Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Flemington: G1 Turnbull S., $750,000, 2000m
Wowing everyone with this exciting performance - letting down brilliantly to win by 1.75l at just his second run for the campaign - Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}) looks set to again prove hard to beat in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Fifth in this same race last year (as favourite - much juicier odds this time around!), the 7-year-old has not yet had his path to the first Tuesday in November confirmed but he will certainly have many fans come the big day.
The 2020 G2 Prix Greffulhe winner who ran fourth in that year's G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, Gold Trip was bred by Michel Monfort. He is one of the 10 stakes winners for his Godolphin-bred sire (a son of Exceed And Excel) who stood at Darley in the UK before making his way to Brazil.
The grey was one of the better juveniles of his year, winning the G2 Champagne S. at Doncaster before venturing to the US to win the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf.
Gold Trip is the second foal produced by the lightly raced Sarvana (Fr) whose G1 Queen Anne S.-winning sire Dubai Destination (USA) has really made a name for himself as a broodmare sire with 56 stakes winners, seven of whom have been successful at the elite level.
Sarvana's first foal is the two-time stakes-placed, two-time winner Got Wind (GB) who, being by Olympic Glory (Ire) is also the grandchild of an Australian sprinter in Choisir. Her latest foal to go through the sales ring is a 2021 born, yet-to-be-named Wootton Bassett (Ire) filly who was purchased for €41,000 (AU$68,000) by Avenir Bloodstock at Arqana's Deauville February Mixed Sale last year.
Sarvana's Longchamp-winning dam Sarlisa (Fr) (Rainbow Quest {USA}) was represented by three winners with her Group 1-placed, Group 3-winning daughter Sarkiyla (Fr) (Oasis Dream {GB}) producing the Group 3 winner Saiydabad (USA) (Blame {USA}).
This is a family that has been producing quality performers for generations and if you delve back a bit further into Gold Trip's pedigree you can find some Southern Hemisphere form - such as the G1 New Zealand Oaks winner Vapour Trail (NZ) (Jetball).
Gold Trip boasts duplications of four high-class broodmares within seven generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) via Danehill (USA) and Northern Dancer (Can), Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via Sadler's Wells (USA) and Nureyev (USA), My Charmer (USA) (Poker {USA}) via Lomond (USA) and Seattle Slew (USA) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) via Bold Reason (USA) and Never Bend (USA).
G2 Edward Manifold S., $300,000, 1600m
Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) had not been having the best of luck in her lead up runs but she showed she is right back on track with this classy performance.
Appreciating the step up to the mile, the Godolphin homebred became her Juddmonte-based star sire's 72nd stakes winner and his fourth in Australia from 23 runners/16 winners.
She is out of the unraced Chanderi (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) who made her way to Australia in 2020 in foal with Zardozi.
Served last November by Palace Pier (GB), she foaled an Exceed And Excel colt last spring and her previous foal is the 2-year-old Lonhro colt Adinath.
Chanderi is a daughter of the G2 Park Hill S. and Listed Chalice S. winner Silk Sari (GB) (Dalakhani {Ire}) whose grandam Gossamer (GB) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) earned the title of Irish Champion 3-Year-Old Filly with her four wins including two at Group 1 level - the Irish 1000 Guineas and the Ascot Fillies Mile.
Her dam Brocade (GB) (Habitat {USA}) was also a Group 1 winner (the Prix de la Foret) and she did a great job at stud with her eight winners including the European Horse of the Year Barathea (Ire).
This is a family that has enjoyed big-race success in Australia in the shape of the 2013 G1 Stradbroke H. winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Zardozi is the 14th stakes winner line-bred to Dancing Brave (USA) (another three of whom are also by Kingman {GB}) who raced in the same Khalid Abdullah colours as Kingman.
G2 Danehill S., $300,000, 1100m
Too good taking on the boys, Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}) increased her value with her second win at stakes level - the Listed Dequetteville S. in Adelaide in April her first.
Bred by G Briscoe and sold by Raheen Stud to Phillip Stokes and Rick Connolly Bloodstock for $64,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale, Stretan Angel is one of her Darley shuttling sires' ninth stakes winners, three of whom have been successful on Australian soil.
She is the third foal and second winner for the placed Sretan (Bernardini {USA}) whose son Vantan Express (Vancouver) is a city-placed, three-time winner.
A daughter of the G3 Vanity S. winner Pure Joy (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Sretan foaled a Wild Ruler colt in early September having missed last year to King's Legacy. Her previous foal is a colt by Brutal (NZ).
Pure Joy has been well-represented by five winners including the four-time Group-placed Alegria (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), dam of the G3 Kingston Town S. and Listed VRC St Leger-winning, G1 ATC Derby runner-up Alegron (Teofilo {Ire}).
Pure Joy is a half-sister to the triple Group winner Fravashi (Falbrav {Ire}).
