Cover Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
No. 1 - Barber (Exceed And Excel x Trim by Lonhro)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Jamie Kah
Barrier: 9
This Godolphin homebred attempts to join Earthquake and Reward For Effort as Blue Diamond winners by Exceed And Excel.
A son of the G3 Research S. and Listed Red Roses S. winner Trim (Lonhro), he is a full brother to the G3 How Now S. winner Manicure from the family of the great mare Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).
Godolphin/Darley have already bred four winners of this race: Earthquake, Sepoy, Lyre (Lonhro) and Daumier (Epaulette).
Barber (blue cap) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Unbeaten from three starts, Barber is second favourite on the back of his tough on-pace first-up victory in the G3 Blue Diamond (Colts and Geldings) Prelude.
No. 2 - Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire} x Florabella by Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
Jockey: Jye McNeil
Barrier: 4
Bred by Philippa Duncan Bloodstock and sold by Sledmere Stud to Lindsay Park Bloodstock for $190,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he hails from the debut crop of his Darley-based dual Group-1-winning sire.
A grandson of the G1 Coolmore Classic winner Shindig (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), he is out of a mare by Exceed And Excel who has enjoyed good Blue Diamond influence. Should he salute he will be the fourth Last Tycoon (Ire)-line winner after Knowledge, Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon) and Written By.
Arkansaw Kid | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Arkansaw Kid won the R. Listed Inglis Banner 2Y0 nicely at his Moonee Valley debut in the spring but had no luck getting into traffic when resuming in the R. Listed Inglis Millennium won by Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
No. 3 - Zulfiqar (Exceed And Excel x Sayf Shamal {USA} by Elusive Quality {USA})
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Ben Melham
Barrier: 15
Another Godolphin homebred son of Exceed And Excel, Zulfiqar is out of an imported Elusive Quality (USA) mare whose dam is the G2 Magic Night S. winner Alizes (Rory's Jester), daughter of the G1 The Galaxy winner La Baraka (Euclase), in turn a daughter of the multiple Group 1 winner Triscay (Marscay).
Closely related to the big-race winners Alizee (Sepoy) and Astern, he is a descendant of the influential mare Pearl Maiden (GB) (Phaleron {GB}).
Zulfiqar (blue silks) | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Zulfiqar showed speed and heart when taking out the G3 Chairman's S. first-up, adding to a good juvenile record that also saw him win the Listed Maribyrnong Trial in the spring.
No. 4 - Little Brose (Per Incanto {USA} x Mohegan Sky {USA} by Straight Man {USA})
Trainer: Ben & JD Hayes
Jockey: Michael Dee
Barrier: 7
Bred by Mr D Wallace and sold by Sledmere Stud to Lindsay Park Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $200,000, he seeks to become the second Street Cry (Ire)-line winner of this race; Pride Of Dubai was successful in 2015.
His dam Mohegan Sky (USA) is a Listed-winning half-sister to the Listed winner Vous (USA) (Wild Rush {USA}) from the family of the G1 Winter S. winner Absolut Glam (Snowland).
Little Brose | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Little Brose was game to the line when second to Barber in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) and the extra 200 metres should work in his favour.
No. 5 - Brave Halo (Brave Smash {Jpn} x Danish Bingo by Sebring)
Trainer: Sean & Jake Casey
Jockey: Damien Oliver
Barrier: 16
Purchased by Hancock Quality Bloodstock from the Willow Park Stud draft at the Magic Millions Weanling Sale for $135,000, this Aquis Farm bred late nomination hails from the first crop of his dual-Group-1-winning sire, a member of the Halo (USA) line which has provided two Blue Diamond winners - Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) and Canonise.
His grandam is the Listed Laelia S. winner Danedina (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) from the family of last season's stakes winner Seradess (Astern).
Brave Halo | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Unbeaten from his first three starts in Perth, Brave Halo lost no fans when a close up and unlucky Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) fourth.
