Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Eagle Farm: G1 Stradbroke H., $3,000,000, 1400m
Think About it (So You Think {NZ}) was sent out as the favourite by punters and he didn’t let them down, adding a second Group 1 to his now seven-race-winning streak, which also includes his last-start win in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup.
The gelding is out of Tiare (Flying Spur) and was bred by Lightning Thoroughbreds. Think About It was purchased at the 2020 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale Book 1 for $70,000 by Proven Thoroughbreds and Joe Pride Racing from the draft of Newgate Farm. He has now earned over $2.8 million in prizemoney for connections.
Tiare has three named foals, all of whom are winners. She is a half-sister to G2 Gilgai S. winner Keen Array (Bel Esprit). The family is also connected to G1 Hong Kong Mile winner The Duke and G1 Hong Kong Sprint winner Sky Field.
So You Think (NZ) continues to produce high-quality progeny and he will stand for $99,000 (inc GST) at Coolmore in 2023.
G1 JJ Atkins S., $1,000,000, 1600m
King Colorado (Kingman {GB}) wins his first black-type race at start number three for trainers Ciaron Maher and David Eustace.
The colt is out of More Aspen (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}), a Listed winner in the Singspiel S. She is a half-sister to the Listed winners Jade Master (USA) (Master Command {USA}) and Aspen Cat (USA) (Cat Thief {USA}), the latter is also the dam of the Listed winner Germanico (USA) (Giacomo {USA}).
King Colorado is his dam’s first foal to race. More Aspen also has a yearling colt by Pride Of Dubai and is currently in foal to Maschino.
G2 The Q22, $1,200,000, 2200m
Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) records his best win to date after claiming his first Group 2 win in Australia, having come into this race after winning the G3 Lord Mayor’s Cup at this same track two weeks ago.
Out of the Group 3-winning mare Khnor Sheed (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Without A Fight is a half-brother to Sharja Princess (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) who is the dam of G2 John C Mabee S. winner Avenue De France (Fr) (Cityscape {GB}).
Khnor Sheed is also a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Prince Kirk (Fr), while Group 1 winner Hailsham (Can) also resides in the family.
G2 Brisbane Cup, $400,000, 3200m
Selino (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) returns to Group-winning form after taking out the G1 Sydney Cup in 2021.
This is the first black-type winning foal for Air Kiss (Red Ransom {USA}) but she comes from an international black-type family including being a half-sister to Group 1 winner Invermark (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}), Group 2 winner Craigsteel (GB) (Suave Dancer {USA}) and Group 3 winner and Champion Older Horse and Stayer in Scandinavia, Inchrory (GB).
The late Champs Elysees (GB) is more well known in Great Britain and Ireland, with only 18 runners in Australia. Of those 18, 12 have been winners including five at stakes level.
G2 Dane Ripper S., $300,000, 1300m
Comrade Rosa rounded out a good day for her sire Capitalist, who added another Group winner to his ever-growing list.
Comrade Rosa was bred and consigned by Kitchwin Hills to the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale where Peachester Lodge went to $100,000 to secure her.
This mare is out of Listed Carrington S. winner No Looking Back (Redoute’s Choice) who is a three-quarter sister to the Group 3-placed Chauffeur (Snitzel). This family has a great history with the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, with both Chauffeur and her dam Mirror Mirror (Dehere {USA}) winning it.
Mirror Mirror is out of Fair Vanity (Rustic Amber {Ire}) who is a half-sister to Group 2 winners Tennessee Jack (NZ) (Whiskey Road {USA}) and Tennessee Vain (Whiskey Road {USA}), who went on to have a successful career at stud as a broodmare.
G3 Gunsynd Classic, $200,000, 1600m
This classy gelding Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) is one of 10 winners out of Wiener (More Than Ready {USA}). He is a full brother to Group 3-placed Redoutable Heart as well as a half-brother to Rathlin (Fastnet Rock), a winner at Listed level and half-sister to the Listed-placed Za Zi Ba (All Too Hard).
The mare herself has also placed at Listed level and is a half-sister to Champion Sire Snitzel, and Hinchinbrook as well as Group 3 winner Viennese (Redoute’s Choice).
