Saturday summary: Kovalica emerges as a Classic prospect

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Classy Kovalica takes Grand Prix

In the run up to the G3 Grand Prix S. all the talk had been about the Chris Waller-trained Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and he lived up to the chat when he took the Group 3 at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

The only blemish on the son of Ocean Park’s (NZ) CV came when beaten on debut last October, but he has won three of his four lifetime starts to date, including his last three on the bounce.

Bred by Greg Tomlinson of Nearco Stud, the gelding defeated Noah ‘N’ A Deel (Maurice {Jpn}) by 1.67l. Kandos Cosmos (Stratum Star) was a further 0.5l away in third.

With this first stakes win under his belt, connections are already hatching a plan for more stakes glory for the 3-year-old, with the G1 Australian Derby at Randwick in April and the G1 Queensland Derby now firmly in their sights.

“He's a typical stayer,” winning jockey James Orman said. “He bounces out and lobs along off the bridle and when you click him up, he's right there underneath you.

“I got there a lot quicker than I wanted but he's just going to get better with the better class off races and a bit more competition.”

Consigned by Curraghmore at Book 1 of the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Sale, the then colt was purchased by Waller’s bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster, who paid NZ$110,000 for him.

Kovalica himself is out of Vitesse (NZ) (Makfi {GB}) and she is herself a half-sister to three-time winner The Bostonian (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), while further back this is the same family as prolific Group 1 winner Mufhasa (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).

Vitesse’s filly by Super Seth will be offered at Book 1 of the New Zealand National Yearling Sale at Karaka (Lot 626) and she is consigned by Kilgravin Lodge.

In winning the race, the gelding becomes the 18th stakes winner for Waikato Stud-based sire Ocean Park.

Polygon comes of age in Eulogy

Talented filly Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) took the step into stakes company in her stride, proving far too strong for her rivals in the G3 Eulogy S. at Te Rapa on Saturday.

A homebred for Brendan and Jo Lindsay’s Cambridge Stud, Polygon defeated Libarasi (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) by 1.3l, while Sophmaze (NZ) (Derryn) was a further 0.2l back in third.

The Group 3 contest was transferred to the Waikato venue after racing at Awapuni was abandoned last Saturday and that played into the hands of the Lance Noble-trained runner who was originally being aimed at the G2 Eight Carat Classic at Pukekohe on Boxing Day.

“We hadn’t really thought too much about this race as we were thinking of tackling the Eight Carat Classic with her,” Noble said.

“When they transferred the race to Te Rapa we decided to take a serious look as we thought the field looked within her scope and there was no Legarto there, as there is likely to be in the Eight Carat.”

As to her next task, Noble said the 3-year-old filly could now head to the G2 Royal S. at Te Rapa on New Year’s Day.

Polygon is out of the five-race winner Polyantha (Encosta De Lago), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Pure Harmony (Stravinsky {USA}), while further back this is the same family Listed-winning duo Outdo (Exceed And Excel) and Avisto (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

End Assembly downs Golden Boom

End Assembly (Outreach) kept his unbeaten record intact when he landed the Listed Gold Edition Plate at Eagle Farm on Saturday and in the process served Golden Boom (Spirit Of Boom) the first defeat of his career.

Trained by Mark Currie, End Assembly looked to have it all to do as the field came into the straight as Golden Boom had put daylight between himself and his rivals. But as End Assembly began to hit top gear, Golden Boom began to empty and the son of Outreach soared past him, to triumph by 1.06l.

The gelding is the second foal and second winner for the winning mare Lonhro's Spirit (Lonhro), who is herself a daughter of placed mare Rejoice (Belong To Me {USA}).

Rejoice is a half-sister to the G1 VRC Derby winner Hit The Roof (NZ) (Maroof {USA}) and Listed winner War Ends (Redoute's Choice).

End Assembly is one two stakes winners for the Widden Stud-based sire Outreach, joining fellow Listed winner Turk Warrior.

‘Very special’ Lazzago breaks her maiden

Lazzago (Capitalist) showed she was a filly to keep an eye on as she scooted through the wet conditions at Randwick to chalk up her first victory on debut on Saturday.

Trained by Chris Waller and raced by the Kepitis family, the daughter of Capitalist looked inclined to hang under pressure but found enough in the locker to beat long-time leader Snapback (Snitzel) by 0.42l. Dorothy Gail, who like the winner is also by Newgate Farm’s Capitalist, was another 1.1l away in third.

