Cover image courtesy of The Image is Everything
G1 Golden Slipper S., $5,000,000, 1200m
It is no easy task to back up a G3 Pago Pago S. victory with a G1 Golden Slipper S. victory, but that is just what exciting colt Shinzo (Snitzel) did as he once again charged to the line in impressive fashion.
Bred by Katom and raced by a group of big-hitters led by Coolmore, the regally bred colt is the second Snitzel (Estijaab in 2018) to win a Slipper and he is his Arrowfield Stud-based, four-time Champion Sire's 19th Group 1 winner.
He 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 - Samaready's 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). She's currently in America and safely in-foal to Justify.
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's pedigree brings together the close relations Northern Dancer (Can), Danehill (USA) and Halo (USA).
G1 George Ryder S., $1,000,000, 1500m
Another Saturday, another Group 1 for the wonderful galloper Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) - his ninth at that elite level.
The Royal Ascot-bound 4-year-old is one of the 62 stakes winners and eight Group 1 winners sired by his Darley-based sire, a horse who has been going from strength to strength in recent years; his service fee rising from $11,000 (inc GST) in 2015 to $77,000 (inc GST) in 2022.
Anamoe's dam is the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Anamato (Redoute's Choice) who was campaigned overseas by the David Hayes stable - finishing third in the G1 Hollywood Park American Oaks whilst locally she was also able to win the G2 Kewney S., the G2 Moonee Valley Oaks and the G3 SAJC Sires' Produce S.
Served last spring by, not surprisingly, Street Boss (USA), Anamato missed the previous year to him with her most recent foal being a Blue Point (Ire) filly.
Also dam of the Irish Listed winner Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) and the city winner Amitto (Lonhro), Anamato has two local daughters at stud - Amitto last year producing a three-quarter brother to Anamoe (again served by Street Boss) whilst Outline (Lonhro) was served last spring by Street Boss after foaling a Bivouac colt.
Anamato is already the grandam of a stakes performer, one of her unraced daughters producing the G2 UAE Derby-placed Island Falcon (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Anamato is out of the stakes-placed Voltage (Whiskey Road {USA}) - dam of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Drum (Marauding {NZ}) and grandam of the multiple Group 1 winner Grand Armee (Hennessy {USA}).
A highlight of Anamoe’s pedigree are strains of the close relations Machiavellian (USA), Halo (USA), Northern Dancer (Can) and Danehill (USA) - providing four crosses of the great mother and daughter Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}).
G1 The Galaxy H., $1,000,000, 1100m
Suited by a fast pace, Mariamia (Toronado {Ire}) made a successful Group 1 debut with this tough effort - her eighth win and her second in stakes company on the back of her G2 Expressway S. win in late January.
Bred by Adam Sangster and purchased by Gasper Stellato for $18,000 from Book 2 of the 2018 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Mariamia changed hands in March last year - topping an Inglis online sale when purchased by Newhaven Stud for $335,000.
One of the 32 stakes winners for her Swettenham Stud-based sire (his fourth Group 1 winner and his second The Galaxy winner in a row with Shelby Sixtysix successful last year), Mariamia is out of the unplaced Quinta Lago (Encosta De Lago) (no longer at stud) whose Group 2-placed dam Flying Spice (Flying Spur) is a half-sister to the durable stakes winner Chattanooga (Scenic {Ire}).
And Flying Spice is the grandam of the G1 Victoria Derby winner Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Maria Mia is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of the terrific mare Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) via her sons - the prolific full brothers Sadler's Wells (USA) and Fairy King (USA).
G1 Ranvet S., $1,000,000, 2000m
It was some Australian debut for Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) who could not have been any more impressive racing away to a 4.5l victory - his first at the elite level on the back of two Group 2 successes in France.
Bred by Macha Bloodstock/Meridian International and purchased by Rabbah Bloodstock for 110,000gns (AU$209,900) at the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Dubai Honour is part of a great recent run for her Coolmore Stud-based sire.
One of his 18 stakes winners - and his second Group 1 winner, Dubai Honour is out of the unraced Mondelice (GB) (Montjeu {Ire}) whose G3 Prix Daphnis winning half-brother Last Kingdom (USA) stands at Kooringal Stud.
Mondelice is a granddaughter of the Irish Champion 2YO Filly Damson (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}) whose nine winners include the dual Group-winning stallion Requinto (Ire).
Dubai Honour carries crosses of the influential mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
G1 Rosehill Guineas, $600,000, 2000m
Part of a massive day for an owner who has had plenty of massive days - Lindermann (Lonhro) was bred and is raced by Debbie Kepitis who is also part-owner of the G1 Golden Slipper hero Shinzo (Snitzel).
And how nice for her to win a big one with a son of her family's stars, the mighty Lonhro.
