Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Azula (Maurice {Jpn}) scored a maiden stakes victory in Saturday's Listed The Phoenix S. at Eagle Farm.
The Chris Waller-trained Congregation (Sniztel), a $2.25 million yearling purchase and a full brother to the G1 Golden Slipper heroine Estijaab, kept his unbeaten record intact at Rosehill on Saturday.
Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) scored a well-deserved stakes success in the Listed Castletown S. at Wanganui.
The Paul Preusker-trained Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) made it two-from-two with a dominant victory at Flemington on Saturday.
Bolted In (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) enjoyed the step-down in class to claim his second victory from three starts on Saturday at Morphettville.
Tenacious Azula rallies to claim The Phoenix
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott camp looks to have a nice filly on their hands when the unbeaten juvenile filly Azula (Maurice {Jpn}) fended off her rivals to win the Listed The Phoenix over 1500 metres at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Azula (yellow cap) storms down the inside to claim the Listed The Phoenix at Eagle Farm | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
With Rachel King in the saddle after picking up the ride late, Azula narrowly defeated Flying Trapeze (Trapeze Artist) by 0.07l, while Cap Ferrat (Snitzel) finished third.
“What a great tough effort by Azula. She really found the line strongly and put her head out when it counted,” said co-trainer Adrian Bott.
Bott indicated the victory might see Azula contest next Saturday’s G1 JJ Atkins, “She still has a lot of improvement to come physically, Azula has a lovely big frame, and when she fills out and matures, she’s going to be a very nice filly. She is nominated for the JJ Atkins next Saturday, and we will see how she comes through.”
“She (Azula) still has a lot of improvement to come physically, Azula has a lovely big frame, and when she fills out and matures, she’s going to be a very nice filly.” - Adrian Bott
Azula is the seventh foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Shutout.
The filly was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Gai Waterhouse, Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Twin Hills Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Azula is the 14th stakes winner for the Arrowfield Stud shuttler Maurice (Jpn), who will return to Australia this spring for a fee of $82,500 (inc GST).
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Congregation, $2.25 million colt keeps record intact
It was a tight finish to the opening event at Rosehill on Saturday; however, the Champion trainer Chris Waller couldn't lose this race, with the short-priced favourite Waller-trained Tutta La Vita (The Autumn Sun) steadfast against the rail, Kerrin McEvoy aboard the royally bred stablemate Congregation (Snitzel) made his run down the outside and managed to pip his gallant stablemate.
Congregation kept his unbeaten record intact after winning on debut at Canterbury Park, making him a valuable colt.
McEvoy was upbeat about Congregation's run: “The penny still hasn't dropped yet for the colt. He's still learning the caper and is very exciting as the best is still ahead of him.”
“The penny still hasn't dropped yet for the colt (Congregation). He's still learning the caper and is very exciting as the best is still ahead of him.” - Kerrin McKevoy
Waller was equally effusive in his praise for both gallopers, “The filly (Tutta La Vita) will win a really good race. She's a real Flight Stakes type of horse. Congregation is just a lovely colt that keeps improving, and he's a baby really. Both have very exciting futures.”
Congregation is the eighth foal from the Charge Forward mare Response. She was a star galloper winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the G1 Robert Sangster S. and has proven a star broodmare. Congregation is a brother to Estijaab, the Champion 2-Year-Old in Australia, who won the G1 Golden Slipper and the G2 Reisling S.
Congregation is also a brother to the Group 2-placed Remarque.
Congregation keeps his unbeaten record intact at Rosehill | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
The colt was a $2.25 million yearling purchase by Tom Magnier from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Snitzel will stand for the 2023 breeding season at Arrowfield for a fee of $247,500 (inc GST).
Chantilly Lace gets well-deserved stakes success for young sire U S Navy Flag
The Chrissy Bambry-trained Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) scored a well-deserved stakes success in Saturday’s Listed Castletown S. at Wanganui, the first for her sire in the southern hemisphere.
