Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
As was the case with the juveniles, New Zealand again had a profound impact on the 10 top-flight races for 3-year-old fillies held throughout Australasia this season.
Of the Group 1s that are restricted to 3-year-old fillies, eight were held in Australia and two in New Zealand. Those conducted in Australia were the Flight S., Thousand Guineas, VRC Oaks, Surround S., Vinery Stud S., ATC Oaks, Australasian Oaks and Queensland Oaks, while in New Zealand, it was the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and New Zealand Oaks.
Furthermore, a host of top-quality 3-year-old fillies were able to chalk up wins against the opposite sex and/or older horses in Group 1 grade.
Proisir power
Rich Hill Stud’s star stallion Proisir, who has put an end to Savabeel’s long-running dominance of the General Sires' Premiership in The Land Of The Long White Cloud, had his hoofprints all over this category, being the winning sire of two Group 1s.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained Legarto (NZ) was arguably the most impressive 3-year-old filly of the season and she was able to land a blow on both sides of the Tasman. Legarto’s maiden win at Group 1 level came in the New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton in November. She then repeated the dose, appearing from nowhere to knock off the boys in a thrilling edition of the Australian Guineas at Flemington in March.
Bred by Warwick Jeffries, Legarto is from the winless Towkay mare Geordie Girl (NZ) - a sister to dual-Listed winner Rapid Kay (NZ) and a half-sister to another dual-Listed winner in Kekova (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}).
The mare was consigned by Highline Thoroughbreds at Book 2 of the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She was knocked down to Ancroft Stud for NZ$90,000.
Proisir’s other Group 1-winning 3-year-old filly was the Roger James and Robert Wellwood-trained Prowess (NZ) and she too claimed top honours in both New Zealand and Australia.
Prowess after winning the Karaka Million 3YO Classic | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
At Pukekohe on March 11, Prowess took out the G1 New Zealand Bonecrusher S., before adding the G1 Vinery Stud S. at Rosehill a fortnight later.
Offered by her breeder - Hallmark Stud - at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale (Book 1), the filly was bought by her co-trainers for NZ$230,000.
Prowess is out of the winless Don Eduardo (NZ) mare Donna Marie (NZ), whose dam Scarlet Runner (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}), claimed the G2 Sir Tristram Classic in 1999. Donna Marie is a half-sister to the multiple Listed winner Onceuponatime (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Pennyweka proves she’s all class
Another two-time Group 1-winning Kiwi filly is Jim Wallace’s Pennyweka (NZ). The daughter of Rich Hill Stud’s shuttle star Satono Aladdin (Jpn) destroyed her rivals in the G1 New Zealand Oaks at Trentham in March, before adding the G1 ATC Oaks to her CV the following month.
Pennyweka’s success hopefully provided some joy for her trainer, whose mother died just two days before the New Zealand Oaks and that came after his daughter-in-law passed away a month earlier.
The star filly was bred by Jim and Les Wallace and is from the unraced Threepence (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) - a half-sister to the Group 1 winner Titch (NZ) (Lord Ballina). Threepence has thrown the multiple city-winning galloper Lord Bouzeron (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}), among others.
El Roca filly too good in Levin Classic
The Te Akau Racing-owned Romancing The Moon (NZ) (El Roca) landed the biggest win of her fledgling career when she was much the best in the G1 Levin Classic at Trentham.
Bred by Matamata couple Hamish and Karyn McQuade, Romancing The Moon was a NZ$50,000 yearling purchase by David Ellis from the draft of Westbury Stud at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1).
She is the first foal of the Group 2 winner Underthemoonlight (NZ) (Hermano {NZ}), who the McQuades bred, owned and trained. Underthemoonlight is a half-sister to the Group 3 scorer Storming The Tower (NZ) (Storm Creek {USA}).
Two for Waller
Champion Trainer Chris Waller had no shortage of firepower in the 3-year-old ranks, both with fillies and colts/geldings, and it came as no surprise to see him add another two Group 1s to his glittering CV, courtesy of a couple of very nice fillies.
One of the best 3-year-old fillies bred in Australia was Zougotcha (Zoustar). Last spring, she proved too good for stablemate Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}) in the G2 Tea Rose S., before comfortably accounting for her rivals in the G1 Flight S. The filly returned in the autumn, adding the G2 Phar Lap S. to her record.