Having finished third in her first trial at Canterbury in November, the filly signalled she may be one for the Black Book when she produced an ultra-smooth win in her next trial at Rosehill.

Waller said he has around 75 juveniles in work and he rates Lazzago among his most precocious.

“We knew she was pretty special, both of her trials have been very good,” Waller said. “But until they actually do it on raceday, you never really know. We will see how she pulls up. She is still very raw and there is a lot of ability still to come.

“But that was a great, confidence-boosting run. She still does a few little things wrong so I'd say we will give her a short break and aim for something nice.”

Bred by Robert Anderson, the filly was bought by the Kepitis family under their Woppitt Bloodstock banner for $460,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier this year.

Lazzago becomes the first winner out of the seven-time winner Lake Como (NZ) (Pins) and she is a half-sister to dual stakes winner Taameer (General Nediym) - the dam of G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S. winner Khulaasa (Epaulette) as well as Listed scorer Bulbula (Shamardal {USA}), who in turn produced Aryaaf (Epaulette).

Lake Como’s colt by Epaulette will be offered as part of the Widden Stud draft at the upcoming Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and he will go through the ring as Lot 42. This year the mare produced a colt by Widden Stud’s resident superstar stallion, Zoustar.

This is the second juvenile winner in a week for Newgate Farm’s resident stallion Capitalist, following up the exploits of Sovereign Fund, who landed the R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic on Wednesday.

More to come from I Am Me?

Black-type options now look on the cards for I Am Me (I Am Invincible) as she landed her third consecutive start with an authoritative performance at Randwick on Saturday, handing Dynamic Syndications its 800th winner.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 4-year-old daughter of I Am Invincible eased to the lead to serve Dehorned Unicorn (Star Witness) a 1.3l defeat, while Hellfest (Fastnet Rock) was another 2.5l away in third.

Offered by Segenhoe Stud, the mare was snapped up by her owners and Dean Watt Bloodstock for $210,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $210,000 in 2020.

I Am Me is out of winning mare Mefnooda (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and she is half-sister to Group 3 winner One World (Danehill {USA}) and she produced seven winners headed by fellow Group 3 scorer One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago).

Maher said the mare would now head to Victoria in search for more riches.

“We were toying with whether we went to Flemington today for the (stakes) race down the straight but it was a short turnaround and I said to (syndicate manager) Adam (Watt), 'I'd rather keep her here'”, said Maher.

“A mare in form, she has won down the straight at Flemington so she will probably head there now. There are a series of races there over the next month.”

The mare was one of three winners for the Maher and Eustace team on Saturday and the trio was headed by the ever-popular gelding Persan (Pierro), who steamed back into winning form with a magnificent win in the Listed JRA Trophy at Flemington, his first win since March 2021.

Alsephina continues Star Turn’s good run

Fresh from siring a new stakes winner last weekend, Vinery Stud’s Star Turn chalked up another black-type winner when the Grant and Alana Williams-trained Alsephina prevailed in the Listed Starstruck Classic at Ascot on Saturday.

The mare came into the race off the back of an unbeaten streak, having won her previous four starts and she was able to extend her purple patch, beating Gunmetal Grey (Bradbury’s Luck) by 0.8l., Playing Marika (Playing God) was a further 1.3l back in third.

Bred by G and G Bloodstock, Alsephina is one two winners, and only stakes winner, out of Listed Natasha S. winner Delta Gee (Street Cry {Ire}) and she is herself a half-sister to fellow stakes winner Wave Rock (Blackfriars).

Star Turn’s stakes winning tally now stands at seven, while this is his second this season, with last Saturday’s R. Listed Inglis Nursery going the way of his daughter, Saltaire.

Upheld whip protest hands Invincible Caviar a fourth win

The Peter Moody-trained Invincible Caviar (I Am Invincible) added a fourth win to her CV with a victory at Flemington, but the win wasn’t without its drama.

After a colossal battle up the straight with My Yankee Girl (American Pharoah {USA}), the daughter of I Am Invincible and unbeaten Champion, Black Caviar (Bel Esprit) hit the line with her rival and after a long wait the race was finally declared a dead-heat.

However, after closer inspection and a protest from the stewards, they investigated Blake Shinn's use of the whip on My Yankee Girl. The rider was found to have gone above the limit and therefore Invincible Caviar was declared the sole winner.

Invincible Caviar’s victory was the third leg of a fine treble for Peter Moody, with She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) landing Race 1 on the Flemington card, while Pounding (Exceed And Excel) took out Race 3 at the Melbourne track.