Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Ascot: G1 Winterbottom S., $1,500,000, 1200m
Storming down the outside having got back from his wide gate, Godolphin homebred Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) broke through for his first four Group 1 races on the back of his four victories at Group level.
One of the 17 stakes winners for his multiple Group 1-winning sire who last shuttled to Darley in 2018, Paulele is one of the seven winners produced by the multiple city winner Chatoyant (Flying Spur).
Retired from breeding duties last year (her final foal being the yet to race Exosphere 2-year-old filly Chrysoberyl), Chatoyant is also dam of the G3 Canonbury S. winner Tessera (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) and the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S. winner Montsegur (New Approach {Ire}) - in turn the dam of the dual Group 3 winner Heresy (Street Boss {USA}).
Chatoyant is one of seven winners for the city-placed, two-time winner Decidity (Last Tycoon {Ire}) - also dam of the Group 1 mare Bonaria (Redoute's Choice) and the Group 3 winners Time Out (Rory's Jester) and Legally Bay (Snippets).
The latter has also done a great job at stud, her seven winners including the dual Group 1-winning sprinter Merchant Navy, the Group 2 winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) and the Listed winner Setanta (Fastnet Rock).
Boasting crosses of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Paulele is a descendant of the acclaimed matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}).
Listed Lee-Steere Classic, $125,000, 1400m
Honest and classy, Saintorio (Oratorio) was well-deserving of his stakes race breakthrough, holding up last weekend's G2 WA Guineas form in which he ran third to the star filly Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}).
Bred by Mungrup Stud, he is the 17th stakes winner by their now retired stallion who did a good job standing 17 seasons at stud.
Passed in for $65,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, Saintorio is the first foal for the city winner Leitfaden (Choisir) whose G3 WA Sires' Produce S.-winning grandam Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}) did a great job with her three stakes winners - the triple Group 1 winner Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}), the G2 Perth Cup winner King Canute (Ire) and the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Redwoldt (King Of Kings {Ire}).
Special Harmony has also fared well at stud as the dam of the triple Listed winner Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago), in turn dam of the G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Fangirl (Sebring).
Foaling a Rommel filly in early August, Leitfaden has a colt by that same stallion whilst her 2-year-old, Duo Muso, is a full sister to Saintorio. A member of the Luke Fernie stable, she was fifth at her debut behind the unbeaten Brave Halo (Brave Smash {Jpn}) at Ascot last month.
Saintorio's sire is bred on the same Nureyev (USA)/Haulpak cross as Saintorio's grandam, the Victoria Park winner Leitmotif (Fasliyev {USA}).
Listed A.J. Scahill Cup, $125,000, 2100m
So tough recording his 10th victory - and his third at Listed level - Marocchino (Maschino) dug deep in an exciting finish.
Bred by his trainer Lou Luiciani, Marocchino is is one of the five stakes winners for his Alwyn Park-based, G3 R.J Peters S.-winning sire. His dam is the city winner Comeitbesideme (McFlirt {NZ}), half-sister to the Listed Bunbury Cup winner Whipsaw (Hold That Tiger {USA}).
In late October foaling a full sister to Marocchino having slipped the previous season, Comeitbesideme has another Maschino in the Luiciani stable - the yet to race 2-year-old colt Frappuccino.
Comeitbesideme is a granddaughter of the stakes-placed grandam Luluwa (Francis Bacon {Ire}) who produced the Listed winner Valparaiso (Bianconi {USA}) and this is also the family of the dual Group 1-winning high-class stallion Fastnet Rock.
Caulfield: G2 Zipping Classic, $750,000, 2400m
Looking well all spring on the comeback trail from injury, the 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) was competitive without the best of luck in the majors and this was a well-deserved victory.
Bred by part owner Paul Lanskey, Vow And Declare (who was passed in for $45,000 at the 2017 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale) is one of the 45 stakes winners for his sire who shuttled just twice to Australia - making his way back to the United States and then to Japan.
A half-brother to the Listed Galilee Series Final winner Lycurgus (Star Witness), Vow And Declare is out of the multiple city winner Geblitzt (Testa Rossa) who was also raced by Lanskey.
