Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
The Rex Lipp-trained Cifrado (Encryption) claimed another valuable Group 2 victory in Saturday's G2 Sires' Produce S. at Eagle Farm.
Waikato Stud’s first-season sire Ardrossan, a son of Redoute’s Choice, was handed his third stakes winner this year in the Listed Auckland Futurity S. courtesy of Saltcoats (NZ).
The Chris Waller-trained Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) booked his ticket for the G1 JJ Atkins with an impressive victory at Randwick on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Axzelina (Snitzel) was a gritty debut winner at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Kalasec, provided his first-season sire Brave Smash (Jpn) with his ninth first-crop winner at Murray Bridge on Saturday.
Underdog Cifrado strikes again
Despite winning the G2 Champagne Classic at Doomben last start, the Rex Lipp-trained Cifrado (Encryption) was sent out by the bookmakers at double-figure odds in the G2 Sires’ Produce S.
As we know ‘horses don’t know their price’ and Cifrado naturally took no notice, partnered once again by Damien Thornton the colt scored a thrilling victory reminiscent of last start, to add another valuable Group 2 to his CV.
The G2 Sires’ Produce S. was not without its share of drama, Cifrado was slow to jump and his backers may have been prompted to tear their tickets up, after overcoming that hurdle a protest was filed shortly after returning to the parade ring by Blake Shinn who rode Make A Call (Extreme Choice) claiming interference from Cifrado - the protest was dismissed after deliberation by Racing Queensland stewards.
Cifrado winning the G2 Sires' Produce S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
With the official results recorded as Cifrado 0.38l from Snapback (Snitzel) and Chrysaor (Better Than Ready) finishing third.
Winning trainer Rex Lipp told Sky Racing, “Cifrado has been crying out for 1400 metres this whole time, he was very strong to the line the other day.
“When he missed the start, I thought he was gone, it was over. But what a great ride by Damien Thornton, riding him for luck was the best thing to do. There is no pressure from connections to step-up in distance for the JJ Atkins but I’ll decide in a week.
“When he (Cifrado) missed the start, I thought he was gone, it was over. But what a great ride by Damien Thornton, riding him for luck was the best thing to do. There is no pressure from connections to step-up in distance for the JJ Atkins but I’ll decide in a week.” - Rex Lipp
“It has been pleasing to have Cifrado represent Encryption who is standing in Queensland and standing at Eureka Stud.”
Cifrado has been a highlight horse for his blue-blooded sire Encryption, who will stand the 2023 breeding season for $13,200 (inc GST).
Ardrossan lands third stakes winner
Waikato Stud’s first-season sire Ardrossan, a son of Redoute’s Choice, was handed his third stakes winner this year in the Listed Auckland Futurity S. (1400 metres) at Pukekohe Park on Saturday.
Running in the green jacket and blue sash of owner/breeder Lib Petagna’s JML Bloodstock, Saltcoats (NZ) blitzed his rivals on his third lifetime start, having placed at stakes level on his last start at Te Rapa. Trained by Samantha Logan and ridden by Kozzi Asano, the 2-year-old gelding was caught three-wide and with no cover throughout the back straight, and dragged his jockey to the front rounding the turn from home.
He began to assert with Asano’s nudge at the 400 metre mark, and drew clear in the final stages to record a 3.5l victory over Cambridge Stud’s Paragon (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), coping well with the Heavy 10 surface.
Saltcoats (NZ) winning the Listed Auckland Futurity S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
“Kozzi did say he handled the going okay but is a much better horse on top of the ground where he has an electric turn of foot,” winning trainer Logan said.
“That might be the last time we see him in New Zealand as he is likely to do his future racing in Australia.
“That might be the last time we see him (Saltcoats) in New Zealand as he is likely to do his future racing in Australia.” - Samantha Logan
“I will leave that to Bruce (Perry) and Lib (Petagna) to decide, but I’m thrilled to get a win like this for them as they have been huge supporters of me.”
When Ardrossan’s first stakes winner, Waikato’s own Codigo (NZ), emerged earlier this year, he was followed by Listed Champagne S. winner Loch Katrine (NZ) just a day before Waikato Stud released their 2023 fees, adding confidence to studmaster Mark Chittick’s decision to raise the stallion for his fifth season at stud to NZ$10,000 (plus GST).
