Cover image courtesy of Sportspix
Randwick: G1 King Charles III S., $5,000,000, 1600m
It was a third Group 1 - and the most impressive - for Fangirl (Sebring) who let down with a wonderful finishing burst to defeat the hot favourite Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) by 2 3/4 lengths.
One of her late sire's 82 stakes winners (and eight Group 1 winners), the Ingham racing home-bred is one of five winners for her triple Listed winning dam Little Surfer Girl (a $1.5 million yearling by Encosta De Lago), daughter of the wonderful mare Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}) who won ten races, three of those at Group 1 level.
Special Harmony's dam Marooned Lady (Marooned {GB}) was also classy, that G2 WA Sires' Produce S. winner producing ten winners including the G2 Perth Cup winner King Canute (King Of Kings {Ire}) and the G2 Karrakatta Plate winner Redwoldt (King Of Kings {Ire}).
Like the G1 Might And Power S. winner Alligator Blood (All Too Hard), Fangirl is line-bred to the terrific mare Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}), dam of Sebring's dam sire Flying Spur and grandam of Encosta De Lago.
Fangirl is a descendant of the lovely mare Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}), also an ancestress of the high-class stallions Red Ransom (USA) and Showdown (GB).
Recently foaling a Home Affairs colt, Little Surfer Girl had a Wootton Bassett (GB) filly last year, having missed the season before with her previous foal being the yet-to -race 3-year-old Wipeout (Pariah); also a member of the Waller stable,
Little Surfer Girl has also produced the city winners Dancing Gidget (Al Maher) and Palmateer (Fastnet Rock), with the latter being the dam of the stakes placed 3-year-old Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}).
G3 Sydney S., $3,000,000, 1200m
Part of a good day for the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace stable, I Am Me (I Am Invincible) is a horse who really knows how to find the line - this success is her ninth from 16 starts and her third at stakes level.
One of the two times Australian Champion Sire's 100 stakes winners, I Am Me was bred by Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum and sold through the Segenhoe Stud draft for $210,000 to Dynamic Syndications/Dean Watt Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2020 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
She is the second foal produced by the handy mare Mefnooda (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), whose five wins from ten starts included a Caulfield success.
Served last spring by Too Darn Hot (GB), Mefnooda has a Snitzel four-year-old called Truro (a $210,000 2021 Karaka graduate) who was fifth at his debut for the Darryn & Briar Weatherley stable in New Zealand recently - as well as a yet to be named Justify (USA) 2-year-old filly who sold for $55,000 at Karaka last year.
Mefnooda is a half-sister to the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude winner One Last Dance (Encosta De Lago) out of the G3 VRC Thoroughbred Breeders' S. winner One World (Danehill {USA}) from the family of the prolific stallions Storm Cat (USA) and Royal Academy (USA).
G3 Gloaming S., $300,000, $500,000, 1800m
To the lead he went, and that is where he stayed, Raf Attack (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) courageously defying a late challenge from Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) to break through for his first blacktype victory at just his fifth start.
Bred by Alan Galbraith Qc and sold by Rich Hill Stud (home to his G1 Yasuda Kinen winning sire) to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Chris Rutten Bloodstock at the 2022 Karaka Premier, Raf Attack fetched $150,000.
Satono Aladdin's sixth stakes winner, Raf Attack is the second foal produced by the unplaced Sima (Commands), whose city-winning dam Mead (Galileo {Ire}) has thrown the stakes winners Solemn (Bernardini {USA}) and Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}).
Foaling a full brother to Raf Attack last spring - paying another visit to Satono Aladdin last year, Sima can boast amongst her relations the Group 1 winners La Volta (Laranto) and Mighty Boss (Not A Single Doubt).
G3 Angst S., $250,000, 1600m
Doing a good job at just her second run for the campaign, Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was too good, recording her second win at Group 3 level.