Earlier this month foaling a filly by Too Darn Hot (GB), Geblitzt produced a Dundeel (NZ) filly last spring and an American Pharoah (USA) filly the previous year with her most recent named foal being the 3-year-old Aperol Blitz (Shalaa {Ire}) - a Nick Ryan-trained filly who was placed in a Flemington jump-out in August.
Geblitzt is one of the six winners for the Group 1-placed Aim For Gold (End Sweep {USA}), half-sister to the Group 3 winner Walking Or Dancing and the Listed winner Irongail (Canny Lad) and to the dam of the Group 1 winners Hauraki (Reset) and Kidnapped (Viscount).
Bred on a 3 X 4 Danzig (USA) cross, Vow And Declare is a descendant of Courtessa (GB) (Supreme Court {GB}), grandam of the acclaimed matriarch Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).
G2 Sandown Guineas, $300,000, 1600m
Proving too good for the boys, See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) was dominant recording her fourth win from nine starts - all of her successes coming at stakes level.
Bred by Aquis Farm and G1G Racing And Breeding, See You In Heaven made her way through the sales ring on two occasions, fetching $27,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast National weanling (purchased by Kestrel Thoroughbreds) and $90,000 as a Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling, bought by Richard and Chantelle Jolly.
See You In Heaven hails from the second crop of her Aquis Farm-based, Caulfield Guineas-winning sire and is one of his two stakes winners.
Last spring visiting Toronado (Ire) after producing a Cliff's Edge colt who makes his way through the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Sale ring, See You Heaven's dam is the dual city winner Shine On Anna (Anabaa {USA}).
Changing hands a couple of years ago for just $6000, Shine On Anna is also dam of the metropolitan winners Annaman (Mossman) and Alaskan Sun (Hinchinbrook). Her dam is the stakes-placed Shine On Me (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}), daughter of the stakes-placed Seranda (Ire) (Petoski {GB}).
A descendant of the star mare Pearl Cap (Fr) (Le Capucin {Fr}), See You In Heaven can boast amongst her relations the Group 1 gallopers Contributer (Ire) and Shaka (GB) (Exit To Nowhere {USA}).
See You Heaven is bred on a 5 X 3 Danzig (USA) cross whilst also carrying duplications of the influential mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}).
G3 Kevin Heffernan S., $200,000, 1400m
In the winner's circle for the first time since his G3 Carbine Club success two spring carnivals ago, Crosshaven (Smart Missile) was tough to the line.
Bred by part-owner Mr D Nakhle and purchased for NZ$80,000 by Lindsay Park from the Haunui Farm draft at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, Crosshaven is one of the 23 stakes winners for his Twin Hills Stud-based sire.
He is one of the five winners (from as many foals to race) for the G2 Concorde S. winner Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) - also dam of the G3 White Robe Lodge S. winner Killarney (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).
Served last spring by Brazen Beau, Irish Colleen has as her fourth dam the multiple Group 1 winner Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).
Crosshaven is line-bred to his sire's fourth dam Moccasin (USA), dam of Apalachee (USA) whose son Motavato (USA) is Crosshaven's second damsire.
G3 Summoned S., $200,000, 1600m
The second of today's stakes winners for Juddmonte's superstar Frankel (GB), My Whisper has had a good spring having also won the G3 Tesio S. on W.S Cox Plate Day.
Also the second Caulfield S.-winning descendant of the great matriarch Mumtaz Begum (Fr) (Blenheim {GB}) - Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) the other - My Whisper is one of her sire's 106 stakes winners.
A homebred for Yulong, she is the first foal for the imported Hersigh (GB) (Poet's Voice {GB}), daughter of the Listed winner Zayn Zen (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}).
In late August producing a filly by Lucky Vega (Ire), Hersigh previously missed to Grunt (NZ) with her 2-year-old filly All At Once by that same stallion being a member of the Snowden stable.