Tannhauser books JJ Atkins ticket
Champion trainer Chris Waller has been enjoying a fine season with the progeny of Dundeel (NZ), predominantly through the deeds of the dual Group 1-winning colt Militarize (NZ).
The fine run continued on Saturday at Randwick when Waller saddled 2-year-old colt Tannhauser, another son of Dundeel, for the fourth time at the races to score a narrow but impressive victory from the well-bred Unique Ambition (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
Tannhauser was fourth in the Listed Fernhill H. over 1600 metres last start and was dropped back to 1400 metres on Saturday with Jay Ford in the saddle. He carries the colours of a partnership that includes Newgate Bloodstock and China Horse Club Racing like his star stablemate, Militarize.
Settled towards the end of the field, Tannhauser was last rounding the turn into the lengthy Randwick straight. With a perfectly timed attack by Ford, the colt came with a booming run from last to collar Unique Ambition who looked to have the race wrapped-up, beating her by 0.27l.
Tannhauser winning the 2YO H. at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Ford was quite taken by the colt’s performance and said, “Charlie (Duckworth, assistant trainer) gave Tannhauser quite a rap before the race saying he had lacked race craft and execution last start but is a lovely colt.”
Tannhauser's next start is expected to be the G1 JJ Atkin S. at Eagle Farm on June 10, a race Waller has had success in with The Autumn Sun and Press Statement notably.
The colt is the second foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Luqyaa. She was a winner as a juvenile and placed in the Listed Dequetteville S. and the Listed Cap d’Antibes S.
Tannhauser hails from the family of Shiva’s Revenge (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}) who won the G1 South Australian Derby and was placed in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Tannhauser as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt was bred by Highclere Stud Australia and purchased for $425,000 by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing from the draft of Milburn Creek from the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Dundeel will stand the 2023 breeding season at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $82,500 (inc GST).
Axzelina tiny but mighty
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace debuted a 2-year-old daughter of the Champion Sire Snitzel, Axzelina, at Sandown-Hillside, making a great start to the day for her co-trainer Ciaron Maher whose birthday was on Saturday.
Partnered by Linda Meech, the little filly hit the front, but the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained, Godolphin-owned Austmarr (Exosphere) was quickly on the scene, towering over Axzelina and looked to have the Maher-Eustace filly beaten, however, under riding from Meech Axzelina showed plenty of grit and heart to fight back and put her head down where it matters, on the finishing line, to make a perfect start to her career.
Maher and Eustace stable representative Jack Turnbull told Racing.com, “Axzelina has been tough little filly at home and there isn’t much of her, but she will grow out and strengthen.
“She got left out in front a long way from home and I felt the Godolphin horse (Austmarr) was just going to sweep on by, but to Axzelina’s credit she dug-deep and had her line in front.”
Axzelina is the eleventh foal from the unraced Zabeel (NZ) mare Axiom (NZ). Axiom is the dam of the Newhaven Stud-based Xtravagant (NZ) who was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old in New Zealand in 2015/16, due to victories in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas and the G1 Waikato Sprint.
Furthermore, Axiom is the dam of He’s Remarkable (NZ), a full brother to Xtravagant who won six races including the G3 Newmarket H. and was demoted to second in the G1 Railway S. after Luckygray (Bradbury’s Luck) successfully protested.
Axzelina as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Axzelina was a $310,000 yearling purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Willow Park Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Snitzel will stand the 2023 breeding season at Arrowfield Stud for a fee of $247,500 (inc GST).
Kalasec a new winner for Brave Smash
The Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained Kalasec, provided Brave Smash (Jpn) with his ninth first-crop winner at Murray Bridge on Saturday.
Lining-up for his fifth start in the 1000 metre contest and with Kayla Crowther in the race day saddle for the first time, Kalasec put it all together to run out a comfortable 1l winner over Walk Like An Angel (Impending).
Kalasec is the fifth foal from the Street Cry (Ire) mare Occitan. She was a winner as a 2-year-old and is the dam of two winners from four to race.
Kalasec was a $120,000 yearling purchase by Richard and Chantelle Jolly from the draft of Valiant Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Brave Smash will stand the 2023 breeding season for $33,000 (inc GST) at Yarraman Park in New South Wales having started his career at Aquis Farm in Queensland.
