Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Flemington: G1 Newmarket H., $1,500,000, 1200m
In a race won by his famous grandfather on eight occasions and the second occasion for James Cummings who won with Bivouac in 2020, the Newmarket H. was won in stunning fashion by the fast and classy 3-year-old filly In Secret (I Am Invincible).
A six-time winner from nine starts including last spring's G1 Coolmore Stud S., also down the Flemington straight, In Secret is one of the 91 stakes winners for Australia's reigning Champion Sire, a resident of Yarraman Park Stud.
Bred by Segenhoe Thoroughbreds Australia and Saconi Thoroughbreds and purchased by Godolphin from the Segenhoe draft for $900,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is the second foal and second winner for the dual Group 3 winner Eloping (Choisir) whose three-quarter brother Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner) won a G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings).
After foaling another I Am Invincible filly last spring, Eloping was again served by that stallion. Her previous foal is a Snitzel filly whilst her Trapeze Artist 2-year-old (a $200,000 purchase for Price Racing and Breeding at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale) has been named Comeau (fourth in a recent Cranbourne jump-out).
In Secret boasts an interesting pedigree with her sire bred on a Danzig (USA)/Sharpen Up (GB)/Biscay/Lunchtime (GB) cross whilst her damsire Choisir is Danzig/Sharpen Up/Lunchtime/Biscay.
G2 Sires' Produce S., $300,000, 1400m
There were only two runners by Victorian-based stallions in this race that is named in support of local horses - and they finished one/two, the exciting Veight (Grunt {NZ}) showing a good turn of foot as Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) was doing his best work late.
Impressive breaking his maiden by 6l (Apulia second on that occasion as well) at Pakenham in early February, Veight was bred by Yulong (home to his G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Makybe Diva S.-winning sire) and sold by them to Sledmere Stud/Cangon Pty Ltd for $100,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
Sledmere then sold him onto McEvoy Mitchell Racing/Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $220,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Hailing from his sire's debut crop (his first winner), Veight is a son of the dual Group 3 winner Neena Rock (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is a half-sister to the Group 1-winning stallion Quiet American (USA).
A descendant of the famed matriarch Plucky Liege (GB) (Spearmint {GB}), Neena Rock was served last spring by Tagaloa having missed to him the previous season. She has a yearling full sister to Veight.
Veight boasts duplications of three influential mares within seven generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}).
G2 Kewney S., $300,000, 1600m
Returning to the winner's stall for the first time since her first win - the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) in February last year - Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) found the line in determined fashion.
Bred by China Horse Club and purchased by Triple Crown Syndications for $195,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Snowden-trained filly is one of the six stakes winners for her Newgate Farm-based, G1 The Galaxy and G1 Oakleigh Plate-winning sire.
She is the fourth foal and one of two stakes winners for the stakes-placed Purcentage (Onemorenomore) whose son Equation (Press Statement) won the Listed Canberra Guineas.
Last spring paying a return visit to Russian Revolution after foaling a Savabeel colt in early October, Purcentage has a 2-year-old full brother to Revolutionary Miss, that $250,000 Inglis Easter graduate being a member of the Danny O'Brien stable.
Purcentage is a daughter of the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Spurcent (Flying Spur), a half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong International Mile winner Glorious Days (Hussonet {USA}) and the Listed Dunedin Guineas winner Bangalore Bullet (Hussonet {USA}).
A descendant of the G1 VRC Oaks winner Sanderae (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}), Revolutionary Miss boasts a 5 X 6 cross of her sire's high-achieving fourth dam Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}).
The third dam of Purcentage's damsire Flying Spur, she is also the fourth dam of Encosta De Lago, grandsire of Russian Revolution's recent Group 1 winner Communist.
Putting a seal on a lovely pedigree, Revolutionary Miss is also line-bred to the great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
G3 Matron S., $200,000, 1600m
It was a third Group 3 success for the tough mare Sirileo Miss (Pride Of Dubai) who made the running and just kept going.
Enhancing her already outstanding second-up record, the 5-year-old was a $60,000 purchase for Wilde Racing from the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Sold by her breeders Miranda Park (Gary O’Meara) who happily remains in the ownership, she is one of the 17 stakes winners for her dual Group 1-winning, Coolmore Stud-based sire.
And she is one of seven winners (from as many to race) for the excellent producer She's Sirius (Galileo {Ire}) who produced a King's Legacy filly last spring, subsequently served by Hanseatic.
Also dam of the stakes-placed Sophia's Choice (Fastnet Rock) and three metropolitan winners, She's Sirius previously lost a Merchant Navy colt with her previous foal being the lightly raced 3-year-old She's Divine (Divine Prophet).
The winner of two races over 1600 metres, She's Sirius is one of the six winners for the city winner Canicula (Rory's Jester) who also produced the Listed Ottowa S. winner Spectrolite (Stratum). Canicula's dam is the Listed Gosford Slipper winner Hit It Star (Hit It Benny), also dam of the Listed Reginald Allen winner Hitapotomoss (Twig Moss {Fr}).
