Caulfield: G1 Memsie S., $1,000,000, 1400m
Always travelling well in the lead, underrated mare Snapdancer (Choisir) was just too good recording her second elite-level success on the back of her G1 Robert Sangster S. success in May.
A dual winner of the Magic Millions (sponsors of the Memsie) Fillies and Mares at the Gold Coast, the Katom-bred mare was purchased by Spicer Thoroughbreds for $180,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale... a bargain considering that she is now a double millionaire!
One of the 101 stakes winners (and 12 Group 1 winners) for the late, great Choisir, she is one of six winners for the imported mare Snapdragon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) - also dam of the Group 3-placed Drago (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
A daughter of the stakes-placed Continuous (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}), Snapdragon died in 2020 with her final foal being a filly by Choisir's son The Mission; her second last foal being the unraced Illawarra, a full brother to Snapdancer in the Coff's Harbour stable of Peter Goodenough.
Snapdancer is a descendant of the great Mumtaz Mahal (GB) (The Tetrarch {GB}) and is bred on the successful Choisir/Sadler's Wells (USA) combination.
G3 McNeil S., $200,000, 1200m
It was a big return from Jacquinot (Rubick) who had run nice races in Australia's two big 2-year-old races earlier in the year - just too strong at his first run since a G1 Golden Slipper S. sixth and a G1 Blue Diamond S. third.
The sixth stakes winner for his Swettenham Stud-based, dual Group-winning sire who has been enjoying a good run of late, Jacquinot is the first foal for the unraced Ponterro (Pierro), half-sister to the G1 Randwick Guineas winner Inference (So You Think {NZ}), the dual Group 2 winner Dragon Leap (Pierro) who was fourth in the G1 Memsie S. and Illation (So You Think {NZ}) who was last in that same race.
Bred by part-owner Lindsay Maxsted, Jacquinot was passed in for $90,000 (reserve $120,000) at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Hailing from a prolific black-type family, he can count amongst his relations the Group winners Kanzan (Commands), Ranier (Lonhro) and Away Game (Snitzel).
His grandam is the Listed winner Liberty Rose (Royal Academy {USA}) and his fourth dam is the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Freedom Fields (Bluebird {USA}).
Jacquinot boasts duplications of two outstanding broodmares within six generations - a 4 X 6 cross of Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) via her sons Fairy King (USA) and Sadler's Wells (USA) and a 3 X 4 cross of Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) - grandam of Rubick and dam of Ponterro's damsire Redoute's Choice.
Ponterro was served last spring by Wootton Bassett (GB) having sadly lost her previous foal by Yes Yes Yes.
G3 McCafe S., $200,000, 1100m
Shooting For Gold (Shooting To Win) withstood a protest to secure his first deserved victory at stakes level - the consistent 5-year-old having been stakes placed on five occasions.
A homebred for Joe Rapisarda, Shooting For Gold is the eighth stakes winner for his Western Australian-based, G1 Caulfield Guineas-winning sire who, having kicked off his career at Darley, is now resident at Oakland Park Stud.
He is the fourth live foal for the talented Amber's Crown (Excites) who was also raced by Rapisarda, winning six of her 16 starts with four of her victories coming at metropolitan level.
Served last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB) having missed the previous season, Amber's Crown has a Pride Of Dubai 2-year-old (King Of Dubai) whilst her 3-year-old Vancouver's Crown (Vancouver) was third in a Canterbury maiden at his most recent outing in early May.
Also dam of the Group 3-placed, multiple city winner River Bird (Epaulette), Amber's Crown is out of the two-time winner Bovespa (More Than Ready {USA}) from the family of the Listed winners Embargo (Alzao {USA}) and Don Zao (Alzao {USA}).
Shooting For Gold is the eighth stakes winner line-bred to Eight Carat's (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) wonderful daughter Cotehele House (GB) (My Swanee {GB}) - the second by Shooting To Win (Tailleur the other) and the second via Danewin (Danehill {USA}) - his G3 C.S Hayes S. winner Fair Trade the other (and the first bred on this cross).
G3 Cockram S., $200,000, 1200m
Chain Of Lightning (Fighting Sun) remained undefeated after this commanding performance and what a great job she has done rising through the grades - kicking off her career with an Inverell maiden victory on New Year's Day.
The fourth stakes winner for her late sire (a lightly raced Listed Canonbury S. winner who stood six seasons at Sun Stud), Chain Of Lightning is a homebred for Ramsey Pastoral out of the city-placed winner Magic Art (Perugino {USA}).
