Cover image courtesy of Race Images Palmerston North
Morphettville: Listed Lightning S., $120,000, 1050m
Whilst the first of only two stakes races run in Australasia on Saturday was won by a descendant of the wonderful mare Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) in Itza Charmdeel (Charm Spirit {Ire}), the second was won by La Danseuse Rouge whose sire is Shantha's Choice's G1 AJC Sires' Produce S.-winning, Geisel Park-based son Manhattan Rain.
Bred by Blue Gum Farm and Imperial Bloodstock and raced by the latter, La Danseuse Rouge (her sire's 18th stakes winner) is the first foal produced by the imported mare Margaux (Ire) (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the Group 3-placed Behreyma (Ire) (Persian Bold {Ire}).
Served last spring by Palace Pier (GB) having had the previous season off, Margaux has a 2011 colt by Needs Further whilst her 2-year-old Petit Manhattan (placed in a Mornington jump-out a few weeks ago) is a full sister and stablemate to La Danseuse Rouge.
Behreyma is a half-sister to the dam of the Listed Mornington Cup winner Berisha (Al Samer) and her grandam is the European Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Behera (Ire) (Mill Reef {USA}) who produced three stakes-winning fillies - Behkara (Ire) (Kris {GB}), Bayrika (Ire) (Kahyasi {Ire}) and Behkiyra (Ire) (Entrepreneur {GB}).
The first two of those also threw stakes horses and Bayrika is the grandam of the G2 Champagne S. winner Vital Equine who stood at stud in Western Australia.
La Danseuse Rouge's pedigree brings together the full brothers Fairy King (USA) and Sadler's Wells (USA), providing for a 4 X 5 cross of the high-class broodmare Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}).
Otaki: Listed Ryder S., NZ$65,000, 1200m
The final black-type juvenile contest for the season was won in impressive fashion by Itza Charmdeel (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who really put in the big strides late.
Bred in New South Wales by River Valley Bloodstock and passed in with a reserve of NZ$60,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, Itza Charmdeel was having his third start - recording his second win.
The 17th stakes winner for his former Windsor Park shuttling sire, Itza Charmdeel is the first foal produced by the unraced Whatadeel (Dundeel {NZ}) whose city-winning dam Rex Is A Star (Encosta De Lago) is a daughter of the G3 San Domenico S. winner Sliding Cube (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) whose dam is the wonderful producer Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad).
Hailing from the same branch of the internationally prolific Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) family as Redoute's Choice, Whatadeel was served last spring by that Champion stallion's son The Autumn Sun having foaled a filly by him in September. Her second foal is a yearling colt by Shalaa (Ire).
Itza Charmdeel is amongst the first five runners out of Dundeel (NZ) mares - two of whom are winners, the other - Noah 'N' A Deel (Maurice {Jpn}) also a stakes winner.
Itza Charmdeel is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Sadler's Wells (USA), also carrying a strain of that stallion's full brother Fairy King (USA) and his three-quarter brother Nureyev (USA).
