Saturday summary: Coolmore in clover as Shinzo hands Chris Waller a first Golden Slipper

Cover image courtesy of The Image is Everything

Coolmore edge out Godolphin as Shinzo wins drama-filled Golden Slipper

Bred to win a Golden Slipper, blue-blooded colt Shinzo (Snitzel) announced himself as one of the most exciting young stallion prospects in the country after storming up the inside to win the G1 Golden Slipper S. at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Two of racing’s global powerhouses battled it out up the Rosehill straight, with Godolphin’s Cylinder (Exceed And Excel) looking the likely winner as he cruised to the front at the 300-metre mark, but it was Coolmore who came on top as their homebred Shinzo charged home up the rail and drew readily clear in the closing stages to score decisively by 1.17l.

Colts dominated the finish in the $5 million juvenile feature, with the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained King's Gambit (I Am Invincible) running on for third ahead of his stablemates Don Corleone (Extreme Choice) and Empire Of Japan (Snitzel).

Blanc De Blanc (I Am Invincible) was the first filly home in sixth, 4.23l adrift of the runaway winner.

Shinzo’s victory handed Chris Waller the richly desired Golden Slipper win that had, until now, eluded the Champion Trainer, while it was also a first success in the race for visiting British jockey Ryan Moore, who had already tasted Group 1 glory earlier in the afternoon aboard the William Haggas-trained Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai).

Coolmore enjoyed mixed fortunes in the $5 million contest, with the more fancied of their two runners, the previously unbeaten Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}), unshipping Chad Schofield midway through the contest having missed the kick.

Both horse and rider escaped serious injury, but the gloss was still taken off a memorable first Golden Slipper success for Coolmore’s Tom Magnier, who was quick to heap praise on the winning jockey.

“It's hard to enjoy the moment,” Magnier said. “I'm just hoping Learning To Fly and Chad Schofield are okay. I feel for Annabel (Neasham).

“We asked Ryan Moore to come out and ride Shinzo at short notice and what can you say about him? Thank God for Ryan Moore, he is on another level, he is so patient.”

“I've watched more Golden Slippers than anyone my age, from a young age, some from New Zealand, some from Kembla Grange, some from Newcastle, I guess one or two sitting at home,” said Chris Waller.

“I know it's a big deal. Emotionally, it means a lot to me, simple as that. But I'm not here to prove things to anyone.”

Retained to race by Coolmore and their partners, Shinzo is by Arrowfield Stud’s four-time Champion Sire Snitzel out of the G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Moir S. winner Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}), who was snapped up by Tom Magnier for a cool $1.8 million at the 2020 Inglis Chairman’s Sale having already thrown a Magic Millions 2YO Classic winner in Exhilarates (Snitzel). Samaready is currently in America and safely in-foal to Justify.

Both Snitzel and Samaready contested the G1 Golden Slipper S. and both were sent off favourite, but neither were able to land Australia’s most coveted juvenile prize.

Shinzo becomes the first son of Snitzel to win the G1 Golden Slipper S., although the stallion had already sired a Golden Slipper winner in the shape of Champion 2YO Filly Estijaab, who was victorious back in 2018.

Anamoe overcomes adversity to record ninth Group 1 victory

Godolphin’s decision to keep Champion Colt Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in training for another season continues to pay dividends after the James Cummings-trained entire notched Group 1 win number nine with a determined success in the G1 George Ryder S. at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

Unlike on this day last year when he pulverised his opposition in the G1 Rosehill Guineas, Anamoe was made to work a little bit harder 12 months on and didn’t enjoy the best of runs in transit from barrier 11.

Despite charting a wide passage throughout, the son of Street Boss (USA) worked his way into contention at the top of the straight and hit the front with 100 metreS to go, before digging deep to repel the late thrust of his old adversary Fangirl (Sebring) by 0.4l.

Converge (Frankel {GB}), who led the field for most of the straight, stuck on gamely to hold third ahead of the fast-finishing Artorius (Flying Artie), who charged through the line to grab fourth.

