Gin Martini ends stakes wait
Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) relished the step up in trip for trainer John Sargent in the Listed Sandown Cup (3200 metres) at Caulfield, a third victory in the race for jockey Craig Williams. It’s been a frustrating path to a first stakes success for the 4-year-old mare, who was an impressive third last season in the G1 Australian Oaks and has been knocking on the black-type door since her juvenile days.
Initially outpaced as the race began to develop in earnest at the 400-metre mark, Gin Martini began to rally with 200 metres to run. As the afterburners kicked in, the youngest in the field poked her nose ahead with 200 metres left to run and outstayed her rivals, finishing 0.3l ahead of Team Captain (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), with Good Idea (So You Think {NZ}) 0.2l further away.
Gin Martini (NZ) wins the Listed Sandown Cup at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Gin Martini is out of Tanquerey (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}), a winner over 2100 metres in New Zealand, and her half-sister is the Listed-placed Nothin’ On Me (Not A Single Doubt). Her second dam is Gordon’s (NZ) (Kaapstaad {NZ}), whose six wins include the G2 Hawke’s Bay Cup.
Gin Martini was bought at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale by Tricolours Racing and Syndications for NZ$40,000, and is the 35th stakes winner for her late sire Rip Van Winkle (Ire), who stood at Windsor Park Stud before succumbing to illness in 2020.
Proisir makes it 10
Rich Hill Stud’s resident stallion Proisir sired his 10th stakes winner on Saturday afternoon when Waitak (NZ), trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, scored in the Listed Trevor and Corallie Eagle Memorial (1500 metres) at Te Rapa.
The 3-year-old gelding was having his second run for his new trainers, having been Group 1 placed as a 2-year-old when in the care of Peter and Dawn Williams.
O’Sullivan was happy with the performance, given that Waitak was a long way back at one stage.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
“It was a good effort as, if you look at the tempo of the race and the way it was run, he sat back and to quicken like he did indicates he has a pretty good future,” he said.
“I thought with about 500 metres to run he couldn’t win, so to get up from where he was, was some effort by the horse.”
Holding a nomination for the race, O’Sullivan said he hoped the gelding could progress towards the G1 New Zealand Derby (2400 metres) in March.
Zethus takes Starlight Stakes
Rosehill Gardens’ Listed Starlight S. on Saturday was won by Zethus (Exceed And Excel), who battled hard for the victory, finishing ahead of the in-form Sky Command (Deep Field) by 0.29l. He also provided the second leg of a quick-fire stakes double for Tim Clark.
Hitting the front with 200 metres to travel, Zethus drove hard to repel the challenge of Sky Command on his inside, Clark having made his challenge from a prominent position.
Zethus wins the Listed Starlight S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“We didn't intend him to be that handy, it was just the way that the race panned out,” Godolphin's representative Darren Beadman said.
“Timmy was able to make a good executive decision there and put him there, he is a very fit horse and around the corner today was the key to him.”
Godolphin’s 4-year-old gelding won the G3 Canonbury S. as a juvenile and was last successful earlier this season in a handicap event at Moonee Valley.
Tattersalls Online December Sale hosts star features
Amongst the offerings of the Tattersalls Online December Sale is a sister to this year’s G1 Caulfield Cup winner Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}). The 4-year-old mare, Casuarina (GB) had just one start two years ago and will be offered in foal (her first cover) to G1 French Derby winner Study Of Man (Ire).
Study Of Man is the only son of Deep Impact (Jpn) to stand in the UK, and resides at Lanwades Stud, helmed by Kirsten Rausing, also the owner/breeder of Casuarina.
Also on offer is a lifetime breeding right to popular young sire Havana Grey (GB), another breeding right to whom sold at November’s version of the sale for 115,000gns (AU$216,600). Havana Grey stands at Whitsbury Manor Stud at an increased fee of £18,500 (AU$33,200) for the 2023 breeding season, following a successful first crop.
The Tattersalls Online December Sale will include a selection of breeding rights, mares, foals, horses in training and yearlings. With entries closing on December 2, the full catalogue will be available on December 8.
Festival Stakes seals Frankel double
European import Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}) took out the G3 Festival S. (1500 metres) at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday afternoon for trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, one part of a stakes double for his sire who was also responsible for My Whisper’s win in the G3 Summoned S. at Caulfield.
It was a solid victory for the 5-year-old entire, who finished 0.89l ahead of Mirra Vision (Lonhro), asserting from a typically prominent ride under Tim Clark.
Dajraan (GB) wins the G3 Festival S. at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Dajraan won on his Australian debut at the beginning of this year, ending last season with a third in the G3 Doncaster Prelude, and in winning his first stakes race on Saturday he comes the 106th stakes winner for super sire Frankel (GB), who stands at Juddmonte Farms in the UK.
Jigsaw puts it together
The Listed Dovetone S. at Caulfield was won by the Cindy Alderson-trained Jigsaw (Manhattan Rain), who was backing up his last-start Cranbourne win to take a first stakes success.
The 4-year-old gelding took up the lead with 150 metres to run and asserted late on to score by 0.75l over Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon), justifying his favouritism.
Jigsaw wins the Listed Doveton S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Not everything has been so smooth for the horse, reflected in multiple gear changes earlier this year. Co-owner Marcus Price was therefore delighted to see him fulfil his early promise, and is looking forward to what’s to come.
“We’re going to have a lot of fun with Jigsaw over the next few years,” he enthused.
Jigsaw becomes Manhattan Rain’s 16th stakes winner.
Lee-Steere goes to Saintorio
The Listed Sir Ernest Lee-Steere Classic at Ascot was claimed by Saintorio (Oratorio) in a desperate finish. Trained by Stephen Miller, the 3-year-old gelding was sent off favourite, having finished third in last weekend’s G2 WA Guineas.
In a three-way finish, Saintorio prevailed by 0.15l over All The King’s Men (King’s Troop), to become a 17th stakes winner for his sire, Oratorio.
Waller’s Bonny weave
The Listed ATC Cup at Rosehill Gardens was won by the track’s resident Champion Trainer Chris Waller, who sent out Bonny Ezra (NZ) (Road To Rock) to weave through the field late and claim victory under Robbie Dolan.
Previously trained in New Zealand, the 7-year-old gelding defied his starting odds of $31 to score by 0.29l over the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Dr Drill (GB) (Dansili {GB}).
Bonny Ezra (NZ) returns to scale after winning the Listed ATC Cup | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Bonny Ezra is his sire’s fifth stakes winner, with Road To Rock also being responsible for the multiple Hong Kong Group 1 winner Beauty Generation (Bel Esprit).
Back-to-back Scahill Cups for Marorcchino
Ascot’s Listed AJ Scahill Cup went to Marocchino (Macshino). Trained by Lou Luciani, the 6-year-old gelding was well-beaten in the G1 Railway S. last weekend, but made amends by landing his second Scahill Cup, formerly named the Ascot Gold Cup.
However, he nearly didn’t make the start, as his part-owner and breeder Trisha Roberts admitted after the race that, unable to catch the horse in his paddock that morning, connections were tempted to scratch.
