Cover image courtesy of Racingfotos.com

Much of the focus on Thursday will be on what is deemed by many as Britain’s most prestigious event for stayers, while the support card includes plenty of other highlights.

Race 1, G2 Norfolk S., (5 furlongs) 1000m - 11.30pm AEST (2.30pm local)

Prizemoney: £62,381 (AU$117,300)

The 2-year-olds kick off proceedings on Day 3 and not only is a Group 2 up for grabs, a ‘Win and You’re In’ ticket to November’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf is also on the table.

Darley resident Brazen Beau, who ran second in the G1 Diamond Jubilee S. at Royal Ascot in 2015, sired the winner of this race last year - The Ridler (GB). The Brazen Beau colt was ridden by Paul Hanagan for Richard Fahey and that duo teamed to take out the Group 2 sprint 12 months earlier with Perfect Power (Ire) (Ardad {Ire}).

Fahey has the outsider Malc (GB) (Calyx {GB}) - a stylish winner on debut at Carlisle - here. Oisin Orr stays in the saddle of the close relation to Hearts Of Fire (GB) - the Champion 2YO Colt in Italy and Germany in 2009.

Remarkably, the great Lester Piggott won this race nine times, while Frankie Dettori boasts a quartet of triumphs. The Italian legend may well add to his tally aboard George Weaver’s US raider No Nay Mets (Ire) - an impressive victor on debut at Gulfstream Park in May, who is related to Pour Moi (Ire) - a Group 1 hero and sire of the 2016 G1 JJ Atkins scorer Sacred Elixir (NZ), among others.

No Nay Mets is a son of No Nay Never (USA) and he himself won this race under Joel Rosario for Wesley Ward back in 2013.

Ward has one runner this year - the blueblood Stonestreet Stables homebred colt American Rascal (USA) (Curlin {USA}) - a son of the brilliant Lady Aurelia (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}) - who herself chalked up two Group victories at Royal Ascot during her glittering career.

American Rascal hacked up by 10.5l in maiden company at Keeneland in April and will be handled by Rosario.

The pre-post favourite is Elite Status (GB) (Havana Grey {GB}) - a 5l winner of the Listed National S. at Sandown at his second and most recent appearance. The Karl Burke-trained colt’s two victories have been by a combined 8l.

Dotted among Elite Status’ pedigree is Rostropovich (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) - who raced in Australia and was fifth in the 2018 G1 Melbourne Cup after winning in Group 2 class in Europe, as well as the elite-level scorer Broome (Ire) (Australia {GB}), who goes around later in the G1 Gold Cup.

Paddy Twomey’s Noche Magica (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was an impressive maiden winner at Cork and was far from disgraced when third in the G3 Marble Hill S. at the Curragh last month.

Aidan O’Brien has won the race twice, most recently with Sioux Nation (USA) in 2017, who stood one season in Australia, and the Irishman saddles the Listed victor and Group 3 placegetter His Majesty (Ire). The No Nay Never colt is from a Group 3 winner in Czabo (GB) (Sixties Icon {GB}) and will be ridden by Ryan Moore.

Australian stallion Starspangledbanner, who returns to the Coolmore roster in 2023, has the comfortable Naas debut winner Devious (GB) representing him. The colt is out of the stakes performer Federation (GB) (Motivator {GB}) and she herself is a half-sister to the great Attraction (GB) (Efisio {GB}) - a multiple top-level victress and Europe’s Champion Filly in 2003.

Another Australian sire with a runner is Darley's champion Exceed And Excel. His son Mon Na Slieve (Ire) showed good speed to win over this trip at York in May.

Dual-hemisphere Group 1 hero State Of Rest (Ire), who will stand his first season in Australia at Newgate Farm this spring, features on Mon Na Slieve’s page.

Race 3, G2 Ribblesdale S., (1 mile, 4 furlongs) 2400m - 12.40am AEST (3.40pm local)

Prizemoney: £133,765 (AU$251,600)

A quality crop of 3-year-old fillies will be looking to add their name to an honour roll that includes Alydaress (USA) (Alydar {USA}), Phantom Gold (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}), Bracelet (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), Magic Wand (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Star Catcher (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).

In 2022, Jessica Harrington’s Magical Lagoon (Ire) made it three wins for the great Galileo (Ire). Harrington has outsider Village Voice (GB) (Zarak {Fr}) - a Listed victress - in this year’s edition.

