Cover image courtesy of Race Images – Megan Liefting
Te Rapa: G3 Eagle Technology S., NZ$85,000, 1600m
Holding off a late charge from Sinarahma (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), Prise de Fer (NZ) (Savabeel) was game recording the 10th win of his 38-start career - and his fourth at Group level.
One of the 127 stakes winners for Waikato Stud’s G1 W.S Cox Plate-winning stalwart, Prise de Fer was bred by Raffles Dancers and purchased by Te Akau for NZ$100,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale.
He is one of the five winners produced by the unraced Foil (Snippets), also dam of the G2 Sapphire S. winner Belong To Many (Belong To Me {USA}) whose son Native Soldier (Sepoy) - now at stud in Europe - won two Group 3 races.
Now retired, Foil - a descendant of the influential Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}) - is a half-sister to the G1 The Goodwood H. winner Sword (Switch In Time {Ire}).
Listed Eagle Memorial, NZ$65,000, 1500m
Getting his nose out late in an exciting finish, Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) continued the good recent run for his Rich Hill Stud-based sire - becoming that son of Choisir's 10th stakes winner.
A homebred for C W Devine, Waitak is the first foal for the two-time winner Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking) whose dam is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Sendeed (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}).
Having as her third dam the G1 Newmarket H. winner Desirable (Without Fear {Fr}), Repo Bay was not served last spring having foaled a full brother to Waitak.
Carrying three Danehill (USA) strains, Waitak is also line-bred to the influential mares Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}).
Waitak is the first stakes winner for the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Shocking as a broodmare sire.
Gold Coast: Listed Tattersall's Classic, $150,000, 1200m
Swamping her rivals out wide, Me Me Lagarde (Star Turn) did a fine job recording the fourth win of her nine-start career.
A homebred for Gerry Harvey - who also bred Saturday's Caulfield stakes winner Vienna Princess (Snitzel) - Me Me Lagarde won last year's Listed Gold Edition Plate and is one of the five stakes winners for her Vinery Stud-based sire.
Passed in for $70,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Me Me Lagarde is one of the six winners produced by the Group 3-placed Roedean (Flying Spur) who was first across the line in a G1 Blue Diamond S. only to later lose the race on a positive swab.
Last spring served by Ole Kirk and Star Turn, Roedean has colts coming through by All Too Hard and Astern - and she is also dam of the stakes-placed Hoylonny (Lonhro) and the tough Gauteng (More Than Ready {USA}), winner of 19 races.
Roedean is a half-sister to the dam of the dual Listed winner Balf's Choice (Written Tycoon) from the family of stakes winners Status Symbol (Hemingway {Ire}) and Prime Address (Alzao {USA}).
Listed Tattersall's Recognition S., $150,000, 1350m
Digging deep when challenged late, Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo's Gift {NZ}) showed the heart that has seen him win 14 races with this success the 8-year-old's third at stakes level.
Bred by Shipton Lodge, he is one of the two stakes winners for his late sire, a son of Zabeel (NZ).
His dam is the unplaced Horshoe (Commands) who produced only three foals, one of the others being Bryannbo's Gift's (NZ) other stakes winner Steel Frost who was twice successful in Listed company.
Horshoe is a daughter of the Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner Romare (Marscay) from the family of the big-race winners Rothfire (Rothesay) and Riverina Charm (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
The sire of Emerald Kingdom is bred on a Sir Tristram (Ire)/Danehill (USA) cross, the opposite to his dam.
Morphettville: Listed City Of Marion S., $107,250, 1200m
Really letting loose out wide late, Diamonds (Rich Enuff) broke through for her first stakes success at her 27th start - recording her seventh win.
The third stakes winner for her Woodside Park-based sire, she was bred by that farm and purchased from their draft by Ryan Balfour Racing for $200,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
A three-quarter sister to the stakes-placed, multiple city (Australia and Singapore) winner Masthead (Written Tycoon), Diamonds is one of the seven winners for the city-placed winner Balsamico (Redoute's Choice) whose granddaughter Written Dash (by Rich Enuff's sire Written Tycoon) won the G3 Typhoon Tracy S.
Balsamico is one of the six winners for the Listed Red Roses S. winner Laudemio (Alzao {USA}), grandam of the G1 TJ Smith S. winner Sizzling and third dam of the Listed Member's Cup winner Bonaparte (Pierro).
Diamonds was the third stakes winner for the day line-bred to Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) who fares best as a line-breeding subject when appearing via Redoute's Choice and Try My Best (USA) as she does in Diamonds' pedigree.
Wanganui: Listed Wanganui Cup, NZ$65,000, 2040m
La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) really wanted this race - once challenged finding plenty!
A homebred for her part-owner N M Leicester, the tough 5-year-old is the 88th stakes winner for her former shuttling sire who calls Dalham Hall Stud home.
She is one of the three winners for the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas placegetter Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) who has also produced the smart Hong Kong galloper Happy Index (Elusive Quality {USA}).
Served last spring by Belardo (Ire) after foaling a Ribchester (Ire) filly, Tsarina Belle is one of the 11 winners for the metropolitan winner Empress Belle (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) who produced another three stakes placegetters as well as the dam of NZ Horse of the Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands).
Bred on a 3 X 3 cross of Nureyev (USA), La Flora Belle is also line-bred to the great mare Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) via her high-achieving sons Secretariat (USA) and Sir Gaylord (USA).
