Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
G3 Newcastle Gold Cup, $300,000, 2300m
It was a strong finish out wide from Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) who rewarded his fans with a win at double-figure odds, adding this race's trophy to his other Cup win - the G3 Hobart Cup in February.
Bred by Boocock Trading he was sent to the Tattersalls December Foal Sale where Cathy Grassick purchased him for 65,000gns (AU$131,600). Military Mission was then reoffered at the 2021 Goffs London Sale where Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, in partnership with McKeever Bloodstock, purchased the gelding for £170,000 (AU$327,800). The 6-year-old is now a six-time winner.
One of the 98 stakes winners for his late sire, Military Mission is out of the three-time winner Atlantic Isle (Ger) (Tamayuz {GB}) who did her racing in Germany.
She is one of the five winners produced by the winner All Time Great (GB) (Night Shift {USA}), also dam of the Group 3 placegetter Atlantic High (GB) (Nashwan {USA}) and grandam of the Listed placegetter Teofilo's Princess (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
Military Mission's Group 2-placed third dam Someone Special (GB) (Habitat {USA}) did a great job with her nine winners including the G1 York International S. winner One So Wonderful (GB) (Nashwan {USA}) and three other stakes winners. And that mare is the grandam of the spring carnival aspirant Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), winner of the G3 March S. and runner-up in the G1 Epsom Derby.
Ancestress of this family is the legendary mare Sceptre (GB) (Persimmon {GB}).
G3 Cameron H., $250,000, 1500m
Taking good benefit from his nice first-up run in the G2 Tramway H. won by Pericles (Street Boss {USA}), Democracy Manifest (Flying Artie) was able to record an easy second-up victory - his first at stakes level and his eighth overall from 20 starts.
Bred by Aaron Bott and Newgate Stallions, he is the eighth stakes winner for his Blue Gum Farm-based, G1 Coolmore Stud S.-winning sire. Passed in with a reserve of $25,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he was sold online shortly afterwards for $11,000 - then taken to the Inglis Ready2Race Sale where he was sold by Network Bloodstock to Allam Racing and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $70,000.
He is one of the three winners for the Sandown winner Slippery Satin (Benicio) whose dual city-winning dam Satin Covers (Dr Grace {NZ}) did a great job with her seven winners including the G1 Railway H. winner Great Shot (Magnus) and the Listed winner Gawne (Flying Spur).
The latter went onto produce the dual Listed winner Milton Park (Written Tycoon) as well as the dam of the Listed Exford Plate winner Legionnaire (Stratum) whilst one of her sisters is the dam of the two-time Group 3 winner Casino Dancer (Casino Prince).
A granddaughter of the Group 1 mare Satin Sand (Buena Shore {USA}), Slippery Satin was served last year by Zousain and Yes Yes Yes having previously missed to North Pacific. Her 2-year-old Slippery Miss is by Magna Grecia (Ire) whilst her 3-year-old is the yet to race Satin Dragon by Brave Smash (Jpn).
G3 Tibbie S., $250,000, 1400m
Banana Queen (So You Think {NZ}) is a mare building up a nice record - this success (an easy one) her fifth from 15 starts and her first at stakes level on the back of her previous fourth in the Listed Mona Lisa S. at Wyong.
A homebred for Arcella Thoroughbreds, she is the 54th stakes winner for her high-achieving Coolmore Stud-based sire and the second stakes performer for her unraced dam Tropicana Lady (Fastnet Rock).
Also dam of the Group 3-placed city winner Vanuatu (High Chaparral {Ire}), Tropicana Lady is a full sister to the G1 Thousand Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) who has produced two stakes winners - Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
The third So You Think (NZ) stakes winner out of a Fastnet Rock mare, Banana Queen is the 20th So You Think stakes winner line-bred to the mighty Nijinsky II (Can), a cross which has produced five Group 1 winners.
Served last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB) after foaling a colt by Graff, Tropicana Lady had missed at her two previous seasons.
Hailing from an outstanding international family, Banana Queen has as third dam River Crossing (USA) (Affirmed {USA}) whose half-sister is the Group 1-winning star broodmare Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {USA}).
