Second-season sires score doubles
Second-season sires were to the fore on Saturday with Arrowfield’s The Autumn Sun and Darley’s Harry Angel (Ire) siring doubles.
The Autumn Sun has a live G1 VRC Oaks chance in Autumn Ballet, who won the G3 Ethereal S. while at Kembla Grange the Chris Waller-trained Influential scored as a hot favourite by 3l in the third race. Influential was a $400,000 purchase by Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock from the draft of Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Not to be outdone, Harry Angel’s star juvenile colt Arkansaw Kid, now in his Classic year, returned to his best in the Listed Gothic S. and the Craig Widdison-trained Dalharry prevailed at Wodonga.
Godolphin grab the spoils in Bendigo opener
The Blue Army of Godolphin was out in force in the first at Bendigo on Saturday, with James Cummings responsible for three of the five-runners in the opening 2-year-old maiden. The market favoured Tony and Calvin McEvoy’s more experienced Dublin Down (Exceedance), but he was forced into second by Admitted (Brazen Beau) who held a comfortable 1.5l advantage at the line.
A typically smart homebred for Godolphin, Admitted’s second dam is the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Forensics (Flying Spur), whilst his half-brother was also a smart juvenile, being last season’s G3 David Coles S. winner Heuristic (Street Boss {USA}).
It was a first juvenile winner of the season for Brazen Beau, who stands at Darley’s Northwood Park property in Victoria for $44,000 (inc GST) this season.
Savabeel juveniles off the mark with sauntering 4l victory
New Zealand’s multiple Champion Sire Savabeel sired his first 2-year-old winner of the season at Trentham on Saturday as Savaglee (NZ) dashed away untouched to score impressively by 4l for Michael Moroney and Pam Gerard.
Savaglee (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Bred at Savabeel’s home of Waikato Stud, the colt was sold through their draft at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale where he was secured by The Oaks Stud for NZ$400,000.
Kazou holds on
Looking in command at the top of the Randwick straight, Chris Waller’s Kazou (Zoustar) had her eyes diverted from the winning line with 250 metres to run, handing a chance to Godolphin’s lightly weighted Commemorative (I Am Invincible).
Straightened out quickly by Tommy Berry, Kazou held on by a nose to take Race 5, a 1200-metre handicap for the females. Kazou, a 4-year-old mare, has had just seven lifetime starts, now for four victories. Picked up by her trainer and Guy Mulcaster at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $200,000, she runs for a partnership in the Gandharvi Racing colours, and is out of the US elite-level winner Cat Moves (USA) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
Maurice notches third 2YO stakes winner
Arrowfield Stud’s shuttler Maurice (Jpn) landed his third juvenile stakes winner on Saturday when Danon Ayers Rock (Jpn) took the Listed Ivy S. (1800 metres) at Tokyo Racecourse by 0.75l under João Moreira.
Maurice (Jpn) | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
Danon Ayers Rock was a ¥495,000,000 (AU$5.22 million) purchase at the 2022 JRHA JRA Select Yearling And Foal Sale for Masahiro Noda's Danox Co.,Ltd., and was bred by Northern Farm. He is out of top Australian juvenile and four-time Group 1 winner Mosheen (Fastnet Rock).
Resurgent charge for Sarge
John Sargent’s patience with his dual Kiwi Guineas-winning import paid off again on Saturday, with Palmetto (NZ) (Ghibellines) landing his second big prize for the Randwick trainer.
It took a full year and a string of disappointing runs before the gelding got on the board in Australia, but his second victory earlier this year was a decisive one in the half-million The Coast.
Palmetto (NZ) (blue cap), winner of the $1 million Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick on Saturday | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Back in his groove on Saturday, Palmetto held on by a whisker to take the 5-year-olds-only feature under Kathy O'Hara, picking up $580,000 and securing his place in the $2 million Five Diamonds, held on the Saturday after the G1 Melbourne Cup.
“He’s a lovely horse to deal with,” O’Hara said. “Late in the race I thought he needs to find and he did. He was all out but he wanted to win.”
Johny Johny hands Chung a first stakes win
Postponed and relocated from Rotarua last weekend, the G3 Sweynesse S. (1200 metres) at Te Rapa was a nail-biting affair for Tim and Margaret Carter, whose Johny Johny (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) held off a wall of late challengers by just a head. The victory was a first stakes success for apprentice jockey Jim Chung.
“I’m extremely grateful for all the support they (the Carters) have given me,” Chung said. “They’ve always supported me, ever since I first got to New Zealand.
