Thursday summary: The Instructor and De Sonic Boom lead home Diamond Previews as Jacquinot makes big return

Cover image courtesy of Bronwen Healy

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Phoenix Park's 2023 National Yearling Sale Draft (Barn E) | New Zealand Bloodstock January 29 - 31

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The Instructor serves a lesson to his rivals

The late scratching of Peter Moody’s debutante Amigo (Snitzel) left the 1000-metre Listed Blue Diamond Preview (Colts & Geldings) field at nine runners at Sandown-Hillside on Thursday afternoon, but not one of them could lay a glove on The Instructor (Russian Revolution).

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, the juvenile colt was building on his winning Pakenham debut on January 12, and put up a thoroughly professional performance to become a leading contender for next month’s feature race, the G1 Blue Diamond S.

Jumping on terms, The Instructor was pushed up to the lead by Jordan Childs, and settled kindly at the head of affairs. It was a processionary affair from thereon in, as he kicked a couple of lengths clear on entering the home straight and maintained a healthy advantage to the line.

Fast finishing, closing to a 1.25l deficit, was Godolphin’s Corniche (Fastnet Rock), who was third to Croatian Belle (Brazen Beau) on his debut at The Valley on New Year’s Eve. His challenge was delayed slightly when searching for room at the 200-metre mark, and he finished 0.5l ahead of Peter Moody’s Scorsese (Written By), who was making his debut.

Trackside at Sandown-Hillside to see her juvenile go two from two, co-trainer Gai Waterhouse was in little doubt as to whether The Instructor would be heading on to February’s Group 1.

“We’re already polishing it (the trophy),” she laughed.

“Since the moment he came into our stable he’s been all professional, and he’s a joy, he really is.

“He didn’t fly the gates but he jumped well and Jordan (Childs) was smart enough to just push him that bit, and once he got rolling… there was no catching him.”

Jockey Jordan Childs was equally impressed with the performance, and agreed with the trainer.

“I think so, he’s not very big but he’s a strong type, he’s doing everything right so I can’t see why he wouldn’t handle it,” he said.

“Everytime they got close to him he kept wanting to fight on. I think there’s still improvement there, but it’s great to get another winner for Adrian and Gai - they’ve been big supporters of mine, so very thrilled.”

Owned by a First Light Racing-run syndicate, they also purchased The Instructor in conjunction with his trainers for $230,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale. He is out of the juvenile-placed Right Of Way (Denman), whose only other foal to race is a dual winner.

He becomes second-season sire Russian Revolution’s fourth stakes winner, with the Waterhouse/Bott stable earlier this season providing his third when capturing the Listed Tasmanian Guineas with Russian Ronni.

Sonic Boom makes a bang

Anthony and Sam Freedman have a brilliant record in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and may yet extend that having unearthed another exciting prospect for the big race on Thursday when their filly De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom) exploded from the rear of the field to capture the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies).

Settling at the rear of the field with a hot early tempo set by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott's Aditi (Exceed And Excel) alongside Godolphin’s Exploring (Brazen Beau), De Sonic Boom was second-last rounding the turn for home.

Seemingly caught for pace with 300 metres to run, she picked up best of the challengers in the centre of the track, catching Exploring on the line.

Relegating Exploring to fourth was a pair of Zoustar fillies, both making their debuts, with the John McArdle-trained Zousuko finishing 0.75l behind in second and Peter Moody’s Sensical 0.2l further back in third.

Having taken in three trials in her current preparation, co-trainer Sam Freedman reported that it was only after De Sonic Boom won and then bounced out of her latest one on January 12 that they decided to continue on to a race instead of spelling her.

“She’s just improved through the whole prep, she gets down lower and lower when you ask her to improve,” he said.

“We thought that the 1000 (metres) might have been a little bit sharp for her, which it might have been, but she’s got a lot of scope and she’s very sensible.

“She’ll go straight towards the Blue Diamond now, we’ll see her probably in a couple of weeks in a Prelude and she’ll take that true and tried route all the way there.”

Inferring a step up to 1200-metres for the feature race would suit, winning jockey Blake Shinn said:

“She’s pretty smart. The race was run to suit her racing style to get back and run on, but she had to do it - she was a long way back.

“We just bided our time, gave her some confidence throughout. She’s got a very good brain, trained by top trainers, great 2-year-old trainers, and presented here in good order and made my job easy.”

Owned by a syndicate including prominent owner/breeders such as James Bester, Michael Kirwan and Kia Ora Stud, De Sonic Boom was a $300,000 purchase at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale by James Bester Bloodstock.

She is out of dual-juvenile winner Demasheen (Fastnet Rock), making her a half-sister to Listed winner Laverrod (Toronado {Ire}). A 20th stakes winner for Spirit Of Boom, De Sonic Boom also becomes an 80th stakes winner for Fastnet Rock as a broodmare sire, and a first crossed with the Eureka Stud resident.

