Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Flemington: G1 Makybe Diva S., $750,000, 1600m
There seems little doubt that at the age of six Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) is an even better horse than he was this time last year - remembering that third-up last spring he was out of the placings in the G1 Underwood S. won by Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) whereas this time around he is proving just too strong for that gallant campaigner.
Saturday's 1.5l victory was one of his softest and it will be interesting to see if he can remain undefeated for the spring as he heads towards the G1 King Charles III S. (formerly the George Main) and the G1 WS Cox Plate in which he finished seventh last year.
Now a four-time Group 1 winner of over $9.3 million, Mr Brightside was bred by R.I and Est Late M.A.G Johnson and purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$22,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Weanling Sale.
Later passed in with a reserve of NZ$50,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Ready to Run Sale - Mr Brightside is one of the three stakes winners for his Orange Court-based, G3 CS Hayes S.-winning sire who served just 17 mares last spring.
Mr Brightside's dam is the unraced Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has changed hands several times and never for much - sold as a weanling for NZ$1400, later online for NZ$500 and then for NZ$3000!
Also dam of the Hong Kong-based, eight-time winner Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) and a couple of winners in New Zealand, Lilahjay was not served last spring having foaled a Darci Brahma (NZ) filly in November.
She has a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old filly by Darci Brahma, while her 3-year-old Betterbeyou (NZ) (What's The Story {NZ}) is a yet-to-race member of the Gavin Sharrock stable in New Zealand.
Lilahjay is a granddaughter of the classy broodmare Delia’s Choice (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose six winners include the Group 1 winners Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and Celtic Tiger (NZ) (Jetball) - the former going on to produce the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Also third dam of the Singapore-based multiple Group 1 winner Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}), Delia’s Choice is a full sister to the multiple Group 1 winners Sovereign Red (NZ) and Gurner’s Lane (NZ).
Boasting Sadler’s Wells (USA), Sir Ivor (USA) and Secretariat (USA) crosses, Mr Brightside is also line-bred to the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
G2 Let's Elope S., $300,000, 1400m
As expected, getting back from her wide gate, Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) had plenty of ground to make up in the Flemington straight but she did just that - delighting local racegoers with a strong performance at her east coast debut.
The Walsh family's Amelia Park homebred is now an eight-time winner from just 10 starts, never finishing out of the first two and only once racing outside of stakes company - her second in the rich The Quokka in April.
One of her Haras de Bonneval-based sire's 71 stakes winners, she is the first foal for the stakes-placed import Bumbasina (Ire) (Canford Cliffs {Ire}), half-sister to the triple Group winner Epona Plays (Ire) (Australia {GB}) and the G3 Athasi S. winner Dolce Strega (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}).
Unfortunately failing to get in foal in 2020 and 2021, Bumbasina returned to the Northern Hemisphere last year and was on Saturday - as her daughter was saluting - paying a return visit to Siyouni (Fr).
Bumbasina (who was purchased for 75,000gns {AU$151,500} by Louis Le Metayer on behalf of Peter Walsh at the 2018 Tattersalls July Sale) has a Blue Point (Ire) 2-year-old colt in the Annabel Neasham stable - the Rosemont Stud-owned Bosustow who looks to get his career off to an early start when he steps out in Monday's Official 2YO Trials at Randwick.
A descendant of the legendary matriarch Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}), Amelia's Jewel is by a stallion out of a mare bred on the same Busted (GB)/Danehill (USA) cross.
G2 Bobbie Lewis Quality, $300,000, 1200m
Withstanding a protest after showing plenty of speed to record his second success at stakes level (the Listed WJ Adams S. in January his first), Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) took his prizemoney tally to beyond $500,000.
Bred by Greenhaven Park Stud and Dream Run Thoroughbreds, he was sold by Lustre Lodge to P Ma for $78,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
One of the 33 stakes winners for his well-travelled Coolmore Stud-based sire, Star Patrol is the second foal produced by the Sandown winner It's One (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose first foal is the Hong Kong-based placegetter Salutation (Zoustar).
They are unfortunately the only two foals for It's One to date - having missed three seasons running before being served last spring by Doubtland.
It's One is out of the metropolitan winner Numero Douze (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}) whose dam is the Group 1-placed Listed winner Tristachine (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose Listed Gimcrack S.-winning dam Getting There (Jungle Boy {GB}) also produced the stakes winners Rhythm (NZ) (Bakharoff {USA}) and Western Music (NZ) (Western Symphony {USA}).
Listed The Sofitel, $175,000, 1400m
In clear air as the favourite was looking for runs, Kalino (Pierro) finished strongly out wide to secure his first victory at stakes level and his seventh overall from 22 starts.