The winner of last spring's G3 Ethereal S, Renaissance Woman was bred by Gerry Harvey and sold the well-related bay through his Westbury Stud draft at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale for $250,000 to Attunga Stud.
One of the 23 stakes winners for her Westbury-based dual Group 1 winning sire, Renaissance Woman is the third foal and one of two winners for Mrs Kennedy (Fastnet Rock) who is one of the 10 winners produced by the terrific broodmare Miss Jakeo (Unbridled's Song {USA}) who was so well represented by four stakes winners - the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym), the G3 How Now S. winner Miss Judgement (Strategic), the G3 Matron S. winner Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta de Lago) and the G3 Ming Dynasty winner Aussies Love Sport (Redoute's Choice).
Also grandam of the stakes winners Missrock (Fastnet Rock), Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) and Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock), Miss Jakeo, as her name suggests, is a daughter of the G1 Blue Diamond S. and G1 Australia S. winner Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}) whose 11 winners include the G3 Los Angeles H. winner Red Arrow (Red Ransom {USA}) and the Hong Kong stakes winner Able Choice (Dehere {USA}).
Not served last year, Mrs Kennedy foaled a full brother to Renaissance Woman in late November, having missed the two previous seasons.
Listed Reginald Allen Quality, $200,000, 1400m
A dominant winner as a short-priced favourite, Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) stamped herself a filly to follow with this, her second win from just four starts.
Bred by The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, she was sold by Noorilim Park to Gerald Ryan and Alexiou Racing for $185,000 at the 2022 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
The 22nd stakes winner for her former Darley shuttling sire, she is the second stakes winner for her city-placed dam Fartoo Flashy (Galileo {Ire}), also the dam of the G3 Chairman's S. winner Waging War (Rebel Raider).
A daughter of the multiple city winner Speaker (Success Express {USA}), Fartoo Flashy foaled an Admire Mars (Jpn) filly in August, having missed the previous season - her previous foal being a colt by So You Think (NZ).
Arctic Glamour boasts a cross of the successful broodmare Monarchy (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) via her descendant Pulpit (USA) and son Imperialist (USA).
Caulfield: G1 Caulfield Guineas, $3,000,000, 1600m
The only Redoute's Choice line horse in the same race that great horse won so memorably back in 1999, Griff (Trapeze Artist) was double figure odds despite having won the G2 Bill Stutt S. at his previous outing.
Erratic over the final stages, Griff still looked to have a bit in hand as he overcame a wide gate to win by 1 3/4 lengths.
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 Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
The winner of half of his eight starts, the bay is the second foal for the Group 3 Blue Diamond Preview placed Chateau Griffo (Sebring), whose first foal is the city placed three times winner Social Conscience (Capitalist).
Last month foaling a colt by I Am Immortal after producing a colt by North Pacific last spring, 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).
He is to date the sole stakes winner for Widden Stud's four times Group 1 winner Trapeze Artist, a descendant of Entreaty (NZ) (Winkie {GB}) who is, of course, dam of the legendary Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}).
G1 Might And Power S., $1,000,000, 2000m
Any doubts regarding Alligator Blood's (All Too Hard) ability to run out a strong 2000 metres were quickly dispelled as he raced away to one of the easiest wins of his stellar career.
Successful at Group 1 level for the seventh time, the tough (remember he has returned from kissing spine surgery!) 7-year-old has now won over $7.4 million in stakes.
Purchased by the Ezybonds No 1 Syndicate for $55,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the popular gelding was bred by Gerry Harvey and prepared for the sale by his Baramul Stud.
One of the 23 stakes winners for his Vinery Stud based four times Group 1 winner, Alligator Blood is out of the unraced Lake Superior (Encosta De Lago) who sadly died young, having had only four live foals, Alligator Blood the last of those.
Lake Superior is a daughter of the three times Group 1 placed Kwilkwong (Red Ransom {USA}) whose son Cantonese (Redoute's Choice) won the Listed Christmas Cup. Kwilkwong's dam Tracy's Element (Last Tycoon {Ire}) earned the titles of South African Champion 2YO and South African Champion Older Mare with her four wins in Group 1 company.
