Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Race-Day Recap
Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) kept his G1 Cox Plate dreams alive as he added a fifth Group 1 to his record with a fine performance in the G1 George Main S. at Randwick.
Aft Cabin (Astern) will press on to the G1 Caulfield Guineas in two weeks’ time after he showed his class with a dominant victory in Saturday’s G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
On his sixth start for Danny O’Brien, the New Zealand-bred Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) landed his first Group 1 in Australia when he prevailed in a thrilling edition of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield and provided jockey Jamie Mott with his first winner at the highest level.
The Everest looks to be Nature Strip’s (Nicconi) race to lose as the Chris Waller-trained gelding produced an awesome performance in G2 The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, setting him up perfectly ahead of the defence of his crown in the $15 million race on October 15.
Last-start G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Zougotcha (Zoustar) showed tenacity in spades on Saturday as she dug deep to land her second stakes race in as many starts when she took out the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick.
The Peter Moody-trained Boogie Dancer returned to her sparkling best to win the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield and in doing so provided her Kitchwin Hills-based sire Sooboog with his first stakes winner.
Annabel Neasham looks to have another top-line import on her hands in the shape of Top Ranked (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who broke through for his first victory on these shores in the G3 Bill Richie H. at Randwick on Saturday.
Meanwhile in New Zealand, the Mark Walker-trained One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci) emerged as contender for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas contender when she produced an eye-catching performance to break her maiden in the Listed Canterbury Belle S. at Riccarton on Saturday.
Dominant Anamoe lands fifth Group 1
Godolphin finished the day with an unbelievable eight winners across the country, headed by four at stakes, with Aft Cabin (Astern) taking out the G3 Guineas Prelude at Caulfield, Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}) triumphing in the G3 Kingston Town S. at Randwick and Zapateo (Brazen Beau) added a third stakes win to her CV in the G3 How Now S.
Adding to the good day away from the stakes races, Lascars (Sepoy) dead-heated to win Race 2 at Caulfield, while Marquess (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) landed the seventh event at Newcastle and Brigantine (Astern) and Ingratiating (Frosted {USA}) saluted in the final races at Randwick and Caulfield respectively.
Despite the wonderful day at the races, the afternoon once again belonged to the operation’s star Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}), who showed he was one of the very best horses on the planet when toying with his rivals to defeat Icebath (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), who ran another brilliant race to grab a fifth Group 1.
Anamoe returns to scale after winning the G1 George Main S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Anamoe opened his account this preparation with a victory in the G1 Winx S. and had his second-up task made easier when Annabel Neasham decided to scratch Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) on Friday.
However, Cummings is now confident the entire had laid the foundations for a successful spring campaign.
“He has come back in fine order. That’s a great effort from the team back home and he’s just a wonderful horse, to see him come back and win first-up and that has underlined his whole preparation, to have gone ahead now and won second-up,” he said.
“He (Anamoe) has come back in fine order. That’s a great effort from the team back home and he’s just a wonderful horse...” - James Cummings
“It signalled his intent and the remainder of the campaign he can keep his eyes on the big targets ahead and he can let them all know he’s coming for them.
“He (McDonald) understands the horse well, he’s riding in great form. We had a discussion before the race that I was quite pleased if he lets the horse begin well, James makes the decision from there and I’ll back him win, lose or draw.
“He allowed him to cruise up, the horse perhaps just idled a bit outside the lead but they looked to have gone pretty steadily early and they’ve really ramped it up coming home.”
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Cummings did not outline the next target for Anamoe, but his preparation is likely to reach a crescendo in the G1 Cox Plate at Moonee Valley, a race he finished a narrow second in last year.
“That’s going to be the perfect stepping stone for him and he’s been able to pick up two important weight-for-age Group 1s along the way and he keeps lifting his value and his profile and gets more and more attention on him which is very fitting for a wonderful horse.”
