Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Sunshine Coast: G3 Winx Guineas, $300,000, 1600m
Knight’s Choice (Extreme Choice) recorded his fourth win in a row and first black-type win, showing a great turn of foot down the straight to take out the G3 Winx Guineas. The win also gave apprentice jockey Jaden Lloyd his first Group 3 victory.
The gelding is the first winner and black-type winner for More Than Ready (USA) mare Midnight Pearl. She is a half-sister to the Listed-placed Sea Spray (Von Costa De Hero). They are connected to Group 2-placed Go Minstrel (NZ) (Kreisler {Ire}) and Group 1-placed Sardaaj (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Knight’s Choice was just an $85,000 purchase at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for Michael Kirby and John Symons when bred and prepared by Elswick Stud.
This win marks stakes winner number 10 for Extreme Choice who stands at Newgate Farm for $275,000 (inc GST) this season.
Listed Caloundra Cup, $300,000, 2400m
Zoumon (Zoustar) quickened at the top of the straight after leading to make it win number seven and his third Listed win in 19 starts, including the Listed McKeel Cup last start where jockey Tim Clark also teamed up with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott gelding.
The gelding is out of the Listed winner Monblue (GB) (Monsun {Ger}) reigns from a successful family including half-siblings and Listed winners Salon Soldier (Ger)(Soldier Hollow {GB}) and Salonlove (Ger) (Lawman {Fr}), all of whom are out of Listed winner Salonblue (Ire) (Bluebird {USA}).
After being bred by Asco International and prepared by Element Hill at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Zoumon was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing in partnership with Mt Hallowell Stud for $360,000. He now brings his total earnings to over $620,000.
Zoustar stands at Widden Stud for $220,000 (inc GST) this season.
Listed Glasshouse H., $300,000, 1400m
It was anyone’s race at the 150-metre mark, but Irish Songs (Shamus Award) pulled away to record his ninth win in 59 starts for local trainer Lousie White.
Irish Songs is out of eight-time winner Lucky Songs (NZ) (Johar {USA}), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Captain Fantastic (NZ) (Fantastic Light {USA}). The second dam Regal Ash (GB) (Green Desert {USA}) is also a half-sister to Listed winners Ehtfaal (Ire) (Soviet Star {USA}) and Wings Bash (Ire) (In The Wings {GB}). Also further down the pedigree page is two-time Listed winner Banner Headline (Danehill {USA}).
The gelding is a recent purchase for owner Lex Nichols who purchased him for just $30,000 in the 2022 Inglis Digital December Online Sale as part of the late Alan Cardy dispersal sale.
Shamus Award now ticks over 20 individual stakers winners and stands at Rosemont Stud for $60,500 (inc GST).
Flemington: Listed VRC Winter Championship Series Final, $200,000, 1600m
Riddle Me That’s (Deep Field) last win was in October 2020, but today he turned that form around in the Listed Winter Championship Series Final under the ride of Jye McNeil.
The gelding who recorded his third Listed win is out of Group 3-winning mare Justine Coup (NZ) (Entrepreneur {GB}). She had great success producing 10 foals for 10 winners, with Riddle Me That being her last foal and only stakes winner. The dam is a half-sister to the Listed winner Coup Hogan (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), while the third dam, Royal Regatta (NZ) (Sea Anchor {Ire}) is a Group 1 winner while also producing the likes of Listed winner Mushtak (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
The recently retired stallion of Newgate Stud, Deep Field, is closing in on 25 stakes winners.
Listed Taj Rossi Series Final, $175,000, 1600m
Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) beat off the fighting Line ‘Em Up Loui (Dissident) to claim her first stakes win at just start number three.
The filly is out of Tempo Manor (General Nediym) who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Ready To Rip (More Than Ready {USA}) as well as Group 3-placed Sir Lago (Encosta De Lago). Key other family relations include Group 2 winner Ego (NZ) (E Dubai {USA}) as well as Group 3 winner Elliotto (Easy Rocking).
Dolphin Skin who was bred by Gerry Harvey was passed in at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale Book 2 when prepared by Westbury Stud but has already gone on to win over $130,000 under the guidance of Flemington trainers Leon and Troy Corstens.
Westbury Stud’s stallion Telperion records his second stakes winner and first in Australia while it is also the first stakes winner for Tempo Manor, who has two full unraced sisters to Dolphin Skin on the ground, a yearling and a weanling.
Listed AR Creswick S., $175,000, 1200m
Renosu (Exceed And Excel), who is bred and owned by Godolphin, sat comfortably at the front up the Flemington straight and then kicked away to win the AR Creswick S. after previously placing at Group 3 level.