Bred by Mr W Lovatt and sold by Tyreel Stud to Star Thoroughbreds/Randwick Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $210,000 at the 2020 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he is the 35th stakes winner for his Coolmore Stud-based, multiple Group 1-winning sire.
He is one of the two winners produced by the Randwick and Doomben winner Lanikai (I Am Invincible), half-sister to the stakes-placed Singapore-based galloper Peace No War (War Pass {USA}).
Foaling a Yes Yes Yes filly a couple of weeks ago, Lanikai missed to that same stallion the previous season her 2-year-old Maili - a member of the Brad Widdup stable - is also by him.
Lanikai is a granddaughter of the speedy Listed winner Ride The Rapids (River Rough {NZ}) whose G1 Oakleigh Plate-winning daughter River Dove (Hurricane Sky) is the dam of Vinery Stud's G2 Silver Slipper S. winner Headwater.
Whilst Pierro is bred on a 6 X 5 cross of the great mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her son Nureyev (USA) and grandson Sadler's Wells (USA), Lanikai is a descendant of the famed matriarch Simon's Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}) - Special's fourth dam.
Other stakes-winning members of this family include Kulgrinda (Exceed And Excel), River Delta (Al Maher), River Night (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), Crown Prosecutor (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), Willow Creek (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), First Command (Commands) and Kia Ora's G1 Champagne S. winner Captivant.
Listed Poseidon S., $175,000, 1100m
A bargain buy was to the fore here: the $10,000 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale graduate, Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation {USA}), so strong along the rails, recording the second win of his three-start career.
Raced by his trainer Matt Laurie and his partner Kate Brideoake 'the family horse' was due to head to Hong Kong but fortunately his happy owners decided to hold onto him to see how he would progress.
And progressing he is, doing such a good job winning a stakes race so early in his career. He is the 13th stakes winner - and the first in Australia - for his G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire who shuttled just once to Australia, serving just 54 mares with 39 live foals the result.
Of those, 12 have made it to the track and five are winners with Apache Song stakes-placed whilst another two have won at metropolitan level.
Bred by Mr P Johnson, Archo Nacho is one of the five winners (from six to race) for the Wellington Boot and triple city winner Jackpot Queen (Not A Single Doubt) whose son Big Red (Starcraft {NZ}) and daughter Star Galaxy (Star Witness) are city winners.
From the family of the stakes winners Hot As Hell (County), Pekalan (Sri Pekan {USA}), Craig's Dragon (Catbird), Flaming Hot (County) and Alart (Excellent Art {GB}), Jackpot Queen was served last spring by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) having sadly lost her foal by Harry Angel (Ire).
Listed Exford Plate, $175,000, 1400m
It was a breakthrough winner for Widden Stud's four-time Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist - Griff his first stakes winner on the back of the four stakes-placed gallopers he has produced in his debut crop.
Bred by Widden Stud Australia and Mr A Goonan, Griff was sold by Widden to Kavanagh Racing Stables for $80,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The winner of two of his six starts, the promising 3-year-old is the second foal for the G3 Blue Diamond Preview-placed Chateau Griffo (Sebring) whose first foal is the city-placed, three-time winner Social Conscience (Capitalist).
Served last spring by I Am Immortal after foaling a colt by North Pacific, Chateau Griffo is out of the stakes-placed Moulin Rouge (Commands), in turn daughter of the stakes-placed Dance Class (NZ) (Bin Ajwaad {Ire}) whose grandam is the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. winner Western Music (NZ) (Western Symphony {USA}).
Griff carries three strains of Danehill (USA) - Redoute's Choice, Flying Spur and Commands and also has that great stallion's relations Northern Dancer (Can) and Halo (USA).
Listed Cap D'Antibes S., $175,000, 1100m
Taking on some nice fillies down the famous Flemington straight, Shesallshenanigans (Toronado {Ire}) showed both speed and class recording the fourth win of her seven-start career.
Bred by Ms L.E Owen, she is the 34th stakes winner for her Swettenham Stud-based, two-time Group 1-winning sire. Sold by Kulani Park to Simon Zahra Racing at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling sale, she fetched $115,000.
A flashy bay typical of what Toronado (Ire) can produce, Shesallshenanigans is a full sister to the Listed-winning sprinter Shelby Cobra out of the placed mare Segenhoe Valley (Dane Shadow).
Slipping last spring to Toronado having foaled a Written Tycoon filly, Segenhoe Valley is out of the city winner Scone (Zabeel {NZ}), a half-sister to the Zimbabwe-based stakes winner Sunrise Silence (Squill {USA}).