G3 Shaftesbury Avenue H., $200,000, 1400m
Three starts at Flemington - three wins; Scallopini (Snitzel) is a horse with a definite soft spot for Headquarters!
Though he is a good horse everywhere, the tough and talented 8-year-old winning 13 of his 41 starts, five of those at stakes level.
One of the 133 stakes winners for his Arrowfield-based, four-time Australian Champion Sire, Scallopini was bred by S Gillard who remains in the ownership. He was purchased by Proven Thoroughbreds and Steve O'Dea for $200,000 from the Yarraman Park Stud draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
He is the first foal for the unraced Rose Of Mulan (More Than Ready {USA}) whose second foal is the multiple city winner Red Rubi (Rubick) whilst her third foal Shades Of Rose (Rubick) won last spring's G2 Sheraco S.
Served last spring by I Am Invincible, Rose Of Mulan foaled a Hellbent filly in August having had little luck the two previous seasons (missing and slipping). Her Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old daughter Decisively (Extreme Choice) was fifth in a Flemington jump-out in December.
Rose Of Mulan is a daughter of the dual Group winner Lady Mulan (NZ) (Bigstone {Ire}) who produced five winners including the stakes-placed Absent Friends (Dehere {USA}).
Lady Mulan is a half-sister to the G3 Tramway winner Kinzaffra (NZ) (Kinjite {NZ}) and to the dam of the Singapore-based stakes winner Mr Hanks (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
A descendant of the influential matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}), Scallopini boasts crosses of the great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
Rosehill: G1 Coolmore Classic, $600,000, 1500m
An exciting three-way finish saw Espiona (Extreme Choice) provide the Chris Waller stable with their first win in this mares' feature - the in-form 4-year-old so game along the rails.
Bred by Torryburn Stud and Frank Cook, the five-time winner (from twelve starts) was purchased for $190,000 by Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
She is the first of only two foals for the lightly raced Warwick Farm winner Dahooil (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) who Chris Waller purchased as a yearling for NZ$340,000 at the New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale. She produced a colt by Capitalist in 2021, sadly passing away early last year.
Dahooil is one of seven winners (from as many to race) for Pretty (NZ) (Pins), also dam of the Listed winners Pretty To Sea (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Bonny O'Reilly (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}); the latter being the dam of the two-time Group 3-placed Basquiat (Snitzel).
Pretty's Group 3-placed dam Escada (NZ) (Centaine) produced the dual Group 1 winners Vision And Power (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and Glamour Puss (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}) whose grandson Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) is a dual Group 2 winner.
Another relation - Steps In Time (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) - won this same race in 2014.
Espiona is a great advertisement for female line-breeding, bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) and a 7 X 6 cross of Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
G2 Phar Lap S., $250,000, 1500m
She was a short-priced favourite and she won like it, Zougotcha (Zoustar) proving a class above her rivals as she raced clear to her fifth win from eight starts - and her fourth in Group company.
A $500,000 graduate of the 2012 Inglis Asutralian Easter Yearling Sale (purchased by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock), she was bred by Widden Stud (home to her sire who has been well-represented by 34 stakes winners) in partnership with RMA Bloodstock Trust.
She is one of three stakes winners for her dam, the stakes-placed, triple city winner Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is the Listed winner Crystal Wit (Distorted Humor {USA}).
Also dam of the Listed winners Persuader (Zoustar) and The Actuary (Sebring) as well as the city winner Campaign (Sebring), Fast Talker was served last spring by Zoustar having foaled a Written Tycoon colt.
He is her first produce since Zougotcha as she slipped in 2020, missing the following season.
Fast Talker is a half-sister to the G3 Heath S. winner Crystal Dreamer (Stratum) from the family of the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Crystal Lily (Stratum) and the stakes winners Amaethon (Al Maher), Crystal Web (Hard Spun {USA}) and Carrara.
Zougotcha is one of the 32 winners and four stakes winners (the first at Group 1 level) from 39 runners bred on a Zoustar/Fastnet Rock cross - one which boasts an outstanding 82.1 per cent winners to runners strike rate.
G2 Ajax S., $250,000, 1500m
A stakes winner over 2500 metres in France, Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has proven to be an adaptable galloper with this success - his fourth from 18 starts - coming over five furlongs less!
Bred by Biddestone Stud, he is one of the 104 stakes winners for his Gilltown Stud-based sire, the star galloper who has been represented by nine stakes winners on Australian soil... and he went close to a double with Zeyrek (Fr) only just beaten in the G3 Sky High S. earlier in the day.
Cepheus is a son of the lightly raced Crimson Cheer (USA) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) whose dam Yousefia (USA) (Danzig {USA}) won at Listed level in America. Seven of her foals were winners including the G3 Princess Margaret S. winner Mythical Girl (USA) (Gone West {USA}) whose grandson Vespa (NZ) won the G1 Diamond S.
High-class stallion Green Desert (USA) also hails from this family, and he is the grandsire of Sea The Stars (Ire), meaning that Cepheus is bred on a 4 X 3 cross of his own third dam Foreign Courier (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}).