John Gosden is a three-time winner of the race and he, along with son Thady, will send out three fillies, all by Frankel (GB) - Al Asifah (GB), Lmay (Ire) and Ghara (GB).

The Shadwell homebred Al Asifah is two from two and won as she pleased in Listed class at Goodwood last time out. The filly, who has the services of Jim Crowley, is closely related to Awtaad (Ire) and he is the sire of this year’s G3 JRA Plate scorer Diamil (Ire).

Dettori has made this race his own, winning it no less than eight times, with his most recent triumph being aboard Frankly Darling (GB) (Frankel {GB}) in 2020. He rides the Juddmonte homebred, Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestocking (GB) (Camelot {GB}) - a Salisbury novice winner on debut who was touched off by the Coolmore-owned Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) - who she meets again here - in Listed company at Newbury last start.

Bluestocking is from Emulous (GB) (Dansili {GB}) - the Champion Older Female in Ireland in 2011.

O’Brien has three Ribblesdale trophies in his cabinet and he has two chances to add a fourth - Warm Heart and Red Riding Hood (Ire) (Justify {USA}).

Warm Heart, who will be partnered by Moore, is out of Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock) - a three-time Group 1 heroine in Australia who was purchased privately by Coolmore in 2013. That makes Warm Heart a sister to the stakes performer Celestial Object (Ire), while other notable performers on the filly’s page include the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. heroine Lady Dehere (Dehere {USA}), this year’s G1 Robert Sangster S. victress Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) and the Group 3 winner and Group 2-producing sire Oratorio.

Wayne Lordan will partner Red Riding Hood and the Group 3 placegetter hails from a wonderful family, with her dam, Ballydoyle (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), successful at the highest level and France’s Champion 2YO Filly in 2015. Red Riding Hood is closely related to the Group 1 winners U S Navy Flag (USA) - who now stands at The Oaks Stud in New Zealand), Misty For Me (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) and Roly Poly (USA) (War Front {USA}).

Sir Michael Stoute won the race back in 2003 with Spanish Sun (USA) (El Prado {Ire}) and his lone runner, Infinite Cosmos (Ire), shouldn’t be underestimated. The Sea The Stars (Ire) filly broke the ice at Newmarket on May 5, before placing third in the G3 Musidora S. at York a fortnight later.

Infinite Cosmos is out of the Listed victress Waila (GB) (Notnowcato {GB}) and is closely related to the Group 1 winners Crystal Ocean (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Hillstar (GB).

Australian Bloodstock (and Peter Jensen) is represented by Understated (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) - a close relation to the Group 1 scorers Bianca Nera (GB) (Salse {USA}) and Postponed (Ire) - but she looks tested.

Race 4, G1 Gold Cup, (2 miles, 4 furlongs) 4000m - 1.20am AEST (4.20pm local)

Prizemoney: £340,260 (AU$639,000)

Often a pointer to the G1 Melbourne Cup, there has been many multiple winners of this top-flight staying test, including Sagaro (GB), Le Moss (ire), Ardross (GB), Drum Taps (USA), Royal Rebel (GB), Yeats (Ire) and Stradivarius (Ire).

Piggott notched an incredible 11 wins in the race, including three aboard Sagaro.

Master trainer Aidan O’Brien is gunning for his ninth success and he is represented by Emily Dickinson (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Broome.

Moore’s mount Emily Dickinson is a Group 3 scorer, but was unplaced when sent out as an odds-on favourite in G3 Levmoss S. at Leopardstown last month. She is from Ireland’s Champion 3YO Filly in 2013, the Group 1 heroine Chicquita (Ire) (Montjeu {Ire}), and is closely related to Magic Wand.

Broome, meanwhile, has Wayne Lordan up and brings good form to the contest, having won the G2 Dubai Gold Cup in March, before finishing third in the G2 Yorkshire Cup S. last month.

The Andrew Balding-trained Coltrane (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) - a grandson of the Group 1 victress Hula Angel (USA) (Woodman {USA}) - was utterly devastating at his seasonal debut here in the G3 Sagaro S. He has the services of Oisin Murphy and looks as though he will take all the beating.