Zougotcha winning the G1 Flight S. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bred by Widden Stud and the RMA Bloodstock Trust, Zougotcha is from the Listed placegetter Fast Talker (Fastnet Rock), making her a sister to the Listed winner Persuader and a half-sister to another Listed victress in The Actuary (Sebring).
Widden offered her at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale in 2021 and she was secured by Waller and his bloodstock agent Guy Mulcaster for $500,000, with Widden retaining a share in the filly.
Madame Pommery herself became a Group 1 winner when she ploughed through the slop to score an upset victory in the Thousand Guineas in October. Her triumph handed her ultra-talented sire - a son of Scat Daddy (USA) - his first Southern Hemisphere-bred Group 1 winner.
Bred by Coolmore, Madame Pommery is out of the dual-winning Exceed And Excel mare Cancel, who was purchased by Coolmore for $400,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale from the Newgate Farm draft. Cancel is a sister to the 2014 G1 Blue Diamond S. heroine Earthquake and a three-quarter sister to the Listed victor Excellent Reward (Exceed And Excel), who later raced in Hong Kong as Our Folks.
Madame Pommery winning the G1 Thousand Guineas | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Madame Pommery was purchased by her trainer and Mulcaster for $150,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale in 2021.
Four for Maher-Eustace
Ciaron Maher and David Eustace had a quartet of 3-year-old fillies win in top company, they being Affaire A Suivre (NZ) (Astern), who claimed the Australasian Oaks, Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who beat her older rivals in the Robert Sangster S., Royal Merchant (Merchant Navy), who capped a phenomenal Adelaide carnival for the stable when she was somewhat of a surprise winner of the time-honoured Goodwood H., and the brilliant Coolangatta (Written Tycoon), the winner of the G1 Moir S. and G1 Black Caviar Lightning.
Affaire A Suivre was bred by Courtney and Mandy Howells and they offered her at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1) under their Ainsley Downs banner. She was bought for NZ$75,000 by First Light Racing, Paul Willetts, Ciaron Maher Racing and Dave Eustace.
Affaire A Suivre (NZ) winning the G1 Australasian Oaks | Image courtesy of NZ Racing Desk
The filly is from the winless Highest Honor (Fr) mare Laurelling (USA), making her a half-sister to the Listed Scone Cup victress Laure Me In (Ad Valorem {USA}). Laurelling is a sister to the Group 1 hero and Group 3-producing sire Medaaly (GB) and a three-quarter sister to the Listed winner Poet Laureate (GB) (Highest Honor {Fr}).
Ruthless Dame, meanwhile, was bred by Go Bloodstock and purchased by Ciaron Maher Racing for NZ$90,000 from the Curraghmore Consignment at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 1). She hails from the final crop of her late, great Cambridge Stud-based sire.
The filly is from the winning Keeper mare Ruthless Lady (NZ), who was also stakes placed. That mare is a half-sister to the triple Group scorer and Listed-producing stallion Oracy (NZ) and the Listed winners The Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}) and Lady Maroal (NZ) (Power {GB}).
Royal Merchant was consigned by her breeder, Ian Smith’s Edinburgh Park, at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Ciaron Maher Bloodstock signed for her for $160,000.
Royal Merchant winning the G1 Goodwood H. | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A daughter of the winning Seventh Reason mare Seventhchic, Royal Merchant is closely related to the stakes-placed veteran sprinter Alburq (Rubick).
Coolangatta landed her maiden Group 1 win at The Valley in the Moir S. on a wet night in September, and, ahead of a failed attempt at Royal Ascot glory, she doubled the dose when taking out the G1 Black Caviar Lightning at Flemington in February.
Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, she is from the winning More Than Ready (USA) mare Piping Hot and she herself is a daughter of Ribe (Danehill {USA}) - a Group 2 winner that has also thrown the G1 Blue Diamond S. heroine Reaan.
Coolangatta was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $280,000 from the Milburn Creek draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Coolangatta winning the G1 Black Caviar Lightning S. | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Interestingly, Piping Hot made $3 million at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. Offered by Milburn Creek (as agent for Highclere Stud Australia), she was bought by Coolmore’s Tom Magnier.
