Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

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Racing Queensland Own The Morning - Day 3

Gollan’s 3-year-olds shine on the Coast

Tony Gollan enjoyed a good day at the Gold Coast on Saturday as a pair of his 3-year-olds, Latakia (Deep Field) and Spiritualised (Spirit Of Boom), saluted the judge at the Queensland track and now both horses will be aimed at the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas next weekend.

Raced by Black Soil Bloodstock’s Brian Siemsen, who also incidentally owns Gollan’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic contender Skirt The Law (Better Than Ready), Latakia put herself bang in the picture for next week’s feature when she defeated Bella Rouge (I Am Invincible) by 0.5l in the Magic Millions Rising Stars 3YO and 4YO Fillies and Mares.

The filly is out of the winning Flying Spur mare Xandretta making her a half-sister to G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Vinicuna (I Am Invincible). Xandretta herself is a half-sister to G1 Champagne S. winner Carry On Cutie (More Than Ready {USA}) and My Amelia (Redoute’s Choice), the dam of Aquis Farm-based sire The Mission.

Latakia was purchased by Black Soil, her trainer and John Foote of Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $520,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Attunga Stud draft.

At Magic Millions that same year, Gollan and Foote also teamed up to purchase Spiritualised, paying Musk Creek Farm $575,000 for the colt, which still remains a record price for a yearling for the Eureka Stud-based stallion.

The son of Spirit Of Boom scooted clear to beat Mobstar (Shalaa {Ire}) by 1.8l and he will now join his stablemate in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas back at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The 3-year-old colt is out of the four-time-winning Snitzel mare Personalised, who Musk Creek’s Scott Williamson and Boomer Bloodstock’s (FBAA) Craig Rounsefell bought for $525,000 at the 2019 edition of the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale when she was carrying the colt in utero.

Personalised herself is a half-sister to the G1 VRC Oaks winner Personal (Fastnet Rock) with the pair being out of Adelaide Listed winner Personify (Galileo {Ire}).

Gallery: Tony Gollan's winning duo at the Gold Coast, images courtesy of Michael McInally

Personify herself is a out of Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}), whose four other stakes winners include the South African multiple Group 1 winner Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), the Listed-winning sires Foreplay and Time Thief, and Group 3 winner A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice).

Musk Creek will offer a Zoustar half-sister to Spiritualised at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is catalogued as Lot 229.

Gollan was pleased with Latakia’s performance on Saturday and said he was looking forward to seeing what she can produce next weekend.

“Hopefully we’ll see her at the Guineas next week. She’s a gorgeous filly and she’s got a lot of upside to her,” Gollan told Sky Racing. “She’s a beautiful horse and she was a lovely yearling when we purchased her. She’s always taken a little bit of time, but it’s great to see her win a race like this.

“We’re dead-set just scratching the surface with her. She’s built like a big colt, isn’t she? Beautiful horse,” he said.

“Always loved this trip, or 1400 (metres) is right up her alley. There’s a lot to look forward to for the team.”

Royal Entrance books Magic Millions spot

The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Royal Entrance (Snitzel) booked his spot in next weekend’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic with a victory in the Gold Nugget at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The son of Snitzel showed he was a colt for the black book when he made a winning debut at Warwick Farm last month and he led from pillar to post, eventually beating Sonny Daze (Performer) by 1.8l. Worx (Capitalist) came home another 0.5l in third.

The Novelist (Written By) had been one of the stables high hopes heading into next Saturday’s 1200-metre contest, however it was revealed he had suffered a small setback so will no longer take his place in the race, but Royal Entrance will likely be joined by his stablemates Platinum Jubilee (Zoustar) and Summer Loving (Exceed And Excel) in the $2 million feature.

“It’s an important win for some important connections and we brought him up here thinking he could be the kind of colt that could do the back-up next week, so that’s the intention,” said Bott.

“He’s a lovely individual and just great to see the improvement today from his first-up run, he was a little bit raw on that occasion. The main work is done, we bought a fit horse here today (Saturday) hopefully he comes through it well and in the right order and we’ll press forward.

“He’s beautifully proportioned and a lovely balanced horse, you know, a nice athletic type, which is what we saw today (Saturday).”

China Horse Club, Newgate and their partners look to have a strong hand in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and they will be represented by R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic winner Sovereign Fund (Capitalist) and G3 Breeders’ Plate winner Empire Of Japan, who like Royal Entrance is by Arrowfield Stud’s leading sire Snitzel.

Purchased by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, Trilogy Racing and Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) for $425,000 from the Arrowfield Stud draft at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Royal Entrance is the fifth winner out of the unraced Stravinsky (USA) mare Ballet Blue and her progeny is headed by the colt’s winning and Group 3-placed three-quarter sister Tchaikovsky (Redoute’s Choice), while Royal Entrance is a brother to Listed-placed winner Smirnova.

