Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-Day Recap
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun provided her sire, The Autumn Sun, his second individual stakes winner when she claimed Saturday’s Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks.
On Saturday, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sunsource (Zoustar) returned to his best form in the Byerley H. over 1800 metres at Flemington.
The James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Exploring (Brazen Beau) returned to Flemington on Saturday and under the riding of the rising star Celine Gaudray showed her professionalism to score a convincing victory from some hyped-up opposition.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Little Pumper (Shalaa {Ire}) put his best hoof forward in the opening event over 1400 metres at Randwick on Saturday.
Ken Rae and Krystal Williams-trained Whiskey Lies (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, beat home his stablemate Dancing Dream (Contributer {Ire}) in the 2YO Winter Championship Final at Ruakaka.
The Robert Heathcote-trained Tango Fever (More Than Ready {USA}) broke her maiden at Eagle Farm in impressive style on Saturday.
Unbeaten Coco Sun becomes the second stakes winner for The Autumn Sun
The Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Coco Sun provided her sire, The Autumn Sun, his second individual Stakes winner when she claimed Saturday’s Listed Oaklands Plate at Morphettville Parks.
The unbeaten Coco Sun won impressively on debut at Geelong in late June and was sent to South Australia for that valuable black type. The 2-year-old filly was ridden by Ben Price and won from Deadly Press (Press Statement) and the favoured Dubenenko (Russian Revolution), who was given every chance by Teagan Voorham.
Co-trainer Tony McEvoy told Racing.com, “Very good performance by Coco Sun; that’s why we came here for this beautiful black-type. I was a bit nervous when Benny (Ben Price) let the favourite out (Dubenenko), but our filly was good enough to overcome it once she balanced out.
“We have a lot of time for Coco Sun. She might be a filly that could figure in the spring, and that was a great step. I think Coco Sun will get over some ground, and her pedigree says she’ll get further; I think we will protect her now and give her time to digest it all,” McEvoy said.
“We have a lot of time for Coco Sun. She might be a filly that could figure in the spring, and that (stakes win) was a great step. I think Coco Sun will get over some ground, and her pedigree says she’ll get further.” - Tony McEvoy
“I am very excited and extremely happy for Terry Jarvis (owner), who decided to buy Coco Sun from us, and she’s a ripper going forward.”
Coco Sun is the fifth foal from the Encosta De Lago mare Miss Hufflepuff. She was a three-time winner from 1400 to 2000 metres and is a full sister to Liberator, who was crowned the Champion Stayer in Hong Kong in 2011/15.
Coco Sun descends from the G2 The Roses victress Etana (Shamus Award) family, and the Group 3-placed Echo Gal (Stratum).
Coco Sun as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly was a $250,000 yearling purchase by McEvoy Mitchell Racing and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the draft of Tyreel Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The Arrowfield Stud-based, The Autumn Sun, has made a fabulous start to his stud career, siring two stakes winners and the Group 1-placed Tulsi. The son of Redoute’s Choice will stand the 2023 breeding season for $66,000 (inc GST).
Sunsource bounces back to best form
On Saturday, the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sunsource (Zoustar) returned to his best form in the Byerley H. over 1800 metres at Flemington.
Busuttin and Young had been threatening all week that if Sunsource failed to find his best form, he would find himself ‘two stones lighter’- a gelding operation.
The 2-year-old colt ridden by the Champion hoop Damien Oliver put in a strong staying performance to outmuscle Line Of Fire (Dundeel {NZ}) and the favoured Dolphin Skin (NZ) (Telperion) in third.
Sunsource had started his career in encouraging fashion, taking out the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic on debut. The colt is the second foal from the Sebring mare Patricia Dawn. She was placed in the G3 Kevin Hayes S. and the Listed Twilight Glow S.
Sunsource was a $370,000 yearling purchase by Busuttin Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Sunsource as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Damien Oliver rode a double at Flemington, having ridden the Shawn Mathrick-trained Cause For Concern (Worthy Cause) in Race 4.
Exploring shows her professionalism back at headquarters
The James Cummings-trained and Godolphin-owned Exploring (Brazen Beau) returned to Flemington on Saturday and under the riding of the rising star Celine Gaudray showed her professionalism to score a convincing victory from some hyped-up opposition.
It is safe to say the 2-year-old daughter of Brazen Beau was sent out under the radar in the 1000 metre event down the straight; despite having won under the conditions on debut in January and being competitive in stronger events, including a victory in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies).
However, with the in-form Gaudray in the saddle, Exploring showed a clean pair of heels to score from the late closing Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation {USA}) and Ouroboros (Harry Angel {Ire}) in third. The disappointment of the race was Illative (I Am Invincible), whose debut had been highly anticipated but found little of her jump-out form to finish 5.35l away in ninth.