G3 Sky High S., $350,000, 2000m
Tough at his Australian debut, Protagonist (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) was game holding off a late charge from fellow import Zeyrek (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
A five-time Northern Hemisphere winner over middle distances (also tried over the jumps), Protagonist is the 30th stakes winner for his Coolmore Stud-based shuttler.
His dam Sagariya (Fr) (Shamardal {USA}), a winner at Chantilly, has produced another three winners and she is one of the eight winners (from as many to race) for Saga D'Ouilly (Fr) (Linamix {Fr}) - also dam of the Listed winners Sagaroi (Fr) (Kings Best {USA}) and Sagauteur (Fr) (Literato {Fr}).
Also third dam of the triple Group 1 winner Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}), Saga D'Ouilly is a full sister to the G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe winner Sagamix (Fr) and half-sister to the French Champion 3-Year-Old Sagacity (Fr) (Highest Honor {Fr}).
This is also the family of the Group 1 gallopers Japan (GB) (Galileo {Ire}), Mogul (GB) (Galileo {Ire}) and Sagawara (GB) (Shamardal {USA}).
G3 Pago Pago S., $200,000, 1200m
Racing his way into G1 Golden Slipper S. contention, Shinzo (Snitzel) broke his maiden in impressive fashion.
Bred by Katom and raced by a group of big hitters led by Coolmore, the regally bred colt was having his third start having been stakes-placed at his first two outings.
The 133rd stakes winner for his high-achieving, Arrowfield Stud-based sire, Shinzo is the second live foal and second stakes winner for the terrific mare Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) who won six of her 13 starts including the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the G1 Moir S.
Her first foal, an All Too Hard filly, died when showing promise at two. Her next was Exhilarates (also by Snitzel) who is now at stud (last spring producing a Street Boss {USA} colt) won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the G3 Quezette S.
Not having much luck at stud - her third foal died and she slipped and missed the following two seasons - Samaready (who was purchased by Coolmore for $1.8 million in foal with Shinzo) was exported to Ireland early last year.
Samaready is one of the seven winners produced by the dual city winner Samar (Secret Savings {USA}), also dam of the dual Group winner Night War (General Nediym) and the Group 2-placed Samartested (Testa Rossa).
Samar's dam Nice Choice (GB) (Touching Wood {USA}) also fared well at stud with her seven winners including the triple Group 1-winning stayer County Tyrone (Danewin).
Shinzo is the fourth Snitzel stakes winner out of a More Than Ready (USA) mare from just 35 runners - 31 of whom are winners.
G3 Magic Night S., $200,000, 1200m
Atoning for such an unlucky run in the G1 Blue Diamond S., Steel City (Merchant Navy) earned herself a G1 Golden Slipper S. berth with this dominant all the way victory.
Bred by Go Bloodstock (who remain in the ownership) and purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock and Best Bloodstock for $700,000 from the Coolmore Stud draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Steel City is the first stakes winner for her Coolmore Stud-based, G1 Coolmore Stud S. and G1 Royal Ascot Diamond Jubilee S.-winning sire.
She is the third foal and second stakes winner for the very fast mare Pittsburgh Flyer (Street Cry {Ire}) who was successful at Group 3 and Listed level.
Served last spring by I Am Invincible after slipping the previous season, Pittsburgh Flyer is also dam of the dual Group 1-winning sprinter September Run (Exceed And Excel).
Pittsburgh Flyer is one of the three winners produced by the South African Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Warning Zone (SAf) (Elliodor {Fr}), a two-time Group winner from the family of the Group 1 galloper Golden Peak (SAf) (Peacetime {USA}).
G3 Maurice McCarten S., $200,000, 1100m
Straight to the front at his first run since a G2 Danehill S. third behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in the spring, Cannonball (Capitalist) never looked in any danger of defeat as he out-sped his older rivals.
Bred by China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, SF Bloodstock Ltd and Blake Sandblom Pty Ltd and purchased by James Harron Bloodstock for $975,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cannonball - who won last year's Listed Redoute's Choice S. - is one of the eleven stakes winners for his Newgate Farm-based, G1 Golden Slipper S.-winning sire.
He is the second named foal and second stakes winner for the Listed Merson Cooper S. winner Golconda (Snitzel) who at her final start was third in the G1 VRC Oaks won by Set Square (Reset). Also by Capitalist she has produced the G2 Rubiton S. winner Marine One who was close up in the recent G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Missing to Capitalist last spring, Golconda sadly lost a foal by him in September. Her yearling filly is a three-quarter sister to Cannonball, being a daughter of Written Tycoon. She was purchased by Malua Bloodstock for $300,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Golconda is a daughter of the dual Group winner Eureka Jewel (Semipalatinsk {USA}), dam of the Listed Cranbourne Cup winner Sermon (Octagonal {NZ}) and grandam of the Listed Dalrello S. winner Smart 'N' Sexy (Smart Missile).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Danehill (USA), Cannonball also carries a 7 X 7 cross of the great mare Best In Show (USA) via her grandson Try My Best (USA) and descendant Redoute's Choice.
