Maurice lands new Group 1 winner
Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Jpn) gained a new Group 1 winner in Japan on Sunday when Geraldina (Jpn) found victory in the G1 Queen Elizabeth II Cup (2200 metres) at Hanshin, becoming a fourth elite-level winner for her sire.
The field was led in a solid tempo by Rosa Noir (Jpn) (Manhattan Cafe {Jpn}), who held a 2l advantage as they entered the homestraight. From her rearfield position, Geraldina came wide to challenge and eventually powered clear to win by 1.75l from Win Marilyn (Jpn) (Screen Hero {Jpn}) in second, with Lilac (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}) a nose away in third.
The sole foreign-bred in the field, Yulong-owned Irish raider Magical Lagoon (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) trailed the field home in last position.
Bred and raced by Northern Farm, Geraldina is out of the Deep Impact (Jpn) mare Gentildonna (Jpn). A winner of the Japanese Triple Crown in 2012, Gentildonna is a multiple champion, boasting one of the best pedigrees internationally.
She herself is out of Donna Blini (GB) (Bertolini {USA}), an elite-level winner of the Cheveley Park S. in the UK, who is a three-quarter sister to Japanese Group 1 winner Roger Barows (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}).
With this latest win, Maurice now has an equal number of Group 1 winners in Japan and Australia, with his leading Australian progeny being G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Mazu and triple-Group 1 winner Hitotsu.
Maurice, whose oldest Australian progeny are 4-year-olds, really began to gain traction as a sire when his first crop hit their Classic year, with his fee rising steadily from $33,000 in his first year to stand at Arrowfield this year for $82,500 (inc GST).
Remedies set sire’s task
After an impressive debut victory at Cranbourne on Saturday, in which she scored a facile 3.5l win over Furosshi (Street Boss {USA}), Godolphin 2-year-old Remedies (Sepoy) has been set the task of emulating her sire in next year’s Blue Diamond series.
Speaking on RSN927 on Sunday morning, Godolphin Australia’s Managing Director Vin Cox said:
“The Blue Diamond series is an obvious target. She’s a VOBIS filly and she’s by Sepoy and Caulfield would be very suitable for particularly the 1000 metres Preview for fillies early in that campaign.
“She’s always been a very attractive, sharp, smart, precocious-looking weanling and yearling coming through the system. It was good to see her do that yesterday (Saturday).”
Maher and Eustace look west
Trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace will look to Perth with their useful mare Steinem (GB) (Frankel {GB}). Last seen running second in the G2 Matriarch S. (2000 metres) at Flemington on November 5, Steinem will target the G1 Northerly S. (1800 metres), worth $1.5 million, early next month.
Steinem (GB) (yellow cap) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We thought she ran terrifically well in the Matriarch Stakes and that convinced us to take her there,” Eustace told Racing.com.
Steinem finished 2l adrift of Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) in the Matriarch, whose time of 2:01.15 was 0.85s faster than Zaaki’s (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) in the G1 Champions S.
WA’s challengers revealed
The challengers have been announced for next year’s inaugural Western Trilogy race series, Australia’s first tri-code slot racing event; $4 million of the total $5.5 million is on offer in The Quokka, to be held at Ascot on April 15, 2023.
Racing and Wagering Western Australia Chief Executive Officer Ian Edwards said in a press release:
“We’ve had registrations from racing figureheads, corporate bookmakers, well-known businesses and leaders in the entertainment world.
“Together, they create a rich lineup of challengers for Western Australia’s richest-ever racing weekend this autumn.
“We look forward to hosting a sensational series of thoroughbred, harness and greyhound races and welcoming nationwide visitors to our glorious state.”
Vekoma filly tops Keeneland Book 4 opener
A total of 246 horses changed hands during the sixth session of Keeneland November for a gross of US$9,596,900 (AU$14,317,000). During the equivalent session last year, 271 head brought US$10,507,100 (AU$15,675,000). The average was up slightly from US$38,772 (AU$57,800) in 2021 to US$39,012 (AU$58,200) and the median increased from US$26,000 (AU$38,800) to US$30,000 (AU$44,700). The clearance rate was also down from 81.63 per cent to 76.16 per cent.
Through the first six days of selling 1287 horses have summoned US$192,033,900 (AU$286,489,000), a large increase from last year when 1391 head brought US$176,713,100 (AU$263,633,000). The average increased from US$127,040 (AU$189,500) in 2021 to US$149,210 (AU$222,600) and the median was also up from US$75,000 (AU$111,900) to US$77,000 (AU$114,900). The clearance rate was 79.58 per cent for 2021 but is down to 74.91 per cent this year so far.
