Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Race-Day Recap
Ron and Judy Wanless, who have been breeding and racing horses for a long time, had three winners in three states, including a feature-race triumph in Adelaide.
A Chris Waller-trained filly honoured her late sire, who tragically died of an apparent heart attack only an hour earlier.
Homebred filly Pretty Wild looks destined for higher honours after winning a BM72 at Rosehill Gardens.
Black Fantasy notched another Listed win, taking out the Belmont Classic under Lucy Warwick.
Fiorente (Ire) gelding Skyphios won his way into the G1 Victoria Derby, upstaging his more fancied rivals at Flemington.
A big day for Ron and Judy Wanless
Prominent breeders and owners, husband-and-wife Ron and Judy Wanless, enjoyed a three-state treble on Saturday, which including the feature event at Morphettville.
The Wanless’ toasted their first win on Saturday when Flag Of Honour (American Pharoah {USA}), registered a tough victory in the opening race at Rosehill Gardens.
A few hours later, He’s Heaven (Zoustar) took out the Listed Oaklands Plate, before Daytona Bay (American Pharoah {USA}) won Race 8 at Flemington - a 3-year-old H.
He’s Heaven provided Widden Stud resident Zoustar with his 30th stakes winner.
The Peter Moody-trained colt beat the previously unbeaten Birdies Galore (Spieth {NZ}) by 1.4l, with Vagrant (Pariah) back in third.
Peter Moody | Image courtesy of Peter Moody Racing
He’s Heaven is from the 2011 G1 SAJC Oaks heroine Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who was bred and raced by the Wanless’. Lights Of Heaven has thrown three winners, headed by Group 3-placed filly Angel Of Heaven (Redoute’s Choice).
He’s Heaven is also from the same family as New Zealand Group 1 winner Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Eloa (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
Top jockey Hugh Bowman has high hopes for the Kris Lees-trained Flag Of Honour. Asked post-race whether he thinks the gelding will measure up, Bowman was categoric: “I’ve got no doubt”, he said on Sky Thoroughbred Central.
Hugh Bowman was impressed with Flag Of Honour on Saturday | Image courtesy of the Australian Turf Club
“I was pretty impressed. He’s a horse that looks as though he’s still got a bit of maturing to do, physically, but he’s got a beautiful action and American Pharoah… I’ve ridden a couple of nice ones and we’ll start to see them filter through to the races more and more now, I think. This guy is a good example of what he can produce, I guess.”
The gelding clocked 1:26.67 for 1400 metres on the Heavy 8 track, winning by 0.17l from the promising Alberich (Snitzel), with Vinnie’s Spirit (I Am Invincible) third.
Lees, too, was taken by the performance, and indicated the G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick on October 8 may be a target for Flag Of Honour.
Kris Lees | Image courtesy of Racing NSW
“He had a bit to do there today. I thought in the run… the favoured horses were up on speed and were getting a nice enough run in front… nothing really took him into the race, he had to peel out and do it all himself. It took all of the 1400 metres to do it, but we’ve always thought he would be a miler or even further in time,” Lees explained on Sky Thoroughbred Central.
“He looks like a nice horse going forward.
“Whether we just back off now and prepare him for the spring… we’ll just see how he comes through today.”
“Whether we just back off now and prepare him (Flag Of Honour) for the spring… we’ll just see how he comes through today.” - Kris Lees
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Flag Of Honour was offered by Segenhoe Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was bought by Tasman Bloodstock for $425,000.
“My word they have (had a lot of good horses with me) and I think this one has the potential to be as good as any of the others,” said Lees.
Flag Of Honour’s dam, Godiva Rock (Stratum), won a Moonee Valley maiden and was placed at Group 1 level, while his second dam, Princess Jewels (NZ) (Quest For Fame {GB}) was a winner at three at Geelong.
He is related to Listed victress Leica Jewel (Best Western), who is the dam of 1992 G1 VRC Derby winner Redding (NZ).
Daytona Bay took his record to three wins and a third from four starts after his 1.5l victory under Jamie Kah.
He is out of Group 3 winner Soubrettes (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), from the same family as stakes winners Star Satire (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}), Satin Shoes (Flying Spur) and Zarzuela (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Frumos does Mum proud with sensational win at Rosehill
On Saturday morning (Australian time), reports emerged from the US that multiple leading North American sire Kitten’s Joy (USA) had died of an apparent heart attack, aged 21.
The son of El Prado (Ire) was found dead in his paddock at Hill ‘N’ Dale Farms in Kentucky.