Redoute’s Choice continues to dominate as a sire and has now produced 182 Group winners.
Wiener’s 2-year-old filly by The Autumn Sun bred by Mr NJR Werrett, sold for $200,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling sale to Garvin and Cousens when offered by Kitchwin Hills, she has now been named La Belle Vie, while she also has a yearling colt by Fastnet Rock who is yet to be named.
Listed Hinkler H., $160,000, 1200m
King Kapa is from Capitalist’s first crop at stud. This is the gelding’s first black-type win after previously placing at Listed level in the Chief de Beers H. and fourth in the G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic.
He is out of Emmalene (Jet Spur) who is a Listed winner herself and has produced the Listed-placed Churning (Lonhro), with three foals to race for three winners. She is also a full sister to the Listed-placed Pickabee, the dam of G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Uncommon James (Cable Bay {Ire}).
Capitalist is close to breaking into the top 20 on the sires’ premiership table for this season, with his progeny earning over $8 million. He stands at Newgate Farm for $77,000 (inc GST) this season.
Listed Oxlade S., $160,000, 1300m
Namesake, a son of the Arrowfield Stud-based Maurice (Jpn), recorded a narrow victory of 0.22l in the Listed Oxlade S. which opened the card for a big black-type day at Eagle Farm.
With only four runs under his belt, the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained colt looks to follow in his full brother’s footsteps Bank Maur (Maurice {Jpn}), who is a black-type winner at Group 2 level. Out of the winning Redoute’s Choice mare Banksia who has a yet to be named 2-year-old Written Tycoon filly and is in foal to Admire Mars (Jpn).
The mare is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Foxwedge and the Listed-winning She’s A Fox (Fastnet Rock).
Bred by Arrowfield Pastoral and offered through the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock purchased the colt for $100,000. Namesake becomes stakes winner number 15 for Maurice.
Listed The Wayne Wilson Plate, $160,000, 1600m
Antino (NZ) (Redwood {GB}) put up a convincing margin to take home the Listed The Wayne Wilson and is building a picket fence after winning his last three starts.
This is the first black-type winner for the Bahhare (USA) mare Mahamaya (NZ), who is a full sister to Group 1 winner Hurrah and the Hong Kong Listed winner Carlisle Bay (NZ) - Best Gif.
Antino sold for just NZ$27,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale to New Balance Racing after being prepared by Cheltenham Stables and has provided his connections with over $350,000 in prizemoney.
Redwood (GB), a son of High Chaparral (Ire), will stand for NZ$10,000 plus GST at Westbury Stud this season.
Belmont: G3 Strickland S., $200,000, 2000m
Last Of The Line (Blackfriars) turned the tables of his last two starts, where he finished second, to take out the G3 Strickland S., handling the step up to 2000 metres for the first time.
The gelding is out of the retired Catch The Cat (Royal Abjar {USA}) who has already produced a Listed winner in Black Felix, a full brother to Last Of The Line. The late Blackfriars is well-known for his stakes winners including Black Heart Bart, Playing God and Come Play With Me.
The third dam, Edge Of Darkness (Jungle Boy {GB}), is a Group 3 winner herself after taking out the Sir Ernest Lee Steere Classic S. and is a winner of multiple Listed races. She is a half-sister to Medal Rose (Medal {Ire}) dam of the Listed winners Crimson Medal (Scarlet Man) and Platinum Medal (Barclay Joy {Ire}).
Randwick: Listed Bob Charley AO S., $160,000, 1100m
Five times stakes placed, Spacewalk (Exosphere) denys his rivals at Randwick and gains his first black-type win.
Out of the metropolitan winner Benenden (Dubawi {Ire}), a half-sister to the Listed-placed Gigglewick (Elusive Quality {USA}), in turn the dam of two-time Listed winner Plague Stone (Lonhro). The second dam, High School (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) comes from a long line of black-type winners including Group 1 winner In The Wings (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Group 2 winner Hunting Hawk (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}).
Spacewalk is Exosphere’s fifth stakes winner with the stallion standing at Oaklands Stud this season for $6600 (inc GST).