Roger Varian looks to have a live chance in the form of last year’s G1 St Leger S. hero Eldar Eldarov (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 4-year-old is out of a very good mare, All At Sea (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), making him a half-brother to the stakes performer Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {GB}), while his second dam, Albanova (GB) (Alzao {USA}), was a Champion Stayer and multiple Group 1 heroine.

The Gosdens and Dettori will team up with the unbeaten Courage Mon Ami (GB) (Frankel {GB}), who rises in class but possesses plenty of ability. He is a half-brother to Astronomos (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) - the winner of the 2017 Listed Randwick City S. when in the care of John Thompson.

Godolphin’s G1 Breeders’ Cup Turf victor Yibir (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) should be better for his first-up fourth in the G3 Al Rayyan S. at Newbury last month. He is from the Listed scorer Rumh (Ger) (Monsun {Ger}), making him a brother to the multiple Group 1 star Wild Illusion (GB).

Charlie Johnston’s Subjectivist (GB) (Teofilo {Ire}) ended Stradivarius’ stranglehold on the Gold Cup when galloping to a 5l romp 2021, but a career-threatening injury has limited him to just two runs since.

Trueshan (Fr) (Planteur {Ire}) can never be discounted and boasts a Group 1 triumph over this trip in France in 2021, but his last run in the Sagaro was pretty plain.

His close relation, True Marvel (Fr) (Masked Marvel {GB}), is raced in Australia by Darby Racing and partners and ran second in this year’s G1 Sydney Cup.

Race 6, G3 Hampton Court S., (1 mile, 2 furlongs) 2000m - 2.35am AEST (5.35pm local)

Prizemoney: £85,0650 (AU$175,600)

It’s a very open and even edition of this Group 3 event, which both O’Brien and Moore have won on four occasions.

Glass Harmonium (Ire) was first home in 2009 and he went on to claim the G1 Mackinnon S. two years later. The grey stallion is the sire of the Group 3 winner Aurora’s Symphony, among others.

Time Test (GB), who now stands at Little Avondale Stud, was the winner in 2015, while the 2020 champion was Russian Emperor (Ire) - a son of Galileo and the great Australian mare Atlantic Jewel (Fastnet Rock).

O’Brien and Moore have a strong chance in the shape of the Group 3 winner Drumroll (Ire). He is by the legendary Deep Impact (Jpn), from the Group 1 victress Maybe (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), making him a brother to the multiple top-level scorer and Group 1-producing sire Saxon Warrior (Jpn).

The Gosdens have Epictetus (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) and Torito (GB) (Kingman {GB}), with Dettori on the former and Benoit De La Sayette booked for the latter.

Epictetus is a Listed winner that ran fifth in both the G2 Dante S. and G1 Prix Du Jockey Club. He is from the stare mare Thistle Bird (GB) (Selkirk {GB}), making him a half-brother to the Group 3 victress Jumbly (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}) and the Chris Waller-trained stakes performer Bullfinch (GB) (Kodiac {GB}).

Torito, who is bred in the purple, won as he pleased at Epsom on Derby Day and looks to have plenty of upside.

The Godolphin homebred Bold Act (Ire) (New Approach {Ire}), who was recently gelded, turned in a strong showing at Newbury and is likely to have his share of admirers. The Charlie Appleby-trained runner will be handled by William Buick and that duo teamed to win the race in 2016 with Hawkbill (USA).

Roger Varian’s Exoplanet (Fr) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) has been knocking on the door and looks up to this class. He is out of a half-sister to the multiple top-flight heroine Legatissimo (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) and she was named Europe’s Champion 3YO Filly in 2015.

Bolster (GB) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) is unbeaten in two starts, and while he rises sharply in grade, he is untapped. His dam is a half-sister to the Group 3 winner-turned-sire Danadana (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}).

Bon Ho, who is well-known to the Australasian audience, being the owner of, among others, the 2020 The Everest hero Classique Legend (Not A Single Doubt), has Canberra Legend (Ire) (Australia {GB}) going around. He won his first two outings, before failing in the Dante.

Canberra Legend is from an unraced Fastnet Rock mare who is a half-sister to three stakes winners.

*The results from Day 2 of the meeting appear on the next page.

Cover image courtesy of Royal Ascot

Paying tribute to his G1 Dubai Sheema Classic conqueror Equinox (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), Shadwell's Mostahdaf blitzed his better-fancied rivals to register a clear personal-best and first Group 1 victory.