Grovendale Sales consigned the session-topper, a filly from the first crop of multiple-elite-level winner Vekoma (USA) (Candy Ride {Arg}) (Hip 2205) who sold to Frankie’s Stable for US$215,000 (AU$320,700) late in Saturday's (local) opening session of Book 4 of the Keeneland November Sale.
“She is a superstar physical,” said Grovendale's Chance Timm. “Those kind bring a premium and break out.”
Commenting on the day, Timm’s added: “It has definitely slowed down a bit here in Book 4 compared to earlier in the week. It just doesn't have as much traffic as you'd like to see, but same story. When you lead ones up like that, you can't hide them. Everybody's there for them.”
The day's top mare was the 3-year-old Street Slayer (USA) (Street Sense {USA}) (Hip 2166), purchased by JCB Stables for US$170,000 (AU$253,600). Selling as a broodmare prospect, the bay is a half to Graded stakes winner Biddy Duke (USA) (Bayern {USA}).
The Keeneland November Sale continues through to Wednesday (local). It will be followed by a single-session Horses of Racing Age Sale on Thursday (local).
Improved clearance rate at Arqana November Yearling Sale
From a smaller catalogue than 2021, Arqana's November Yearling Sale posted an improved clearance rate of 84 per cent for 115 sold from 137 offered. As a result, the gross was €730,500 (AU$1.12 million), while the average edged up to €6352 (AU$9820) (up 0.3 per cent). The median was unchanged at €5000 (AU$7730). There were over 200 yearlings offered in 2021.
Topping proceedings was a filly by Toronado (Ire) (Lot 74B) who was knocked down to Equos Racing/Josephine Soudan for €27,000 (AU$41,700). The bay was offered by Haras d'Ellon, and she was out of the winning Lawman (Fr) mare Valombreuse (Fr), herself a half-sister to the dual Group 3-placed Rajastani (Ire) (Zamindar {USA}).
Dream Ahead tops Bearstone roster
Dream Ahead (USA) anchors the 2023 Bearstone Stud roster in the UK and will stand for an unchanged fee of £7500 (AU$13,200). He is the sire of 32 stakes winners and four Group 1 winners worldwide led by G1 Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint heroine Glass Slippers (GB).
Joining the Bearstone roster is former Darley stallion Belardo (Ire), who will stand in the UK next year for £6500 (AU$11,500). Belardo, who shuttles to Haunui Farm, is the sire of two stakes winners in the Southern Hemisphere, headlined by G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Verona (NZ).
Phoenix Stakes hero Ebro River retired
Juvenile Group 1 winner Ebro River (Ire), a son of Galileo Gold (GB), will stand in France at Haras de la Haie Neuve in 2023, Jour de Galop reported over the weekend. The Al Shaqab Racing colourbearer's fee will be announced at a later date.
Bred by Tally-Ho Stud, the chestnut was sold for €75,000 (AU$115,900) during Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale to Charlie Gordon Watson on behalf of Al Shaqab. Trained by Hugo Palmer, who also trained G1 2000 Guineas winner Galileo Gold, Ebro River scored the biggest win of his career in the Curragh's G1 Phoenix S.
The juvenile feature is a consistent sire-producing race, with the 2020 edition won by Yulong Stud’s Lucky Vega (Ire).
Cumani with the local hope
Local trainer Matt Cumani is hoping to secure victory in the $500,000 Ballarat Cup this Saturday with Future Score (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}) by employing the same formula that saw him win the 2020 Listed Cranbourne Cup.
Owned by OTI Racing, Cumani will send Future Score into this weekend’s feature second-up, with the 8-year-old gelding having run seventh in Flemington’s Listed Cup Day Plate at the start of this month.
“He’s an older horse but I feel he’s going as well as he was then. It’s been well documented that he was taken out of last year’s Melbourne Cup by the vet but since then he’s finished third in an Adelaide Cup and fourth in a Sydney Cup so he’s shown he’s fit,” Cumani told Racing.com.
“I’m hopeful he’ll acquit himself well in the Ballarat Cup. I thought maybe as he gets older he might be too dour to tackle it second-up but I’m going in with a bit more confidence going into the race after his first-up run.”
Cup suspensions
Two jockeys, Jamie Mott and Ethan Brown found themselves suspended for rides given on Cranbourne Cup Day.
In addition to an eight-meeting ban, Mott was fined $2200 for excessive use of the whip on Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) in the feature race itself.
Brown was handed a 15-meeting ban for careless riding earlier in the card aboard the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Greece (I Am Invincible), after pleading guilty to causing interference around the home turn. He will be free to ride from December 3.
