Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Race-Day Recap
Boyanup-based horseman Michael Lane saddled up the 3-year-old filly Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) to a memorable victory in the Listed Belmont Guineas on Saturday.
The 6-year-old mare Chassis (Al Maher) has consistently shown stakes ability and delivered on her promise in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic on Saturday at Ipswich.
The classy Ben and JD Hayes-trained Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}) prevailed in Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner S. at Ipswich.
The Tony Gollan-trained Chairman (Snitzel) was sent out at double-figure odds flew home to win the Schweppes TL Cooney at Ipswich on Saturday.
The Annabel Neasham-trained Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) roared back into his best form to score an upset victory in the Listed Ipswich Cup on Saturday. While Neasham's promising import Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) made it three victories on Australian soil.
Rusty Dreams storms away from opposition
Boyanup-based horseman Michael Lane saddled up the 3-year-old filly Rusty Dreams (Universal Ruler) to a memorable victory in the Listed Belmont Guineas on Saturday.
The filly ridden by Chris Parnham was last for most of the 1600-metre journey and looked to have been given too great a task. But with a ‘freakish ride’ rail-hugging steer by Parnham, Rusty Dream shot up the inside and quickly put 1.88l on her nearest pursuer Upper Limits (Exosphere) and Demolish (Rich Enuff), finishing in third.
Rusty Dreams comes from last to win the Listed Belmont Guineas | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
It was the fifth career win and the first stakes victory for Rusty Dreams, having been placed in the Listed Raconteur S. last start.
The filly was bred and co-owned by Canal Enterprises. She is the fourth foal from the unraced Oratorio mare, She Did Him Wrong.
Saturday was a lucky day for the Scenic Lodge Stud-based Universal Ruler siring a double at Belmont courtesy of Rusty Dreams and the Mitchell Parnnam-trained juvenile King Cartel in Race 2.
Connections of Rusty Dreams after winning the Listed Belmont Guineas | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Rusty Dreams becomes the 10th stakes winner for the stallion who will stand the 2023 breeding season for $8250 (inc GST).
Chassis scores well-deserved stakes success
The 6-year-old mare Chassis (Al Maher) has consistently shown stakes ability and delivered on her promise in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic on Saturday at Ipswich.
Chassis started her career with Cranbourne-based trainer John Price before being transferred to Ciaron Maher and David Eustace. The mare was partnered by Jake Bayliss on Saturday and scored by 1l from Better Get Set (Better Than Ready) and a fast-finishing Hellfest (Fastnet Rock) running into third.
Chassis cruises to victory in the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic at Ipswich | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
It was an emotional victory for Bayliss, who claimed his hometown feature, “Honestly, today (Saturday) started on a dour note, but I knew it would improve further into the card as I had some better rides.
“I took bad luck out of the equation for Chassis. I used the gate and put her in the box seat. She really attacked the line,” Bayliss said.
“My grandad was the clerk of the course at Ipswich, my father, Jamie, a former jockey, and this being my hometown. I’m about to cry, I lost my grandparents, and they were life members of the club, as was my great-grandfather, so my family has a lot of history here; I’m thrilled to win a feature here.”
“My grandad was the clerk of the course at Ipswich, my father, Jamie, a former jockey, and this being my hometown. I’m about to cry... I’m thrilled to win a feature here.” - Jake Bayliss
Before Saturday’s stakes, breakthrough Chassis was placed in the G3 Cockram S. and the G3 How Now S.
The mare was initially a $40,000 yearling purchase by John Price from the draft of Supreme Thoroughbreds at the 2018 Inglis VOBIS Gold Yearling Sale.
Chassis was offered at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale by Ciaron Maher Racing; she was purchased for $230,000 by Parsons Creek Farm and Dermot Farrington Bloodstock.
Jake Bayliss after winning the Listed Gai Waterhouse Classic | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
She becomes the 37th stakes winner for Al Maher, who stands Stockwell Thoroughbreds. Al Maher was available to breeders in 2022 for a fee of $8800 (inc GST).
Classy Lady prevails in the Eye Liner
The classy Ben and JD Hayes-trained Lady Of Honour (No Nay Never {USA}) prevailed in Saturday’s Listed Eye Liner S. at Ipswich.
