Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Ascot: G1 Furphy Railway S., $1,500,000, 1600m
It was win number nine from 14 starts for the always gallant Trix Of The Trade (Trade Fair {GB}) who has now added one of Perth's biggest races to his impressive record.
A homebred for the Robinson family, he is one of the 18 stakes winners for his G3 The Minstrel S winning-sire who died in 2018. There are just 19 members of his final crop and this talented galloper is one of them.
Bred on a 3 X 4 Danehill (USA) cross with duplications of the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}) and Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}), Trix Of The Trade is one of just three foals for the unraced My Name's Trixie (Passenger) who died young.
Whilst her second foal Tricky Sessions (Sessions) passed away before racing, her first is Tricky Trix (Universal Ruler) who won five of his 16 starts.
My Name's Trixie is out of a half-sister to the Listed winner Oxidation (Metal Storm {Fr}) and to the dam of the stakes winners Beat The Storm (Scenic {Ire}) and Like An Eagle (Oratorio).
Trix Of The Trade was the second Perth stakes winner for the day descending from the influential mare Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}) - Sniparoochy (Snippetson) the other.
G2 Sky Racing Western Australian Guineas, $500,000, 1600m
Making up for her shock defeat in the Listed Burgess Queen S., Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) was back to her brilliant best with this dominant victory - her fifth (all at stakes level) from just six starts.
A homebred for the Walsh family's Amelia Park, she is one of the three Australian stakes winners from just 24 local runners for her sire, the Aga Khan G1 Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere winner who has had 67 stakes winners overall.
Amelia's Jewel is the first foal for the stakes-placed import Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), half-sister to the G2 Pearl S. winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Athasi S. winner Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
Unfortunately, failing to get in foal in 2020 and 2021, Bumbasina has a Blue Point (Ire) yearling colt whilst her Merchant Navy 2-year-old True Heroes - a $160,000 Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale purchase for Yenrise Pty Ltd - has been out of the placings in a couple of trials for the Sean and Jake Casey stable.
A descendant of the legendary matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}), Amelia's Jewel is by a stallion out of a mare bred on the same Busted (GB)/Danehill (USA) cross.
Listed Carbine Club of WA S., $125,000, 1400m
In town since Monday, the former Victorian Minsk Moment (I Am Invincible) charged late to secure his first stakes victory at his first run for Adam Durrant having previously been a member of the Chris Waller stable.
Three starts ago winning the Dual Choice Plate at Geelong, Minsk Moment was bred by Keith Biggs and T Russell and sold, via the Yarraman Park Stud draft, to James Bester and Coolmore Stud for $575,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is now back with Biggs and several other owners - including Yarraman Park - having been purchased for $400,000 on an Inglis Digital May (Late) Online Sale; topping that sale with Biggs keen to eventually stand him at stud.
The 86th stakes winner for his Yarraman Stud-based sire, Minsk Moment is the first foal for the two-time Group 3-placed, dual-city winner Dancing Express (Oratorio) who was also bred and raced by Biggs.
Not enjoying a great deal of luck at stud lately - slipping at each of her last two seasons - Dancing Express has a yet to be named 2-year-old Hellbent colt (a three-quarter brother to Minsk Moment) whilst her 3-year-old Hellavadancer by that same stallion is showing good promise for the Kris Lees stable - winning two of her first five starts.
Dancing Express is a half-sister to the Listed WA Breeders' Classic winner Stagnite (Danehill Express) out of a half-sister to the G1 Queensland Derby runner-up Lords A Leaping (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
A descendant of the famed matriarch Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}), Minsk Moment can also boast amongst his relations the G1 New Zealand Derby winner Coniston Bluebird (Scenic {Ire}).
Listed Crown Perth - Jungle Mist Classic, $125,000, 1200m
Building an impressive record, Sniparoochy (Snippetson) broke through for her first stakes success at her 17th outing. Overall she has won eight races including her last four in a row.
Bred by Scenic Lodge and sold through their Perth Magic Millions Yearling Sale draft for $67,500 to Millfields Park, she is the 15th stakes winner for her dual-Listed-winning Scenic Lodge-based sire.
