Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Robert Sangster S. - the quality sprinting mares
The strength of this year's running of this Group 1 at Morphettville (it was upgraded from Listed to Group 3 after two runnings, to Group 2 for one year in 2004 and to the elite level ever since) is testament to the quality of sprinting mares in Australia at this time.
Five of the 14 contestants have between them won seven Group 1 races and two of those ran good races in this last year - September Run (Exceed And Excel) a somewhat unlucky third after finding early trouble and Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) a close-up fifth.
Bella Nipotina is the current favourite for the G1 Robert Sangster S. at Morphettville | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The latter has opened up favourite for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable who won this last year with the leader Snapdancer (Choisir). They have two major chances to complete the double with last year's G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Marabi (I Am Invincible) freshened since contesting the G1 Lightning S. at her first run since last March.
Dual Group 1 winner Roch 'N' Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) returns to her favourite trip whilst Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) will appreciate a return to a less rain-affected surface after striking heavy going in the G1 TJ Smith S.
Zapateo (Brazen Beau) and Espiona (Extreme Choice) are both shooting for hat-tricks, making this an exciting contest.
Espiona looks to complete her hat-trick in the G1 Robert Sangster S. | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
And this is a race which boasts a proud history of being won by good future broodmares. Of this race's 33 winners with foals aged three and above, 13 have produced stakes winners with three being the dams of Group 1 winners... Response (Charge Forward) the dam of G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Estijaab (Snitzel), With Me (Covetous) producing the G1 The Galaxy and G1 Doomben 10,000 winner Accomplice (Canny Lad) and Leica Western (Best Western) producing the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Leica Smile (At Talaq {USA}).
Queen of The South S. - the miler mares
Forty minutes before we get to see some of the country's best sprinting mares in action is the running of this race at Morphettville which caters for the mares at their best over the mile.
Like the G1 Robert Sangster, this is a race whose winners have a good record of going onto successful broodmare careers. It has been won by 22 mares who have had foals of racing age and half of those have produced stakes winners.
And five of them are Group 1-producing mares... Marquise (NZ) (Gold And Ivory {USA}) producing the G1 Arrowfield Stud S. winner Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Hidden Strings (Weasel Clause) the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Sopressa (So You Think {NZ}), Rose Of Kingston (Claude {Ity}) the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Kingston Rule (USA), Star Style Girl (Without Fear {Fr}) the G1 Manawatu Sires' Produce S. winner San Luis and Sylvaner (NZ) (Danasinga) the G1 Cape Derby winner Atyaab (Dundeel {NZ}).
Shower Of Roses (NZ), a daughter of Group 1-winning mare Marquise (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sylvaner (in 2002 and 2003) is one of the three mares to have won this race on two occasions, the others being Memphis Blues (Semipalatinsk {USA}) in 1989 and 1990 and Shavano Miss (Hand Crafted) in 1991 and 1992.
This is a feat being attempted by Silent Sovereign (Dalakhani {Ire}) who resumes for a new stable (Will Clarken and Niki O'Shea) having won this race last year for Tony and Calvin McEvoy.
The McEvoys also won this race with Shrouded In Mist (Exceed And Excel) in 2020 whilst when solo Tony McEvoy cheered home Into The Mist (Redoute's Choice) in 2016 and Jameela (Jeune {GB}) in 2004.
Can Silent Sovereign win this race again under a new trainer? | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Whilst Silent Sovereign is big odds to repeat the dose, last year's runner-up Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) is well-fancied after letting down nicely to win the Gold Bracelet at Bendigo first-up. Other major chances include My Whisper (Frankel {GB}) who was slowly away at Bendigo, Sparkle (Jpn) (Epiphaneia {Jpn}) who has impressed leading throughout to win her last two at Flemington, Caste (Sir Prancealot {Ire}) who takes on the older mares on the back of encouraging form and Rich Gina (Rich Enuff) who just keeps racing well.
Hollindale S. - history for Zaaki?
The G2 Hollindale S., an 1800-metre weight-for-age contest being run at the Sunshine Coast, is not a very old race but since its inception in 1991 it has on three occasions been won by the same horse.
The scene was set for the race to be successful when the great galloper Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}) won the first two editions with another high-class campaigner in Shogun Lodge (Grand Lodge {USA}) successful in 2000 and 2001.
In 2015 and 2016 Leebaz (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) showed his liking for the Gold Coast track, something which Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}) has also done in the last two years.
On Saturday he gets his chance to create a bit of Hollindale history - odds-on to become the races first triple winner, its first winner away from the Gold Coast track (this year run at the Sunshine Coast) and the eighth Australasian-based horse to win over $10 million in stakes.
Zaaki (GB) has proved far too strong in the past two editions of the G2 Hollindale S. and looks to create history with a third win | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Lots of milestones and Zaaki is a horse deserving of the accolades that go along with such achievements, doing such a great job winning 14 of his 41 starts with four successes at the elite level.
