Vast Art wins Raconteur Stakes
The Listed Raconteur S. at Belmont was won by the Darren McAuliffe-trained Vast Art (Flying Artie).
Vast Art was bred by Impressive Racing and Sheppard Group who have retained an ownership interest in the 3-year-old gelding.
Vast Art wins the Listed Raconteur S. at Belmont | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
He becomes the seventh stakes winner for Flying Artie, who will stand the 2023 breeding season at Blue Gum Farm, Victoria, for a fee of $16,500 (inc GST) having been relocated from Newgate Stud.
Outback Miss impressive on debut
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Outback Miss (Rubick) looks to be a filly to follow after triumphing at Bendigo on Saturday.
Partnered by Patrick Moloney on debut, the daughter of Rubick scored by 3l from Nadal (Xtravagant {NZ}) and Onnamusha (Brave Smash {Jpn}) further away in third.
Outback Miss was a $150,000 yearling purchase by Mick Price Racing and Breeding and The Osher Group from the draft of Glenlogan Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Red-letter day for U S Navy Flag
The Oaks Studs’ shuttler U S Navy Flag (USA) sired a double on Saturday in New Zealand. Starting with the Peter and Dawn Williams-trained Geldof (NZ) scored on debut at Avondale, the 2-year-old gelding was a NZ$44,000 yearling purchase by Mrs VG Healey from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
U S Navy Flag (USA) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
U S Navy Flag’s bonny daughter Chantilly Lace (NZ) scored a well-deserved stakes success in the Listed Castlebridge S. at Wanganui.
U S Navy Flag will return to The Oaks Stud for the 2023 breeding season, standing at a fee of NZ$15,000 plus GST.
Downey breaks through at Flemington
The Irish-born Robbie Downey ticked off a bucket list goal when he rode a winner at his home track of Flemington, partnering the Nigel Blackiston-trained Verifier (NZ) (Tivaci) to success in the RCH Staff Appreciation Plate over 2000 metres on Saturday. The winning ride came at a cost, with Racing Victoria stewards fining Downey $2500 and suspending him for 10 meetings for overuse of the whip.
Shinn, Meech and Gaudray enjoy doubles at Flemington
Blake Shinn, Linda Meech and apprentice Celine Gaudray enjoyed riding doubles at Flemington on Saturday.
Shinn’s victories came courtesy of Party For One (Rubick) and Shaiyhar (Ire) (Camelot {GB}). Meech partnered Teofilo Star (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) and Senegalia (Street Boss {USA}), while Gaudray won on Legio Ten (Exosphere) and Brung King (Crackjack King {Ire}).
Munro rides first winner
Racing Victoria apprentice Danica Munro, indentured to trainer Liam Howley, had a momentous Saturday at Bendigo.
Partnering the Howley-trained Bainbridge (Rebel Raider) to victory in Race 7, O’Sullivans Transport Elmore Cup, at only Murno’s second race ride.
McEvoy’s super Saturday
It was a super Saturday for Kerrin McEvoy at Rosehill. The champion hoop partnered five winners and won the feature on the program, the Listed Winter Cup aboard Al Abair (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), McEvoy’s four other winners came courtesy of Congregation (Snitzel), Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}), Robusto (Churchill {Ire}) and Winning Verse (Winning Rupert).
Jones outrides city claim
Outstanding Sydney-based apprentice Reece Jones outrode his city claim with a double at Rosehill on Saturday.
Reece Jones returns to scale on Devil's Throat | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Jones partnered the Scott Asprey-trained Uzziah (Outreach) and the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Devil’s Throat (Snitzel).
Blueblood I Am Invincible filly wins at Newcastle
The Annabel Neasham-trained Sounds Of Heaven (I Am Invincible) debuted in exemplary fashion, breaking her maiden over 900 metres at Newcastle on Saturday.
With Heavelon Van Der Hoven in the saddle, Sounds Of Heaven prevailed by 0.76l from Shako (Epaulette) and Line Of Line (Russian Revolution) finishing third.
Sounds Of Heaven was a $1.1 million yearling purchase by James Harron Bloodstock from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Party For One and Shinn gel
The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Party For One (Rubick) was becoming something of a non-winner until Blake Shinn hopped into the saddle; the 4-year-old mare and Shinn have combined to win her last two starts at Flemington, the latest on Saturday in the Good Friday Appeal Volunteers Thank You Trophy over 1400 metres.