She is the second of only two foals for the dual-city winner (from just 10 starts) Mamaroochy (Duporth) who died young in 2019 with her other foal being the Pinjarra juvenile winner Bubaroochy (also by Snippetson). Mamaroochy is one of five winners produced by the triple-city winner Wishes (NZ) (Danehill {USA}).
Also grandam of the Listed Matrice S. winner It's Been A Battle (Nicconi), Wishes is out of the winning Marscay mare Verscay whose great-grandson is the G1 JJ Atkins S. winner Rothfire (Rothesay).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Danzig (USA), Sniparoochy is a descendant of the influential mare Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}) and her dam is bred on a 6 X 6 cross of that mare's daughter Fair Freedom (GB) (Fair Trial {GB}) - fourth dam of Duporth's sire Red Ransom (USA).
Kembla Grange: The Gong, $1,000,000, 1600m
Tough off a wide run, Riodini (NZ) (Proisir) continued a good recent run for his Rich Hill Stud-based sire who this year sired a historic G1 NZ 1000 and 2000 Guineas double.
One of that Choisir stallion's nine stakes winners, Riodini (who won the 2019 G3 Bonecrusher S.) is a homebred for Alan Galbraith QC. He is the first foal for the three-time winner Giardini (NZ) (Perfectly Ready) whose second foal Allora Enzo (NZ) (also by Proisir) has shown promise for the Eagle Farm stables of Steven O'Dea and Matthew Hoysted.
Served last spring by Circus Maximus (Ire) after her previous Proisir foal was sadly born dead, Giardini is a half-sister to the G2 Hawke's Bay Guineas winner Sir Andrew (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}) out of a daughter of the G3 Ladies Mile winner Echo Lass (NZ) (Prince Echo {Ire}) - dam of the G1 All Aged S. winner Des's Dream (NZ) (Dahar {USA}).
Riodini is bred on a 4 X 4 Danehill (USA) cross with duplications of the terrific mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
Pukekohe Park: G2 Dunstan Feeds Auckland Thoroughbred Breeders' S., NZ$150,000, 1400m
Favourite on the strength of her G3 Taranaki Breeders' S. victory early last month, Darci La Bella (NZ) (Darci Brahma (NZ)) again proved a class above her rivals - racing away from the 200-metre mark to win in convincing style.
One of the 57 stakes winners for The Oaks Stud-based sire - a stalwart of New Zealand breeding - she is one of the four winners produced by the Metropolitan winner Bellaroof (NZ) (Maroof {USA}) - also dam of the G2 Challenge S. and G3 Arawa S. winner Tavi Mac (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
The final foal of her dam, a granddaughter of the dual-Listed winner Highden Belle (NZ) (Pevero {Ire}), Darci La Bella is a homebred for the McCallum and Sharrock families.
The granddam of Highden Belle is the great producer Belle Time (NZ) (Summertime {GB}) - dam of the feature-race winners Asgard (NZ) (Hermes {GB}), Chiming (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}), Honey Belle (NZ) (Better Honey {GB}) and Son Of Cyrus (NZ) (Cyrus {Ire}).
G3 Pukekohe Traders Counties Cup, NZ$130,000, 2100m
A determined winner after engaging in an exciting battle with her stablemate Self Obsession (NZ) (Shocking), Aromatic (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) was deserving of a stakes victory having three times been placed in black-type company.
The seventh stakes winner for her late sire, she is one of the three winners produced by the G3 Taranaki Cup winner Vickezzchardonnay (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), also dam of the stakes-placed Splendido (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).
Not served last spring after foaling a Wrote (Ire) filly with her previous foal being an Eminent (Ire) filly, Vickezzchardonnay is one of the eight winners for her unplaced dam Our Rosalee (NZ) (Conquistarose {USA}) - also dam of the Listed winner Fifty Fifty (NZ) (Justice Prevails) and The Mighty Finn (NZ) (McGinty {NZ}) who won this same race 23 years ago.