Ballet Blue herself is a half-sister to Group 2 winner The Heavyweight (Zeditave) and the Listed-winning duo Happy Strike (Gold Fever {USA}) and Born Western (Western Symphony {NZ}). Further back this is the same family as Listed winners Malibu Style (Magnus), Excelorada (Exceed And Excel), Zedrich (Zeditave) and So Anyway (General Nediym).

Being out of a Stravinsky mare, Royal Entrance is bred on the same cross as now Newgate Farm resident Russian Revolution.

The colt is one of four juvenile winners in Australia for Snitzel this season and he has also been represented by a pair of juvenile winners in New Zealand this season, headed by Listed Counties Challenge S. winner Ethereal Star.

Snitzel will be represented by 46 yearlings at Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling which kicks off on Tuesday.

Mishani Royale shines in Pearl

The Les Ross-trained Mishani Royale (Kobayashi) poured water on the aspirations of some fillies looking to make the field for next weekend’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic when she proved far too strong for her rivals in the Gold Pearl at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

The daughter of Aquis Farm-based Kobayashi was not offered at the Magic Millions sale and is therefore not eligible for next weekend’s race, but she showed she was a filly worth keeping an eye on when finishing strongly to beat Trifling (Better Than Ready) by 1.8l.

A homebred for the Mike Crooks-owned Mishani Enterprises, Mishani Royale finished second on debut over 1000 metres at the Sunshine Coast in November before breaking the ice over course and distance on December 16.

Following her victory, Ross said the filly would now be aimed at some lucrative QTIS prizes in the future.

“We were quietly confident, and Benny said to me that they ran a quick time in the last race, but I said that I think she goes a little bit better than Mishani Maverick (sixth in the Gold Nugget),” explained Ross.

“She's a nice filly, and hopefully, we can find a QTIS race somewhere.”

The filly is out of five-time winner Girl In A Million (Your Song) and she is herself a daughter of Listed winner Calming (Zeditave), making her a half-sister to G3 Dark Jewel runner-up Calming Influence (Commands).

Kobayashi stood at Aquis Farm for a fee of $8800 (inc GST) and his progeny is headed by the stakes placed filly Midnight In Tokyo.

Stakes races on the horizon for Junqueira

Junqueira (Capitalist) entered the reckoning for some major prizes in the near future when she produced an impressive performance to win the second race of her career at the Gold Coast on Saturday.

Having broken her maiden on the first time of asking, the filly finished third at her second start and she got back into the winning groove when she defeated Busting (Spirit Of Boom) by 2.5l, while Cripps Tonite (Spirit Of Boom) was 3.5l away in third.

The filly’s trainer John O’Shea said she would now head back to Sydney and be aimed at the G2 Light Fingers S. at Randwick on February 11.

“She’ll be going back to Sydney,” said O’Shea. “Coming up here was about her being able to execute and learn her craft as she has so much ability. We’ll take her home and she could possibly end up in a race like the Light Fingers.

Purchased by Mystery Downs and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) for $80,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021, Junqueira is out of the Listed winner Bibby (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).

Further back this is the same family as dual stakes winner Love Cove (USA) (Not For Love {USA}).

Newgate Farm-based Capitalist has 42 yearlings catalogued at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Rocababy re-enters stakes picture

Talented filly Rocababy (NZ) (El Roca) looks set for a return to stakes company after showing her rivals a clean pair of heels in the 3-year-old contest at Trentham on Saturday.

A winner of the Listed O’Leary’s Fillies’ S. at Wanganui on just her third career outing, Rocababy was not at all hindered by the Soft 7 track and readily drew 2.5l clear of Diamond Thief (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), with Group 3 winner and G1 NZ 1000 Guineas runner-up Best Seller (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) a further 1l adrift in third.

The latter’s presence in the field gave the form a bit of substance, and trainer Anna Clement has held the daughter of Westbury Stud-based stallion El Roca in high regard for quite some time.

“That was very nice and not unexpected, we have always thought she was going to be a pretty handy little horse,” Clement said. “I’ll have a good look around and see if I can find another nice 3-year-old race somewhere for her.

“We will just have to wait and see how she does over the week. She is actually not a very good doer - she is just like her mother was, who also was not a great doer apparently.

“I think that she probably can go on the better tracks, although they would probably go a bit too quickly for her over shorter distances, so we would have to look at 1400 metres or a mile.”

Raced by her Taranaki breeder Graham Meredith, Rocababy is the first winner out of the Mastercraftsman (Ire) mare Christine Ann (NZ), who is a granddaughter of the multiple stakes placegetter Bold And Beautiful (GB) (Bold Lad {USA}). Bold And Beautiful herself produced six winners, spearheaded by the stakes scorer Warbler (GB) (Warning {GB}).