Anamoe’s second elite-level win on the bounce handed both Cummings and winning jockey James McDonald their 10th Group 1 wins of the season, with the latter particularly pleased with how the odds-on favourite overcame adversity.

“I think he did an extremely good job, albeit the margin was small,” McDonald said. “He had to do it a different way this time instead of last time.

“He didn’t have the perfect barrier, he didn’t have the perfect set-up. He had to overcome a wide run, but he’s good enough to do it and he’s taken that next step all the time.

“I love the plan of James (Cummings) taking him to this race with a view of 2000 metres next time will be spot on.”

Less than an hour earlier, British raider Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) laid down the gauntlet to Anamoe ahead of their tantalising clash in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. on day two of The Championships next month.

“He was in for the fight today,” Cummings said of Anamoe. “These are good horses in the George Ryder, it's a time-honoured race and we've got to bloody pleased with the horse.

“He's going to go into the Queen Elizabeth undefeated this campaign.”

Anamoe, the best performed of eight Group 1 winners by his Darley sire Street Boss (USA), is out of the Group 1-winning Redoute’s Choice mare Anamato, making him a half-brother to Irish Listed winner Anamba (Shamardal {USA}).

British raider Dubai Honour a class apart in Ranvet rout

Anamoe (Street Boss {US}) ) looks to have a worthy adversary for next month’s G1 Queen Elizabeth S. in the shape of British raider Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), who turned the G1 Ranvet S. into a procession with a 4.44l demolition job at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday, enhancing his trainer William Haggas’ incredible record Down Under in the process.

Ridden to victory by champion British rider Ryan Moore, who enjoyed a Group 1 double from his only two rides on the day, Dubai Honour stalked the early tempo set by Hinged (Worthy Cause) and Mo’unga (NZ) (Savabeel) before being angled out into clear daylight at the top of the straight.

The son of Pride Of Dubai burst through the gap and quickly put paid to his rivals, showing a devastating turn of foot to draw clear of last year’s winner Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}), who came home 1l further clear of Mo’unga in third.

Winning trainer William Haggas, who was watching on from Newmarket in the UK, had expected Dubai Honour to need a softer track than what he met on Saturday but decided to roll the dice with the progressive 5-year-old after receiving some reassurance from Rosehill-based trainer Chris Waller.

“I was very much worried about the track,” Haggas said. "But they assured me the track was on the five side of a good four and Chris Waller told me the track was fantastic, so we decided to gamble and run and that was a great result.

“He had a great year in 2021 but he wasn't quite himself last year. But he had a very, very good winter and I have been really happy with him.”

Dubai Honour’s impressive Australian debut sets up a mouthwatering clash with Anamoe (Street Boss {USA}) in the G1 Queen Elizabeth S. next month, where he will bid to emulate his former stablemate Addeybb (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) by landing the Ranvet-Queen Elizabeth Group 1 double.

Winning rider Ryan Moore has plenty of respect for Anamoe’s achievements but feels that Dubai Honour is more than capable of serving it up to the nine-time Group 1 winner when they lock horns at Royal Randwick on April 8.

“Anamoe is an incredible racehorse, he's got a tremendous record,” Moore said.

“From what I see he only really tends to do enough so you wouldn't be sure what's in the tank.

“That will be a different level of opposition. I suppose strictly on form Dubai Honour, it would appear that he will give him a good race.”

A 110,000gns purchase by Rabbah Bloodstock from Book 2 of the Tattersalls October Yearling Sale, Dubai Honour is out of the unraced Montjeu (Ire) mare Mondelice (GB), who is a half-sister to French Group 3 winner and multiple Hong Kong scorer Last Kingdom (USA) (Frankel {GB}).

Dubai Honour is a direct descendant of Ireland’s Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Damson (Ire) (Entrepeneur {GB}), whose nine winners as a broodmare include Group 2-winning sire Requinto (Ire).