Johny Johny (NZ), winner of the G3 Sweynesse S. at Te Rapa on Saturday | Image courtesy of Race Images
“Good on him, I’m so proud of him,” Margaret Carter said. “I’m proud of both of them.
“We might as well try for the Group 1 sprints over the summer months now – he’s very talented and he’s proving that now. To have 10 wins from 17 starts is brilliant.”
Fifth Thompson for Latta
Lisa Latta won the G3 Thompson H. (1600 metres) for a fifth time on Saturday when 4-year-old mare Diss Is Dramatic (NZ) (Dissident) notched a facile victory in the NZ$100,000 Trentham feature.
Running in the colours of Go Racing, Diss Is Dramatic will now aim for the NZ$250,000 Coupland’s Bakeries Mile at Riccarton on November 15.
Diss Is Dramatic (NZ), winner of the G3 Thompson H. at Trentham on Saturday | Image courtesy of Race Images
“That was a great performance today,” Latta said. “She drew the inside gate and was able to enjoy an economical run during the race. It briefly looked like she might be a bit unlucky early in the straight, but Tina (Comignaghi) was able to get her into the open and she finished it off really strongly.”
Big Dance awaits for Pride and Baker
Joe Pride trainee King Of The Castle (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) landed Saturday’s Big Dance Wild Card at Randwick, and secured his spot in the $3 million Big Dance alongside runner-up Highlights (Your Song), a Bjorn Baker inmate.
Bookmakers weren’t swayed much by the result, however, with King Of The Castle available at $17 for the feature race, in which last-start Alan Brown S. winner Cepheus (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is a $4 favourite.
Karli’s Karma a first-time SW in Eurythmic
Trainer Summer Dickson took out Ascot’s G3 Eurythmic S. (1400 metres) with the Deep Field mare Karli’s Karma. The 6-year-old mare was guided by William Pike to a 0.43l victory, her first stakes victory, having previously placed at Group 2 level.
The pensioned Newgate Farm resident Deep Field now has a lifetime total of 26 stakes winners.
Saxon filly shows staying potential
The royally bred Saxon Warrior (Jpn) has been on a hot streak with his spring 3-year-olds. On Saturday at Kembla Grange, the son of Deep Impact (Jpn) sired another winner courtesy of the Matthew Smith-trained Aethelflaed.
The 3-year-old filly stamped her staying potential with a 1.3l victory over Make A Call (Extreme Choice) in the 2000-metre event.
Aethelflaed is from the Giant’s Causeway (USA) mare Chasing Mammon, who is the dam of the G1 New Zealand Derby victor Sherwood Forest (Fastnet Rock) and the G2 Waikato Guineas winner Field Of Gold (Starspangledbanner).
Encoder claims consecutive victories
Lee Freedman’s Encoder, a son of the second-season sire Encryption, made it consecutive victories at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The 3-year-old gelding broke his maiden at Ipswich last start. Coming into Saturday’s event full of confidence, Encoder, ridden by Damien Thornton won by 0.79l from Red Defcon (Defcon).
Dream Thoroughbreds and Lee Freedman Racing paid $40,000 to secure him from the draft of Lucas Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Brave Mead shows his best
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained classy colt Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}) found his best form on Saturday in the opening race at Caulfield.
Partnered by Mark Zahra, who would later salute in the Caulfield Cup aboard Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}), Brave Mead found a comfortable success over the Waterhouse and Bott-trained pair The Instructor (Russian Revolution) and Kaizad (Capitalist).
Written Silk salutes at Kembla
Widden Stud’s second-season sire Written By was represented by a smart winner Written Silk, from the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou stable on Saturday at Kembla Grange.
The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Brandon Lerena, was a 3l victor over Rhesus (Lonhro), while Big Bay Wolf (NZ) (Tivaci) was 5l away in third.
Written Silk as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Written Silk was a $260,000 purchase by Ryan and Alexiou Racing from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale when offered by Segenhoe Stud.
The gelding is the first foal from the Snitzel mare Silver Frost.
Dark Dream’s 644-day drought over
It was 644 days between visits to the winner’s enclosure for the former G1 Queensland Derby winner Dark Dream (All American), with Eagle Farm on Saturday the scene of the 9-year-old’s return to form.
Trained these days by Allan Kehoe, he scored by 0.42l under Ryan Maloney to register an eighth career victory from 53 starts.
