Kissinger lands Pakenham Cup
At the ripe age of seven, the Lindsey Smith-trained Kissinger (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) stepped into stakes company for the first time and he took full advantage of the opportunity when he ran out a ready winner of the Listed Pakenham Cup on Saturday.
The son of Tavistock (NZ) entered the race the winner of two of his previous three starts and he added a third for the preparation with a facile 2l win over Nobel Heights (Fiorente {Ire}).
“He's just gone from strength to strength,” said winning rider Damien Oliver, who was adding a fourth win in the Listed contest to his tally.
The gelding was bought by his former trainer Nigel Tiley for NZ$52,500 from the Millfield Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka in 2017.
Kissinger is out of the winning mare Berlin Belle (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}) and she is herself from G2 Dulcie S. winner Christiania Belle (NZ) (Sackford {USA}).
Impressive juvenile winner for Maurice
Arrowfield Stud-based shuttle sire Maurice (Jpn) was provided with an impressive juvenile winner on Saturday in the shape of the Neville Parnham-trained Home James, who broke the ice at the second time of asking at Ascot.
Last sighted running second on debut at the same track on November 19, the gelding went one better, beating Shell Bell (Snippetson) by 0.5l. Generosity (Divine Prophet) was a further 0.1l further back in third.
Home James winning at Ascot | Image courtesy of Wester Racepix
The gelding was purchased by his trainer for $15,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale in 2021 from the draft of Holbrook Thoroughbreds and was then retained to race after he failed to make his $50,000 reserve at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale the following year.
Black Caviar daughter gets back in the groove
The Peter Moody-trained Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible), a daughter of unbeaten Champion Black Caviar (Bel Esprit), bounced back to winning form at Pakenham on Saturday.
Winning the third race of her career, the daughter of I Am Invincible, who sports the same colours as her famous mother, defeated Just Johnno (Therock) by 1.8l, while Airclash (NZ) (Toronado {Ire}) was another 0.8l away in third.
“I’d be happy just to poke along in these sorts of races and, eventually, I think she can make it to one of those good races,’’ winning jockey Luke Nolen told Racing.com. “We probably added a string to her bow. She began evenly but she snuggled up nicely underneath me and when I asked her to go, she really let rip like a horse with nice quality.
“I still think she’s probably a work in progress, but what I was most pleased with today was the way she settled and how she rounded it off. She’s sort of been a bull at a gate a little bit in her races so that’s encouraging going forward.
“I would say she’s still on a learning curve (mentally), but she had a good experience here today and that will hold her in good stead going forward.’’
Six-timer for Vinnie
Invincible Caviar's victory was one of six winners for Yarraman Park-based sire I Am Invincible and the group of winners was headed by Garibaldi, who prevailed in the G3 George Moore S. at Doomben.
Garibaldi was one of two winners at the Queensland track for the son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) with 3-year-old colt Lubrication also prevailing in his respective contest.
I Am Invincible | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Meanwhile at Newcastle, Millybella broke her maiden and 4-year-old mare, I Am Me, landed her race at Rosehill. The sextet of winners is completed by Legend Rule, who added a third victory to his record at Nanango.
Ocean Park also sires six winners
Waikato Stud-based sire Ocean Park (NZ) was also provided with six winners on Saturday.
The stallion kicked off the day with a pair of winners in his native New Zealand as Elysian Fields (NZ) saluted the judge at Pukekohe, while Podium (NZ) took out her contest at Trentham.
Ocean Park (NZ) | Standing at Waikato Stud
Meanwhile in Australia he sired four winners, headed by 3-year-old geldings Grebeni and Kovalica (NZ), who won at Newcastle and Doomben respectively.
Let It Rip Reggie (NZ) took out his contest at Stawell and Roller Coaster (NZ) triumphed at the Gold Coast.
Widden’s Zoustar sires five
Widden Stud resident Zoustar enjoyed a good day at the races, siring five winners headed by 3-year-old filly Kalea, who shed her maiden tag at the second attempt at the Gold Coast.
A pair of 4-year-old geldings, Habana and Zoumon, also saluted the judge at Pukekohe and Rosehill respectively, while Patented prevailed at Nanango and Orbital Express landed a contest at Newcastle.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Meanwhile, fellow Widden Stud stallion Outreach chalked up four winners on Saturday, as End Assembly won at Toowoomba, Gidget won at Goondiwindi, Outta De Lady prevailed at Gunnedah and Vintage Barossa took out his respective contest at Cooma.
Four for Better Than Ready
Lyndhurst Farm-based sire Better Than Ready sired four winners on the afternoon, including a pair of impressive juveniles who look set for big futures.
The first 2-year-old was Skirt The Law, who moved her unbeaten record to two with a second consecutive victory at Doomben, while Tahkian Bubbles got off the mark the second time of asking at Rockhampton.
Better Than Ready | Standing at Lyndhurst Stud Farm
The stallion’s other two winners were provided by 5-year-old mares, Millaa Miss and Moriconi, who landed their races at Innisfall and Longreach respectively.
Dee chalks up treble in New Zealand
Michael Dee made a winning return to the New Zealand riding ranks with a three-timer at Trentham on Saturday.
Dee was riding at a major New Zealand raceday for the first time since the 2019 Karaka Million raceday and he steered Shamus (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}), Pearl of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and Podium to victory on Saturday.
The jockey just fell short of landing a Group 1 when he finished second on Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) in the G1 Captain Cook S.
Born and raised in Hawke’s Bay, Dee departed New Zealand five years ago to establish himself in Melbourne towards the end of his apprenticeship. Dee sits ninth in the Melbourne Jockeys’ Premiership this season, with 13 wins, while his wins include victories aboard the Chris Waller-trained Durston (GB) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) in the G1 Caulfield Cup and his stablemate Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) in the G1 VRC Derby.
Zoe Lloyd injured in fall
Apprentice jockey Zoe Lloyd has a possible fractured collarbone after taking a heavy fall at Stawell on Saturday.
The 24-year-old winner of eight career races, took a fall from Fortunate Fred (Redente) in the third event on the card.
The Victorian Jockey’s Association sent out an update on Saturday afternoon confirming that Lloyd was being taken to Stawell hospital for further scans.