The Hollindale may not be a Group 1, but it has been won by a number of topliners with other members of its honour roll including Durbridge, Danewin and Might And Power (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Zaaki comes into this year's race with less lead-up runs under his belt than the last two years but what a terrific effort his first-up run was, finding the line well behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) in the G1 All Aged S.
The Gold Coast Guineas and the Tobin Bronze - talented 3-year-olds
There is some nice 3-year-old racing on Saturday with two of the better races for that age group being the G3 Gold Coast Guineas at the Sunshine Coast and the G2 Tobin Bronze S. at Morphettville.
A field of 14 faces the starter over the traditional Guineas 1600-metre trip at the Sunshine Coast where the favourite is the exciting Yellow Brick (The Mission) who last spring won five in a row, able to inflict a defeat upon the recent The Archer winner Alpine Edge (Better Than Ready).
Yellow Brick, the current favourite for the G3 Gold Coast Guineas at the Sunshine Coast | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Space Walk (Exosphere), Lady Laguna (Overshare) and Swiss Exile (Pariah) also have a touch of class, contesting a race which during its short history has been won 12 times who have gone onto further stakes success including last year's winner Prince Of Boom (Spirit Of Boom) and the Group 1 winners Gold Edition (Lion Hunter), Takedown (Stratum) and Shez Sinsational (NZ) (Ekraar {USA}).
The Tobin Bronze (renamed from the Euclase last year) whose winners are worth following. First run in 1981 it has on 24 occasions been won by horses who have won more stakes races with eight going on to Group 1 wins - Mighty Avenger (Twig Moss {Fr}), Rich Fields Lad (Cerreto {Ire}), Miracles Of Life (Not A Single Doubt), Universal Queen (NZ) (Scenic {Ire}), Never Undercharge (Lord Seymour {Ire}), Sword (Switch In Time {Ire}), Masked Party (Marscay) and Euclase.
Some promising types line up this year with She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) and Wee Nessy (Snitzel) fighting out early favouritism. The former has won five of nine for the Peter Moody stable whilst the latter is deserving of a win having been in the placings in Group races at each of her last three starts.
She Dances, the current favourite for the G2 Tobin Bronze S. at Morphettville | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Her stablemate Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible) is also building a nice record whilst the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained pair Seven Veils (Shalaa {Ire}) and Royal Merchant (Merchant Navy) loom as major threats.
Ken Russell Memorial Classic - classy juveniles
What an interesting group of juveniles who meet in this race on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast, so even that four of the 14 runners have opened at single-figure odds.
Influential (The Autumn Sun) is well-fancied on the back of his encouraging Warwick Farm debut as is Zimo (Written By) who was third in that same race.
Rothgo (Rothesay) has the experience of one more start and is yet to taste defeat. Also looking major chances are the more seasoned 2-year-olds Mishani Gangster (Kobayashi) who won his first two before finishing in the thick of things at his next couple, Trifling (Better Than Ready) who won two in a row before a big finish at Doomben last time out and Russian Alliance (Russian Revolution) who has won all four of her assignments this time in.
Influential as a yearling, the current favourite for the G3 Ken Russell Memorial Classic at the Sunshine Coast | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Abounding (Rich Enuff) is one on the up for the Robert Heathcote stable whilst Boom Master (Spirit Of Boom) attempts to emulate his sire who won this race in 2010.
Adding interest is the race's most expensive yearling purchase - the debutant Money Team (I Am Invincible), the very easy Doomben trial winner whose connections needed $1 million to secure him at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Without Fear S. - youngsters seeking black-type
Ten juveniles vie for their first stakes race in a 1050-metre dash in which only one runner - the speedy Remedies (Sepoy) - already has black-type; that daughter of the dual Group 1 winner Virage de Fortune (Anabaa {USA}) coming off a Listed Dequetteville S. third.
Also showing talent is the Victorian Chilled (Shalaa {Ire}) who in just four starts has raced in three different states, the all the way Terang debut winner Iphimedia (Exceed And Excel) and Giga Kick's stablemate Acappella Moon (Sebring Sun).
At $350,000 the race's most expensive purchase, Causation (Not A Single Doubt) has been in the thick of things after showing pace at her first two starts whilst Down Low (Deep Field) also displays ability. She was kept safe at her Sandown debut late last spring but had a slow recovery rate and she resumes off a Cranbourne jump-out victory.
Three debutants also take their place including the Morphettville jump-out and Murray Bridge trial winner Putanothercoinin (Jukebox) and the Pakenham jump-out winner Lunasha (Shalaa {Ire}). The former is the sixth foal to race for a mare whose first five runners are all winners whilst the latter is a granddaughter of the G1 Premio Lydia Tesio winner Lune D'Or (Fr) (Green Tune {USA}) whose son Fierement (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is a triple Group 1 winner.