Godolphin’s Melbourne foreman Sean Keogh spoke to Racing.com post-race, “Exploring was almost weighted out of the race, but she’s a quality filly. We saw that last preparation when she won a Group 2, and we also saw it when she was a course and distance winner here at Flemington.
“The lads at Osborne Park prepped her up beautifully; she had two straight track trials before coming down here (Melbourne). Very happy that she could perform like that with the weight carried,” Keogh said.
“Mentally, Exploring has come on this preparation. The filly has not grown a lot physically, though; she’s strengthened but not any taller. We could potentially look at the Quezette S. for more black type; nothing is locked in, though.”
“Mentally, Exploring has come on this preparation. The filly has not grown a lot physically, though; she’s strengthened but not any taller. We could potentially look at the Quezette S. for more black type.” - Sean Keogh
Exploring is the first foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Cristobal. She was a winner as a juvenile and placed in the G3 Magic Night S.
Furthermore, the filly hails from the family of Trapeze Artist, who was crowned the Champion 3-Year-Old Colt in Australia in 2017/18 and is a promising young stallion for Widden Stud.
Exploring’s sire Brazen Beau, a Darley, Victoria, Northwood Park resident, will stand the 2023 breeding season for $44,000 (inc GST).
Pumper books Guineas ticket?
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained The Little Pumper (Shalaa {Ire}) put his best hoof forward in the opening event over 1400 metres at Randwick on Saturday.
The convincing victory opened the doors for the son of Shalaa (Ire) to contest better races in the upcoming spring.
The Little Pumper was partnered by Adam Hyeronimus and scored by 0.96l from Private Legacy (The Autumn Sun) and Canadian Ruler (Vancouver), further away in third.
Saturday’s success was the second victory for The Little Pumper from five starts and prompted his co-trainer Adrian Bott to suggest a race like the G1 Caulfield Guineas could be one of several options.
“I think the way The Little Pumper is relaxing, we can look at these options (Caulfield Guineas) going forward as I think he’s got that package now,” Bott told Sky Racing Central.
“I think the way The Little Pumper is relaxing, we can look at these options (Caulfield Guineas) going forward as I think he’s got that package now.” - Adrian Bott
“He showed his tactical speed. He was able to lead and settle, something he couldn’t do six months ago.
“Today was an interesting point. We wanted to see how The Little Pumper performed, stepping up in trip and grade; the spring isn’t too far off. We could freshen him up and look at a couple of targets there.”
The Little Pumper is the fifth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Sensibility. She won over 1250 metres and placed in the G1 Flight S.
The 2-year-old gelding descends from the family of the outstanding galloper Frosted (USA) and Midshipman (USA), crowned the Champion 2-Year-Old Colt in the USA in 2008. Furthermore, this is the family of the G2 VRC Sires’ Produce S. victor Running Tall (Stratum).
The Little Pumper as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The Little Pumper was a $120,000 yearling purchase for Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Valiant Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Shalaa will stand the 2023 breeding season at Woodside Park Stud for $22,000 (inc GST).
While in Race 4 at Randwick, Hyeronimus continued his excellent association with the Waterhouse and Bott stable when he combined with Special Envoy (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to take out the 1800-metre event and rounded out the day winning Race 10 on Omni Man (I Am Invincible).
Ken Rae and Krystal Williams quinella 2YO Winter Championship Final
On Saturday at Ruakaka, the father and daughter training partnership of Ken Rae and Krystal Williams trained the first two home in the 2YO Winter Championship Final.
The race was won by the partnership’s smart colt Whiskey Lies (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, who beat home his stablemate Dancing Dream (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
The 2-year-old colt has won three of his four starts to date. Whiskey Lies was a bargain NZ$12,000 purchase by ML Barratt from the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
The Cambridge Stud-based Embellish (NZ) will stand the 2023 breeding season for NZ$5000 (plus GST).
Tango Fever dominates rivals at Eagle Farm
The Robert Heathcote-trained Tango Fever (More Than Ready {USA}) broke her maiden at Eagle Farm in impressive style on Saturday.
The 2-year-old filly was ridden by Martin Harley and won by 2.19l from He’s For The Girls (Rothesay) and Five Star Vixen (Headwater).
Tango Fever is the 10th foal from the Anabaa (USA) mare Tango Fire. She is the dam of the G2 Queen of the South S. victress Tango’s Daughter (Redoute’s Choice) and the 14-time winner Tango Rain (Manhattan Rain).
Tango Fever as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly was a $140,000 yearling purchase by Munetos Racing from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
