Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
Randwick: G1 Winx S., $750,000, 1400m
It was an easy fourth Group 1 victory for the outstanding entire that is Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}), Godolphin’s handsome homebred who was brilliant having his first run since finishing last in trying conditions in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in early April.
Successful at eight of his 17 starts - amassing in excess of $5.2 million in stakes - Anamoe is one of the 61 stakes winners sired by his Darley NSW-based sire.
He is out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Anamato (Redoute's Choice) who was campaigned overseas - finishing third in the G1 Hollywood Park American Oaks.
Not currently in foal having missed in a return visit to Street Boss (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) last spring, Anamato has also produced the Irish Listed winner Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and the city winner Amitto (Lonhro).
And one of her unraced daughters has produced the G2 UAE Derby-placed Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Anamato is out of the stakes-placed Voltage (Whiskey Road {USA}) - dam of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Drum (Marauding {NZ}) and grandam of the multiple Group 1 winner Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}).
Anamato’s most recent foal is a filly by Blue Point (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) whilst her yet to race 3-year-old Dartboard (Shooting To Win) was placed in a Flemington jump-out a couple of weeks ago.
A highlight of Anamoe’s pedigree are strains of the close relations Machiavellian (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), Halo (USA) (Hail To Reason {USA}), Northern Dancer (Can) (Nearctic {Can}) and Danehill (USA) (Danzig {USA}).
G2 Silver Shadow S., $250,000, 1200m
A good race for Widden Stud’s Zoustar (Northern Meteor) who had two of the first three home, a competitive G2 Silver Shadow S. was won in game fashion by the lightly raced and promising Zougotcha.
Having just her third start, the $500,000 graduate of the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale (purchased by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock) was bred by Widden Stud with the RMA Bloodstock Trust.
The 31st stakes winner for her sire, Zougotcha is the third stakes winner for her dam, the stakes-placed, triple city winner Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is the Listed winner Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor {USA}).
Also dam of the Listed winners Persuader (Zoustar) and The Actuary (Sebring) as well as the city winner Campaign (Sebring), Fast Talker was served last spring by Written Tycoon (Iglesia) having not had a great deal of luck (missing and slipping) since producing Zougotcha.
Fast Talker is a half-sister to the G3 Heath S. winner Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Crystal Lily (Stratum) and the stakes winners Amaethon (Al Maher), Crystal Web (Hard Spun {USA}) and Carrara (Elvstroem).
G3 Toy Show Quality H., $200,000, 1100m
Having her first run since taking out the Listed Denise’s Joy S. at Scone in mid-May, Zapateo (Brazen Beau) could not have been more impressive racing away to an easy first-up victory.
Racing in Godolphin’s blue, she is a daughter of Darley’s Victorian-based stallion Brazen Beau (I Am Invincible) and she is one of that imposing Group 1 sprinter’s 19 stakes winners.
Her dam is the Listed Ramornie H. winner Jerezana (Lonhro) who is doing such a great job at stud with her first five foals all being winners.
Sadly she died in 2019, leaving behind a Street Boss (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}) colt who has been named Zaragoza. Also dam of the Group 2-winning sprinter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}), the Group 3-placed Badajoz (Commands) and the multiple city winner Sedition (Exceed And Excel), Jerezana is out of the Group 1-placed dual city winner Saddler's Silk (Barathea {Ire}) whose grandson Viridine (Poet's Voice {GB}) is a two-time Group winner.
Also from this family are the stakes winners Barawin (Barathea {Ire}), De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Brief Embrace (Irgun {USA}).
G3 Premier's Cup, $200,000, 2000m
It was quite the international finish with Arapaho (Fr) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) defeating Franceso Guardi (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) and Lord Ardmore (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
It was a third stakes success - his second on Australian soil and his first at Group level - for the tough 6-year-old who has amassed over $520,000 in stakes.
Bred by Ecurie Peregrine Sas, Arapaho is one of the 98 stakes winners for his high-achieving sire who spent four seasons in Australia.
He is one of the three runners (all black-type performers) for the Listed Prix Dahlia winner Alzubra (GB) (Dansili {GB}), also dam of the stakes-placed winners Athabascan (Fr) (Almanzor {Fr}) and Alula Borealis (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}).
Alzubra’s dam is the Listed Prix de Louvre winner Azabara (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), in turn daughter of the Listed Prix Isola Bella winner Danella (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}).
G3 Show County Quality H., $200,000, 1200m
What great heart was shown by the talented Showmanship (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}) who did such a good job winning his second stakes race at just his second run since September 2020.