Served last spring by Better Land after foaling a Magna Grecia (Ire) colt, Magic Art is also dam of the two-time winner Magic Sunset (a full sister to Chain Of Lightning).
Her dam is the G2 Magic Night S. winner Mardi's Magic (Kenny's Best Pal) whose full sister, Surrealist, produced the multiple Group 1 winner Racing To Win (Encosta De Lago) and the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Purrealist (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) - as well as the dam of the Group 2-winning sprinters Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt) and Aethero (Sebring).
A descendant of the great mare La Troienne (Fr) (Teddy {Fr}), Chain Of Lightning boasts an interesting pedigree with his dam sire Perugino hailing from the same prolific Rough Shod II (GB) (Gold Bridge {Fr}) family as Fighting Sun's sire Northern Meteor, his great grandsire Fairy King (USA) and his second dam sire Geiger Counter
One breeder cheering on would be Rod Hage who secured Chain Of Lightning's dam online for just $3250 in July!
Listed Heatherlie S., $175,000, 1700m
A horse who contested the 2020 G1 Epsom Derby - finishing down the track behind Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who is also now Australian-based - Emissary (Kingman {GB}) finished off strongly to record his first local win.
Last seen in the winner's circle at Yarmouth in September 2020, Emissary was purchased by Armando Duate, Ballymore Stables and Paul Moroney Bloodstock for 350,000gns (AU$628,000) at the 2020 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
Bred by Juddmonte - home to his multiple Group 1-winning sire, Emissary is Kingman's (GB) 49th stakes winner and his second in Australia, Sinawann (Ire) the first.
Emissary is a half-brother to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and G1 Epsom Derby winner Workforce (GB) (King's Best {USA}) out of the unraced Soviet Moon (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) whose dam is the G3 Park Hill S. winner Eva Luna (USA) (Alleged {USA}).
A high-class broodmare, Eva Luna produced six winners including the dual Group 1-winning stayer Brian Boru (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA}), the triple Group 3 winner Sea Moon (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) (winner in Australia of the G2 Herbert Power S.) and the Longchamp Group 2 winner Moon Search (GB) (Rainbow Quest {USA}).
Eva Luna is ancestress of another seven stakes winners including the 2018 G1 Caulfield Cup winner Best Solution (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). She is in turn descendant of another prolific mare in the shape of the legendary Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}).
Te Rapa: G2 Foxbridge Plate, NZ$120,000, 1200m
Favourite Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) proved a class above her rivals racing away to a big win - her ninth from just 12 starts.
Successful at Group 1 level in March and April, the exciting 4-year-old was bred by Raffles Dancers and purchased by David Ellis for $360,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is one of 81 stakes winners and 13 Group 1 winners for her Yarraman Park-based sire who was recently crowned Australian Champion Sire.
She is the second foal and first winner for Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}) who earned her black type with a G3 Moonee Valley Fillies' Classic third to Lumosty (Fastnet Rock).
Served last spring by Capitalist after sadly losing a Press Statement filly, Berimbau is out of the winner Percussive (Encosta De Lago), half-sister to the G2 Todman Slipper Trial winner Royal Courtship (Royal Academy {USA}).
Berimabua also has a $300,000 Magic Millions graduate - Cabaca (Fastnet Rock), a 3-year-old Chris Waller-trained filly who has displayed promise at her first couple of starts.
Percussive's six foals to race have all been winners including last season's Listed Spear Chief H. winner Vinco (also by I Am Invincible).
Boasting crosses of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Imperatriz hails from the same family as the stakes winners Poor Judge (Royal Academy {USA}) and Proud Player (Squill {USA}).
Rosehill: G3 Up And Coming S., $200,000, 1300m
With second favourite Conqueror (Churchill {Ire}) coming out at the gates, it was all left up to the promising Kibou (Maurice {Jpn}) and what a great job he did racing away to a soft 2.75l victory.
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and purchased by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $170,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Kibou is the ninth stakes winner for his up-and-coming Arrowfield-based sire.
Hailing from a family that was shaped by John Messara's father Maurice, Kibou is the fourth foal and second winner for the lightly raced Seymour maiden-winning, city-placed Fortiche (Any Given Saturday {USA}).