A member of his 15th crop, Lindermann is Lonhro's 95th stakes winner - taking out a Group 1 won by Lonhro's sire Octagonal (NZ) in 1996 and by Lonhro's brother Niello in 2004.
The second foal produced by the stakes placed dual city winner Self Esteem (Stratum), Lindermann hails from the same family as fellow Group 1 winners Reset, Assertive Lad (Zeditave) and Assertive Lass (Zeditave).
Served last spring by Written By having missed the previous season to Yes Yes Yes, Self Esteem (Stratum) has a Written Tycoon yearling colt whilst her yet to race 2-year-old daughter Cranberries (Nicconi) is also a member of the Chris Waller stable.
G3 Ne Manion Cup, $200,000, 2400m
Putting in the big strides late to get up right on the line, Timour (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) recorded his first stakes win and his second from 16 starts - his first being a Saint Cloud 2100-metre maiden in May 2021.
Twice stakes placed in France, he was bred by S.A.S. Ecurie Peregrine. He is the 25th stakes winner for his Coolmore Ireland-based multiple Group 1-winning sire, a son of Galileo (Ire).
Timour is a son of the four-times stakes-winner Rock My Soul (Ire) (Clodovil {Ire}) whose other son Young Rascal (Fr) (Intello {Ger}) won this same race two years ago.
Rock My Soul is one of the three stakes winners produced by the winner Rondinay (Fr) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}) - also dam of the German Champion 2YO Filly Rock My Love (Ger) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the Listed Pretty Polly S. winner Run Wild (Ger) (Amaron {GB}).
Rondinay is a half-sister to the Group 2 galloper Touch My Soul (Fr) (Tiger Hill {Ire}).
G3 Epona S., $200,000, 1900m
Last spring's Listed Sandown Cup winner Gin Martini (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) did well finding winning form at just her second run for this campaign.
One of the 35 stakes winners for her late multiple Group 1-winning sire, a son of Galileo (Ire), Gin Martini was bred by Bree Baddiley And Sons and sold by Landsdowne Park to Tricolours Racing and Syndications for NZ$40,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
A half-sister to the stakes-placed winner Nothin' On Me (NZ) (Not A Single Doubt), Gin Martini is out of the 2100 metre winner Tanqueray (NZ) (Red Ransom {USA}) whose dam is the dual Group winner Gordon's (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}).
Hailing from the family of the Group 1 winner Juice (NZ) (Bertolini {USA}), Tanqueray was served last spring by Almanzor (Fr) having missed the previous two seasons - her most recent foal being a yet to be named son of Embellish (NZ).
G3 Birthday Card S., $200,000, 1200m
Appreciating a drop in class having contested the G1 Oakleigh Plate first-up, Zapateo (Brazen Beau) was tough recording her fourth win at stakes level - her third in Group 3 company.
Godolphin's homebred is one of 22 stakes winners for their Victorian-based, dual Group 1-winning I Am Invincible stallion.
Her dam is the Listed Ramornie H. winner Jerezana (Lonhro) who is doing such a great job at stud with her first five foals to race all being winners.
Sadly she died in 2019, leaving behind a Street Boss (USA) colt - Zaragoza who was second in a Kembla Grange trial in early February.
Also, dam of the Group 2-winning sprinter Osborne Bulls (Street Cry {Ire}) and the Group 3-placed Badajoz (Commands), Jerezana is out of the Group 1-placed dual city-winner Saddler's Silk (Barathea {Ire}) whose grandson Viridine (Poet's Voice {GB}) is a two times Group winner.
Also from this family are the stakes winners Barawin (Barathea {Ire}), De La Terre (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and Brief Embrace (Irgun {USA}).
Listed Darby Munro S., $160,000, 1200m
What a terrific record the bargain-priced Opal Ridge (Rubick) is building, this easy win is the fifth of her eight-start career and her first at stakes level.
Bred by the Alchin family and sold by Carramar Park to R Hunt for $20,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, she is the ninth stakes winner for her regally bred Swettenham Stud-based sire, Rubick.
She is the first foal for the city-placed three-time winner dam Chadana (Myboycharlie {Ire}) whose second foal - also trained by Luke Pepper - is the yet to race 2-year-old Diamond Ridge (Outreach) who was placed in a Scone trial last month.
Served last spring by Lean Mean Machine and Brave Smash (Jpn) with her only other foal being a Headwater yearling colt, Chadana is a half-sister to the G3 Adrian Knox S. winner Candelera (Real Saga).
Chadana's city placed three times winning dam Jadana (Jade Hunter {USA}) is a daughter of the G3 Emancipation S. winner Star County (County).
A descendant of the famed matriarch Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}), Opal Ridge boasts duplications of four fine mares with seven generations - Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), River Lady (USA) (Prince John {USA}), Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Thong (USA) (Nantallah USA}).