Kitten's Joy (USA) sadly died on Saturday morning (Australian time)
Later that day, at Rosehill Gardens, Frumos (USA) – a daughter of Kitten’s Joy and four-time winner Desertstormelite (USA) (Chester House {USA}) – scored a brilliant victory for trainer Chris Waller and owners Orbis Bloodstock. Stablemates Sur La Mer (Nicconi) and One Aye (Super One) filled the placings.
Still unbeaten (from three starts), Frumos was bred by Kenneth L. Ramsey Et Al, who bred and owned Kitten’s Joy. The filly was purchased by David Simcock Racing for a €220,000 (AU$326,000) from the Grove Stud draft at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale.
Frumos (USA) when sold at the 2020 Tattersalls Ireland Goresbridge Breeze-Up Sale | Image courtesy of Tattersalls
“She has a bright future. It’s a great time of year for horses like this. If they have that exceptional ability, it makes up for ringcraft, which she is gaining against handy horses. Having that extra gear helps,” Waller told Sky Thoroughbred Central.
A two-time Grade 1 winner, Kitten’s Joy topped the North American general leading sires list in 2013 and 2018 and was the leading turf sire for six consecutive years from 2013 to 2018.
The sire of 15 Grade 1 winners and over 110 stakes winners, some of his best progeny include Roaring Lion (USA) and Big Blue Kitten (USA).
Homebred filly has Plenty of ability
Brazen Beau filly Pretty Wild improved looks to have a bright future after she proved too strong for favourite Pizarro (All Too Hard) in Race 3 at Rosehill – a 1200-metre BM72 for 3-year-olds. Smashing Eagle (Shalaa {Ire}) placed third.
Trained by Waller, the filly was bred by Richard Lavender, and is raced by his wife, former Channel Seven Sunrise presenter, Samanatha Armytage, and partners.
Pretty Wild improved her record to two wins and a second from three starts.
She is a daughter of Pakenham maiden winner Calusa (High Chaparral {Ire}), who Lavender bought for $50,000 at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, from the family of multiple Group 1 winner and Champion Sire Fastnet Rock. Also in that family is Group 3 victress - Piccadilly Circus (Royal Academy {USA}) – the dam of Fastnet Rock, as well as two-time Listed winner Gatana (Marauding {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Raheeb.
Calusa, dam of Pretty Wild, when sold at the 2017 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pretty Wild was ridden to victory by Kathy O’Hara, who later brought up a race-to-race double aboard Noble Soldier (Time For War).
Black Fantasy too good in Belmont Classic
Blackfriars gelding Black Fantasy made it back-to-back Listed wins after taking out the Belmont Classic (2200 metres) on Saturday.
The Daniel and Ben Pearce-trained 3-year-old claimed the Aquanita S. at his previous start and was third behind rising star Devoted (Xtravagant {NZ}) in the Listed Belmont Guineas before that.
Black Fantasy winning the Listed Belmont Classic on Saturday | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Black Fantasy was offered by his breeder - Scenic Lodge Thoroughbred Stud - at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale (Book 2), where he sold to Pearce Racing Pty Ltd for $36,000.
He is related to stakes winners Cool Business (Key Business), Shining Knight (Blackfriars) and Hot Shot Brother (Key Business), as well as Group 1 winner Machine Gun Tom (Corporate Raider).
Black Fantasy grabbed the lead soon after turning for home and kicked clear under Lucy Warwick, winning by 0.77l. Flower In The Wind (Sebring) was second, while Tizzle Top (Vert De Grece {Ire}) ran third.
Skyphios races his way into the Victoria Derby
The Rob Blacker-trained Skyphios (Fiorente {Ire}) caused a boilover in the Byerley H. (1800 metres) for 2-year-olds at Flemington, and in doing so, won a ticket into the G1 Victoria Derby (2500 metres) on the opening day of the Melbourne Cup Carnival.
Previously unplaced in three runs, Skyphios ran down race favourite Quang Tri (Shalaa {Ire}), who was made to do it the hard way, three-wide without cover. Midnight Glow (Sebring) was third.
“We’ve had the Derby in mind for a long time with this horse, but we had to try to get in and there aren’t many races that suit this bloke, so this is a great result,” Blacker told Racing.com.
Skyphios (gold cap) beating Quang Tri in the Byerley H. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Racing Victoria
“He’ll have two or maybe three weeks (break) and then we’ll bring him back and give him probably two 2000 metres as a lead-up (into the Derby).”
Skyphios was bred and retained to race by Glenn Rogers.
His dam, Spleasure (New Approach {Ire}) won three races, and he is from the family of multiple Group1 winner Islington (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
Skyphios was guided to victory by Harry Coffey.
Blacker revealed his Adelaide Cup runner-up Tigertiger (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) is being set for this year’s Melbourne Cup.