Star juvenile adds Group 1 at three
The Anthony Cummings-trained She’s Extreme (Extreme Choice) was one of the best 2-year-olds in 2021/22, winning the G3 Magic Night S., placing second in the G1 Sires’ Produce S. and winning the G1 Champagne S.
She returned as a 3-year-old last spring and had been knocking on the door in the top fillies’ races ahead of the VRC Oaks at Flemington in November. Ahead of the Classic, there was no denying her quality would carry her a long way, but there was a query around whether she would stay the 2500-metre journey.
In the end, her class came to the fore, with She’s Extreme, thanks to a lovely ride by Tommy Berry, getting the job done comfortably.
Bred by Aquis, She’s Extreme was purchased as a weanling by One Plus Investments for $32,500 at the Inglis Digital June (Late) Sale in 2020, before being snapped up by her trainer for $275,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale from the Willow Park Stud draft.
The filly is out of the So Secret mare Keysbrook, who won two races and finished second in the G2 WATC Derby and third in the G3 WA Oaks. Keysbrook is a half-sister to the Listed winner Brasileira (Commands).
Sunshine In Paris leaves it late in Surround success
The Annabel Neasham-trained Sunshine In Paris (Invader) poked her head through at the right time to upstage her more-fancied rivals in what was a super edition of this year’s G1 Surround S., one that included Ruthless Dame, Zougotcha, In Secret (I Am Invincible), Sheeza Belter (Gold Standard) and Fireburn (Rebel Dane).
Sunshine In Paris (orange and black silks) winning the G1 Surround S. | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Bred by Aquis Farm, Sunshine In Paris sold as an unraced 2-year-old at the 2022 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, where she was picked up by Champagne Bloodstock for $90,000 from the Blue Sky Premium Consignment. Following her top-level triumph, the filly was a member of the Newgate Consignment at the 2023 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale. There, James Harron Bloodstock went to $3.9 million for the filly.
Sunshine In Paris is out of Zenaida (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), making the filly a half-sister to the Group 3 winner Macroura (Snitzel). Zenaida is half-sister to the triple Group 1 hero Vosne Romanee (NZ) (Electronic Zone {USA}).
Kermadec filly climbs the ranks
Kris Lees’ Amokura (Kermadec {NZ}) was beaten out of sight in a Hawkesbury maiden on April 1. Three weeks later, she broke her duck at Newcastle, then a month after that, the filly won a Class 1 at the Sunshine Coast.
Her next start would be in Group 1 company in the Queensland Oaks at Eagle Farm. Despite her modest record, Amokura had plenty of admirers and was backed from $11 into $8.50. The smart judges knew what they were doing, with the Lees-trained filly saluting by 1.63l, thanks largely to a masterful ride by the great Damien Oliver.
Bred and raced by the St Aubins Scone Partnership, Amokura is the first stakes winner for the unraced Quest For Fame (GB) mare Fain, who is a half-sister to the stakes performers Paulini (Singspiel {Ire}) and Tide (Galileo {Ire}).
A pair of superstars
Two of the best 3-year-old fillies of the season - Amelia’s Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) and In Secret - both won Group 1s in open company.
Amelia’s Jewel - the boom filly from the West - chalked up her maiden elite-level success in the G1 Northerly S. at Ascot in early December.
Amelia's Jewel winning the G1 Northerly S. | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
A homebred for the Walsh family’s Amelia Park, Amelia’s Jewel is the first foal from the stakes-placed import Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}) and she herself is a half-sister to the G2 Pearl S. victress Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Athasi S. winner Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
Godolphin’s crack filly In Secret beat the boys up the straight in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in the spring, before adding a second Group 1 when the late Dean Holland stepped in at late notice to pilot her to a memorable victory against older horses in the G1 Newmarket H. at the same track in the autumn.
In Secret (royal blue silks) winning the G1 Newmarket H. | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
In Secret is out of the former star filly/mare Eloping (Choisir) - a multiple Group 3 winner and three-quarter sister to the 2015 G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) victor Of The Brave (Starspangledbanner).
Godolphin paid $900,000 for In Secret from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