Anamoe is out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Anamato (Redoute's Choice) and she is also the dam of Irish Listed winner Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and metropolitan winner Amitto (Lonhro).
“That’s (the G1 Cox Plate) going to be the perfect stepping stone for him (Anamoe)... he keeps lifting his value and his profile and gets more and more attention on him which is very fitting for a wonderful horse.” - James Cummings
Anamato’s most recent foal was a filly by Darley shuttler Blue Point (Ire) and she missed to Street Boss (USA) last spring.
Aft Cabin to emulate Anamoe?
Among Anamoe’s five top-flight wins is the 2021 G1 Caulfield Guineas and his stablemate Aft Cabin (Astern) will get the chance to emulate him in the Group 1 on October 8 after he showed his class with a dominant victory in Saturday’s G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude.
Ridden by Jamie Kah, the son of Astern showed maturity beyond his 3 years to cut through the testing conditions, galloping away to beat Meridius (Extreme Choice) by an impressive 3.5l.
Having finished second on his sole start as a juvenile, Aft Cabin broke his maiden on his first start as 3-year-old at Sandown-Hillside in August, before running third behind Jacquinot (Rubick) in the G3 HDF McNeil S. on August 27.
Aft Cabin blitzes his rivals in testing conditions in the G3 Caulfied Guineas Prelude at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
The torrential downpour was significant enough to see the Caulfield track downgraded from a Soft 6 to a Heavy 8 in the space of 15 minutes and Kah said she was struggling to see during the race, but predicted Aft Cabin’s star will continue to rise.
“The feel he gave me was amazing,” she said. “I couldn't see how far in front we were but obviously he's a star on the rise and it's nice to see him back to 1400 metres.
“He was really sharp at that trip and further is just going to be a bonus.
“He just relaxes. He doesn't give you much of a feel that he's got a lot there until you go for him like he did at Sandown, but God, just the length of his stride is unbelievable.”
“He (Aft Cabin) doesn't give you much of a feel that he's got a lot there until you go for him like he did at Sandown, but God, just the length of his stride is unbelievable.” - Jamie Kah
The colt is out of three-time winner Shelters (Lonhro), making him a three-quarter brother to G3 PJ Bell S. Multaja (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Listed winner Veranillo (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
Shelters herself is a daughter of Group 2-placed Hut (Danehill {USA}), meaning she is a sister to Listed winner Benfica (Lonhro).
In 2021, Shelters produced a colt by Harry Angel (Ire) and was covered by Brazen Beau last year.
Aft Cabin after winning the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
Aft Cabin made up a fine double on the day for Astern as another of his sons, Brigantine, landed the final race at Randwick.
Meanwhile, it was a great day for Astern’s family overall with his half-brother Lascars (Sepoy), who is a full sibling to multiple Group 1 winner Alizee (Sepoy), dead-heating with Winntertakesitall (Snitzel) in the Lamaro’s for Equine Pathways Plate at Caulfield.
In winning the race, Aft Cabin becomes the sixth stakes winner for Astern and second in as many weeks, having been responsible for last weekend’s G3 Ming Dynasty H. winner Golden Mile.
Astern | Standing at Darley
The son of Medaglia D’Oro (USA) is standing at Darley’s Kelvinside base for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Callsign Mav takes Sir Rupert Clarke
On his sixth start for Danny O’Brien, the New Zealand-bred Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) landed his first Group 1 in Australia when he prevailed in a thrilling edition of the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield and provided jockey Jamie Mott with his first winner at the highest level.
Jamie Mott and Danny O'Brien after winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
A three-time Group 1 winner in his native New Zealand for trainer John Bary, who remains in the ownership, the son of Atlante dug deep to score a 0.2l win over I Am Superman (Ire) (Footstepsinthesand {Ire}), while Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}) was the same distance away third.
