $5500 (inc GST). Hinged is from his first crop.
Hinged had a further three runs – all at Group 1 level – placing in two of them.
Fangirl relishes dryer track, notches Group 1
After showing so much promise last spring, there was high hopes for the Waller-trained Fangirl during the autumn, and after her first-up victory over stablemate Espiona, she looked destined for Group 1 glory.
Her preparation was interrupted by unsuitably Heavy tracks at her next two starts, but on March 28, she was presented with a Soft 6 at Newcastle for the Vinery Stud S. Handled by Hugh Bowman, Fangirl proved too good for stablemate Hinged and Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}).
Fangirl’s fourth stakes success provided an eighth Group 1 victory for her ill-fated sire, champion Sebring, whose final crop of foals are 2-year-olds.
A homebred for the Ingham Family, Fangirl races in the famous cerise silks worn by some of the greats of Australian racing, including Lonhro and Octagonal (NZ).
A daughter of the Ingham’s three-time stakes victress Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago), Fangirl is the granddaughter of triple-Group 1 heroine Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}). Fangirl’s third dam is Group 3 winner Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}), who has also thrown stakes winners King Canute (King Of Kings {Ire}) and Redwoldt (King Of Kings {Ire}).
Fangirl lined up in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick on April, but again failed to fire on the heavy track, finishing 13th.
Shamus Award filly springs shock in ATC Oaks
Following a somewhat disappointing autumn, the Danny O’Brien-trained El Patroness (Shamus Award) was sent off at $26 in the G1 ATC Oaks at Randwick on April 9. Racing on a Heavy 10, she was given a peach of a ride by Damian Lane and burst clear at the 200-metre mark. She won by 2.55l, with Gypsy Goddess second and Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) third.
It was El Patroness’ second stakes triumph, having taken out the Listed Super Impose S. at Flemington in October.
A homebred for Balmerino Racing Partnership Trust and O’Brien Thoroughbreds, El Patroness is the first foal of three-time winner Sure You Can (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was purchased by O’Brien from the 2012 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale for NZ$100,000. Sure You Can is a sister to 2009 G3 Tasmanian Derby winner Betwixt (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who is the dam of 2016 G1 Queensland Oaks victress Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}). Sure You Can is also a half-sister to dual Group 2 winner and Group 1 placegetter Surely Sacred (NZ) (Rock ‘N’ Pop).
Also in the family is two-time Listed winner Icelette (NZ) (Icelandic {Ire}), who has thrown Group 1 heroine Taupo Retreat (NZ) (Centaine).
El Patroness’ Oaks win handed Rosemont Stud's Shamus Award a fifth Group 1 winner. He stands this season for $88,000 (inc GST), up from $33,000 (inc GST).
Japanese-bred filly makes Impact in Australasian Oaks
Glint Of Hope – a filly by one of the all-time greats in Deep Impact (Jpn), bred in Japan to Southern Hemisphere time – won a gripping Australasian Oaks at Morphettville on April 30 under Daniel Moor. Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, the filly edged Barb Raider, with favourite My Whisper (Frankel {GB}) back in third.
Glint Of Hope was bred by Raffles Dancers, who are responsible for breeding star Kiwi filly Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), among others.
Offered by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, the filly was bought for $250,000 by Asrun's Yusuke Tsukahara (for Japanese owner Kazutaka Hosaka).
Glint Of Hope (Jpn) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Glint Of Hope’s Oaks success improved her earnings beyond $400,000, and being a Group 1-winning daughter of the legendary Deep Impact means she is already an incredibly valuable broodmare prospect.
The bay filly is one of two foals to race, both winners, out of Dato Yap’s Northern Hemisphere-bred mare Sacred Sight (GB) (Fastnet Rock) – a half-sister to the 2012 G1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Colour Vision (Fr) (Rainbow Quest {USA}). Their dam is Group 3 victress Give Me Five (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}).
Glint Of Hope became the 185th black-type winner for Japanese triple crown hero Deep Impact, who died in 2019, aged 17.
Following her Australasian Oaks win, Glint Of Hope contested the G1 Queensland Oaks, where she was unplaced.
Class to the fore in Queensland Oaks
The final Group 1 of the season for 3-year-old fillies – the Queensland Oaks - was run at Eagle Farm on June 4, and it came as no surprise that talented filly Gypsy Goddess made a mess of her rivals under William Pike.
Already with two Group 1 placings to her credit, Gypsy Goddess beat the ultra-consistent Barb Raider by 1l, with Le Villi (NZ) (Puccini {NZ}) taking third.
Bred by Dr Chris Lawler’s Stareye venture, the filly was passed in at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale after failing to make her NZ$20,000 reserve. She races for Lawler and partners. Interestingly, Lawler also sourced and part-owns Tarzino.
Gypsy Goddess (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Gypsy Goddess is one of three winners out of the unraced Invisible Coin (Redoute’s Choice) and she is a full sister to G1 Flight S. victress Cheeky Choice. Gypsy Goddess’ third dam, Lady Of Persia (USA) (Persian Blond {Ire}), has thrown Listed winner Danasia (Danehill {USA}).
Gypsy Goddess gifted Tarzino a second elite-level success, following Jungle Magnate’s (NZ) South Australian Derby victory. Tarzino stands at Westbury Stud in New Zealand for NZ$15,000 (plus GST), having stood last year for NZ$12,000 (plus GST).
The David Vandyke-trained Gypsy Goddess was sent to the paddock after notching her maiden Group 1 and is being aimed at the $10 million Golden Eagle at Rosehill on October 29.