Out of a half-sister to the Listed Hyde S. winner Ennaadd (GB) (King's Best {USA}) from the family of the multiple Group 1 winner Oh So Sharp (Ire) (Kris {GB}), My Whisper boasts crosses of Sadler's Wells (USA), Danzig (USA) and Mr Prospector (USA) as well as crosses of the wonderful mares Where You Lead (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}), Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
G3 Eclipse S., $200,000, 1800m
Part of a good spring carnival for the Michael Moroney stable, Milford (NZ) (Savabeel) reaffirmed his liking of Caulfield recording his third stakes victory at the track.
One of his Waikato Stud-based sire's 127 stakes winners (and his second for the day with Prise de Fer {NZ} successful in New Zealand), he was bred at that farm and sold through their draft for NZ$360,000 to Bruce Perry Bloodstock at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale.
His dam is the unraced Etiquette (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}), full sister to the multiple Group 1 winner Sacred Falls (NZ). Her third dam is the dual Group 3 winner Iguazu (NZ) (Carolingian), also dam of the G3 Thoroughbred Club S. winner Splashing Out (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) - in turn dam of the Group winners Shopaholic (NZ) (Pins), Packing Pins (NZ) (Pins) and Splurge (NZ) (Savabeel).
Boasting crosses of the great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}), Milford is one of the 23 Savabeel stakes winners out of mares by O'Reilly (NZ).
Etiquette is a regular visitor to Savabeel - in fact he is the only stallion she has ever been partnered with. She produced a filly by him last spring whilst her 3-year-old son Savoir Faire (NZ) was - at just his fourth start - fifth in Listed company at Te Rapa today.
Listed Merson Cooper S., $175,000, 1000m
Going right on with the job after an encouraging G3 Maribyrnong Plate second at debut, Lindsay Park's Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA}) did everything right - impressive getting clear late.
The 26th stakes winner for his Little Avondale Stud-based sire, he was bred by D Wallace and sold by Sledmere Stud for $200,000 to the stable at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Line-bred to the 'cousins' Halo (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can), Little Brose is the second last foal produced by the imported Listed winner Mohegan Sky (USA) (Straight Man {USA}) who sadly died only recently with her most recent foal being a Russian Revolution yearling filly.
Also dam of the city winner Kutayha (NZ) (Savabeel), Mohegan Sky is a half-sister to the Listed winner Vous (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}) from a classy US family that has enjoyed local success with the G1 Winter S. winner Absolut Glam (Snowland), the G3 Typhoon Tracy S. winner Jazz Song (Fastnet Rock), the Listed Fireball H. winner Nobby Snip (Snippetson) and the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude winner Miss Gunpowder (Pendragon).
Listed Sandown Cup, $175,000, 3200m
It was an exciting battle over the final 200 metres to this staying test with Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) doing best late.
Bred by Bree Baddiley And Sons and purchased by Tricolours Racing and Syndications for $40,000 from the Landsdowne Park draft at the 2020 NZB Karaka Yearling Sale, Gin Martini was making her Melbourne debut.
The 35th stakes winner for her late sire, the attractive chestnut is out of the winner Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) who has also produced the stakes-placed Nothin' On Me (Not A Single Doubt).
Served last spring by Hello Youmzain (Fr), Tanqueray is a daughter of the dual Group winner Gordon's (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}), half-sister to the G3 Wellington S. winner Foromor (NZ) (St Hilarion {USA}).
Listed Doveton S., $175,000, 1000m
Bred by Lynne Alderson whose daughter is the trainer, Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain) pulled out plenty late to record her sixth victory - and her first at stakes level.
The 16th stakes winner for her Geisel Park-based sire, Jigsaw is the third foal and third winner for the metropolitan winner Demandz (NZ) (Lonhro), also dam of the Listed Tasmanian Oaks runner-up Queen Adele (Adelaide {Ire}).
Sadly losing two of her last three foals, Demandz has a Foxwedge yearling filly. Her dam Loaded Command (Commands) died young having had just that one foal.
This is the family of the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Mid Summer Music (Oamaru Force) and the G1 Belmont Metropolitan H. winner Czaravich (USA) (Nijinsky {Can}).
Jigsaw boasts strong female linebreeding with crosses of Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
Listed Twilight Glow S., $175,000, 1400m
Breaking her maiden in style, Vienna Princess (Snitzel) appreciated being back on top of the ground, winning with a bit in hand.