“He is a three-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand, so he has done it at the top level over there and he has run in Cox Plates and All-Star Mile's here,” O’Brien said. “So just a little bit softer conditions today (Saturday) and a little bit softer race and he is a tough racehorse. He has won plenty of races so it is great to see him a Group 1 winner in Australia as well.”
“He (Callsign Mav) is a three-time Group 1 winner in New Zealand... So just a little bit softer conditions today (Saturday) and a little bit softer race and he is a tough racehorse.” - Danny O'Brien
O'Brien was quick to sing the praises of Mott, who began as an apprentice with the trainer almost 20 years ago.
“He's just been such a gifted rider who's worked so hard over such a long period of time with his weight,” he said. “If Jamie was four or five kilos lighter, he'd be a top-three metropolitan jockey.
“He rides as well as anyone and he's going to be a very popular victor here today. There are so many people that have got so much admiration for Jamie."
Callsign Mav (NZ) wins the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
Despite the long wait, Mott said he had never given up hope of landing a Group 1.
“We've had a great, long association for many years and he was fantastic to me as an apprentice,” Mott said. “It's really pleasing to get a win for him.
“I always knew a Group 1 win was coming. I'm one for working hard and always believing in what you are doing. Giving up is not an option. I put myself in a good spot weight-wise and mind-wise this campaign and I'm thankful to Danny and the wonderful connections for keeping me on Callsign Mav. They deserve it and the horse does as well.”
“I always knew a Group 1 win was coming. I'm one for working hard and always believing in what you are doing. Giving up is not an option.” - Jamie Mott
Callsign Mav will now likely press on to the G1 Toorak H. back at Caulfield on October 8.
Bred by Windsor Park Stud, Callsign Mav is from the first crop of Mapperley Stud stallion Atlante, who died after just two seasons at stud.
Nature Strip turns up the heat
The Everest looks to be Nature Strip’s (Nicconi) race to lose as the Chris Waller-trained gelding produced an awesome performance in G2 The Shorts at Randwick on Saturday, setting him up perfectly ahead of the defence of his crown in the $15 million race on October 15.
Not seen competitively since his successful trip to Royal Ascot, the son of Nicconi showed no ill-effects from the excursion when he galloped to a 1.5l win over Overpass (Vancouver), who showed he was worthy of a slot in the $15 million race.
Nature Strip showed his dominance to win the G2 The Shorts at Randwick | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Other The Everest contenders, Lost And Running (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Eduardo (Host {Chi}), Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) and Masked Crusader (Toronado {Ire}) came home in third, fourth, fifth and sixth respectively.
However, Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), who won the 2020 edition of the lucrative sprint, will not take up his owner Bon Ho’s slot and will instead be spelled, after he trailed home last of the 13 runners and was found to be found 3/5 lame following his effort.
Waller confirmed Nature Strip would go straight into The Everest without another run and was instead likely to be given a jump-out to keep his fitness up to the mark.
“Today (Saturday) he displayed that he’s got ringcraft now, to just switch off and do those little things right, and help him be better,” said Waller.
Chris Waller all smiles after Nature Strip's G2 The Shorts victory | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
“He’s doing it the right way, he’s not breaking his own heart. He used to break other horses’ hearts, sometimes his own. It’s a good first-up run, he’ll take good improvement from it and be there in four-weeks time.”
Waller said given the horses recent foray to Europe, he was unsure what to expect from Saturday’s race
“I didn’t know what to expect, to tell you the truth. We didn’t expect him to be this good. I expected there’d be a bit of down time required and his coat might change, it’s a big thing (to go to the UK).”
“I didn’t know what to expect (after his trip to the UK), to tell you the truth. We didn’t expect him (Nature Strip) to be this good.” - Chris Waller
“It just worked out well, he was there for basically 28 days, he got the job done there. He came back and did his quarantine in a cool, wet, Melbourne climate and then came up here and it’s just a little bit warmer and he looks a picture of health. He’s heading the right way for four weeks’ time.”
