Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Ascot: G3 WA Oaks, $300,000, 2400m
Local trainer Daniel Morton doubled his stakes tally at Ascot on Saturday, backing up Another Chino’s (Maschino) Listed win to take the very next race, the G3 W.A. Oaks (2400 metres), with She’s Fit (Pride Of Dubai).
The 3-year-old filly extended the recent run of form for her Coolmore-based sire, and backed up her previous outing when she won the Listed Natasha S. (2400 metres), also at Ascot. Third prior to that in the Listed WATC Ascot 1000 Guineas, the daughter of Pride Of Dubai has evidently thrived as she’s stepped up into staying trips.
Bred in a partnership led by Peter Walsh’s Amelia Park, She’s fit was a $50,000 purchase for her trainer, who retained a share, at the 2021 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. She’s out of Harpoon (High Chaparral {Ire}), a dual-winner and a half-sister to Special Harmony (Spinning World) whose three Group 1 victories include the G1 VRC Oaks.
It’s a deep family under She’s Fit’s second dam, Western Australian Group 3 winner Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}) - Special Harmony is the dam of three-time Listed scorer Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago), who in turn produced Chris Waller’s G1 Vinery Stud S. winner Fangirl (Sebring).
Marooned Lady is also the dam of brothers King Canute and Redwolt - both by King Of Kings and both Group 2 winners in Western Australia.
Listed Grandstand Cup, $125,000, 1500m
Placed in two Group 3s and three Listed events, 7-year-old Playing Marika (Playing God) gained her first black-type success in the Listed Grandstand Cup (1500 metres) at Ascot on Saturday. Trained by Stephanie Bakranich, the mare was recording her 10th victory from 54 starts, and Saturday’s success tipped her total prizemoney haul over the half-million barrier.
She is a daughter of local sire Playing God, who stands at Darling View Thoroughbreds, and became his 12th stakes winner. She was bred by Mr R Divitini, who also bred her dam Just Marika (Grandera {Ire}), a dual-winner who was Listed-placed. Just Marika is a half-sister to Doyoudare (Langfuhr {Can}), whose eight victories included the Listed Tattersall's Cup.
They are both by Bloomy (Dehere {USA}), whose progeny also include seven-time winner Jetoomy (Reset), who was Listed-placed in Western Australia, and three-time winner Black Carat (Lonhro), the dam of the prolific Nerodio - also by Playing God - who counts three Listed races amongst his 11 victories.
Listed Melvista S., $125,000, 2200m
Daniel Morton’s 3-year-old gelding Another Chino (Maschino) doubled his tally of stakes wins on Saturday, adding the Listed Melvista S. to his last-start victory in the Listed JC Roberts S. - both at Ascot and just 13 days apart.
Bred by Mr AJ Anderson, who remains in the ownership, Another Chino is out of the Galileo (Ire) mare Apheta, a winning miler who was a $110,000 purchase at the 2006 Magic Millions Perth Spring Thoroughbred Sale for Michael Flannery.
She’s the dam of two other winners, Another Chino’s brother Lord Lonsdale, a dual-winner, and nine-time winner First Flight (Flying Pegasus) - both Western Australian campaigners.
Apheta is also a half-sister to the Listed-placed Storm Burst (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and Gibraltar Storm (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), the dam of G3 Chatham S. winner Reykjavik (Artie Schiller {USA}).
Tauranga: G2 Japan Trophy, NZ$120,000, 1600m
Drawing clear from the 100-metre mark, Brando (NZ) (Savabeel) - winner of the 2020 Listed Uncle Remus S. - has been racing in great heart this time in and he is now an eight-time winner from 24 starts.
One of the 132 stakes winners for his Waikato-based star sire, Brando was bred by Fairdale Stud. He made his way through the sales ring on two occasions - passed in by Fairdale at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale before being sold by Riversley Park to David Ellis for NZ$500,000 at the 2010 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Brando is to date the only winner for the two-time winner Saoirse (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) whose dam is the Listed Talindert S. winner Eire Hostess (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}).
Served last spring by Proisir having foaled a Per Incanto (USA) colt and the year before a Savabeel filly. Saoirse hails from the same family as the Group 1 winners Headturner (Anabaa {USA}), O'Marilyn (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and Anacheeva (Anabaa {USA}).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Nureyev (USA), Brando also boasts a cross of the high-class race and broodmare Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}) via her son Nijinsky II (Can) and grandson The Minstrel (Can).
Riccarton Park: G3 Thoroughbred Breeders' S., NZ$90,000, 1600m
It was a good race for White Robe Lodge's Ghibellines who was able to provide the quinella - Live Drama (NZ) kicking clear from the 300 metres whilst Burgie (NZ) was a game second.
Bred by the Anderton family and purchased for just NZ$8500 by The No. 8 Syndicate from the draft of White Robe Lodge at the 2018 New Zealand Bloodstock South Island Sale, she is one of her sire's six stakes winners.
Her dam is the three-time winner Sheeza Drama (Pure Theatre) whose other two foals to race are also metropolitan winners - No Drama (NZ) (also by Ghibellines) and Says Me (Rothesay).
Served last spring by Ghibellines after foaling a colt by Hello Youmzain (Fr), Sheeza Drama is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Stage Whisper (Rubiton) and to the dam of the Listed Canterbury Belle S. winner Cherry Creek (Monashee Mountain {USA}), in turn dam of the four-time Group winner Coulee (NZ) (Gallant Guru).
Also from this family is the G1 VRC Sires' Produce S. winner Pillaging (Marauding {NZ}) and the Group winners Stage Hit (Century), Encores (Marscay), Irradiate (Rassendyll {USA}), Splendid Horse (Geiger Counter {USA}) and Indian Raj (Century).