A gallant first-up third in the Listed Wangoom at Warrnambool in May, Showmanship was again given time and off the back of this success looks ready to go right on with the promise he has always shown.
The winner of eight of his 10 starts, Showmanship is one of the 61 stakes winners sired by his former New Zealand shuttling sire. He is one of four winners for the lightly raced Khales (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), also dam of the Singapore-based dual Listed winner Bahana (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) and the stakes-placed La Mouline (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Served last spring by Per Incanto (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}), Khales also has a yet to race Belardo (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) filly called Vivaldo (NZ) and an unnamed 2-year-old filly by the same stallion.
Khales is a daughter of the G2 Magic Night winner Precious Glitter (Danehill {USA}), third dam of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Princess Jenni (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Moonee Valley: Listed McKenzie S., $175,000, 1200m
Charging home to grab success right on the line, Fast Witness (Star Witness) marked himself a horse to follow having won two in a row from just three starts.
Bred by his part-owner S Duke, Fast Witness is stakes winner number 22 for his Widden Victoria-based sire who caught the eye showing off at the stud’s stallion parade on Friday.
His dam is the city-placed winner Fast Shanti (Fastnet Rock) who has produced another three dual winners. Again served by Star Witness (Starcraft {NZ}) last spring, she has a yet to be named Lean Mean Machine (Zoustar) filly who was secured by Rathden Bloodstock for just $18,000 at last year’s Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale.
Fast Shanti is one of the five winners for Schiaparelli (Woodman {USA}) who has two stakes-winning sons at stud - Rothesay (Fastnet Rock) and Sensei (Dream Ahead {USA}).
This is a family that has been producing quality performers for generations including the big race winners Canny Lad (Bletchingly), Canny Lass (Bletchingly), Camarena (Danehill {USA}), Guelph (Exceed And Excel), Camarilla (Elusive Quality {USA}) and Sepoy (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Listed Carlyon S., $175,000, 1000m
It was a deserved Moonee Valley breakthrough for Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) who went into this race having had five starts at the track - on four occasions finishing a game runner-up.
Having her first run since a close up G1 The Goodwood H. fifth, the talented 5-year-old took her prizemoney tally to beyond $1.8 million winning this, her fourth race at stakes level.
Bred by Saconi Thoroughbreds by Coolmore Stud's dual Group 1-winning Street Cry (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}) stallion Pride Of Dubai (one of his 14 stakes winners), she is the first foal produced by the lightly raced Bella Orfana (Star Witness) - half-sister to the Group 2 sprinter Hallowell Belle (Starcraft {NZ}) and the Group 3 winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (dam of the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Brereton by Zoustar {Northern Meteor}).
A granddaughter of the lightly raced Bella Inez (Beautiful Crown {USA}) - full sister to the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing - Bella Nipotina is an $80,000 graduate of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Bella Orfana was served late last year by Zoustar having had the previous season off - her most recent foal being a yearling colt by Trapeze Artist (Snitzel); a flashy colt who sold for $280,000 to O'Brien Thoroughbreds.
Ruakaka: G3 Northland Breeders' S., NZ$85,000, 1200m
Straight into winning form this campaign, Lickety Split (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) - who won the G1 Sistema S. at just her second outing - looks set for a good spring.
A homebred for part owners Dean Hawkins (of Wentwood Grange) and Nick Hewson (Windsor Park Stud), she hails from the second crop of her Windsor Park Stud-based sire - a triple Group 1-winning son of Iffraaj (GB) (Zafonic {USA}).
One of her sire's five stakes winners, Lickety Split is out of the stakes-placed, four-time winner She's Slinky (NZ) (Handsome Ransom) whose daughter Neon Moon (NZ) (Exosphere) is a four-time winner, her most recent success coming in June.
Served last spring by Circus Maximus (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) having previously missed to Darci Brahma (NZ) (Danehill {USA}), She's Slinky (who was purchased in 2016 for just NZ$7000) has a 2-year-old Charm Spirit (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) filly called Full Tilt (NZ).
She's Slinky's dam She Sed (NZ) (Elnadim {USA}) is a half-sister to the G3 CJC Gold Cup winner Classic Babe (NZ) (Classic Fame {USA}) - dam of the G2 Waikato Gold Cup winner Passchendaele (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Boasting close up crosses of the great stallions Danzig (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) and Mill Reef (USA) (Never Bend {USA}) and duplications of the influential mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
Lickety Split hails from the family of one of the greats of the Australian turf - the 1983 Australian Champion Racehorse of the Year Strawberry Road (Whiskey Road {USA}) who also earned the title of 1984 German Champion Older Horse, securing his inclusion in the Australian Racing Hall of Fame.