Christine Ann has a 2-year-old colt by Japanese stallion Staphanos (Jpn) on the ground and was most recently served by his Novara Park Stud barnmate King Of Comedy (Ire) a son of leading British stallion Kingman (GB).

Rocababy’s sire El Roca, meanwhile, will be represented by 15 yearlings during Books 1 and 2 of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale later this month.

Proisir again as Soldier Boy grabs Listed win

Rich Hill Stud-based stallion Proisir saw his healthy lead at the top of the New Zealand Sires Premiership extended further after his son Soldier Boy (NZ) prevailed in a blanket finish to the Listed Marton Cup at Trentham on Saturday.

Having broken his maiden in the Listed Wanganui Guineas back in September 2021, the 4-year-old had to wait over a year to double his stakes-race tally but did so in tenacious fashion courtesy of a 0.1l victory over Sagunto (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}).

The Gavin Sharrock-trained gelding was bouncing back from a disappointing run in the G1 Zabeel Classic at his previous start, but his trainer was confident that there were valid excuses for that below-par effort and was delighted with how Soldier Boy had prepped up for the Listed feature.

“His work on Tuesday had been astounding and he had been licking the feed bowl clean and tearing around the paddock, he was just so well,” Sharrock said.

“He ran fourth in the New Zealand Derby and probably should have won it. He was pushed four wide into the first corner and had to go to the lead and still hung on to run fourth, so I think he will run 3200 metres.

“I’m not sure where we’ll go next. I’ll get him home first and then have a look.”

Soldier Boy, who is raced by his co-breeder Gavin O’Dea, is the second foal to race out of the American-bred mare Forty Love (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}). His sister, Vancooga (NZ) finished runner-up to Jennifer Eccles (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) in the 2020 G1 New Zealand Oaks, while further back this is the family of Group 2 winner and G1 Manikato S. runner-up Honour The Name (Royal Academy {USA})

Soldier Boy’s victory handed Proisir, who will be represented by 49 yearlings across Books 1 and 2 in the NZB National Yearling Sale at Karaka later this month, with his sixth individual stakes winner of the season, which leaves him three clear of his nearest pursuer.

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Royal Entrance took his record to a perfect two from two with an impressive display under James McDonald, a victory which provided the red-hot Newgate Farm-China Horse Club colts partnership with a third live contender in Saturday’s juvenile feature.

Newgate, China Horse Club and Trilogy Racing signed the docket for the well-bred son of Snitzel alongside Mitchell Bloodstock (FBAA) at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, parting with $425,000 to secure him from the draft of his breeders Arrowfield Stud.

Arrowfield’s Bloodstock Manager Jon Freyer was suitably impressed with Royal Entrance’s authoritative victory over Sonny Daze (Performer), suggesting that both he and fellow Snitzel colt Empire Of Japan, who is raced by a similar group of owners, will take all the beating in Saturday’s Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

“It sounds like he’s on the improve, so whether he is quite good enough to win next week I don’t know, but he is bound to run well,” Freyer said of Royal Entrance. “That’s just in his nature.

“I think the (G3) Breeders’ Plate winner Empire Of Japan will be hard to beat, but this bloke has got a lot of fight in him and a real will to win.

“Snitzel has quinellaed the Magic Millions 2YO Classic previously, so maybe he’s in line to do it again.”

Timely victory

Royal Entrance’s 1.8l success also provided a timely boost for his breeders ahead of this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, which gets underway on Tuesday.

“It’s good for the sire and good for the farm to have consigned another nice horse,” Freyer added. “He was a lovely horse, the most magnificent yearling, and we all liked him.

“He wasn’t perfect in front, which was probably one of the reasons that held him back from making really significant money, even though he made $425,000.

“Henry (Field) liked him enough to take the risk with him and it’s certainly paid off thus far. It might pay off big time in the fullness of time!”

Bred on the same cross as Russian Revolution, who was raced by a similar partnership, Royal Entrance is out of the unraced Stravinsky (USA) mare Ballet Blue, who has produced five winners from five runners to date.

That quintet is headed by the Group 2-placegetter Tchaikovsky (Redoute’s Choice), a three-quarter brother to Royal Entrance who fetched $1.3 million to the bid of James Harron at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale back in 2017.

Royal Entrance is also a brother to Smirnova, who finished third behind Group 1 winner Mazu in the Listed Darby Munro S. and visited his sire Maurice (Jpn) for her maiden cover in 2022.