Party For One brings her career record to 20 starts and three victories. Party For One was a $125,000 yearling purchase by Tricolours Racing from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Gelding does the trick for Legio Ten
Gelding rejuvenated the career of stablemate Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and appeared to have done the trick for Legio Ten (Exosphere). Since the operation, the James Cummings-trained 3-year-old has won his last two starts, kicking off at Bendigo and scoring the latest victory at Flemington in the TAB/ATA Trainer’s Trust H. down the straight on Saturday.
Cream rises to the top
The $500,000 Magic Millions National Classic attracted a competitive field of fillies and mares, but it was the Victorian raider, the Andrew Noblet-trained Foxy Frida (Foxwedge), whose class rose to the top with Billy Egan in the saddle to deny the fellow classy gallopers, Kiku (Zoustar) and Thalassophile (Not A Single Doubt).
Munhamek puts forward Stradbroke case
Saturday at Eagle Farm proved a profitable day for visiting Victorian jockey Billy Egan, having partnered Foxy Frida (Foxwedge) to victory the previous start, Egan hopped aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}) to score a comfortable victory in the Listed Spear Chief H. event and put his best foot forward to claim a spot in next Saturday’s $3 million G1 Stradbroke H.
Billy Egan guides Munhamek (GB) to the line to win the Listed Spear Chief H. at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The 6-year-old gelding has been a fabulous horse for connections winning nine races and over $1 million in prizemoney.
Frankel's Soul Sister The Oaks heroine
John and Thady Gosden had the misfortune of losing Running Lion (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}) from the start of Friday's G1 Betfred Oaks as David Howden's charge backed out of the stalls and got loose. Still, the Clarehaven duo ultimately came up trumps as Lady Bamford's G3 Musidora S. winner Soul Sister (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) triumphed in style with the retiring Frankie Dettori in the saddle.
“It's crazy; to have two Group 1s already. I'm stuck for words,” Dettori said. “I ended up wide, but I said to myself to bide my time as she didn't have much experience, and when she went, I was able to enjoy the screaming of the crowds. Lady Bamford is a big supporter of mine and in my last year that is my second Classic winner unbelievable.”
Emily Upjohn dominates the Coronation Cup
So unlucky in the G1 Oaks at Epsom 12 months ago, TDN Rising Star Emily Upjohn (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) made amends back at Epsom on Friday with a command performance under Frankie Dettori in the G1 Dahlbury Coronation Cup. The 4-year-old had the benefit of an extra year to fill her sizeable frame and added advantage of the mares' allowance in this 12-furlong highlight which may have made a crucial difference as Westover (GB) (Frankel {GB}) chased her to the line 1.75l in arrears.
Last seen winning the G1 British Champions Fillies & Mares S., the Lloyd Webber colour-bearer sat last of the classy quintet early before surging by them all.
“She's a big girl, so I got her ready at the top of the hill, and gosh, did she quicken, wow,” commented Dettori, whose farewell journey is predictably gaining traction with every major meeting. “The change of pace she showed! She feels better this year, stronger, but more importantly, she's better in her mind. She was fighting last year but is ready to relax a bit this year.”
Schnell Meister requires very best for Yasuda Kinen
Having gone excruciatingly close in the last two renewals of the G1 Yasuda Kinen, Sunday Racing's Schnell Meister (Ger) (Kingman {GB}) takes a third crack at Japan's premier spring mile event, a 'Win and You're In' challenge race for the GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Mile at Santa Anita in early November.
The bay, one of 10 elite-level winners in the field, defeated Songline (Jpn) (Kizuna {Jpn}) in the age-restricted G1 NHK Mile Cup over this course and distance two years ago and was narrowly beaten by champion Gran Alegria (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in this race his next start. He found Songline just a neck too good 12 months ago and was well below par for the remainder of his 4-year-old campaign. Still, he hinted at a return to form with a close fourth in the G2 Nakayama Kinen over 1800 metres on February 26. Christophe Lemaire, who took the 2018 Yasuda Kinen aboard Mozu Ascot (USA) (Frankel {GB}), will need to work out a trip from barrier 14.
“As a 5-year-old, he's more mature now,” said trainer Takahisa Tezuka. “He runs well at Tokyo, so returning to the track this time makes conditions good for him, and he has a chance to win. Things to consider will be the ground and the weather before the race and on the day, as I would like him to run on good ground.”