Bred by TV Rider, Aromatic was purchased by David Ellis for NZ$160,000 from the Milan Park draft at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
G3 Haunui Farm Counties Bowl, NZ$110,000, 1100m
Sparingly raced for a 5-year-old, Letzbeglam (Snitzel) was back into the winner's circle for the first time since her success in the 2020 G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) at Caulfield.
A $280,000 purchase for Cambridge Stud from the Vinery Stud draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and is one of her sire's 129 stakes winners... and his second for the day.
Last seen in Australia when racing well during Queensland's winter carnival, Letzbeglam is one of four winners (from as many to race) for the imported winner Miss Charming (USA) (Forestry {USA}) whose G3 Senorita S.-winning dam Charm A Gendarme (USA) (Batonnier {USA}) also produced the dual-Group 1 winner Tout Charmant (USA) (Slewvescent {USA}) - in turn dam of the G2 Fritchie S. winner Dancing House (USA) (Tapit {USA}).
Last month foaling a full sister to Letzbeglam, Miss Charming had another Snitzel - a colt - last spring whilst her previous foal is the yet-to-race 2-year-old Offensive Charm (Invader), a member of the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable.
Her 3-year-old daughter Hell Hound (Hellbent) is also trained by Price/Kent Jnr and has won two of her first five starts, finishing a close fifth in two stakes races over the recent Melbourne spring carnival.
Her first foal is the stakes-placed Snazz 'N' Charm - another Snitzel also still racing; winning at Ipswich in August.
Letzbeglam is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Storm Bird (USA) whilst also carrying three strains of His Majesty (USA).
Listed Barfoot & Thompson Challenge S., NZ$90,000, 1100m
Named after her high achieving third dam, Ethereal Star (Snitzel) impressed charging down the centre of the track to record a dominant victory at just her second outing.
A NZ$600,000 graduate of this year's New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale - where she was purchased from the Blandford Lodge draft by Forsman Racing, Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) and Bevan Smith Bloodstock, she is stakes winner number 129 for her Arrowfield Stud-based four-time Australian Champion Sire.
Bred by JML Bloodstock, Ethereal Star is the first winner for the G3 Sunline Vase and G3 Ethereal (how apt!) S. winner Eleonora (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) whose unraced dam Sopra Tutto (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) also produced the triple-Group winner Supera (NZ) (Savabeel).
And Sopra Tutto's dam is the much admired Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}) whose four Group 1-winning exploits need no introduction!
This is one of New Zealand's finest families, Ethereal's dam being the four-time Group winner Romanee Conti (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), three-quarter sister to the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Grand Echezeaux (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who in turn produced the five-time-Group 1-winning high-class stallion Darci Brahma (NZ).
Served last year by Wootton Bassett (GB), Eleonora missed the previous season with her prior foal Vincetta (I Am Invincible) having just the one unplaced run for the Chris Waller stable.
Sportsbet-Ballarat: Listed Sportsbet Ballarat Cup, $500,000, 2000m
Recording his first Australian win on the back of good runs in a number of spring carnival features, Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) is now a dual-stakes winner having taken out the G3 Anniversary H. at Trentham in January.
To date the sole stakes winner for his Windsor Park Stud-based multiple-Group-winning sire, Bankers Choice was bred Okaharau Station Ltd.
Bred on a 3 X 3 cross of Danehill (USA), he is one of three winners (from as many named foals) for the winner Signorina (NZ) (Conatus) whose closest stakes-winning relation is her fourth dam’s dual-Group 1-winning half-sister Magic Flute (Adraan {GB}).
Also dam of the stakes-placed Jodelin Gal (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who was sixth in today's G2 Thoroughbred Breeders' S. at Pukekohe, Signorina was served last spring by Vadamos (Fr) and Ace High having previously foaled a colt by Time Test (GB).
Despite not having many daughters at stud, Bankers Choice's well-related damsire Conatus has managed to have five stakes winners as a broodmare sire - from just 95 runners and 54 winners.