Stakes winner number 130 for her Arrowfield Stud-based star sire, she was bred by Gerry Harvey and sold through his Baramul Stud draft for $400,000 to Magic Bloodstock and Associates at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Vienna Princess is the first foal for the Kembla Grange maiden winner Graciousness (Street Cry {Ire}) whose second foal is the Matthew Smith-trained yet to race 2-year-old Cordiality (Zoustar) who was purchased by Mystery Downs for $300,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast this year.
The second Caulfield stakes winner in a row (Jigsaw by Manhattan Rain the other) line-bred to the great mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}), Vienna Princess is a granddaughter of the stakes-placed Lady Capel (Last Tycoon {Ire}) whose nine winners include the G1 Chipping Norton S. winner Casino Prince, the G3 Tramway H. winner Tagus (Encosta De Lago) and the Listed winners Lord Of The Land (Timber Country {USA}) and Metallurgical (Redoute's Choice).
Graciousness foaled a full brother to Vienna Princess in August and she also has a yearling colt by Written Tycoon.
Rosehill: G3 Festival S., $200,000, 1500m
Getting clear from the 150 metres and holding on gamely, the Emirates Park homebred Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}) did a good job at his first run since mid-September.
A four-time winner from 14 starts, Dajraan is the 106th stakes winner for his star Juddmonte Stud-based sire - and his 13th (from 71 runners) in Australia.
And his dam has had her name in the limelight as well - Mossfun (Mossman) being the winner of the 2014 G1 Golden Slipper S.
Recently producing a Capitalist filly and last spring an I Am Invincible colt, Mossfun has a 2-year-old colt by that same stallion in the Hawkes stable; Mathkhoora second in a Randwick trial late last month.
Mossfun is one of the five winners (from as many foals to race) for the unraced Eye For Fun (Snitzel) who also produced the Singapore-based triple Listed winner Aramco (Magic Albert). This is also the family of the successful stallion Brave Warrior.
Listed Sand and Soil Cup, $160,000, 2000m
Sneaking up along the inside from the rails having settled at the rear, Bonny Ezra (NZ) (Road To Rock) recorded a game win at nice odds.
A homebred for the Gudsell family, he is the fifth stakes winner for his late sire who is best known for siring the Hong Kong star Beauty Generation (NZ).
Bonny Ezra is the second foal produced by the two-time stakes-placed, three-time winner Ascolini (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}) whose dam is the G3 Auraria S. winner Ascona (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}).
Not returned to the Stud Book since being served by Keano (NZ) in 2011, Ascolini is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Astaire (NZ) (Groom Dancer {USA}) and to the dam of the G2 Queen Of The South S. winner Atlantis Dream (NZ) (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the G1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me {USA}), Bonny Ezra is line-bred to the G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) via her outstanding sons Bold Reason (USA) and Never Bend (USA).
Listed Starlight S., $160,000, 1100m
A lightly raced and promising Godolphin homebred, Zethus (Exceed And Excel) brought his solid Melbourne carnival form to Sydney with this smart performance.
One of the 205 stakes winner for one of Australia's longest serving stallions, Zethus won last year's G3 Canonbury S. and is one of the four winners for his stakes-placed dam Melpomena (Elusive Quality {USA}) - also dam of the G2 Magic Night S. winner Calliope (Exceed And Excel), in turn dam of the G2 Danehill S. winner Kallos (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}).
Another of Melpomena's daughters - the stakes-placed Thalia (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}) - is dam of the Listed winners Bacchanalia (Exceed And Excel) and Aquitaine (Exceed And Excel).
A grandson of the G1 VRC Oaks winner Bulla Borghese (Belong To Me {USA}), Zethus hails from the same family as today's Listed ATC Cup winner Bonny Ezra (NZ) (Road To Rock). He boasts a cross of the terrific mare Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}) via her high-achieving sons His Majesty (USA) and Graustark (USA).
Melpomena foaled a Bivouac filly in mid-September with her previous foal being a filly by Harry Angel (Ire). Her 3-year-old Nanshe (Astern) has trialled nicely for the James Cummings stable.