Anchored in last early by Jim Crowley, the 10-1 shot who had been freshened up since his fourth in that Meydan feature swung wide of the warring Luxembourg (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) and Adayar (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) entering the straight. Blowing by them two out, the Gosdens' surprise package registrered an impressive four-length success from the 2-1 favourite Luxembourg, who had half a length to spare over Adayar.

John Gosden, who was saddling his fifth winner of the race, admitted to an element of surprise. “I was expecting him to pick up well in the straight, but not to make them look like they were standing still,” he said. “He did that in Riyadh; he won the Neom Cup and just flew away. When the ground dries up, he's a brilliant horse. If you check the form book, he took on a certain Japanese horse in the Sheema Classic and a mile and a half is beyond him–he's a mile-and-a-quarter horse, but he was the one who put it up to them and gave it his best go.”

The all-conquering Frankel is available to cover on Southern Hemisphere at Banstead Manor for £125,000 ($235,169). Shane Horan's phone at Juddmonte will be even busier than usual with +61 numbers over the coming days...

Darley's Blue Point sires Listed winner

Providing Darley's first-crop sire Blue Point (Ire) with his first black-type winner, RP Racing's Big Evs (Ire) chose the big stage for it as he stormed to success in Royal Ascot's Listed Windsor Castle S. for the Michael Appleby stable.

Alert from the stalls under Jason Hart, the 20-1 shot who had been second to the re-opposing Hala Emaraaty (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) at Redcar last month was soon in the clear racing towards the stand's side and powered to the line for a three-length defeat of Johannes Brahms (GB) (Siyouni {Fr}), with Inquisitively (GB) (Ten Sovereigns {Ire}) 3/4 of a length away in third.

Big Evs was not surprising his trainer, who had been third in Tuesday's G1 King's Stand S. “Big Evs worked with Annaf earlier in the week and I thought this has got to have a great chance at Royal Ascot, because Annaf is a machine,” he said. “We really fancied him at Redcar, but the draw did us.”

He's got so much speed–I've never had a horse as quick as him. I'm not sure what we'll do next. There are some big targets to come for him now, so we'll see where we go with him.”

Blue Point will stand at Darley's Northwood Park for $44,000 (inc. GST) this season.

Crimson Advocate wins Queen Mary for Team USA

After an agonising pause following the G2 Queen Mary S., it was a case of USA off the mark at Royal Ascot 2023 with Crimson Advocate (USA) (Nyquist {USA}) nosing out Relief Rally (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) in a head-bobbing finish.

Using the speed that had seen her book her transatlantic ticket in Gulfstream Park's Royal Palm Juvenile Fillies S. last month, the George Weaver-trained chestnut kept finding for Johnny Velazquez as the Haggas filly bore down on her with the line approaching. Relief Rally was in front a stride before and after the line, but when the photo was taken it was the 9-1 shot who had her noseband inches ahead.

“My wife is a tremendous horsewoman, she knows more about horses than I'll ever know," said Weaver. "She took a fall a year ago, she had a dramatic brain injury and it was a very scary time, so it's been a tough year for all of us. It's a miracle. At some points we didn't know if she'd live or have any quality of life. This is her first trip away from home since. I had a lot of help getting to where we got and I appreciate it all.”

Crimson Advocate's sire Nyquist stands at Darley's Jonabell Farm in Kentucky for US$55,000 ($81,000).

Dubawi's Rogue Millennium wins The Duke Of Cambridge

Paying back her supplementary to the G2 Duke of Cambridge S. in spades, The Rogues Gallery's Rogue Millennium (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) was steered to a surprise 10-1 success for the Tom Clover stable by one of the meeting's recent success stories Danny Tudhope.

Dropped to a mile after chasing home Free Wind (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) in the G2 Middleton Fillies' S. over an extended 10-furlong trip at York last month, last year's Listed Lingfield Oaks Trial winner raced off the pace early and was delivered with perfect timing to collar the long-time leader Random Harvest (Ire) (War Front {USA}) inside the final 100 yards for a neck verdict.

A Shadwell cast-off, Rogue Millennium has proven that her 35,000gns ($69,000) pricetag at Tattersalls December in 2021 to be a brilliant bargain.

Dubawi stands at Darley's Dalham Hall Stud in Newmarket for £350,000 ($657,522).