No. 6 - The Instructor (Russian Revolution x Right Of Way by Denman)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott
Jockey: Jordan Childs
Barrier: 6
Bred by Mr G Kruger & Newgate Stallions and sold by Lyndhurst Stud Farm to First Light Racing/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale for $230,000, The Instructor is a member of the Redoute's Choice (winner of a rather memorable edition of this race in 1999) sireline which has enjoyed great success in this race - though the Snitzel branch is yet to represented by a winner.
His dam by Denman is a daughter of the stakes-placed Street Sign (USA) (High Yield {USA}) from a classy US family which has been represented locally by the G2 Sandown Guineas winner Allibor (All Too Hard).
The Instructor | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
The Instructor has trialled well behind subsequent stakes winner Annavisto (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) since leading throughout to impressively win his first two starts.
No. 7 - Veecee (Capitalist x Isabella by Poet's Voice {GB})
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Ethan Brown
Barrier: 14
Bred by Glenelg Park & Mr S Cameron and sold by Tyreel Stud to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $750,000, Veecee can become the second Written Tycoon-line winner, following Written By.
Out of a half-sister to the stakes winners Pistols (Dehere {USA}) and Keep The Faith, he has four strains of Danzig (USA) within five generations.
Veecee | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Veecee has jumped out well since his first two starts, a soft win at Sandown and came second to Zulfiqar in the G3 Chairman's S.
No. 8 - Don Corleone (Extreme Choice x Snipzu by Snippetson)
Trainer: Peter & Paul Snowden
Jockey: Mark Zahra
Barrier: 3
The first of two Gilgai Farm-bred runners, Don Corleone was sold through the Gilgai draft at the 2021 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, where he fetched $650,000 to the bid of China Horse Club/Newgate Bloodstock.
Line-bred to the terrific mare Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) as was the 2013 winner Miracles Of Doubt (by Extreme Choice's sire Not A Single Doubt), he is out of the stakes-placed Snipzu (Snippetson) whose dam is a half-sister to the G1 Ranvet S. winner Arkady (Myocard {NZ}).
Don Corleone | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Don Corleone was slowly away when a beaten odds-on favourite at his second start but his debut win was full of merit and a step up in distance is going to suit.
No. 9 - Exploring (Brazen Beau x Cristobal by Exceed And Excel)
Trainer: James Cummings
Jockey: Craig Williams
Barrier: 13
Another Godolphin homebred, should she win, Exploring will be first member of the I Am Invincible sireline to do so, though the Green Desert (USA) line did have the 2003 winner Kusi (Desert Prince {Ire}).
Exploring | Image courtesy of Bronwen Healy
Exploring has not drawn as well as she did last time but she has shown plenty of natural pace winning two of her first three starts.
No. 10 - De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom x Demasheen by Fastnet Rock)
Trainer: Anthony & Sam Freedman
Jockey: Daniel Moor
Barrier: 8
De Sonic Boom (Spirit Of Boom) was bred by Whitling Bloodstock and sold by Supreme Thoroughbreds to James Bester Bloodstock at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $300,000.
He is a half-brother to the Listed Hareeba S. winner Laverrod (Toronado {Ire}) out of a city winning Fastnet Rock mare whose stakes-placed dam Shimo Star (NZ) (Centaine) is a half-sister to the Singapore stakes winner Penang Rose (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}).
De Sonic Boom | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
De Sonic Boom proved a bit disappointing at her second outing but did catch the eye charging home through the field when taking out the G2 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) at debut.
No. 11 - Party For Two (Sidestep x Ponte Roma {NZ} by Pins)
Trainer: Damien Batters
Jockey: Nikita Beriman
Barrier: 1
Bred and raced by Telemon Thoroughbreds, having been passed in for $34,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, this granddaughter of Exceed And Excel by Sidestep, the sire of the G1 Golden Slipper winner Kiamichi is out of a city winning Pins mare from the family of the Group 1 winners Gee I Jane (NZ) (Jahafil {GB}), Katie Lee (NZ) (Pins) and Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {Ire}).