G2 Rose Of Kingston S., $300,000, 1400m
Upholding the Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) form line - second to that star WA mare in the G2 Let's Elope S. last month - Life Lessons (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) broke through for her first win at stakes level and her fourth overall from just 11 starts.
A homebred for Stuart Ramsey's Ramsey Pastoral (who passed her in at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale), Life Lessons is the 45th stakes winner for her late sire. Her dam is the G3 R.A Lee S. and triple Listed winner Brockman's Lass (Encosta De Lago) who has produced another couple of winners from her six to race.
She has no foals registered since producing Lassie, a yet to race 3-year-old daughter of All Too Hard.
Brockman's Lass is out of the winner Deal Me Out (Final Card), half-sister to the G1 Epsom H. winner Regal Native (Yallah Native {USA}) from the family that produced one of Australia's favourite champions - the wonderful grey Gunsynd.
Life Lessons is the second (from 30 runners/17 winners) Tavistock (NZ) stakes winner out of an Encosta De Lago mare, a cross which provides for the duplication of Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) via her sons, the full brothers Sadler's Wells (USA) and Fairy King (USA).
G2 Gilgai S., $300,000, 1200m
Making it two straight-track stakes races in a row, Star Patrol (Starspangledbanner) had a length on his rivals recording the sixth win of his 16-start career.
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 34 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}).
Star Patrol can also boast amongst his relations the Macau Horse of the Year The Alfonso (Magnus), last weekend's G2 Bill Stutt S. winner Griff (Trapeze Artist), the recent Listed Heritage S. winner Ozzmosis (Zoustar) and Coolmore Stud's R. Listed Inglis Nursery winner Acrobat.
G3 Bart Cummings H., $500,000, 2510m
Lifting again late after looking like he was about to be run down by the favourite First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}), Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) dug deep to record his first black-type victory.
A four-time winner in France, the Juddmonte-bred gelding was purchased by his owner Peter Trainor for 140,000gns (AU$282,000) at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale.
The 66th stakes winner for his G2 Gimcrack S.-winning sire who shuttled to New Zealand on seven occasions, Future History is out of the winner Likelihood (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}), daughter of the G1 Yellow Ribbon S. and G2 Beverly Hills H. winner Light Jig (GB) (Danehill {USA}).
Six of her seven foals to race have been winners with three successful at stakes level - the G1 Hollywood Derby winner Seek Again (USA) (Speightstown {USA}), the G3 Jebel Ali Mile S. winner Treble Jig (USA) (Gone West {USA}) and the Listed winner Scottish Jig (USA) (Speightstown {USA}).
Light Jig is out of the G2 Prix d'Astarte winner Nashmeel (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}), dam of another two stakes winners and third dam of the G1 Beverly D S. winner Fev Rover (Ire) (Gutaifan {Ire}).
Listed Maribyrnong Trial S., $175,000, 1000m
The Melbourne juveniles were on show for the first time in the dash down the Flemington straight and it was a Sydney visitor into the winners circle with a smart performance by the expensive colt Bodyguard (I Am Invincible).
Bred by Emirates Park (who remain in the ownership), he was sold by them to the James Harron Bloodstock Colt Partnership for $1.6 million at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 99th stakes winner for his Yarraman Park-based, two-time Champion Sire, Bodyguard is the first foal produced by the unraced Tumooh (Fastnet Rock) whose dam is the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Mossfun (Mossman).
Missing last year to Tassort after foaling a Capitalist colt, Tumooh is a half-sister to last spring's G3 Festival S. winner Dajraan (GB) (Frankel {GB}) from the family of the stakes winners Cat D'Antibes (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), Hostwin Achilles (Deep Field) and Eximius (Exceed And Excel).
Bodyguard is the 12th I Am Invincible stakes winner line-bred to Canny Lad - damsire of I Am Invincible and third damsire of Tumooh.
Listed Super Impose S., $175,000, 1800m
This is a horse building a very nice record, Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) impressive racing away to an easy win stepping up to stakes class for the first time... recording his third win from just five starts.
A homebred for Debbie Kepitis' Woppitt Bloodstock, he is the 39th stakes winner for his former Coolmore shuttling sire.
He is the second foal produced by the stakes-placed, multiple city winner Missile Coda (Smart Missile) who was also raced by Debbie Kepitis.
Her first foal Quintillion (Deep Field) is a lightly raced metropolitan maiden placegetter and she was served last spring by Home Affairs having missed last year to Yes Yes Yes. Her third foal is the Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old Codetta (Nicconi).
Missile Coda is out of the triple city winner Rain Melody (Lonhro), a half-sister to the Listed Toy Show H. winner Walk Alone (Honour And Glory {USA}) from the family of the stakes winners Rai Affair (Commands), Ranges (Shooting To Win) and Wayupinthesky (Snitzel).
A descendant of the 1945 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird (The Buzzard {GB}), Riff Rocket boasts a cross of the terrific mare Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}) via her grandson Storm Cat (USA) and son Royal Academy (USA).