Frankie wins The Queen's Vase on Gregory

Frankie Dettori's inevitable moment came towards the end of day two of Royal Ascot as Wathnan Racing's unbeaten Gregory (GB) (Golden Horn {GB}) made virtually all in the G2 Queen's Vase.

Bought by his new owners from the breeder Normandie Stud after his win in the Listed Cocked Hat S. at Goodwood last month, the heavily-supported even-money favourite had to battle as Saint George (GB) (Roaring Lion) loomed in the final furlong but proved equal to his rider's demands to score by 1 1/2 lengths, with Chesspiece (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) 3 3/4 lengths back in third.

“I thought it was never going to come this year,” Dettori said. “I knew this horse was good enough, but I wasn't so sure about his experience. He is very laid-back at home and I thought if he doesn't jump he will get lost but he jumped great, I got him to the front and I knew he would stay very well.”

Golden Horn stands at Overbury Stud in England for £8,000 ($10,219).

Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Midweek meetings are always a talking point across the juvenile ranks, and on Wednesday, there was plenty to talk about at Canterbury Park and Doomben.

At the former, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott scored a 2-year-old double in the first two races, while at Doomben, Tony Gollan’s Snitzel colt Transatlantic, a son of the G1 Australian Oaks winner Gust Of Wind (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), won at the second time of asking.

Transatlantic was third on debut earlier this month and, under a persistent ride from James Orman on Wednesday, he edged out the Les Kelly-trained Black Minto (Spill The Beans). He is the second surviving foal from Gust Of Wind, whom John Sargent sent out through 2015 and 2016 to an Oaks-winning career that also included a fourth in the Caulfield Cup and sixth in the Melbourne Cup.

Gollan got his hands on Transatlantic at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. The colt was consigned by Segenhoe Stud and the trainer, in partnership with Harbour Equine and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA), purchased him for $360,000.

It may well prove good buying because this year at the same sale, Katsumi Yoshida went to $1.1 million for Transatlantic’s I Am Invincible half-sister.

Gust Of Wind has had only the three foals in her breeding career, the first of which was the one-time winner Sirocco Gale (Snitzel). She was covered by Stay Inside last September.

First of two for Tulloch Lodge

In Sydney, debutante filly Tropical Squall (Prized Icon) provided a barnstorming spectacle in the opener at Canterbury Park when she clattered away with Adam Hyeronimus by 1.35l.

There was some chatter about her ahead of this debut because she was a $1.55 favourite, and most of that hype would have been drawn from her good trial form. She had been a close second and first in two barrier outings through May and early June.

Tropical Squall jumped from barrier three and hugged the rail into the straight, galloping away strongly from her opposition. The margin did little justice to the strength of the victory, with a final time of 1:13.98, the last 600 metres in 34.41s for her owner, Gooree Park Stud.

“It was quite an easy watch,” said Neil Payne, who was trackside representing Tulloch Lodge. “The second favourite put the pressure on but Adam was in control there on the fence. It was impressive, the last furlong. I liked how she stretched out getting to the line.

“That’s the Gooree Stud coming through them. Gai and Adrian love the Gooree horses and it’s great to get a winner in those colours.”

Payne admitted that the stable hadn’t had a lot of 2-year-olds from Gooree the last handful of years, which might coincide with the stud’s scaling back of its thoroughbred stock at the death of Eduardo Cojuangco.

“We’d like to get more from there, that’s for sure,” Payne said. “We’ll take the win today (Wednesday) and where she’ll go from here, we’ll leave that up to the team at Tulloch Lodge. It’s exciting she’s got the win.”

Hyeronimus returned to scale with plenty of praise for the smart juvenile.

“She’s a big, strong filly with lovely action and a lovely attitude,” he said. “There’s not much to not like about her. I think she’s got quite a lot of ability. What she’s done there today, it was just a day out for her, really.”

First winner for Prized Icon

Tropical Squall isn’t a homebred for Gooree Park Stud. Rather, she was bred by Kooringal Stud north of Wagga, which stands Prized Icon for Gooree Park. The filly is the very first winner for her sire, coming from his inaugural crop that numbered 85 live foals.

Prized Icon is among the 32 first-season sires in Australia this season, and he’s had six horses to the track. For his first winner to come in such fetching fashion, and at a Sydney metro meeting, was a boon start.

