Saturday juvenile summary: Tokyo Tycoon caps incredible day for Rich Hill as Slipper takes shape

Cover image courtesy of Kristin Ledington

Tokyo Tycoon hands Satono Aladdin first Group 1

The Mark Walker-trained and Te Akau-owned outstanding juvenile Tokyo Tycoon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) continued his domination of New Zealand’s 2-year-old feature races on Saturday in the G1 Sistema S. over 1200 metres at Pukekohe, marking a first Group 1 victory for his sire, Rich Hill Stud's shuttler Satono Aladdin (Jpn).

The colt also provided leading rider Opie Bosson a special milestone as the leading rider secured a 10th victory in the race.

Bosson positioned Tokyo Tycoon much closer than in recent runs, sitting outside pacemaker Ulanova (NZ) (Santos) throughout before issuing his challenge with 300 metres to run. After a brief tussle with Ulanova, the eventual runner-up, Tokyo Tycoon soon asserted his superiority to record a 2.5l victory. Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) closed well for third in a race run in a sedate 1:10.89, while second-favorite Ethereal Star (Sntizel) had no luck finishing fifth, unable to be ridden out with a badly slipped saddle.

Walker quickly praised both horse and rider after an effortless elite-level win.

“I was a bit surprised he jumped and put himself so close today, but he travelled so well, and Opie just sat and waited,” Walker said.

“He loafed a little bit, but he just goes out there and knows his job.

“He is really workmanlike and didn’t cost a fortune either and shows anyone can be involved; in fact, we still had shares available in him in June last year. He was our last horse to sell that year.”

Walker said no firm plans are yet in place for the juvenile's future, saying they will assess how he pulls up and “work out a plan on Monday.”

The win was landmark for Rich Hill Stud shuttle stallion Satono Aladdin, a son of the highly influential Deep Impact (Jpn) who won the highest-rated mile in Japan, the G1 Yasuda Kinen. Already the sire of a pair of Group 3 winners from his first crop, Tokyo Tycoon came from his second Southern Hemisphere crop.

Originally a NZ$50,000 weanling from the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale, Tokyo Tycoon was reoffered at the sales house's National Yearling Sale in 2022 where he was secured by David Ellis for NZ$125,000. He is the best produce from the Starcraft (NZ) mare All About The Coin, who was a three-time winner in her career. The colt hails from the family of the legendary Zabeel (NZ), also counting Twin Hills resident Hallowed Crown amongst his relatives.

First Group winner for Grunt

The belief Mr. Yuesheng Zhang’s Yulong Stud showed in Grunt (NZ) when they installed him as the operation's foundation sire was vindicated on Saturday in the G2 Sires’ Produce S. at Flemington.

The son O’Reilly (NZ) had his first runners hit the track this season, with many expecting them to blossom as 3-year-olds. Grunt has sired a potential topliner in the form of the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained 2-year-old Veight. The November-born colt was having his second career start when taking out Saturday's G2 Sires’ Produce S. over 1400 metres at Flemington.

An explosive 6l winner on debut at Pakenham over 1200 metres back in February, the step up in distance always looked to suit the colt.

With Damian Lane aboard, the pair jumped from barrier four and a patient Lane was happy to settle Veight behind the speed before peeling out at the 300-metre mark; Lane allowed the colt to stretch out and he powered down the Flemington straight, eased down over the line. Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) did his best to get within 2l in second, while Godolphin’s Snitzel colt Amur was a further 3.2l away in third.

Winning rider Damian Lane said: “This horse was well-placed today. He was well prepared. Hopefully, he pulls up well, and he’s got another run left in him.”

Co-trainer Calvin McEvoy said the stable’s decision to bypass the G1 Blue Diamond was right, following his “fantastic win” on Saturday.

“You have to nominate for those races (Blue Diamond) very early, and we always thought seven furlongs and probably a mile would suit him,” McEvoy said.

The Group 2 victory opens up a plethora of options for the promising colt, with the stable indicating that the G1 Sires' Produce S. over 1400 metres on April 1 at Royal Randwick was firmly on the agenda for Veight.

Grunt is a son of Waikato Stud’s four-time Champion New Zealand Sire, the late O’Reilly (NZ). A dual-Group 1 winner who had an affinity with Flemington claiming both the G1 Australian Guineas and G1 Makybe Diva S., plus the G3 CS Hayes S.

Veight is the best progney from the dual-Group 3-winning Neena Rock, a daughter of Coolmore’s fast-emerging, elite broodmare sire Fastnet Rock.

Coolmore's Shinzo wins G3 Pago Pago S.

Coolmore and partners were handed another leading contender for next weekend’s G1 Golden Slipper S. when the Chris Waller-trained Shinzo (Snitzel) took out the G3 Pago Pago S. at Rosehill Gardens. The 2-year-old colt was having his fourth start on Saturday, and recorded his first win in a stylish performance.