Ballet Blue herself is a half-sister to Group 2 winner The Heavyweight (Zeditave) and the Listed-winning duo Happy Strike (Gold Fever {USA}) and Born Western (Western Symphony {NZ}). Further back this is the same family as Listed winners Malibu Style (Magnus), Excelorada (Exceed And Excel), Zedrich (Zeditave) and So Anyway (General Nediym).

“He’s got a good pedigree and the mare has had some nice winners,” Freyer said. “Smirnova was a filly that we raced - she was a little bit unlucky in some black-type races but was stakes placed.

“Tchaikovsky was another horse out of the mare who was a (Golden) Slipper prospect, so it’s a really high-class family.

“It won’t be surprising if a horse like this goes on with it and reaches the heights.”

Purple patch

Royal Entrance is just the latest colt to join the production line of talented juveniles by Snitzel, who is enjoying another great year with his progeny.

Snitzel himself went into the Magic Millions 2YO Classic as a red-hot favourite off the back of an emphatic 6l romp at Doomben, but he could only dead-heat for third after a mishap in the barriers.

The four-time Champion Sire has more than made up for it in the breeding barn since, and Freyer is anticipating buyers will once again be clamouring for his progeny on the Gold Coast next week.

“We have some Snitzels in our draft that we like a lot,” he said. “There is a colt out of Super Cash that we’re very high on, and there’s another colt out of Fleet Week, a Tapit mare from overseas.

“I think there are two particularly good colts that will garner a lot of interest here at the sale. They’re both early foals of the mare and really look the part, so they could be two of the highlights in our draft.

Gallery: Some of Arrowfield Stud's Snitzel yearlings to be offered at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, images courtesy of Magic Millions

“It’s interesting with Snitzel, he’s got that many good horses bred on various lines. I think of his Group winners, they are out of 50-odd different broodmare sirelines. He nearly nicks with anything Snitzel.”

The catalogue for the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale was released on November 9, 2022, and since then, a host of yearlings being offered at Bundall next week have had their pedigree enhanced, which is important information for vendors and buyers alike.

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Castelvecchio First Yearlings | Selling at Magic Millions 2023

Lot 585 - Written Tycoon x Ajeeta (I Am Invincible), colt - on account of Kingstar Farm

By Yulong Stud's Champion Sire Written Tycoon, this colt is out of the winning I Am Invincible mare Ajeeta, who is a half-sister to Listed winner Axe, also by Written Tycoon. His pedigree also stretches back to include Flying Spur and Encosta De Lago.

Preceeding this colt, Ajeeta has a Not A Single Doubt 2-year-old who has yet to race, whose older brother is the 3-year-old Pierro gelding named More Mischief.

Trained by Amanda Turner, More Mischief was placed at provincial level when the catalogue was compiled and picked an opportune moment to break his maiden when making all over 1400 metres at Warwick Farm's Metropolitan meeting on Wednesday 4 last week.

Defying odds of $26, he held on gamely to score by 0.36l over the Chris Waller-trained Step Aside (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).

Lot 813 - Zoustar x Dynastic Lady (Fastnet Rock), filly - on account of Segenhoe Stud

This filly is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Dynastic Lady, a sister to G1 Levin Classic winner Age Of Fire and Listed-placed Sacred Valley, with the extended family including the British Joint Champion 3-Year-Old Female Miler in 2012, Fallen For You (GB) (Dansili {GB}).

Bred by Go Bloodstock, this filly is the third foal from Dynastic Lady, herself a juvenile winner, and her first foal is the 4-year-old Riverplate (Flying Artie). Trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, Riverplate broke his maiden by an impressive 3.75l at Sandown Lakeside over 1400 metres on November 16.

He duly followed up at Sandown Hillside on December 7, justifying odds-on favouritism when holding on gamely in a Class 1, again over 1400 metres.

Lot 1066 – Exceedance x Croatian (High Chaparral {Ire}), filly - on account of Baramul Stud

By Vinery’s exciting freshman sire, this filly is a half-sister to the unbeaten 2-year-old Croatian Belle (Brazen Beau), who will line up in next week’s R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic (1200 metres) on the Gold Coast.

The Linday Park-trained Croatian Belle won over 1000 metres at The Valley on December 16, before repeating the dose on New Year’s Eve.

The filly’s dam was a four-time placegetter and is a sister to the Group 3 runner-up A Man To Match (High Chapparal {Ire}), while the third dam, Dansino (Danehill {USA}), won the Listed Talindert S. as a 2-year and has thrown the Listed victress Zagreb (Zabeel {NZ}). Dansino is a three-quarter sister to the Group 2 winner Moon Dragon (Danehill {USA}) and a half-sister to the Listed winner Leica Smile (At Talaq {USA}) – the dam of the Listed victor Éclair Mystic (Stratum).