Waterhouse declares Alligator ‘as fit as a fiddle’
Gai Waterhouse is hopeful Alligator Blood (All Too Hard) can provide her a first victory in the G1 Cox Plate. Waterhouse’s hopes rose again after watching Alligator Blood work around Moonee Valley on Saturday morning.
“It was lovely work, he was very relaxed. Alligator Blood worked with his stablemate Military Mission, they got into a super rhythm at the 1200 metres and gradually built the tempo of the work until Alligator Blood was flying past the line,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.
Alligator Blood | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He does his work, goes out and chills out. He’s just a lovely animal and is fit as a fiddle.”
Militarize gets a look at The Valley
Chris Waller’s star 3-year-old colt Militarizie (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) had his first look around The Valley on Saturday morning ahead of his tilt at the Cox Plate.
“He was good, this morning’s just for a look around,” Waller told Racing.com.
“Militarize went through his paces well, he didn’t do much, just breezed up the straight. Steven Arnold was aboard and he was rapt.
Chris Waller | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’s come through the Caulfield Guineas well, appetite’s been good and attitude. Most horses like The Valley, there’s very few that don’t, it’s a velodrome circumference and he was good, he’ll come back Tuesday and go a bit faster.
“If there’s ever been a 3-year-old from my stable that’s mature enough and ready for a Cox Plate at this age, it’s him.”
Quality Road heads Lane’s End Roster for 2024
Quality Road (USA), the sire of 17 stakes winners in 2023 including G1 Preakness S. hero National Treasure (USA), will stand the 2024 breeding season for US$200,000 (AU$316,600), the same fee he commanded in 2023.
The 17-year-old stallion is responsible for an additional five winners at Graded level this season.
Flightline (USA) - a son of Tapit (USA) - stood his first season at Lane's End in 2023 at US$200,000 (AU$316,800), having attracted an impressive array of top-quality mares. The covering fee for the 2022 Longines World's Highest Rated Racehorse has been reduced to US$150,000 (AU$237, 400) for the upcoming season.
“Flightline was held to 152 mares in his first season. We adjusted his fee for his second season in keeping with what has become 'industry norm', while continuing to limit his book close to 150 mares again,” said Lane's End's Bill Farish.
New to the Lane's End stallion barn for 2024 is top Breeders' Cup chance Up To the Mark (USA) (Not This Time {USA}), while it was recently announced that Arcangelo (USA) (Arrogate {USA}) would be added to the roster at the conclusion of his racing career.
Arabian Lion retired to Spendthrift
Arabian Lion (USA) (Justify {USA}) who became the first Grade 1 winner for his boom sire in this year's Woody Stephens S. on the Belmont Stakes undercard, has been retired from racing and will enter stud in 2024 at Spendthrift Farm. He will stand for US$30,000 (AU$47,500), stands-and-nurses terms.
Arabian Lion (USA) | Standing at Spendthrift Farm, image courtesy of Coolmore
“Arabian Lion is a tremendous-looking individual and he showed real brilliance on the track,” said Spendthrift General Manager Ned Toffey. “His win in the Woody Stephens was arguably the best performance this year by a 3-year-old, and the speed figures back that up.”
Breeding right in Cracksman popular at Tattersalls Online October Sale
Philip Baron von Ullmann went to 105,000gns (AU$202,100) for a breeding right in Group 1 sire Cracksman (GB) (Lot 94) on Friday, the top lot at the Tattersalls Online October Sale.
The sire of undefeated G1 Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe hero Ace Impact (Fr), the Darley sire's eldest foals are 3-year-olds. He also has G2 Premio Dormello winner Aloa (GB) and four other stakes winners to date.
Cracksman (GB) | Standing at Darley, Newmarket
Von Ullmann said, “We believe that Cracksman is the perfect stallion for Schlenderhan's philosophy because he fits perfectly with our Adlerflug mares, especially those out of Monsun dams. What more can you ask of a stallion who in his first crop has bred an Arc winner? We have a couple of Adlerflug mares who could visit him next year. We will wait until we do our proper planning but he's definitely going to get a very strong mare from us.”
King George hero Pyledriver to stand under Coolmore's National Hunt banner next year
Dual Group 1 winner Pyledriver (GB) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) will stand under the Coolmore National Hunt banner in 2024, Coolmore announced on Friday. Retired earlier this year before being acquired by Coolmore, the 6-year-old won both the G1 King George VI And Queen Elizabeth S. and the G1 Coronation Cup. A fee will be announced later.
“Pyledriver is the best horse I've ever had anything to do with and gave us so many fantastic days,” said co-trainer William Muir.