Dubai Honour’s breakthrough Group 1 success continues the red-hot recent run of his sire Pride Of Dubai, who sired the winner of a Group 3 at Flemington last Saturday as well as the runner-up the G1 Coolmore Classic at Rosehill Gardens.

Dubai Honour joins Bella Nipotina as the second elite-level winner for his sire.

Lindermann battles back to edge out Pericles in Guineas thriller

On a terrific day for the Chris Waller stable, progressive 3-year-old colt Lindermann showed the same fighting qualities that were a hallmark of his sire Lonhro’s incredible racing career when prevailing in a thrilling finish to the G1 Rosehill Guineas on Saturday.

The short-price favourite Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) hit the front and looked all over the winner with 100m to run, but Lindermann dug deep under the trademark Nash Rawiller drive to score by the narrowest of margins, with the pair pulling three lengths clear of the third placegetter Williamsburg (Snitzel).

Although yet to win a stakes race prior to Saturday’s $600,000 contest, Lindermann had put the writing on the wall with a gutsy second to Communist (Russian Revolution) in the G1 Randwick Guineas on his most recent outing, a performance that gave his trainer Chris Waller every reason to expect another bold showing from him on Saturday.

“He got eye-balled by the favourite with 300 metres to go and he lifted off the canvas,” Waller said.

“He has really learned to fight and at the same time matured as a man. Nash woke him up two starts ago when he won over 1400 (metres) here and it has been the making of him.

“He showed us a glimpse of ability at Flemington back during Cup week at 1800 and from that point on we said, 'we'll set him for this race'. It doesn't always come off but it has today.”

Lindermann is more likely to drop back in trip for a crack at the G1 Doncaster Mile rather than step up to the 2400 metres of the G1 Australian Derby according to Waller.

Bred and raced by Debbie Kepitis’ Woppitt Bloodstock, Lindermann is one of two winners from two foals to race out of the Stratum mare Self Esteem, whom Kepitis raced to finish second in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S.

Self Esteem is a daughter of the well-related mare Sounds Assertive (Zeditave), who is a three-quarter sister to Champion 2-Year-Old and joint Champion 3-Year-Old Colt Assertive Lad (Zeditave) - a winner of the G1 Doncaster H., G1 Sires’ Produce S. and G1 Champagne S. at the highest level.

Sounds Assertive is also a three-quarter sister to dual Group 1 winner Assertive Lass (Zeditave), who went on to become a blue-hen mare at stud, producing three stakes winners of her own including successful sire Reset.

Lindermann becomes the 13th Group 1 winner and 95th stakes winner overall for his all-conquering Darley-based sire Lonhro, who has six lots catalogued for next month’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

First Group 1 for Tyler Schiller

Emotions ran high after the final Group 1 on the Rosehill card on Saturday as apprentice jockey Tyler Schiller guided rejuvenated mare Mariamia (Toronado {Ire}) to a memorable first top-flight success in the G1 The Galaxy H.

Having claimed the scalp of Group 1-winning colt Golden Mile (Astern) in the G2 Expressway S. on her penultimate start, the drop back in trip to 1100 metres worked the oracle for the 6-year-old mare as she powered to a 0.9l victory over last-start G1 Oakleigh P. hero Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}).

Expensive yearling purchase Cannonball (Capitalist), a $975,000 Magic Millions graduate, finished a further 0.5l adrift in third on what was his first attempt in Group 1 company, while talented mare Asfoora (Flying Artie) endured a luckless passage before running on for fourth.

Retirement had been considered for Mariamia following the second stakes placing of her career in the G3 Bletchingly S. back in July, but trainer Joe Pride convinced her connections to race on for another season, a decision which has been well and truly vindicated this preparation.

“That's her crowning moment, she's won a Galaxy now,” a delighted Pride said.

“There's some pretty big races in the spring for her but in many ways she's done her job.

“She didn't see the 1300 metres out the other day but freshened up and back to a sprint trip, she was really dynamic there today.