This cross works particularly well when Royal Academy appears via Fastnet Rock (sire of Smart Missile) - he and Storm Cat combining in the pedigrees of 40 stakes winners including six Group 1 winners.
Listed Paris Lane S., $175,000, 1400m
Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) has long promised to win a nice race and he was game on pace taking out this 1400-metre contest - finding plenty to record the eighth win of his 29-start career.
The Godolphin homebred is the 20th stakes winner (his first in Australia) for his Overbury Stud-based, G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe and G1 Epsom Derby-winning sire.
He is out of the two-time winner Wordcraft (GB) (Shamardal {USA}) who came to Australia in foal with Tamerlane. Not served last spring, she foaled a Harry Angel (Ire) colt last November with her previous foal being the 2-year-old Polyglot (Lonhro).
Wordcraft is a daughter of the Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Filly Forensics (Flying Spur) who, like her sire, won the G1 Golden Slipper S. as well as another two races at the elite level. She is still at stud - in mid-August foaling a filly by Blue Point (Ire).
Forensics is a member of the prolific Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) family, one represented at the elite-level by Snippets, Ertijaal (Hard Spun {USA}), Rewaaya (NZ) (Singspiel {Ire}), Oohood (I Am Invincible), King's Legacy and Sense Of Occasion (Street Sense {USA}) - and one which also produced the outstanding stallion Not A Single Doubt.
Rosehill: G2 Hill S., $2,000,000, 1900m
In the winner's circle for the first time since claiming last year's G1 Ranvet S., Montefilia (Kermadec {NZ}) finished off strongly to prove a class above her rivals.
Bred in Victoria by Mr G Russell, Montefilia has made her way through the sales ring on three occasions; at the 2018 Inglis Melbourne Great Southern Weanling Sale sold to Baystone Farm for $62,000 and at the 2019 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchased by Payne Racing for $130,000.
And at this year's Inglis Chairman's Sale where Yulong purchased her for $3.4 million.
One of the seven stakes winners and four Group 1 winners for her Darley Victoria-based, dual Group 1-winning sire, Montefilia is out of the imported mare Bana Wu (GB) (Shirocco {Ger}) who was Listed-placed on three occasions.
Also dam of the Group 3-placed Nice For What (Shalaa {Ire}), she paid a return visit to Kermadec (NZ) last spring having foaled a filly by him that September.
She had not enjoyed the best of luck at her previous few seasons with her previous foal being the yet-to-race 4-year-old Call Him Iggy (Ribchester {Ire}), a member of the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable.
Bana Wu is a granddaughter of the Group 3 winner Ausherra (USA) (Diesis {GB}), dam of the dual Group 2 winner Strategic Prince (GB) and the Listed winner Yorkshire (Ire) (Generous {Ire}).
Montefilia carries crosses of the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Milan Mill (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) via her descendant Fuji Kiseki (Jpn) and his legendary son Mill Reef (USA).
G2 Roman Consul S., $300,000, 1200m
Part of a good day for his Yarraman Park Stud-based, two-time Australian Champion Sire, King's Gambit (I Am Invincible) got up along the rails and was terrific putting 1.75l on his rivals.
It was a second win for the 3-year-old colt who took out last year's Listed Debutant S. at Caulfield and what a consistent fellow he is; yet to finish out of the placings in six starts.
Bred by Gooree Park Stud, who remain in the ownership, King's Gambit is the fourth foal and one of three winners for the dual Group 3 winner Sultry Feeling (Encosta De Lago), a half-sister to the triple Group winner Swift Alliance and to the dam of the G2 Shannon S. winner Rock Sturdy.
Served last spring by I Am Invincible after foaling a filly by Extreme Choice, Sultry Feeling also has a filly (2021 born) by Snitzel.
Bred on the same I Am Invincible/Encosta De Lago cross as the star sprinter Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), King's Gambit carries a cross of the G2 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) via her sons Never Bend (USA) and Bold Reason (USA).
G3 Nivison S., $250,000, 1200m
Getting clear from the 100 metres to win her third race at stakes level and her fourth from just six starts, Magic Time (Hellbent) looks to have plenty more to offer.
Bred by Muir Woodside passed in (for $110,000, reserve $150,000) at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is raced by her vendor Milburn Creek.
One of the three stakes winners for her Yarraman Park-based, G1 William Reid S.-winning sire - a son of I Am Invincible - she is the first foal for the G3 SA Sires' Produce S. winner Time Awaits (Nicconi), granddaughter of the G2 WA Oaks winner Mystic Chantry (Chanteclair).
Missing last spring to Wild Ruler after foaling a Maurice (Jpn) colt, Time Awaits has a Dundeel (NZ) 2-year-old colt (a $300,000 member of the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable) called Henlein and a 3-year-old Zoustar filly ($220,000 Joseph Pride stable member) called Cosmonova who was unplaced after drawing a tricky gate at her Randwick-Kensington debut in August.