The 3-year-old is out of the Group 2-winning mare Ghisoni (Lonhro) and is a three-quarter sister to Group 3-placed Magic Carpet (Lonhro) as well as Listed-placed Dipsy Doodle (Lonhro). She is also a half-sister to Listed-placed Andermatt (Snitzel) and Aspen (Exceed And Excel), dam of Group 3 winner Larkspur Run (Shamardal {USA}). The second dam, Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}), is also a Group 2 winner and a half-sister to Group 1 winner Snowland (Snippets) and sire Snippetson.
This win marks stakes win number 210 in Australia for Exceed And Excel, while it also takes Lonhro to the top of the broodmare sires table for this season, with 24 stakes wins. Exceed And Excel stands at Darley this season for $132,000 (inc GST).
Listed Santa Ana Lane Sprint Series Final, $175,000, 1200m
Mnementh (Eurozone) gave Albury trainer Mitchell Beer one of the biggest wins of his career and notched up win number three for Blake Shinn on Saturday at Flemington.
The gelding is the only named foal of Pendragon (NZ) mare Yurrapendi. The second dam Garryuura (GB) (Daylami {Ire}) is a half-sister to the Group 3 winners Tropical Star (Ire) (Machiavellian {USA}) and Tibesti (GB) (Machiavellian {USA}) dam of Group 1 winner Move In Time (GB) (Monsieur Bond {Ire}). Both the third dam, Tropical (GB) (Green Desert {USA}) and fourth dam Bermuda Classic (GB) (Double Form {GB}) are Group 3 winners, with the latter also producing Group 1 winner Shake The Yoke (GB) (Caerleon {USA}).
Mnementh was bred by Rushton Park and gives Eurozone his fifth stakes winner.
Belmont: Listed Belmont Oaks, $125,000, 2000m
Ihts Closing Inn (Sessions) was given the perfect one off one back ride by William Pike to claim the Listed Belmont Oaks. It gave owners and breeders Oakland Park Stud the quinella of the race with Sesswa (Sessions) finishing second. It was William Pike’s fifth Belmont Oaks win while also being four wins in a row for Ihts Closing Inn who has a 50 per cent win rate.
The filly is a half-sister to Group 3-placed Saint Tropez (Not A Single Doubt) with both being out of Group 3-placed mare Ihtsatune (Ihtiram {Ire}). The dam is a full sister to Group 1 winner Ihtsahym (Ihtiram {Ire}) as well as a half-sister to Listed-placed Saxon Palace (Bletchley Park {Ire}) and Listed winner Jestatune (Rory’s Jester), dam of Group 3 winner Jukebox (Snitzel). Also in the family is Group 3 winner Bruckner and Group 2 winner Catapulted (Catbird).
Ihtsatune was served by Alabama Express this season and also has an unraced 2-year-old Ihtsaking (King’s Troop) also bred by Oakland Park Stud and trained by Adam Durrant.
Sessions is a resident stallion at Oakland Park Stud and this was his third individual stakes winner. He will stand the 2023 season for a fee of $11,000 (inc GST).
Listed Aquanita S., $125,000, 2000m
Upper Limits (Exosphere) was last and forced to go around the outside of the field to win the Listed Aquanita S. and gave William Pike a back-to-back feature win.
Bred by Rheinwood Pastoral Co in NSW, Upper Limits is the only named foal and winner for the Wanted mare Defar, who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Nurse Kitchen (NZ) (Savabeel). The second dam Flying Monty (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Hades - Helene Vitality (HK) (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Listed winner Everbright (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as well as Listed placegetters Katchmekate (NZ) (Bakharoof {USA}) and Swan Lake (NZ) (Green Perfume {USA}), dam of Group 3-placed Duke Wai (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Upper Limits was sold by Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale to Commercial Bloodstock Services for just $10,000.
Defar has a yearling filly by Super One and a weanling colt by Winning Rupert on the ground while carrying serve to Zousain this season. Exosphere stands at Oaklands Stud in Queensland for $6600 (inc GST) this season.
Hastings: Listed Tauranga Classic, NZ$65,000, 1400m
Flower Of Wanaka (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) caused an upset win in the Listed Tauranga Classic after starting as the clear outsider. She goes one better after previously placing second at this track and distance twice in her career.
The mare is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Tavarnelle (Zabeel {NZ}) who is also the dam of Group 2 winner Tuscan Queen (Fastnet Rock). They are out of Wanaka (NZ) (Green Perfume {USA}) who comes from a black-type family being a half-sister to Group 1 winner Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}), dam of Group 3 winner Crafty Irna (Starcraft {NZ}), as well as being a half-sister to Listed winners Vandalo (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}) and Amazing Me (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) plus Group 2-placed State Command (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}) and Listed-placed Ruby Turner (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}).
The late Burgundy (NZ), who previously stood at Cambridge Stud, claims his 10th stakes winner.
