Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained King Colorado handed his Juddmonte Farms-based sire, Kingman (GB), a first Austrailian Group 1 winner when prevailing in the JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Namesake (Maurice {Jpn}) showed all his tenacity to hold off his rivals to win the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Bjorn Baker’s exciting colt Ozzmosis (Zoustar) backed up his impressive debut at Gosford with a victory at Randwick on Saturday.
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained juvenile, Links, a daughter of the late Spieth (NZ), broke through at start two at Sandown-Hillside on Saturday.
The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained Walk Like An Angel (Impending) ran out a dominant winner at Morphettville Parks over 1000 metres on Saturday.
On Saturday, the Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-trained Whiskey Lies (NZ) provided his young sire Embellish (NZ) with his third winner at Ruakaka.
King Colorado reigns supreme in JJ Atkins S.
The G1 JJ Atkins S. concluded with an international flavour when the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained King Colorado, a son of Kingman (GB), ran out an impressive win in the valuable Group 1 contest.
Lining up for his third start after winning a maiden at Kembla Grange, and the first time over the mile, the 2-year-old colt held off the fellow blue-blood Miracle Of Love (Dundeel {NZ}) by 0.91l, running into the third was Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}).
Winning jockey Jason Collett admits he was taken aback by the performance, “King Colorado got into a lovely rhythm. When I clicked him, the amount of horse I had, I was kind of surprised as I wasn’t anticipating that.
“King Colorado got into a lovely rhythm. When I clicked him, the amount of horse I had, I was kind of surprised as I wasn’t anticipating that.” - Jason Collett
“I thought I better start trying to find the room, and I just had so much horse under me, and I could make my own runs.
“It was a good feeling a long way from home.”
Co-trainer Maher added, “King Colorado has always shown ability. He's a big, strong horse that is beautifully bred.
“It was beautiful to watch.”
Ciaron Maher and Jason Collett celebrate King Colorado's victory in the G1 JJ Atkins at Eagle Farm on Saturday | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
King Colorado was bred and is co-owned by Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and races in a partnership that includes SOS/WEI Partnership 2.
The colt is the fourth foal from the More Than Ready (USA) mare More Aspen (USA). She was a dual winner, including the Listed Singspiel S. at Meydan and was fourth in the G2 Cape Verdi S.
King Colorado’s third dam is the Northern Dancer (Can) mare Northern Aspen (USA), a five-time victress who won the G1 Gamely H. at the now defunct Hollywood Park.
The colt becomes the seventh individual Group 1 winner for Kingman, the 63rd stakes winner for the former Champion Miler, and importantly, his first Southern Hemisphere Group 1 victor.
Kingman stands at Juddmonte Farms’ Banstead Manor Stud in Cheveley, Newmarket. He will be available to cover Southern Hemisphere time.
Kingman will stand for a 2023 service fee of £125,000 (AU$233,100).
Maurice’s Namesake toughs it out
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Namesake (Maurice {Jpn}) showed all his tenacity to hold off his rivals and win the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Partnered by Mark Zahra, Namesake had to weave a passage through the field and, upon hitting the front, had to call on all his reserves to hold off a fast-finishing Heman (I Am Invincible) by 0.02l, Abounding (Rich Enuff) was narrowly away in third.
Maher declared Namesake a little ripper, “He is a little ripper. The team has done a great job with Namesake; he hasn’t had his last couple of races go his way. Saturday, he was always going to get a nice run, a beautiful ride by Mark Zahra.
Namesake winning the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
“Namesake has been really maturing through the preparation, and I think I will give him a nice spell now and look towards the spring.”
Namesake is the second foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Banksia. She was a three-time winner.
The colt is a full brother to Bank Maur, who was victorious in the G2 Alister Clark S.
Namesake as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Namesake was a $100,000 yearling by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
He becomes the 15th stakes winner for Maurice (Jpn), who has been enjoying a successful Brisbane carnival, having sired Azula to win the Listed The Phoenix S. last Saturday.
Maurice will return to Australia this spring. Standing at Arrowfield Stud, he will be available for $82,500 (inc GST).
'He oozes a lot of quality' - Baker's colt one to follow
Bjorn Baker’s exciting colt Ozzmosis (Zoustar) backed up his impressive debut at Gosford with a victory at Randwick on Saturday.
The 2-year-old son of Zoustar pinned himself one to follow with a series of trials and has easily translated the trial form to the racetrack.
Partnered by Dylan Gibbons, Ozzmosis tracked the leader Royal Tribute (Snitzel) to the 200 metre mark, where Gibbons got his colt going with relative ease, Ozzmosis put 1.17l on Royal Tribute to win with his ears pricked, Fleetwood (Encryption) stayed on to finish third.
Baker admitted he feels this is an exceptional colt and was nervous to see him back up his debut effort, “Ozzmosis is a smart colt. Darby (Racing) can indeed find them. I was more worried about this colt today than I have been about a racehorse for a long time.