“She's a bonny mare. Given that quiet run-in behind them today with no weight on her back and a great reward for Tyler (Schiller), I know he'll really appreciate that.

“He rode more winners for me last season than anyone else and to be able to give him a reward like that it'll be pretty special for him, and it's certainly special for us.

“He's a fantastic jock. He's had no problems going through the ranks and I think a lot of these kids we see maybe after their apprenticeship not take that next step. But I'd be very surprised if that was the case with Tyler.”

Schiller, who revealed that his dad is battling cancer in an emotionally-charged post-race interview, was quick to thank Mariamia’s connections for having faith in the talented young rider.

“It feels unreal, he said. “My dad, he's got cancer - all he wanted to see was me to win a Group 1 and to come out and do it today, it was unreal.

“It's the best feeling in the world, to do it on a mare like that. She's come through the grades really sharply and Joe (Pride) has turned her around but she's a super mare.”

Mariamia’s victory provided Swettenham Stud stallion Toronado (Ire) with his fourth individual Group 1 winner and third in Australia, with the stallion now having sired back-to-back winners of the Group 1 contest after his son Shelby Sixtysix landed the spoils 12 months ago.

Mariamia, who was snapped up by owners Newhaven Park for $335,000 on Inglis Digital in March last year having been purchased for just $18,000 as a yearling, has now won eight races and over a million dollars in prizemoney.

From the family of G1 VRC Derby hero Warning (Declaration Of War {USA}), Mariamia is one of 32 stakes winners for Toronado (Ire), who now resides permanently in Australia having previously shuttled to Swettenham Stud from the Northern Hemisphere.

Mr Brightside lands killer blow in All-Star Mile

Lindsay Park’s incredible autumn carnival shows no sign of stopping after Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) handed training partnership Ben and JD Hayes yet another feature race winner in The All-Star Mile at Moonee Valley on Saturday.

Ridden by Luke Currie, who was deputising for the injured Craig Williams, Mr Brightside enjoyed an economical run in transit from barrier two but was forced to switch to the outside as the field bunched up around the turn.

Once into clear daylight, last year’s G1 Doncaster Mile hero showed a smart turn of foot and quickly zipped to the front with 100 metres to run, before Currie kept him up to his work to score a shade cosily by half a length.

Godolphin’s evergreen Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) ran on from the rear of the field to claim second, while Tasmanian raider The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}) ran a mighty race to finish third, beaten 0.9l by the winner.

“I’m still pinching myself, it’s just a huge thrill,” a delighted co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.

“We’re having a bit of a purple patch at the moment and hopefully it can keep going.

“This horse is just a beautiful animal. He wears his heart on his sleeve and he just tries so hard.”

Currie was also quick to heap praise on Williams, whom he revealed reached out to the Hong Kong-based jockey earlier in the week to offer some advice on his All-Star Mile mount.

“I'm sure a lot of guys would struggle to do that and not give you the insights, but Craig did straight away.”

“He rang me without me having to reach out to him, so I wish him all the best and I can't thank him enough either.”

Currie becomes the latest jockey to fly in from overseas and claim a feature race in Australia, after Zac Purton and Ryan Moore both tasted Group 1 glory on hit-and-run missions in recent weeks.

The win came as a welcome boost for Currie, who already had a relationship established with the Hayes family having been supported by Ben and JD’s father David over in Hong Kong.

Mr Brightside (NZ), who was passed in at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale in 2019, is one of three winners to emerge from the unraced Tavistock (NZ) mare Lilahjay (NZ), who hails from the family of New Zealand 2000 Guineas heroine Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and Malaysian Horse Of The Year Opposing Force (NZ) (Jetball).

Manning, in conjunction with Shaun Dromgool and Ray Johnson, purchased Mr Brightside as an unraced two-year-old off gavelhouse.com for the bargain price of $7,750, with Johnson and his wife having bred and sold the son of Bullbars as a yearling at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock May Sale for $22,000 through the Phoenix Park draft.