Zougotcha toughs it out in Tea Rose
Last-start G2 Silver Shadow S. winner Zougotcha (Zoustar) showed tenacity in spades on Saturday as she dug deep to land her second stakes race in as many starts when she took out the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick.
Ast the field rounded the turn, the Chris Waller-trained daughter of Zoustar was asked to go and win the race and looked likely to go on and chalk up an impressive victory. However, she couldn’t shake off her stablemate Madam Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}), who briefly headed her inside the closing stages, but Zougotcha found more for pressure to come away with a 0.44l victory.
Zougotcha (black and white checkered cap) dug deep to win the G2 Tea Rose S. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
After the race, Waller confirmed the filly would now head towards the G1 Flight S. over 1600 metres and is confident the step up in trip will suit her.
“She had to fight today. The stablemate almost took it away. We wanted to look after her as best we could and space her runs as best we could. Obviously the three runs, this one and the Flight Stakes is the third,” he said.
“I think she will be fine (at 1600 metres) because she settles so well and she certainly wasn’t soft at the end of 1400 (metres) today. I think on a better track she might even improve too. I wouldn’t swap her for anything. She went through her gears. She is obviously a quality horse and it was a good step today (Saturday). She’s just all class, it’s as simple as that.”
“She (Zougotcha) went through her gears. She is obviously a quality horse and it was a good step today (Saturday). She’s just all class, it’s as simple as that.” - Chris Waller
The filly was purchased by Waller and his bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for $500,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the draft of her breeders Widden Stud.
She is out of the Listed-placed Fastnet Rock mare Fast Talker, making her a sister to the Listed Twilight Glow S. winner Persuader, while she also counts fellow Listed winner The Actuary (Sebring) among her half-siblings.
Fast Talker herself is out of the Listed winner Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor {USA}) and she is also the dam of G3 Heath S. winner Crystal Dreamer (Stratum).
Boogie Dancer passes Prelude test
The Peter Moody-trained Boogie Dancer (Sooboog) was one of the surprise packages during the winter and after a lacklustre display first-up this preparation, the 3-year-old filly returned to her sparkling best to win the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield and in doing so provided her Kitchwin Hills-based sire Sooboog with his first stakes winner.
Boogie Dancer hands her sire, Sooboog, his first stakes win in the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Darren Tindale
The daughter of Sooboog won three on the bounce at the backend of her 2-year-old season, culminating with a victory in the VOBIS Gold Ingot. The filly returned as a 3-year-old with a sixth-place finish in the Listed Atlantic Jewel S. at Moonee Valley, but she put that performance behind her to beat Sumatra (Lonhro) by an impressive 3.25l. She’s Licketysplit (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) was a further 1l further adrift in third.
Wylie Dalziel said he was not worried when the rain began to fall in Melbourne and said he was looking forward to seeing the filly run in the G1 Thousand Guineas in two weeks’ time.
“We weren’t too worried about the track, if it had deteriorated that she would get through it nicely and just the barrier was gonna be the issue, but she has won convincingly.” Dalziel said. “I’m just rapped for all the owners and Moods, it’s great.
“’Moods’ said at the 1200 metres she’ll find them abit too sharp. We’ll come back to it, set the program and away we go. So the way she’s won today, we’re off to the Thousand Guineas.”
“’Moods’ (Peter Moody) said she’ll find them abit too sharp. We’ll come back to it, set the program and away we go. So the way she’s won today, we’re off to the Thousand Guineas.” - Wylie Dalziel
Bred by David Johnson’s Rushton Park, the filly was purchased by Dalziel Bloodstock and her trainer for $50,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale in 2021, with Johnson opting to keep a share of the filly.
Boogie Dancer is out of the winless Quest For Fame (GB) mare Search For Fame, making her a half-sister to Miss Exfactor (Your Song) – the winner of the 2020 G3 Birthday Card S.