The son of Snitzel was last seen finishing second in the G2 Skyline S. at Randwick, However, Chris Waller outlined the reasons for that defeat while admitting they are still learning about the colt.

“James (McDonald) had him seemingly in the perfect position last start; however, he wasn’t comfortable at all there,” Waller said. “Then we learned later in the day at Randwick you had to be out wider in the track - I was pleased when he drew out wide (barrier nine) today (Saturday).”

Shinzo jumped well from wide, barrier nine of 10, and was quickly tagged back to settle at the tail of the field by the Champion Jockey James McDonald. The colt and McDonald were happy to bide their time while the Trapeze Artist colt Introducing led the field at a slick tempo before attempting to get a breather as the field entered the home straight.

Showing an instant turn of foot, he quickly made ground to hit the lead at the 200-metre mark, though still showed a little immaturity. However, he was much superior to his rivals. Coming away with an authoritative win, Shinzo put 1.6l into Listed Talindert S. winner Maharba (Pride Of Dubai) in second, and the Waterhouse/Bott-trained Bases Loaded (Deep Field) a further 1.7l away in third.

Waller was effusive in his praise of the colt saying: “He did the first half of the race the right way, got into a beautiful rhythm, loomed up effortlessly, and it was wonderful to see him win in that manner.”

Shinzo Firmly booked his place in next Saturday’s G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill Gardens, meaning the colt would have to back-up in seven days, with Waller seemingly with little doubt his charge can handle the task.

“His demeanor won’t affect him; he is just the most chilled-out colt you can imagine - He’s got the physique to deal with it; he has done it all naturally,” Waller said.

Bred in the purple, Shinzo is the son of Arrowfield’s Champion Sire, Snitzel. The son of Redoute’s Choice is among only six stallions in Australian history to win four consecutive sire premierships and the only three-time Champion 2-Year-Old sire in the past two decades.

The colt is the fourth foal from Samaready, a daughter of More Than Ready (USA) who was an elite performer for her trainer Mick Price and breeders Vinery Stud, Price having described her as one of the best 2-year-olds he had ever trained. A winner of five stakes races, she counts the 2012 G1 Blue Diamond S. and 2013 G1 Moir S. amongst her victories.

Shinzo is a brother to the Godolphin-raced Exhilarates (Snitzel), a winner of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on the Gold Coast, and the G3 Quezette S. among her five stakes victories. Shinzo was bred by Katom and was not offered for sale.

Steel City into the Slipper

Saturday's G3 Magic Night S. was a one-act affair, with the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Steel City dominating her rivals.

The daughter of Merchant Navy had been unlucky in several runs during this preparation, running into the likes of Red Resistance (Russian Revolution) and Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).

In February, the filly was unplaced in the G1 Blue Diamond S. at Sandown. It was a race marred by several hard-luck stories, Steel City being one as she was held up and racing in restricted room from the 400-metre mark, approaching the line under a hold.

After a dominant display in the Magic Night, co-trainer Ciaron Maher said, “I was hoping that would happen in the Blue Diamond; many people were, but that's racing.”

No such bad luck occurred on Saturday, with jockey Regan Bayliss sending the filly forward from barrier one to hold out the Godolphin runner Remedies (Sepoy). Left alone and nursed up until the 300-metre mark Bayliss, allowed the filly to stretch out and she quickly put a margin between herself and her rivals. The I Am Invincible filly Blanc De Blanc emerged from the pack and came home well, but was held 2.6l to the line in second. Meanwhile the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained August Bloom (More Than Ready {USA}) ran home to finish third 3.4l away.

With the victory granting her a place in next Saturday's G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill, Maher was left hoping the performance hadn't taken too much out of his filly.

“Hopefully she's had a soft run - She's won well today, this probably wasn't the plan I initially thought to get her into the Slipper, but I am glad,” he said.

Steel City's victory saw her post figures superior to Shinzo's victory in the G3 Pago Pago S. running home in a time, 1:10.08 versus 1:10.56 on a Good 4 track, that equates to nearly 3l.

Steel City is a daughter of the Coolmore Stud's Merchant Navy, a son of their own former own Champion Sire Fastnet Rock. Merchant Navy was brilliant in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. before embarking on an international preparation joining the stable of Aidan O'Brien, the master of Ballydoyle guiding the colt to a memorable victory in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot.

A first Group winner for her sire, Steel City is the third foal from the talented Pittsburgh Flyer (Street Cry {Ire}), a winner of the G3 G.H Mumm S. who also produced Steel City's half-sister, September Run (Exceed And Excel), a dual-Group 1 winner of the G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G1 William Reid S.

Consigned by Coolmore Stud, the filly was a $700,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher and Best Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Her price-tag makes Steel City the most expensive yearling by Merchant Navy to be bought at public auction.