Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-Day Recap
Saturday at Morphettville saw the G3 David Coles AM S. attract a competitive field on paper, however, it was the James Cummings-trained Heuristic (Street Boss {USA}) who saved all the ground to claim the valuable Group 3.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Zia (Zoustar) kept her unbeaten record intact with a tenacious display in the Listed Bill Carter S.
The Les Bridge-trained Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) marked himself as one to follow with an electric display in the opening event at Rosehill on Saturday.
Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) booked his ticket for better races with a valiant display at Flemington to claim his second victory.
The first starter Spilt Decision (Winning Rupert) scored a narrow yet admirable win at Newcastle on Saturday.
Handsome Heuristic prevails in a nail-biting finish
Saturday at Morphettville saw the G3 David Coles AM S. attract a competitive field on paper that transpired during the running with multiple runners looking like the winner in the gallop to the finish post.
Still, biding his time on the rails with Ben Melham in the saddle, it was the James Cummings-trained Heuristic (Street Boss {USA}) who saved all the ground to beat Iphimedia (Exceed And Excel) and Down Low (Deep Field).
“Heuristic is very honest,” said Cummings. “The team who travelled to South Australia with him have done a great job. It is a big commitment to stay in Adelaide with them rather than float back and forth.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He looked a picture in the yard. What’s interesting with this horse (Heuristic) is that before the lead-up to his last start, he was going through the motions a little bit on his own, I discussed it with the team, and we found a couple of galloping partners for him, and it has sparked Heuristic up.”
The good-looking brown colt is the first foal from the Lonhro mare Admissible. She is the daughter of the star race mare Forensics (Flying Spur).
Heuristic becomes the 63rd stakes winner for Street Boss (USA), who will return to Darley Australia's Northwood Park property for the 2023 breeding season. Street Boss will stand for a fee of $66,000 (inc GST).
Tenacious filly digs deep in the Bill Carter
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Zia (Zoustar) was sent to Queensland for start two after winning on debut at Canterbury Park in New South Wales, facing a competitive field of fillies in the Listed Bill Carter S. at Doomben on Saturday.
The daughter of the champion sire Zoustar, showed the customary Waterhouse tenacity. With Tim Clark aboard, luck was taken out of the equation with Zia hitting the lead upon entering the straight and sustaining a strong gallop to the line to deny a gusty Abounding (Rich Enuff).
Co-trainer Adrian Bott said, “Zia is the ultimate professional and so very tough. She had a tough draw today, which was a little concerning; however, she overcame it with her natural speed.
Zia winning the Listed Bill Carter S. at Doomben | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“Tim (Clark) put her in a good position, and she could take a rails run. Although Zia looked out on her feet that final furlong, she’s a tough filly and really dug deep.”
The filly is the first foal and best runner to date from the Eavesdropper (USA) mare Soviet Secret.
Zia is the 36th stakes winner for Zoustar, who will stand at Widden Stud for a 2023 service fee of $220,000 (inc GST).
Zia was a $360,000 yearling purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Glenlogan Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Shades of Classique at Rosehill
The Randwick-based trainer Les Bridge may have unearthed another smart galloper, reminiscent in colour at least, to his star grey Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt).
A striking grey-bay, Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}), pinned himself as one to follow on debut when placed behind the $3 million purchase Kandinsky Abstract (Zoustar).
Bridge saddled up Celestial Legend for his second start on Saturday at Rosehill over 1200 metres. Sent out the punter’s elect with apprentice Dylan Gibbons aboard, the son of Dundeel (NZ) appeared to be in a compromising position stuck behind a wall of horses, Gibbons seeing an opportunity to the outside, quickly switched his horse to the outside and showing an electric turn of foot, Celestial Legend went on to win by 1.4l from Ostraka (Pariah), while Jagjit (Justify {USA}) finished third.
Celestial Legend is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Sarraqa. She carries the striking grey coat and is a daughter of the late grand galloper National Colour (SAf) (National Assembly {Can}).
National Colour was crowned the Joint South African Horse of the Year in 2005/06 and the Champion Older Female Sprinter in Great Britain in 2007/08. She carried her brilliance to the breeding barn producing two Group 1 winners by Redoute’s Choice, Rafeef and Mustaaqeem.
Dundeel will stand the 2023 breeding season at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $82,500 (inc GST).
The colt was a $220,000 yearling purchase by Legend Racing and Avenue Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Gusty Le Zebra scores again
It was another grey to the fore at Flemington when the Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained Le Zebra (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) backed up his last-start victory at Sandown-Hillside with another valiant effort at Flemington in the Jockey Appreciation Plate over 1400 metres.
Partnered by Blake Shinn, the grey gelding was much too tough for Mojave Desert (I Am Invincible), while Stellar Mofeed (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) ran into third.
The victory sets Le Zebra up for bigger targets, with the G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm in Brisbane on June 10 over 1600 metres touted as a possible option.
Le Zebra winning the Appreciation Plate at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Le Zebra is the fifth foal from the My Halo (Arg) mare Angel Del Dinero (NZ). She was placed in the G3 Desert Gold S.
Le Zebra’s sire Rip Van Winkle (Ire), who shuttled to Windsor Park Stud on behalf of Coolmore Stud, passed away in 2020.
The gelding was a NZ$60,000 yearling purchased by Sparta Racing from the draft of Windsor Park Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Debut winner for Winning Rupert
The Matthew Smith-trained Split Decision (Winning Rupert) narrowly claimed the 900 metre maiden at Newcastle on Saturday on debut.
Under riding from the experienced hoop, Jeff Penza, the daughter of Winning Rupert, lifted to deny the favourite Toyger (Lonhro) by 0.16l.
Winning Rupert will stand at Grandview Stud for a fee of $7700 (inc GST).
Winning Rupert | Standing at Grandview Stud