Boogie Dancer’s second dam, Catecombe (Papal Power {USA}), has thrown four-time stakes winner Impaler (Dracula).
Sooboog is standing at Kitchwin Hills for a fee of $8800 (inc GST).
Sooboog | Standing at Kitchwin Hills
Top Ranked emerges as spring contender
Annabel Neasham has shown an aptitude for buying horses in Europe and turning them into stars in Australia and the trainer looks to have another top-line import on her hands in the shape of Top Ranked (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who broke through for his first victory on these shores in the G3 Bill Richie H. at Randwick on Saturday.
Known in Europe as Top Rank, the 6-year-old arrived in the country having landed a Group 3 in the UK for trainer James Tate and he kicked off his career in Australia with a third-place finish in The Hunter last November.
The Australian Bloodstock-owned 6-year-old entire was only seen once last preparation, when finishing fifth in the G1 Chipping Norton S., but that long time away from the track seemed to have no ill-effects on the son of Dark Angel (Ire) on Saturday and he breezed to a comfortable 1.33l victory over Purple Sector (NZ) (Pins).
Top Ranked (Ire) emerges as a spring contender after his victory in the G3 Bill Richie H. at Randwick | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
With Top Rank’s trainer on a plane to England, Kyle Ryan was left in charge of proceedings and he said the entire would likely head to the G1 Epsom H. on October 1, while jockey Hugh Bowman was equally delighted with the performance.
“It was a real test of a race. The jets were on from a long way out and I just rode him to really hit the line. He started to bring himself into the race from the 600 (metre mark). I was starting to feel pretty confident then,” Bowman said.
“He’s a horse with excellent European form and he came here with a big boom on him and a lot of confidence behind him and he’s yet to disappoint.”
“He’s (Top Ranked) a horse with excellent European form and he came here with a big boom on him and a lot of confidence behind him and he’s yet to disappoint.” - Hugh Bowman
“He sort of went amiss when he ran first-up last preparation but Annabel has been very wise, taken her time with him and let him tell her when he’s ready and it was a lovely starting point for him. Class takes him a long way and I think he’s got a lot of improvement to come.”
Top Ranked is out of the winner Countess Ferrama (GB) (Authorized {Ire}) whose dual Group 2-winning dam Madame Dubois (GB) (Legend Of France {USA}) produced a further nine winners and they are headed by G1 1rish 2000 Guineas winner Indian Haven (GB) (Indian Ridge {Ire}) and the G1 Gran Criterium winner Count Dubois (GB) (Zafonic {USA}).
One Kiss emerges as Guineas contender
The Mark Walker-trained One Kiss (NZ) (Tivaci) emerged as contender for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas contender when she produced an eye-catching performance to break her maiden in the Listed Canterbury Belle S. at Riccarton on Saturday.
Mark Walker | Image courtesy of Waikato Stud
The filly - who was bred and is raced by Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock - was last seen running seventh on debut at Taupo and she looked to have taken a huge step forward on Saturday, sauntering away to beat Perfectly Suited (NZ) (Savile Row {NZ}) by 0.8l.
Walker was delighted with the victory as he set his sights on the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas back at Riccarton on November 12.
“She’s a really progressive sort of filly and that was a good effort to win a stakes race second-up,” Walker said. “It was a lovely ride by Opie and she’s still got improvement to come as we look at a possible tilt at the Group 1 here during Cup Week.”
“It was a lovely ride by Opie and she’s (One Kiss) still got improvement to come as we look at a possible tilt at the Group 1 (New Zealand 1000 Guineas) here during Cup Week.” - Mark Walker
The filly is out of three-time winner Discreet Evening (USA) (Discreet Cat {USA}) and her other winner is Listed scorer Santa Catarina (NZ) (Savabeel).
With this latest victory, the filly handed her Waikato Stud-based sire Tivaci with his third stakes winner and he is standing for a fee of NZ$20,000 (plus GST).