“He’s definitely got a big future. We will likely spell him now and have a good talk to team Darby about where we go.”
Gibbons was complimentary towards Ozzmosis, “He is a real professional. He jumped well and switched off behind the leader. I have never been that confident far from home; once I let him off the bridle, it was a matter of aim and shoot.
“It’s scary to think there is improvement likely to come from Ozzmosis. When he hit the front, he pricked his ears and looked around. He oozes a lot of quality; scary to think what he’s got when he really puts the foot down.”
“It’s scary to think there is improvement likely to come from Ozzmosis. When he hit the front, he pricked his ears and looked around. He oozes a lot of quality; scary to think what he’s got when he really puts the foot down.” - Dylan Gibbons
Ozzmosis is the second foal from the Darci Brahma (NZ) mare No More Tears (NZ). She was a four-time winner, including the G3 Mr Tiz Trophy.
She hails from the family of Hips Don’t Lie (Stravinsky {USA}), a victress of the G2 Reisling S. and the grandam of the star filly Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}) who also claimed the G2 Reisling S.
Ozzmosis as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ozzmosis was a $250,000 yearling purchase by Darby Racing from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The colt’s Champion Sire Zoustar, will stand the 2023 breeding season at Widden Stud for a fee of $220,000 (inc GST).
Links comes out on top at Sandown-Hillside
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace juggernaut enjoyed a successful Saturday with their juveniles.
After claiming the Listed Oxlade S. at Eagle Farm in Brisbane, they saddled up the juvenile daughter of the late Spieth (NZ), Links, for start two.
Partnered by apprentice Matthew Cartwright, the diminutive Links ranged up to her rivals and was able to put away her stablemate Mantua (Fastnet Rock) by 0.50l, Mafia (Written Tycoon) was a further 0.50l away in third.
“Links drew wide, and I planned to get in front of a few. She was only okay out of the gates; I just kept her in a rhythm,” Cartwright told Racing.com.
“We got into a three-wide position; we had cover for some of the journey. But I just wanted to keep Links happy, and she quickened up well. Links is still very green. But she’s very tough, and she’ll improve.”
“She was only okay out of the gates... I just wanted to keep Links happy, and she quickened up well. Links is still very green. But she’s very tough, and she’ll improve.” - Matthew Cartwright
Links is the 10th foal from the Arena mare My Lady’s Chamber. She was a dual winner, winning the Listed National Sprint H. and was placed in the G1 Flight S. and G2 Furious S.
Links was initially a $60,000 yearling purchase by William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) and Brian McGuire from the draft of Willow Park Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.
She was later reoffered at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Lime Country Thoroughbreds, where Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed the cheque for $325,000.
Walk Like An Angel dominant at Morphettville Parks
The Leon Macdonald and Andrew Gluyas-trained Walk Like An Angel (Impending) ran out a dominant winner at Morphettville Parks over 1000 metres on Saturday.
Partnered by Jason Holder, who stuck with the filly after running second on debut at Murray Bridge, Walk Like An Angel put 1.70l on Lapilli (Territories {Ire}).
The third-placed Kalasec (Brave Smash {Jpn}) dropped his rider Sheridan Tomlinson after the line. Tomlinson was taken to hospital with an update to be provided when it comes to hand.
Co-trainer Gluyas told Racing.com, “It was a very good performance today (Saturday). Jason (Holder) was determined to put her into the race after she missed the start at Murray Bridge. We were slightly disappointed on debut when Walk Like An Angel was slow to jump as she had been flying the gates at home, but there was plenty of merit in the performance, and she made amends today.
“This is her first preparation, and I think she has a bit to offer in the future.”
Walk Like An Angel is the seventh foal from the Choisir mare Angel Of Hope. She was a three-time winner and is a half-sister to the dam of the Group 3 winner Foxy Frida (Foxwedge).
Walk Like An Angel is a full sister to Hope At Hand, who was placed in the G3 Sires’ Produce S. and the G3 Breeders’ S.
Walk Like An Angel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
She was a $100,000 yearling purchase by Macdonald Gluyas Racing from the draft of Willow Grove Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
Impending will stand for the 2023 breeding season for $8800 (inc GST) at Darley Northwood Park, Victoria.
Third winner for Embellish
On Saturday, the Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-trained Whiskey Lies (NZ) provided his young sire Embellish (NZ) with his third winner at Ruakaka.
Bred by the Lianhennock Trust, Whiskey Lies is the sixth foal from the Darci Brahma (NZ) mare Champagne Katie (NZ). She was a dual winner and was fourth in the Listed Canterbury Belle S. and the Listed Otago Breeders’ S.
Whiskey Lies was a NZ$12,000 yearling purchase by ML Barratt from the the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
Embellish, a Group 1-winning son of Savabeel, stands at Cambridge Stud for a 2023 fee of NZ$5000 (plus GST).