She did a great job at stud, her nine winners including the Australian Horse Of The Year Typhoon Tracy (Red Ransom {USA}) and the dual Listed winner Red Element (also by Red Ransom).
Alligator Blood is one of the 29 stakes winners and six Group 1 winners (and two for the day - Fangirl by Sebring the other) combining the close relations Flying Spur and Encosta de Lago - bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Rolls (USA) (Mr Prospector {USA}) as well as a 4 X 4 cross of Last Tycoon (Ire).
G1 Toorak H., $1,000,000, 1600m
A first Group 1 win for both trainer Mitchell Freedman and jockey Beau Mertens, Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) is likely to be a favourite horse for both, having fought so hard to win a deserved stakes race.
Second in the G1 Australian Guineas and the G2 Feehan S., the 4-year-old is the 14th stakes winner for his Coolmore Stud-based multiple Group 1 winning shuttling sire who earned a number of titles, including European Champion 2YO Colt.
Attrition was bred by Harry Perks' The Toorak Thoroughbred Breeding Trust, who also enjoyed stakes success today with Air Assault (Justify {USA}) in Adelaide.
Sold by Mill Park Stud to Mitch Freedman for $180,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, Attrition is out of the triple city winner Queen's Kiss (French Deputy {USA}).
Another five of her foals are winners, including the Listed C.S Hayes Memorial Cup winner Royal Rumble (New Approach {Ire}) and the city winners Goodfun Girl (Starcraft {NZ}), Stately Star (Rebel Raider) and Danger Deal (Rebel Raider).
A granddaughter of the triple Listed winner Loving Cup (Bluebird {USA}), Queen's Kiss was served last spring by Earthlight (GB), having foaled a full brother to Attrition. She'd had the previous season off, with her most recent named foal being the 3-year-old Mount Mumukai (Kermadec {NZ}), who was third in a Flemington jump-out just yesterday for the Danny O'Brien stable.
One of the 597 stakes winners line-bred to Storm Bird (Can), Attrition can count amongst his relations the stakes winners Celeris (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), Star Of Bombay (NZ) (Atlante), Hoss Amor (General Nediym) and Quantico (I Am Invincible).
G2 Herbert Power S., $300,000, 2400m
Off his game run from a tricky gate in the G1 Metropolitan H., Military Mission (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) was able to record his third win at Group level - and in a third state.
Also winner of the G3 Newcastle Cup and the G3 Hobart Cup, the imported galloper was bred by Boocock Trading and purchased for 65,000gns by Cathy Grassick at the Tattersall's December Foal Sale.
One of the 98 stakes winners for his late sire, Military Mission is out of the three- times 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) and three other stakes winners. And that mare is the grandam of last weekend's G2 Hill S. runner-up Hoo Ya Mal (GB) (Territories {Ire}), winner of the G3 March S. and runner-up in the G1 Epsom Derby.
The Ancestress of this family is the legendary mare Sceptre (GB) (Persimmon {GB}), the fourth dam of Petition who appears in the pedigree of Mastercraftsman's great grandsire Danzig.
G2 Schillaci S., $300,000, 1100m
No surprise to see Asfoora (Flying Artie) winning in such easy fashion on the back of her oh so game second to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G1 Moir S.
In doing so, the 5-year-old recorded her fourth Group victory, taking her prize money tally to beyond $1.2 million.
A homebred for Noor Elaine Farm, who took her home from the 2020 Adelaide Magic Millions, where she was passed in for $24,000, Asfoora is one of the eight stakes winners for her G1 Coolmore Stud S. winning Blue Gum Farm-based sire.
