Brazen Beau lands Saturday stakes double
Godolphin’s talented mare Zapateo (Brazen Beau) continued her good run this autumn preparation with the James Cummings-trained 4-year-old claiming the G2 Sapphire S. on Saturday at Royal Randwick.
The daughter of Brazen Beau comfortably won from Never Talk (No Nay Never {USA}) and the imported Princess Grace (USA) (Karakontie {Jpn}).
Brazen Beau | Standing at Darley
The G2 Sapphire S. brought up the fifth black-type victory for Zapateo and was the second leg of a stakes double for the Darley stallion, whose 4-year-old gelding Taunting found victory at Oakbank shortly before.
Trained by Michael Hickmott, Taunting gained his first black-type success in the Listed Railway S., becoming a 24th stakes winner for his sire. Brazen Beau stood at Darley Victoria for $44,000 (inc GST) last year, with a 2023 fee still to be announced.
Four-timer for Waikato’s Champion
Eight-time New Zealand Champion Sire Savabeel had a successful Saturday when he sired four winners, including Atishu (NZ) in the G1 Queen of the Turf S. That demolition job was joined by the victories of Havadual (NZ) at Oakbank, Rosabeel (NZ) at Balnarring and Royal Tonic (NZ) at Boulia.
Stakes half-century for So You Think
Asathought was a runner-up in last year’s Listed Riverton Cup. The daughter of So You Think (NZ) avenged her narrow defeat in this year’s event when she produced a dogged finish to claim the traditional Riverton Easter weekend feature.
Asathought has not been sighted since finishing unplaced in the G3 Wellington Cup in January, but the Lisa Vaughan trained 6-year-old thrived on the Heavy 8 rated surface in the hands of her regular pilot Corey Campbell.
“She is just so genuine, and she deserved that after just getting beaten last year,” Campbell said.
Asathought (pink cap) beats home Kilowatt (NZ) to win the Listed Riverton Cup | Image courtesy of Monica Toretto
It was the first stakes win for Asathought and became the 50th stakes winner for her Coolmore Stud-based sire So You Think.
A Coolmore resident, So You Think stood there for a career-high fee of $93,500 (inc GST) last year, though a 2023 fee has yet to be announced.
Dundeel nets four
Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel (NZ) bagged four winners on Saturday. After Trevor White’s 6-year-old gelding Clever Man claimed his 10th career start in the Onkaparinga Cup at Oakbank, Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea’s Silent Don won in handicap company at Clare.
After Astradeel claimed his second victory over in New Zealand, Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s 4-year-old gelding Alverdun found his fifth career victory at Sandown to complete the four-timer.
New winner for U S Navy Flag
The Oaks Stud’s first-season sire U S Navy Flag (USA), a son of War Front (USA), gained his fourth Southern Hemisphere winner on Saturday when his daughter Semper Supra (NZ) found victory at her fourth attempt at Riverton.
U S Navy Flag (USA) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
U S Navy Flag’s Southern Hemisphere progeny are led by To Catch A Thief, who was placed in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce. He stood NZ$15,000 (plus GST) last season, whilst a 2023 fee is yet to be announced.
Awesome John wins WATC Derby
The John O’Shea-trained 3-year-old gelding Awesome John (Awesome Rock) claimed a maiden Group 2 success in Saturday’s WATC Derby. With William Pike aboard, the son of Awesome Rock won the 2400-metre test from the locally trained pair Another Chino (Maschino) and She’s Fit (Pride Of Dubai).
Awesome John wins the G2 WATC Derby at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Awesome John becomes the third stakes winner for the Awesome Rock. The son of former Champion Sire Fastnet Rock stood the 2022 season for $7700 (inc GST). A 2023 service fee has yet to be announced.
Lees quinellas rich feature
The Kris Lees-trained Spangler (Ire) (Starspangledbanner) scored the $500,000 Polytrack Provincial-Midway Championships Final at Royal Randwick on Saturday, a double for the trainer following Razeta’s (Deep Field) victory in the Listed South Pacific Classic.
The imported Spangler, carrying the silks of Australian Bloodstock and with the leading jockey James McDonald aboard, won from his stablemate Loch Eagle (Lonhro) with the Brad Widdup-trained Cross The Rubicon (Dissident) in third.
Morton’s Weapon prevails in Old Comrade
Western Australia’s Listed Old Comrade S. at Ascot went to local trainer Daniel Morton on Saturday. He produced 6-year-old gelding Weaponson (Oratorio) to win his first stakes race, having won eight races in total from 41 previous starts.
Weaponson wins the Listed Comrade S. at Ascot | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
It was an 18th stakes winner for Oratorio, a former resident of Willaview Park who died in February earlier this year just before his penultimate crop of yearlings were offered at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
Habana ready for stakes target
Progressive galloper Habana (Zoustar) thrust himself firmly into discussions surrounding the upcoming G3 Easter H. with a professional display to take out a BM86 H. over 1400 metres at Pukekohe on Saturday.
The Lance Noble-trained gelding has a real affinity for the Pukekohe course and is currently unbeaten in four starts at the track.
With Noble in Sydney to watch Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended) tackle the G1 Australian Oaks, stable representative Chris Smith said: “He’s a pretty tough customer this guy.
“It was a big ask today with the rise in the weights up to four kilos on his last start, but it was a huge performance.
“He will go to the Easter H. back here in a fortnight.”
Mishriff to skip 2023 breeding season
Prince A A Faisal’s multiple Group 1 winner Mishriff (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) will not cover mares in 2023, officials at Sumbe announced on Twitter on Friday (local).
The winner of the 2020 G1 Prix du Jockey Club, Mishriff added the G1 Longines Dubai Sheema Classic and G1 Juddmonte International S. after a breathtaking success in a lone appearance on the dirt in the US$20 million (AU$29 million) Saudi Cup. Mishriff was sidelined early this year, with Sumbe hopeful that he could begin his first season at stud, but time was called Friday.
Mishriff (Ire) | Image courtesy of Sumbe
“The Sumbe team regrets to inform that in the best interest of the horse, Mishirff will not commence stud duties this year,” the tweet begins.
“Despite significant progress in his recovery, our veterinary team advised that all covering plans should be cancelled for the remainder of this breeding season.”
