Cover image courtesy of Race Images NZ
Te Rapa: G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial, NZ$150,000, 1400m
A short-priced favourite for the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas after remaining undefeated with another smart victory, Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) is one of the up-and-comers of New Zealand racing.
One of the nine stakes winners for his late sire, he is a homebred for the Nakhle family out of their two-time winner Gracehill (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G2 Concorde H. winner Irish Colleen (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}).
That mare did a good job at stud - also producing the Group 3 gallopers Killarney (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) and Crosshaven (Smart Missile).
Now in Australia, Gracehill was served last spring by Brazen Beau with her previous recorded foal being a 2021 colt by Pride Of Dubai.
Gracehill has as her fifth dam one of the most popular mares of the Australian turf, the multiple Group 1-winning sprinter Maybe Mahal (Maybe Lad).
Crocetti is line-bred to the excellent mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}).
G3 Sweynesse S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) is certainly a horse who knows how to find the line - his success in this Group 3 race is his 10th from 17 starts and his second in stakes company.
Bred by CR Grace, he was passed in at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale when prepared by Little Avondale Stud, fetching NZ$12,500 at the same year's New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale - sold by Surrey Farm to MCCA Group.
One of the 18 stakes winners by his former shuttling sire, Johny Johny is full brother to the dual Group winner Kirwan's Lane (NZ) out of the two-time winner Galway (NZ) (Savabeel).
Not served last spring after foaling a Magna Grecia (Ire) filly, Galway is a full sister to the dual Group 1 winner Shillelagh (NZ), the G2 Brisbane Cup winner Tullamore (NZ) and the Listed Spring Classic winner Grazia (NZ).
Trentham: G3 Thompson H., NZ$100,000, 1600m
Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) certainly likes this time of year, winning this race on the anniversary of her win in last year's G3 War Decree S.
Bred by Cambridge Stud’s Brendan and Jo Lindsay and purchased from their draft for NZ$60,000 by Go Racing at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale, she is one of the six stakes winners for her Riverdene-based sire who earned the title of Australian Racehorse of the Year.
Diss Is Dramatic is a half-sister to the Group 3-placed Cape Estel (Zoustar) out of the winner Our Drahma Queen (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) who was not served last spring having produced an Almanzor (Fr) colt who sadly died.
A descendant of the famed matriarch Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}), Our Drahma Queen is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Suavito (NZ) (Thorn Park) and the durable G3 Waikato Sprint winner Sultan Of Swing (NZ) (Bachelor Duke {USA}). Her third dam is the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas winner Nicer (Ire) (Pennine Walk {Ire}).
Ascot: G3 Eurythmic S., $200,000, 1400m
Storming down the outside late, the flashy Karli's Karma (Deep Field) certainly could not be missed!
A six-time winner from 19 starts, the first time stakes winner is the 26th for her now retired sire.
Bred by Kia Ora Stud, she was sold by Bhima Thoroughbreds to Jazcom Thoroughbreds for just $5000 at the 2010 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale - then by Three Bridges Thoroughbreds to Brock Lewthwaite for only $8000 at the 2010 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale.
She is a daughter of the Gosford maiden winner Sravana (Stratum), also dam of the Hong Kong-based two-time winner Sure Win Win (also by Deep Field).
A half-sister to the stakes winners Devan (Deep Field again) and Eximius (Exceed And Excel), Sravana died only recently with her last of five foals being a 2021 born Territories (Ire) filly; her previous foal a Shooting To Win colt.
Also from this family is the G1 Golden Slipper S. heroine Mossfun (Mossman) whose grandson Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) won the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. three weeks ago.
Listed RS Crawford S., $125,000, 1000m
It had been quite some time out of the winner's circle for Red Can Man (Gingerbread Man) but he was back to his best winning his first race since taking out the G3 Sir John Monash S. at Caulfield in July 2021.
He had however continued to be competitive including a second to Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) earlier in the year and he has now won nine races, four of those in stakes company.
One of the seven stakes winners for his Yarradale Stud-based sire, a Shamardal {USA}) horse who was crowned the Champion 2YO & 3YO of Singapore, Red Can Man is one of the six winners produced by the stakes placed dual city winner Brocky's Ace (Surtee).
Also dam of the dual Group winner Quilista (Scandal Keeper) and the city winner Brocky's Deal (Balestrini {Ire}), Brocky's Ace has a promising 3-year-old in the shape of Insyde Success (War Chant {USA}) also in the Steve Wolfe stable.
Served last spring by Splintex, Brocky's Ace missed the previous season with her 2-year-old being the yet to race Daytona Pete, also by Gingerbread Man.
Line-bred to the great mare Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Red Can Man also boasts crosses of the high-class stallions Storm Bird (Can), Lunchtime (GB) and Roberto (USA).
Red Can Man made it two weekends in a row for winners by stallions, Griff (Trapeze Artist) the other, who descend from Entreaty (NZ) (Winkie {GB}), dam of the legendary Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}).
