Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

Kovalica proves to be the real deal

Champion trainer Chris Waller looks to have unearthed another superstar in the form of a 3-year-old gelding Kovalica (NZ), who ran out a commanding winner of the G1 Queensland Derby, providing a fourth individual Group 1 winner for his Waikato Stud-based sire Ocean Park (NZ).

Proving his mettle with a meritorious third in the G1 Doomben Cup against older opposition last start, Kovalica rated as the horse to beat in Queensland’s Classic, and with Champion Jockey James McDonald back in the saddle Kovalica won as he pleased with no doubts over his ability to run out 2400 metres.

He recorded a 1.95l victory over Fame (Manhattan Rain) and Stroke Of Luck (Fastnet Rock) finishing third.

It’s the third successive year that a 3-year-old carrying the New Zealand suffix has claimed the G1 Queensland Derby and the second Derby victory in three years for the prominent Brisbane owner Neville Morgan.

Morgan is also in the ownership of Kukeracha (NZ) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), who won in the G1 Queensland Derby in 2021, and fittingly claimed the G3 Premier’s Cup earlier on the card at Eagle Farm on Saturday - handing Waller a treble after he took the opening event on the card, a handicap, with 3-year-old Maurice (Jpn) colt Yasuke.

Winning jockey James McDonald gave Kovalica a notable comparison in the aftermath of the race.

“It was like riding Verry Elleegant that time in the Melbourne Cup, everything just went right. Kovalica got into a beautiful rhythm the moment we left the stalls and from about the 1000 metre mark I thought it was his time to do a little bit of work and it was his time to shine.

“I hope they run him The Q22.”

Ocean Park will stand the 2023 breeding season at Waikato Stud for a fee of NZ$30,000 (plus GST).

Think About It becomes a Group 1 hero

Coolmore Stud’s So You Think (NZ) made it a round 10 of Group 1 winners on Saturday when his remarkable 4-year-old son Think About It captured the Kingsford-Smith Cup (1300 metres) on his first attempt at the elite level.

Winning his eighth race from a total of nine lifetime starts, Think About It was returning from a break for trainer Joe Pride having won the G3 Liverpool City Cup last time out.

Charging down the centre of the track under regular rider Sam Clipperton on Saturday, he claimed the scalp of two seasoned Group 1 campaigners - and winners - who filled the placings.

Getting the better of Rothfire (Rothesay) with 100 metres to run, Think About It did enough to deny Converge (Frankel {GB}), who was flashing home late up the inside.

“He’s the sort of horse that we all aspire to,” Clipperton said. “He potentially could do wonders for my career… he’s just got so much untapped ability.

“You see him in the yard and you think, ‘My gosh, what a mess.’ But, he never sweats up, that’s just him, he’s just a big wrecking ball.

Despite having just won a Group 1 weight-for-age race, Clipperton highlighted the race as the ideal stepping stone into the G1 Stradbroke H., at which he may still find improvement according to his trainer.

“I just knew he would find what he needed to find,” Pride said. “He’s just an amazing horse, and to think, he’s not fully furnished yet, so he’s only going to improve.”

It’s been a remarkable journey to the top for his Proven Thoroughbreds ownership group; the syndicator purchased Think About It for $70,000 at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale and he has now amassed a little over a million in prizemoney.

Currently fourth in the Australian Sires’ Premiership, So You Think took reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible all the way to the line in last year’s table. Coolmore raised his fee to a career high for the upcoming breeding season, which will see him stand for $99,000 (inc GST).

Hawaii Five Oh Stradbroke Handicap bound

A ticket to the $3 million G1 Stradbroke H. was up for grabs for the 3-year-olds in the G3 Fred Best Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday and was claimed by the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained blueblood Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible).

A brother to the talented but ill-fated Libertini, the 3-year-old colt took another step up to win his second of three races since joining Tulloch Lodge.

Finding clear room under Nash Rawiller with 400 metres to run, Hawaii Five Oh steadily gained momentum at the finish of the 1400 metre contest, and had more than enough of a margin at the line to deny a fast-finishing Yellow Brick (The Mission) by 0.75l.

“We’re in the fortunate position to get the opportunity to train such a lovely horse,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said.

“He’s always had the ability, he had a great grounding… and we’re in a fortunate position to capitalise on the hard work done,” Bott added, noting that he expects some improvement in fitness from the colt as he heads now straight to the Stradbroke on June 10.

Moved by owner/breeder Gerry Harvey from Michael Freedman earlier this year, Hawaii Five Oh had some smart form for his previous trainer behind subsequent Group 1 winner Major Beel (NZ) (Savabeel), and won his first stakes race when second-up for the Waterhouse and Bott team in the G3 Hawkesbury Guineas.

Comrade Rosa scores valuable victory

The closing event on the G1 Queensland Derby and Kingsford-Smith Cup day was the Listed Helen Coughlan S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday for fillies and mares.

The Listed Helen Coughlan went the way of Queensland’s premier trainer Tony Gollan claiming the quinella with his 4-year-old mare Comrade Rosa (Capitalist) partnered by Ryan Maloney filling the major spot denying her 5-year-old stablemate Salateen (I Am Invincible).

Comrade Rosa is the fifth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare No Looking Back. She was a two-time winner including the Listed Carrington S. and placed in the G1 Blue Diamond S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

No Looking Back is a daughter of the Dehere (USA) mare Mirror Mirror who claimed the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and the Listed Gimcrack S.

In addition, No Looking Back is a half-sister to Chauffeur (Snitzel) a placegetter in the G3 San Domenico S. and the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

No Looking Back was offered by Julian Blaxland's Blue Sky Premium Consignment in foal to Written By and selling to M & C Bloodstock for $40,000 at last week’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

The family of Comrade Rosa enjoyed a productive day at Eagle Farm on Saturday as Hawaii Five Oh (I Am Invincible) who scored the G3 Fred Best Classic is part of the family.

Furthermore, this is the family of the Group 1 winners Seabrook (Hinchinbrook) and Cool Aza Beel (NZ).

Comrade Rosa was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Peachester Lodge from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

She becomes the 13th stakes winner for her sire Capitalist, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Newgate Farm for $77,000 (inc GST).

Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally

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.

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.

“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.

“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.

“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.

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.

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 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.