With Lily Sutherland in the saddle - delivering her first stakes win as a jockey, Chantilly Lace defeated Discovery Bay (No Nay Never {USA}) and Charmer (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}).
Chantilly Lace (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
The daughter of U S Navy Flag headed into the race in great form, having placed in the Listed Auckland Futurity S. at her previous outing, and trainer Chrissy Bambry was confident of another bold showing in Saturday’s juvenile feature.
Chantilly Lace was a 10l victor, with Bambry stating: “She is a little ripper. She just tries really hard and has got a heap of ability.” Bambry shares in the ownership of the filly with her parents Judith and Tony.
“I was pretty confident today. She had come back from Pukekohe really well. Lily has done a lot of work at the jump-outs and trials on her, so knows her well.
“She ran second to Carbonados at Taranaki (two starts back) and was hitting the line well, so I told her (Sutherland) to get going early. I felt like she had improved since Pukekohe and she won pretty easy.”
U S Navy Flag (USA) | Standing at The Oaks Stud
Chantilly Lace becomes the third stakes winner worldwide for The Oaks Stud shuttler U S Navy Flag (USA) and his first in Australasia, he's available at a fee of NZ$15,000 plus GST for 2023.
“She was his first Southern Hemisphere winner as well, so it is a great box to be ticked off by her,” Bambry said.
“She is a pretty smart filly and I think he is a sire to watch if they are anything like her. She has got a great attitude and loves racing.”
“She (Chantilly Lace) is a pretty smart filly and I think he is a sire to watch if they are anything like her. She has got a great attitude and loves racing.” - Chrissy Bambry
Chantilly Lace will now head for a spell in preparation for some spring targets.
“She can have a month in the paddock now and then come back for those three-year-old races,” Bambry said.
Chantilly Lace was purchased by Bambry out of Valachi Downs’ dispersal sale last year for $66,000.
Steparty dominates at Flemington
The Paul Preusker-trained Steparty (Artie Schiller {USA}) pinned himself as one to watch with a dominant victory at Flemington on Saturday.
With Dean Yendall in the saddle, Steparty stepped out in the 1200 metre The Royal Children's Hospital Trophy, penned as an open event with the smart 'Kiwi' Codigo (NZ) (Ardrossan) making his Australian bow and several blue-blooded counterparts, none could hold a candle to Steparty in the finish blowing his opposition away by 3.5l from Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) and Codigo finishing third.
Winning jockey Yendall holds the son of Artie Schiller (USA) in high regard, “I have been on Steparty a few times, and I said to Paul (Preusker), 'I think this is the best one you've ever had', and this horse is pretty good. He's got a huge stride and does it so easy.”
Steparty was bred by G J Baldwin, who has retained co-ownership in the colt.
“I have been on Steparty a few times, and I said to Paul (Preusker), 'I think this is the best one you've ever had', and this horse is pretty good.” - Dean Yendall
He is the third foal from the unraced Sepoy mare Watch You Step. Steparty is a half-brother to Scissor Step (Toronado {Ire}), who has been placed in the G3 Red Anchor S.
'He won't Bolt In, but he will win'
The Matthew Seyers-trained Bolted In (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) appreciated the step-down in class to score his second victory at start three at Morphettville on Saturday.
Bolted In was partnered by Jessica Eaton for the 1250 metre 2-Year-Old BM62 event and scored by 1.40l from the favourite Wiggum (Rich Enuff) and The Stalker (Stratosphere) back in third.
Bolted In is the second foal from the Mint Lane (USA) mare Fonteyn Lane. She was placed and is a half-sister to Bacchanal Woman (Encosta De Lago), who won the Listed National Sprint H. at Canberra.
Bolted In was a $40,000 yearling purchase by Seyers Racing from the draft of Willow Grove Stud at the 2002 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
The former Spendthrift Australia shuttler Bolt D'Oro (USA) stands at Spendthrift in Kentucky and was crowned the Champion Freshmen Sire in 2022. Bolt D'Oro is the sire of three Southern Hemisphere winners from eight runners.