Jacquinot just gets there

Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr’s star 3-year-old Jacquinot (Rubick) returned with a mighty effort to snatch victory in the G3 Manfred S. Buried on the rail halfway back in the field, he still had several lengths to find on the stable’s other runner, Maximillius (Written Tycoon), at the 200-metre mark but flew up the inside to edge out a 0.1l margin over Bank Maur (Maurice {Jpn}), with Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) 0.1l away in third.

One of the stars of the spring, Jacquinot won the G1 Golden Rose S. and ran fifth the $15 million The Everest before finishing in mid-division at the end of that preparation in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. on October 29 - and his return performance certainly whetted the appetite of winning rider Damian Lane.

“He’s an impressive horse who keeps improving,” Lane said. “It’s great to have him back in such good order. Although he didn’t have long off, he’s filled out nicely and it’s exciting for the autumn ahead.”

Co-trained Michael Kent. said he was looking forward to getting the horse back to weight-for-age conditions as he heads to his big-race target of the G1 CF Orr S. on February 11.

“He’s very slow to muster, isn’t he?” said Kent Jnr. “He’s got that big, long stride, so he was in an awkward spot behind a long shot and Damian did well to get him off the fence.

“The horse is very game, it’s not easy to burrow underneath them and he kept coming. He’s got a lot of improvement to come, it was a very smart win… Bring on the CF Orr.

“You don’t get paid for margins and he’s won well first-up with plenty left to come.”

Bred by Lindsay Maxsted, Jacquinot was passed in at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has lately raced in a Widden Stud-led partnership, eventually to retire to the stud at an undetermined time.

Big targets beckon for Star Patrol

The revitalised Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) made it four wins from six starts since moving to Clinton McDonald’s stable some 10 months ago when he took out the Listed W.J. Adams S. in dominant fashion at Sandown on Thursday afternoon - his first stakes race.

The field was taken along by Yulong Command (Written Tycoon), who skipped away from his rivals with 450 metres to run, and briefly looked dangerous. However, Star Patrol soon switched leads and was gathered up by Ben Melham, flashing past Yulong Command at the 200-metre marker.

Despite hanging in towards the rail - a trait his trainer described as the ‘speed wobbles’ - Star Patrol scored by 1.75l from the fast-finishing On The Lead (I Am Invincible), an interstate raider for the in-form Richard and Will Freedman.

It was a dead heat for third as Starry Legend (Zoustar) and Dragonstone (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) couldn’t be separated.

There will be some bigger assignments on the cards now for the 4-year-old gelding Star Patrol, with his next start likely to be the G1 Oakleigh Plate on February 25.

“That surprised me a little bit how well he jumped and put himself there travelling,” winning trainer ​​Clinton McDonald said. “Coming round the bend I was pretty confident as Ben balanced him up… Once he asked him, he really let rip.”

A likely minimum of 52kgs in next month’s target race will rule out a continued partnership with winning rider Ben Melham, though the jockey was happy to be back on him on Thursday having partnered him in his last start when third in the G3 1100 S. on August 27.

“He’s a big striding horse, big action on him,” Melham said. “He’s a bit more relaxed this time in, I think when Clinton put him out at the start of his last prep, he wasn’t happy with him…, it’s been the making of him a bit.”

Out of the five-time winner It’s One (O’Reilly {NZ}), Star Patrol was a $78,000 purchase by P Ma at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

It was a 27th stakes winner for Starspangledbanner, whose six Group 1 winners are headed by international ‘Iron Horse’ State Of Rest (Ire), who retired last year and will soon begin covering duties at Rathbarry Stud in Ireland and will shuttle to Newgate Farm later this year.

Chalk Stream claims regal honours

His Majesty The King marked his first winner in Australia on Thursday afternoon at Warwick Farm when the imported Chalk Stream (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) took out the Listed Australia Day Cup (2400 metres).

Settling towards the rear of the field, the keen-going gelding crept into contention with 600 metres to run. Taking the lead in the middle of the track at the 300-metre mark, he ran out a ready winner under Regan Bayliss to finish 2.95l ahead of two fellow British imports - Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) coming home 0.28l in front of Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).

Trained by Chris Waller, the 5-year-old Chalk Stream was having his eighth start Down Under, having won four races in the UK when trained by William Haggas.

Bred by The King’s late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, he is out of the Sadler’s Wells (USA) mare Golden Stream (Ire), a dual-Listed winner, making him a brother to Group 3 winner Reach For The Moon (GB).

“It's a real thrill,” assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “Chris (Waller) has had plenty of highlights in his career but I'd say this would be right up there.

“He's a horse you can't ride pretty, you've got to ride him ugly and take off at the 800 (metre marker) and do what Regan (Bayliss) did and use his stamina.

“It's just amazing, they have been so patient all the way through, trying to work out how we do it Down Under, and obviously this is the icing on the cake. He's gone and done it and done it well.”

In taking home his first black-type prize on Thursday, Chalk Stream became a 104th stakes winner for his Aga Khan sire Sea The Stars (Ire).