Asfoora is the first foal produced by the lightly raced Mornington placegetter Golden Child, whose multiple city winning dam Predestined (King's Best {USA}) is a half-sister to the stakes winners Big Chill (Artie Schiller {USA}), Hard Stride (Street Sense {USA}) and Utah Saints (God's Own).
Last spring, foaling a Dirty Work colt, Golden Child has a yet to be named 2021 colt by Ilovethiscity whilst her yet-to-race 3-year-old Moaksun (Akeed Mofeed {GB}) last month won a Colac trial for the Henry Dwyer stable.
Asfoora is bred on a 6 X 7 cross of the great mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via her grandson Sadler's Wells (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
G3 Northwood Plume S., $200,000, 1200m
Doing it tough out wide when resuming, She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) was back to her best at just her second run-in - recording the sixth victory of her 12-start career.
Bred by the Pope family and sold by Blue Gum Farm to John Foote Bloodstock for $180,000 at the 2021 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale, she is the 66th stakes winner for her Darley Victoria-based sire.
She is the first foal for the lightly raced Murray Bridge maiden winner Charleston Dancer (Lonhro) whose dam is the four-time Group winner Innovation Girl (Rubiton).
Again served by Street Boss last spring, Charleston Dancer has two other foals - in 2021 and 2022 producing fillies by Snitzel.
Her dam Innovation Girl did a great job with her seven winners, including the Listed winners Ideas Man (Brazen Beau) and Chloe In Paris (Exceed And Excel), and she is also the grandam of the Listed winner Larimer Street (Brazen Beau).
Also, from this family is the G1 Doncaster H. winner Soho Square (Jugah {USA}).
G3 Ladies Day Vase, $200,000, 1600m
A fine achievement by Warrnambool trainer Symon Wilde, who not only prepares Wishlor Lass (Mshawish {USA}) but also bred the lightly raced and exciting 5-year-old.
A five times winner from just seven starts, she was having her first start at stakes level, and she showed plenty of heart after Barbie's Fox (Foxwedge) looked to have the race won with 100m to go.
Wishlor Lass is the sixth stakes winner for her dual Group 1 winning sire, who served only a small book of mares at his sole Australian season with just 22 live foals resulting from his stint at Swettenham Stud.
Wishlor Lass is one of the six winners (from as many to race) for the Flemington winner Lorna's Lass (Bianconi {USA}) who has also produced the Group 3 placed metropolitan winner Skyway Star (Americain {USA}).
A daughter of the speedy eight times winner Dr Lorna (Snaadee {USA}), Lorna's Lass is now in New Zealand, served last spring by Ancient Spirit (Ger) , having previously produced a couple (a colt and a filly) of foals by Raise The Flag (GB).
Members of this family include the stakes winners Strange Conflict (Bite The Bullet {USA}), Bidston Hill (NZ) (Music Teacher {USA}), French Gypsy (NZ) (Centaine), King's Spirit (NZ) (Vice Regal {NZ}), Elendil (NZ) (His Royal Highness {NZ}) and Mountain Road (NZ) (His Royal Highness).
Listed Weekend Hussler, $175,000, 1400m
It was a second Caulfield stakes success for Ayrton (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who was in the winner's circle for the first time since taking out last year's G3 Victoria H.
One of the 96 stakes winners for his former shuttling Dalham Hall Stud-based sire, Ayrton is one of the three winners (from as many named foals) for the unraced Odessa (NZ) (Falkirk {NZ}) whose dam is the Listed Canterbury Belle S. winner Sabbatical (NZ) (Bakharoff {USA}).
Bred by G J Mccarthy, who remains in the ownership, Ayrton was passed in at the 2019 Karaka (Book 2) Sale when prepared by Leanach Lodge.
Sadly Odessa, a half-sister to the G3 Eulogy S. winner Monterey Bay (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) died in 2019.
Ayrton's grandsire Zafonic (USA) Is bred on the same Mr Prospector (USA)/The Minstrel (Can) cross as Odessa, who is herself line-bred to The Minstrel.