The 4-year-old mare has been racing well without much luck, running bold races in her last three starts in black-type races before breaking through in the Eye Liner to claim the second Listed victory of her career.
Lady Of Honour takes the win in the Listed Eye Liner S. at Ipswich | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Andrew Mallyon rode Lady Of Honour; it was a close finish between the mare and Gravina (Sebring), with a photo ultimately confirming Lady Of Honour as the winner.
The mare provided her sire No Nay Never (USA) with his second winner on Saturday in Australia, with his progressive daughter Sigh scoring earlier at Flemington.
Lady Of Honour won the Listed Twilight Glow S. earlier in her career and has been placed in the G2 Let’s Elope S. and the G2 Stocks S. She has won over $500,000 in prizemoney for her connections Coolmore and Mr Paul Shanahan.
Andrew Mallyon returns to scale aboard Lady Of Honour after winning the Listed Eye Liner S. | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
The mare was a $175,000 yearling purchase by Justin Casse from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
It was successful 48 hours for the Hayes-operated Lindsay Park, after unveiling a promising juvenile, Poifect (Pierro) at Geelong on Friday and training a double on Saturday when the imported Port Guillaume (Fr) (Le Havre {Ire}) finding his best ability to score at Flemington.
Chairman swamps them late
Despite not carrying black-type status, the Schweppes TL Cooney drew a stakes-class field to Ipswich on Saturday.
The Tony Gollan-trained Chairman (Snitzel) was sent out at double-figure odds after he was unplaced at the Listed level last start. The well-bred colt was partnered by flying the James Orman, flew home to narrowly deny the Group 2 winner Swiss Exile (Pariah), and the talented Group 3 winner Fashion Legend (Deep Field), finished third.
Chairman is the first foal from the Tavistock (NZ) mare Harlow Gold (NZ). She was a dual winner from 1400 to 1600 metres and was placed in the G1 VRC Oaks and the G1 Vinery Stud S.
Furthermore, the colt hails from the family of the outstanding sprinter Roch ‘N’ Horse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}). The recently retired mare was a Flemington straight track specialist, scoring a memorable victory in the G1 Newmarket H. and beating a class field in the G1 VRC Sprint Classic.
Chairman is raced by his breeders Glenlogan Park. The colt was initially offered at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and was passed in at $500,000.
Lion snarls in Ipswich Cup
The Annabel Neasham-trained Regal Lion (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) roared back into his best form to score an upset victory in the Listed Ipswich Cup on Saturday.
The 4-year-old brown gelding with Ben Thompson in the saddle narrowly denied a tenacious Desert Icon (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) by 0.20l, while London Banker (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) ran into third.
Regal Lion (NZ) causes an upset in the Listed Ipswich Cup | Image courtesy of Michael McInally
Before the Listed Ipswich Cup, Thompson felt that how the track played would suit Regal Lion: "You need the horse to be on his A-game to win these races, and Regal Lion brought his best today. Annabel Neasham and her team do such a good job, and I felt with the way the track has been playing, it will suit a horse like him (Regal Lion) that was going to get down the middle of the track.
“He was perfect today; winning an Ipswich Cup is very special. Hopefully, I’ll get to keep the ride on him for the Caloundra Cup if he heads that way.”
Regal Lion hails from a family more recently renowned for their juvenile precocity than stayer prowess.
“He (Regal Lion) was perfect today (Saturday); winning an Ipswich Cup is very special. Hopefully, I’ll get to keep the ride on him for the Caloundra Cup if he heads that way.” - Ben Thompson
The R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong Classic victor Unite And Conquer and the R. Listed Inglis Millennium scorer Profiteer hail from this family.
The gelding carries the silks of Terry Henderson and Simon O’Donnell’s OTI Racing and Bloodstock.
Regal Lion becomes the fifth stakes winner for his late sire Jakkalberry (Ire).
It was a productive day at the office for the Neasham-trained stayers, with Neasham’s promising import Fawkner Park (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}) taking out the fifth race at Rosehill over 2000 metres making it three-for-free in Australia.
Neasham speaking after the race to Sky Racing, said, “He’s (Fawkner Park) is a very exciting galloper. He appears like he might progress into something better.
“Fawkner Park is very lightly raced, and I think he has plenty of upside for his connections Bennett Racing.”
