Cover image courtesy of Kristin Ledington
Pukekohe Park: G1 Sistema S., NZ$320,000, 1200m
He just keeps getting better - Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) so impressive breaking through at the elite level; making it five big wins from as many starts.
Bred by Rich Hill Thoroughbreds and sold through their draft to David Ellis for NZ$125,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Tokyo Tycoon is one of the three stakes winners for the farm's G1 Yasuda Kinen-winning shuttler whose Victorian-based son, Japanese Emperor (NZ), went so close in last weekend's G1 Australian Guineas.
A half-brother to the Caulfield winner Syd's Coin (Denman), Tokyo Tycoon is out of the three-time provincial Victorian winner All About The Coin (Starcraft {NZ}), half-sister to the stakes winners Messene (Lonhro) and Cordero (Gio Ponti {USA}).
In 2022 slipping after a return visit to Satono Aladdin (Jpn) (again served by him last spring), All About The Coin has a Vadamos (Fr) yearling filly.
Tokyo Tycoon is the 15th stakes-winning and fourth Group 1-winning descendant of the wonderful mare Lady Giselle (Fr) (Nureyev {USA}) - dam of the big-race winners Zabeel (NZ) and Baryshnikov and is the third dam of Hallowed Crown.
G1 Bonecrusher NZ S., NZ$320,000, 2050m
Holding on to victory after a lengthy protest hearing, Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) achieved what very few 3-year-old fillies do - winning an open age weight-for-age Group 1 event.
In doing so recording the sixth success of her exciting seven-start career - and there looks to be plenty more to come.
Bred by Hallmark Stud Ltd, she was sold through their 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale draft for NZ$230,000 to the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable.
She is one of the 11 stakes winners for her in-form Rich Hill Stud-based sire and the second stakes performer for her placed dam Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), also dam of the stakes-placed Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge) as well as the Singapore winner Diamond Ring (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).
Paying a return visit last spring to Proisir having foaled another filly by him in late August, Donna Marie has an El Roca colt who was sold to Hong Kong's Ricky Yiu for $130,000 at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Donna Marie is out of the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic winner Scarlet Runner (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}) who also produced the high-class Singapore galloper Onceuponatime (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the Group 1 mare Sky Cuddle (Snippets), Prowess boasts a 6 X 6 cross of the great mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) who appears via her grandson Fairy King (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
G2 Auckland Cup, NZ$500,000, 3200m
Charging late to claim a game Nerve Not Verve (NZ) (Shocking) who had kicked clear early in the straight, Platinum Invador (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) added this feature-race win to his 2020 success in the G3 City Of Auckland Cup.
It was the third time he had lined up in the two-mile feature - finishing third two years ago and fourth last year.
Bred by C Stewart, he was sold by Westbury Stud to trainer Lisa Latta for NZ$25,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Festival Yearling Sale.
One of his Westbury Stud-based, in-form sire's 11 stakes winners (another being last weekend's G1 New Zealand Derby hero Sharp 'N' Smart {NZ}), Platinum Invador is the best of the four winners produced by the placed mare Atomic Dancer (Danehill Dancer {Ire}).
Retired from stud with her final foal being an Unusual Suspect (USA) yearling filly, Atomic Dancer is a daughter of the Italian Listed winner Bomba Atomica (Ire) (Prince Tenderfoot {USA}).
Ascot: Listed Bunbury Cup, $150,000, 2100m
A race that changed complexion several times with a couple - including the short-priced favourite Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) - taking off early - this edition of the Listed Bunbury Cup saw Blazing Away (City Place {USA}) get up in the final stride.
Recording the fifth win of his 22-start career - his first at stakes level - Blazing Away was bred by Courtland Park Stud. He is the 13th stakes winner for his unraced sire who stood just four seasons in Western Australia, serving small books.
Blazing Away's dam is the Listed Pinjarra Cup winner Malaika (Fighting Falcon {USA}), daughter of the Listed Belmont Park Cup winner Our Annabel (Lucratif {Fr}).
Last year foaling a Maschino colt, she has two yet to be named sons by that same stallion coming through.
The dam of Blazing Away's sire City Place (USA) is bred on a close 3 X 3 cross of In Reality (USA) whilst his dam's second damsire Star Of The North (USA) is that stallion's half-brother - providing for a 6 X 6 X 4 cross of the G1 Frizette S. winner My Dear Girl (USA) (Rough'n Tumble {USA}).
Listed Bunbury S., $150,000, 1400m
A horse who really knows how to find the line, Burnya To Survive (Bradbury's Luck) was so tough recording his first win at stakes level - and his seventh overall from eleven starts.
Bred by A Olive, the 5-year-old is the 11th stakes winner for his Listed Canonbury S.-winning sire who died last year.
He is one of three winners (from as many to race so far) for the handy mare Baleen In Me (Flying Pegasus) who won four of her 13 starts - three of those in town.
Served last spring by Awesome Rock after foaling a filly by that same stallion, Baleen In Me is a daughter of the stakes-placed metropolitan winner Baleen Magic (Bletchley Park {Ire}) from the family of the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Goleen (Gosh) and the G1 Western Australian Oaks/G1 Flight S. winner Judyann (Gosh).
Burnya To Survive's dam is bred on the same Danehill (USA)/Nijinsky II (Can) cross as Bradbury's Luck's sire Redoute's Choice.