Boasting crosses of the lovely mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Shesallshenanigans hails from the same family as stakes winners Royal Discretion (Royal Academy {USA}), Roulettes (Flying Spur), Sun City, Parlophone (I Am Invincible), Vezalay (Shamardal {USA}), Albany Reunion (Fastnet Rock), Sir Frenchie (Choisir), Fast Dragon (Fastnet Rock), Giannis (Flying Artie) and Rock Robster (Fastnet Rock).
Randwick: G2 The Shorts, $1,000,000, 1100m
What a wonderful record the classy, durable and adaptable galloper Private Eye (Al Maher) has built, his determined first-up victory today being the 11th of his 28-start career - one which has seen him win five stakes races between 1100 and 1600 metres.
The 2021 G1 Epsom H.-winning, The Everest-bound 6-year-old is one of the 38 stakes winners for his retired G1 Australian Guineas-winning sire, a three-quarter brother to Redoute's Choice.
Bred by Goodwood Farm and sold through the Ambergate Farm draft at the 2019 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale for $62,500, he is one of the three winners for the unplaced, lightly raced Confidential Queen (Shamardal {USA}), half-sister to the Group 3-placed King's Troop (Redoute's Choice).
Also dam of the multiple city winner Royal Witness (Star Witness), Confidential Queen missed last spring to Farnan having foaled a Shalaa (Ire) filly in November. Also the dam of a yet-to-be-named 2-year-colt by that stallion, she is a granddaughter of the fast dual stakes winner Snippets' Lass (Snippets) whose five winners include the Champion Sire Snitzel and the Group 3 winners Hinchinbrook and Viennese (Redoute's Choice).
Line-bred to the close relations Northern Dancer (Can) and Halo (USA), Private Eye was one of two stakes winners for the family today, the G3 Bill Ritchie H. winner Rediener (Redoute's Choice) the other.
7 S., $1,000,000, 1600m
It has been an amazing comeback from injury for the tough and talented Think It Over (So You Think {NZ}) who was in the winner's circle at his third run for the campaign having been previously seen in the 2022 G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. which he won.
Showing plenty of courage running down Zaaki (GB) (Leroidesanimaux {Brz}), Think It Over is now a 13-time winner (three in Group 1 company) of over $7.7 million in stakes.
One of the 54 stakes winners (and 11 Group 1 winners) for his Coolmore Stud-based star sire, Think It Over is a homebred for Bylong Park out of the unraced Personal Service (Zabeel {NZ}) who has produced another three winners.
A half-sister to the Group 1 gallopers Universal Prince and Universal Queen (Scenic {Ire}), Personal Service sadly died last year with her final foal being the yet-to-race Denis Pagan-trained 4-year-old Normie No Show (Exosphere).
Able to count amongst his relations the big-race winners Blevic and Krone (Eurozone), Think It Over is line-bred to the wonderful mares Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Perfume II (GB) (Badruddin {Fr}) and he is one of the five So You Think (NZ) stakes winners (and two Group 1 winners - Nimalee the other) amongst his 24 winners (from 33 runners) out of Zabeel (NZ) mares.
G2 Tea Rose S., $300,000, 1400m
Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) is a filly who just keeps doing everything right and she was tough holding off her rivals recording her third win from five starts with all of her successes coming at stakes level.
One of the 98 stakes winners for her Yarraman Park-based twice Champion Sire, she was bred by Phoenix Thoroughbreds and sold through the Segenhoe Thoroughbreds draft for $550,000 to Bahen Bloodstock, Ciaron Maher Racing, Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) and Eric Lucas at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal (the first to race) produced by Amuletum (GB) (New Approach {Ire}), a half-sister to Godolphin's recently retired star Anamoe out of the G1 Australasian Oaks winner Anamato (Redoute's Choice).
Also the dam of Royal Mule, a yet to race Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 4-year-old son of Kingman (GB), Amuletum raced seven times for the Peter Chapple-Hyam stable. Raced by the late Paul Makin, she was an odds-on favourite when claiming her only victory - a Leicester Class 5 contest in which she put 10l on her rivals.
Arriving in Australian in 2018, she has had two colts since producing Tiz Invincible - a yet-to-be-named 2-year-old colt by Pierata (a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase this year for Justin Fang and Aquis Stallions) and a yearling colt by I Am Invincible. She was served last spring by Aclaim (Ire).
Amuletum is one of the four winners produced by Anamato whose daughter Anamba (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) is a Listed winner in Ireland. Still at stud at Godolphin, Anamato was served by Street Boss (USA) last spring having missed to him the previous season. Her most recent foal is the 2-year-old Blue Willow (Blue Point {Ire}).
