Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Caulfield: G1 Thousand Guineas, $1,000,000, 1600m
As others were making their runs out wider, the cleverly ridden Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}) was bravely sustaining her run closer to the inside - doing a great job claiming Group 1 success at her seven start.
Second to Zougotcha (Zoustar) in the G2 Tea Rose S. two starts back, she was a $150,000 purchase for Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Bred by Katom and from Coolmore Stud's draft, Madame Pommery is a member of the third crop of her former shuttling sire, a G1 Prix Morny-winning son of Scat Daddy (USA).
She is the fourth foal and one of three winners for the lightly raced Cancel (Exceed And Excel) - winner of two of just five starts. In late August producing a colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), she missed last year with her 2020 filly by Pierro fetching $200,000 to the bid of Stephen Marsh at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Cancel is one of the eight winners (from as many to race) for the twice stakes-placed, multiple city winner Cataclysm (Marauding {NZ}) who was so well-represented by three stakes winners - the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Earthquake (Exceed And Excel), the Listed Christmas S. winner Pandemic (Sepoy) and the Listed Desirable S. winner Palomares (Commands).
Line-bred to the great mares Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Madame Pommery can also boast amongst her relations the stakes winners El Cambio (Commands), Complicate (Commands), Spinney (Octagonal {NZ}) and Excellent Reward (Exceed And Excel).
G3 Coongy Cup, $200,000, 2000m
Returning to the scene of his G3 Norman Robinson S. victory 12 months ago, Gunstock (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) was an easy winner at only his second run since contesting last year's G1 VRC Derby.
Bred by Cambridge Stud's Brendan and Jo Lindsay, Gunstock made his way through the sales ring on two occasions: the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale fetching NZ$80,000 and the 2020 Inglis Ready2Race Sale selling for $135,000.
One of the 38 stakes winners for his much-missed sire Tavistock (NZ), he is one of the 18 stakes winners bred on the successful Tavistock/Zabeel (NZ) cross - one which provides for the duplication of the aptly named matriarch Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Sadler's Wells (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
A full brother to the twice Group-placed The Irishman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Gunstock is out of the unraced Zeranti (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) whose grandam is the high-class Perth mare Hold That Smile (Haulpak), winner of the G1 Karrakatta Plate.
That full sister to the triple Group winner Carry A Smile made her mark at stud producing the Listed winner Snapshots (Success Express {USA}) whilst her other descendants include the triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock), the Group winners Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}), Oracy (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Oratorio (Stravinsky {USA}) and Chabaud (NZ) (Looking At Lucky {USA}) - as well as the Listed winners The Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), Lady Maroal (NZ) (Power {GB}) and Discorsi.
Gunstock is a descendant of the acclaimed broodmare Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}). His dam Zeranti was not served last spring having produced a colt by Belardo (Ire). Her previous foal died with her most recent produce being The Englishman (NZ) (also by Tavistock {NZ}) who was second at his Kensington debut for the Snowden stable in late August.
G3 Blue Sapphire S., $200,000, 1200m
Remaining undefeated after his first crack not only at stakes-class but at beyond restricted grade, Grand Impact (NZ) (Santono Aladdin {Jpn}) relished the Heavy conditions, recording an impressive victory.
Bred by Okaharau Station, Grand Impact is one of the 62 members of the debut crop of his Rich Hill Stud-based, G1 Yasuda Kinen-winning sire, a son of the great Deep Impact (Jpn).
He is the second and sadly final foal for the unraced Serena Slam (NZ) whose first foal Serena's Spirit (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) looks close to a win having been placed at each of her last three starts in New Zealand.
A half-sister to four winners, Serena Slam is out of the winner Black Cat (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}), a half-sister to the Listed Toy Show H. winner Catreign (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) from the family of the Group 1 winners Determined King (USA) (Determined Man {USA}), Louis Quatorze (USA) (Sovereign Dancer {USA}) and Royal Indy (USA) (A.P. Indy {USA}).
The 310th stakes winner line-bred to Storm Cat (USA), Grand Impact also boasts duplications of Mr Prospector (USA) and Nijinsky II (Can).
G3 Ladies' Day Vase, $200,000, 1600m
The first two-time winner of this race, Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) was tough to the line at only her second run back from a spell and at her first attempt on Heavy going.
A $60,000 purchase for Wilde Racing from the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, she was sold by her breeders Miranda Park (Gary O’Meara) who happily remained in the ownership.
One of the 14 stakes winners for her dual Group 1-winning, Coolmore Stud-based sire, Sirileo Miss is one of the seven winners (from as many to race) for the excellent producer She's Sirius (Galileo {Ire}) who recently produced a King's Legacy filly.
Also dam of the stakes-placed Sophia's Choice (Fastnet Rock) and three metropolitan winners, She's Sirius was not served the previous season having lost a Merchant Navy colt; her most recent foal being the yet to race 3-year-old She's Divine (Divine Prophet).
The winner of two races, She's Sirius is one of the six winners for the city winner Canicula (Rory's Jester) who also produced the Listed Ottawa S. winner Spectrolite (Stratum). Canicula's dam is the Listed Gosford Slipper winner Hit It Star (Hit It Benny), also dam of the Listed Reginald Allen winner Hitapotomoss (Twig Moss {Fr}).
Warwick Farm: G3 Gloaming S., $500,000, 1600m
Showing plenty of heart in an exciting three-way finish, Sharp 'N' Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) brought his excellent New Zealand and Brisbane form to Sydney.
Bred by Gerry Harvey and purchased by Rogerson Bloodstock for NZ$55,000 from Book 2 of the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, he is one of the 10 stakes winners for his Westbury Stud-based sire, a Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire).
His dam, Queen Margaret (NZ) (Swiss Ace), raced just the once and sadly died last year having produced just one other foal, a yet to be named full sister to Sharp 'N' Smart.
It was a good day for Swiss Ace as a broodmare sire, that Westbury Stud-based G1 Oakleigh Plate winner also sire of the dam of the G3 Blue Sapphire S. winner Grand Impact (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) at Caulfield.
Boasting Mr Prospector (USA) and Lyphard (USA) crosses, Sharp 'N' Smart boasts amongst his close relations the stakes winners Absalon (Mossman), Sir Ernesto (Danehill {USA}), Grazia (GB) (Sharpo {GB}) and Angling (Lure {USA}) as well as the multiple Group 1-winning stallion Halling (USA).