Party For Two as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A visitor from Queensland, Party For Two won two in a row before stepping up in class and trying hard behind Exploring in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
No. 12 - Steel City (Merchant Navy x Pittsburgh Flyer by Street Cry {Ire})
Trainer: Ciaron Maher & David Eustace
Jockey: Blake Shinn
Barrier: 5
Bred by Go Bloodstock who remain in the ownership after she was sold by Coolmore Stud for $700,000 to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock/Best Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Steel City can become the second Fastnet Rock-line filly to win this race with his daughter Catchy successful in 2017.
A half-sister to the dual Group 1-winning sprinter September Run (Exceed And Excel) out of the G3 Mumm S. winner Pittsburg Flyer (Street Cry {Ire}), she is a granddaughter of the South African Champion 2YO Filly Warning Zone (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}).
Steel City | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Despite being a maiden, Steel City is amongst the most favoured runners having run so well behind the G1 Golden Slipper S. favourite Learning To Fly in the G3 Widden S., in which there was gap to third.
No. 13 - Dubenenko (Russian Revolution x Happy Event by Dream Ahead {USA})
Trainer: Chris Bieg
Jockey: Dean Yendall
Barrier: 11
The second of her sire's runners, Dubeneko was bred by Willow Park Stud and Jeffrey Sagar and sold by Willow Park for $100,000 to Chris Bieg Racing/Brettknoll at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Her dam is a city-winning daughter of the G3 Research S. and dual Listed winner Besamo Mucho (Encosta De Lago), dam of the stakes winners Frespanol (Choisir) and Essington (Redoute's Choice).
Dubenenko as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Dubenenko rises in class off a Morphettville win but she was odds-on there having performed well in two Victorian spring contests.
No. 15 - Picky (Cable Bay {Ire} x Very Choosy by Choisir)
Trainer: Leon & Troy Corstens
Jockey: Damien Thornton
Barrier: 17
The second of the two Gilgai Farm bred runners, Picky is by former shuttler Cable Bay (Ire) out of a city winning 3/4 sister to the dual Listed winner Battlefield (Choisir), from the family of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Khaptingly (Bletchingly).
Cable Bay (Ire) | Standing at Highclere Stud
Picky has a tricky gate to contend with but has been coming along nicely, racing greenly and finding trouble when close up behind De Sonic Boom at Sandown.
No. 16 - Extreme Threat (Extreme Choice x Diamond Meteor by Northern Meteor)
Trainer: Mick Price & Michael Kent Jnr
Jockey: Blaike McDougall
Barrier: 2
Bred by Mr D Hanley and sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale for $300,000 to Trilogy Racing/Mick Price Racing & Breeding, Extreme Threat is the second runner for her sire who won this race.
Her dam is a city-placed Northern Meteor mare whose dam is the imported Group 3 winner Lady Cat (Chi) (Sir Cat {USA}), also dam of the Listed ATC Breeders' Plate winner Law (Denman).
Extreme Threat as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Extreme Threat boxed on well at debut behind Exploring, tackling this feature at just her second start.
No. 17 - Sensical (Zoustar x Karuta Queen by Not A Single Doubt)
Trainer: Peter Moody
Jockey: Daniel Stackhouse
Barrier: 12
Bred by Strawberry Hill Stud who remained in the ownership after selling her to Moody Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $950,000, she is bred on a 3 X 3 cross of the Blue Diamond winner Redoute's Choice.
Her dam is the R. Listed Magic Millions 2Y0 Classic and G3 Red Anchor S. winner Karuta Queen (Not A Single Doubt), also dam of the Listed Bill Carter S. winner Eawase (Sebring). After winning a G3 Blue Diamond Prelude, her grandam Card Queen (Final Card) was unplaced in Redoute's Choice's Blue Diamond whilst another relation in Vitalic was second to Zeditave in 1988.
Sensical as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Still a maiden but a promising one, Sensical has caught the eye with strong finishes at her first two starts over shorter trips.