Missing upon a return visit to Maurice (Jpn) last spring, Fortiche is a half-sister to the talented Mic Mac (Statue Of Liberty {USA}) who on this same weekend 13 years ago won the G2 Memsie S.
A descendant of the famed matriarch Eulogy (GB) (Cicero {GB}), Kibou boasts a cross of the Group 1-winning mare Goofed (USA) (Court Martial {GB}) via her star son Lyphard (USA) and her lesser know grandson Tertian (USA) who stood in Tasmania before seeing out his stud career in Korea.
G3 San Domenico S., $200,000, 1100m
Not to be outdone by his brother Shooting To Win who just a wee bit earlier in the day was represented by stakes winner Shooting For Gold, Newgate Farm's Deep Field had his moment in the sun with his son Sweet Ride causing somewhat of an upset in the G3 San Domenico S.
His 15th stakes winner, Sweet Ride is a homebred for the Vieira Group - the first foal for the four-time winner How Sweet It Is (Foxwedge) who they also bred and raced.
Served last spring by the family's four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist, How Sweet It Is was not served two seasons back with her second foal being a yet to be named Divine Prophet colt.
How Sweet It Is, is a daughter of the stakes-placed, dual city winner Southern Venture (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ), half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Metal Bender (NZ) (Danasinga) from the family of the G1 The Goodwood H. winner Keeper (Danehill {USA}), the G1 NZ Oaks heroine Amarelinha (NZ) (Savabeel) and Newgate Farm's North Pacific who won the G3 Up And Coming S. two years ago.
Bred on a 5 X 4 cross of Sir Tristram (Ire), Sweet Ride also carries a 6 X 6 cross of the aptly named matriarch Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Fairy King (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
Belmont: Listed Idyllic Prince S., $125,000, 1300m
Getting clear from the 200 metres, Resortman (Helmet) was just too strong for his rivals including the odds-on favourite Nerodio (Playing God).
A Listed winner two starts back - not happy in the Heavy conditions at his most recent outing - the tough 6-year-old has been successful at eight of his 22 starts.
A bargain $15,000 purchase from the Supreme Thoroughbreds draft at the 2017 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale - purchased by M Lane and P Capararo - Resort Man was bred in Victoria by M Jennings, L Davies, T Rocks, R Gerbes and G McLeod.
He is one of the 18 stakes winners for his three-time Group 1-winning sire who left Australia in late 2017 - best known in the Northern Hemisphere as sire of the dual G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow (Ire).
Resortman is one of the four winners produced by the four-time winner Straveen (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), also dam of the Group 3-placed Estoril Park (Pride Of Dubai) and the city winners Gougers (Wanted) and Another Flag (Wanted).
Served last spring by Lean Mean Machine (and Invader), Straveen has a yearling colt by Vancouver whilst her yet to race 3-year-old The Gatlin (American Pharoah {USA}) is a member of the Amy and Ash Yargi stable.
Straveen is one of the nine winners for the Group 1-placed Susum Corda (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), full sister to the Group 1 gallopers St Reims (NZ) and Champagne (NZ). Other elite-level winners from this family include Charmont (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Resortman boasts crosses of the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}).
Morphettville: Leon Macdonald S., $107,250, 1400m
It was a popular win for trainer Leon Macdonald winning his own race (surviving a protest) with his stable's best horse, the very classy Dalasan (Dalakhani {Ire}).
Having his first run since May, the good-looking chestnut had not been in the winner's circle since his success in the G3 Chairman's S. in April 2020 but since that time he has been tackling the best of company.
Four times Group 1 placed, Dalasan is one of the 54 stakes winners for his multiple Group 1-winning sire who shuttled to South Australian on three occasions. Bred by The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, he was purchased by the Macdonald stable for $80,000 from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Dalasan is one of the three winners produced by the two-time stakes-placed Khandallah (Kitten's Joy {USA}) who has also been represented by the metropolitan winners Ichibansan (Dissident) and Liberty Lover (Rebel Raider).
Served last spring by Ghaiyyath (Ire), the Bendigo and Seymour-winning Khandallah has the lightly raced 3-year-old filly Party Princess (So You Think {NZ}) also in the Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas stable whilst her 2-year-old is a yet to be named American Pharoah (USA) filly - her yearling a son of Vino Rosso (USA).
Boasting a cross of the G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Dalasan hails from the same family as the Group 1 winners Great Neck (USA) (Tentam {USA}) and Lady Pastel (Jpn) (Tony Bin {Ire}).