“We’ve been waiting for them to get on the board, and she’s (Tropical Squall) a bit of a standout,” said Kooringal studmaster Angus Lamont. “I always had a big opinion of her as a weanling, which is why I took her to the weanling sales, just to show people a few of the types Prized Icon was getting.”

In 2021, Tropical Squall was part of a 14-horse draft that Lamont took to the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. It was important for Kooringal to showcase the first of the Prized Icons, and this dark filly, made in a mould not dissimilar to her sire, was one of two in the total draft.

She was bought by Gooree Park Stud for $16,000, with the other also selling to Gooree for $18,000. Across the whole catalogue, these were the only two weanlings by Prized Icon.

“She was a big-framed weanling,” Lamont said. “She fit a pretty big rug as a youngster, but she was nicely balanced. People were saying she was a bit big, but she was a nice size really. She was an early foal (August 18), and nice and mature to early. She’s a bit lighter in colour than her sire, but she’s certainly been stamped by him.”

In hindsight, selling Tropical Squall might be regrettable, and not just because she was a strapping winner on debut this week. Her dam, Squalls (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), died in March 2021 without leaving another foal.

Lamont had purchased Squalls privately for all of $1500 a handful of years ago in a situation he says was simply her falling out of commercial favour.

Squalls was initially a $440,000 Inglis Easter yearling in 2007, bought by Woodlands Stud from Coolmore and then sold for $220,000 in a Darley reduction to Glenn Burrows of Willow Park Stud.

She was a daughter of the very good mare Blue Storm (Bluebird {USA}), among whose descendants is the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).

For Lamont, buying Squalls for $1500 was all about her line-breeding.

“I was shopping around for bloodlines that might have worked with Prized Icon, and this is where Squalls came from,” he said. “It turned out a pretty cheap buy, but we lost her a year after Tropical Squall was born.

“It’s a lovely, strong female line further back. There’s the Mr Prospector, Danzig and Halo line that goes back through Almahmoud line in a couple of places, which is what Prized Icon is line-bred to, and there are some superior female lines here.”

Squalls, inevitably, may prove a perfect match for Prized Icon, should Tropical Squall go on as she started on Wednesday. Lamont thought the debut particularly good, as did most watching on.

“I thought when they were loading her that she had developed into a lovely type,” he said. “Gooree liked her enough as a type to buy her from us, and they’ve supported Prized Icon well in his initial couple of seasons.”

Prized Icon will stand his fifth season this spring and, with the arrival to Kooringal of Merchant Navy as a fellow dual Group 1-winner, along with fellow new arrival Finance Tycoon, the Lamonts felt it appropriate to reduce his fee from $11,000 (inc GST) to $8800 (inc GST), in lieu of remaining competitive.

“We had a couple of new horses joining the roster this year, and with Merchant Navy getting a Group 1 during the autumn (with Royal Merchant), I felt like we needed to reduce Prized Icon slightly, given he hadn’t had a winner yet,” Lamont said. “That was the wisdom behind it because, as anyone knows standing stallions, it can be hard to attract clients back to a horse in their third, fourth and fifth books.

“But this filly (Tropical Squall) will certainly help. It gives us confidence in what we’re doing, and it was really nice to see her stretch out and win like that. There could be some really nice form out of this race and she looks to have above-average ability.”

Pumper breaks his duck

Tropical Squall was the first of two juvenile winners for Tulloch Lodge on Wednesday at Canterbury Park. The second, a Shalaa (Ire) gelding called The Little Pumper, won the corresponding race on the card.

The Little Pumper had already raced three times heading into this maiden, debuting fourth behind Saltaire (Star Turn) in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery back in December before a second and sixth in subsequent starts.

The gelding was ridden on Wednesday by Tim Clark and, from barrier four, he led home Sound The Siren (Mendelssohn {USA}) by 2.16l. It was a convincing win, with the gelding “giving nothing else a chance”, in the words of race caller Darren Flindell.

The Little Pumper was purchased by Waterhouse, Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $120,000, consigned by Valiant Stud.

He was Lot 230, the fifth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Sensibility, who was second to Guelph (Exceed And Excel) in the G1 Flight S. when racing for Fairway Thoroughbreds.

Sensibility is a full sister to the Macau stakes winner Intrusion, and a half-sister to the very useful Running Tall (Stratum). The latter was a winner of the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. and was second in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings).

The mare had a Castelvecchio filly after The Little Pumper and went to St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) last spring.