Tiz Invincible is one of the 11 I Am Invincible stakes winners line-bred to Canny Lad of whom she boasts a 3 X 5 cross. She also carries duplications of the outstanding mares Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Relance (Fr) (Relic {USA}).
G3 Kingston Town S., $250,000, 2000m
Impressive when making a winning Australian debut at Randwick a couple of weeks ago, Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) handled a rise in class with aplomb - relishing the step up to 2000 metres.
Known in the UK as King Charles' first winner, Just Fine was purchased by McKeever Bloodstock and Waterhouse Bott Racing for 300,000gns (AU$606,700) at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
The 113th stakes winner for his Gilltown Stud-based sire, the 2009 European Horse of the Year, Just Fine is one of the four winners for the three-time winning miler Bint Almatar (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) whose other son of Sea The Stars (Ire) - Perseus Way (Ire) - is a winner over the jumps.
Bint Almatar is out of the Listed winner Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) who has been well-represented by four stakes winners amongst her 10 winners - the five-time Group winner Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), the Listed winners Latharnach (USA) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}) and the G3 UAE Oaks winner Falls Of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}).
The latter has made her mark locally as the dam of the G1 Doncaster H., G1 All Aged S., and G1 Australian Cup winner Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}).
G3 Bill Ritchie H., $250,000, 1400m
Getting clear after taking the lead with 150 metres to go, Rediener (Redoute's Choice) was strong to the line recording his second stakes win from 13 starts - and his fifth overall.
The winner in June of the G3 Gunsynd Classic, he is one of the 23 foals from the final crop of his super star sire (who has been so well-represented by 182 stakes winners) who died four years ago.
A homebred for Neil Werrett, Rediener is one of the four stakes performers produced by the stakes-placed Weiner (More Than Ready {USA}) - also dam of the Listed Phelan Ready S. winner Rathlin (Fastnet Rock) and the stakes-placed city winners Redoutable Heart (Redoute's Choice) and Za Zi Bar (All Too Hard).
Dying last year with her final foal being a yet to be named 2-year-old colt by Fastnet Rock, Weiner has a 3-year-old daughter - La Belle Vie (The Autumn Sun) - in the Chris Waller stable.
Weiner is a half-sister to Snitzel and Hinchinbrook and her speedy dual stakes-winning dam Snippets' Lass (Snippets) is the third dam of today's G2 The Shorts winner Private Eye (Al Maher).
Morphettville: Listed W H Wylie H., $120,000, 1100m
The second stakes winner for the day for her sire Al Maher (Private Eye the other and of his 38 overall), Grey River is a homebred for the Crawford family's Real Time Investments.
A consistent performer who was having her first run since early June, the lightly raced 4-year-old had been stakes-placed on two occasions.
She is out of the multiple city winner Grey Cheval (Husson Lightning) whose dam Solange (Surtee) also won several races in town - as did her stakes-placed half-sister Our Grey Halo (Don't Say Halo {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Undoubtedly and the stakes winners Runaway Knight (Always Welcome), Satellite Bay (Don't Say Halo), Regal Kiss (Royal Academy {USA}) and Toorak Thunder (Real Cash {USA}), Grey Cheval foaled an Overshare filly last month with her previous foal being a colt by Royal Meeting (Ire).
Riccarton: Listed Canterbury Belle S., NZ$80,000, 1200m
Showing good heart getting up in the final strides as a hot odds-on favourite, Viva Vienna (NZ) (All Too Hard) did a great job with her first stakes-level victory and her fourth overall from just seven starts.
Bred by Gerry Harvey and sold by Westbury Stud to David Ellis for NZ$100,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale, she is the 23rd stakes winner for her Vinery Stud-based, four-time Group 1-winning sire.
Her dam, the unraced Anna Of Austria (Snitzel), has also produced the stakes-placed city winner Divine Inanna (Real Impact {Jpn}) and she is a daughter of the dual Listed winner Cannyanna (Canny Lad) - also dam of the Listed Geelong Classic winner Milestone (Redoute's Choice).
Served last spring by El Roca having had the previous season off, Anna Of Austria has a 2-year-old filly by the name of Liechtenstein (NZ) (Swiss Ace) who has been retained to race by Harvey.
Hailing from the same family as the stakes winners Load And Lockett (Serheed {USA}), Kim Invader (Second Empire {Ire}) and Kim Una (Umatilla {NZ}), Viva Vienna is line-bred to her own family with her Group 2-winning seventh dam Lady Kells (Ire) (His Highness {GB}) being the fifth dam of All Too Hard's sire Casino Prince.
She also boasts interesting male line-breeding patterns with her sire All Too Hard and damsire Sniztel being bred on the same Danehill (USA)/Snippets cross.
