Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
Doull (Snitzel), a $1.2 million yearling purchase lived-up to his early potential with a courageous victory in the G2 Caulfield Sprint.
Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}) booked himself a place in the G1 VRC Derby with a tough victory in the G3 Caulfield Classic over the hot favourite Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}).
Shangri La Express produced a dominant win in the Kirkham Plate on Saturday, the victory made for two winners from three runners for Yulong’s first-season sire, Alabama Express.
Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Cosmic Force, a son of Deep Field, sired his first winner on Saturday at Eagle Farm when the Chris Munce-trained Devine Force denied Accelar (Alabama Express).
The unbeaten Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}), trying 1400 metres for the first time, found little obstacle to win the G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial S. at Te Rapa.
Bonny mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) was brave in leading and then denying a competitive group of mares to win the G2 Tristarc S. at Caulfield.
Doull lives up to potential
Doull (Snitzel) had always shown ability. As a 2-year-old, when trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, he was an authoritative winner down the Flemington straight, propelling him to favouritism for the G1 Coolmore Stud S.
Doull returned to run fourth in the G2 Danehill S. behind Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) but failed to show his best in subsequent starts.
A sea change is as good as a holiday, so it proved for the 4-year-old scoring a breakthrough stakes success in the G2 Caulfield Sprint for his new trainer, Annabel Neasham.
Doull, winner of the G2 Caulfield Sprint on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Doull, ridden by Michael Dee, found the better of Spacewalk (Exosphere).
“I have to say full credit to Ryan (McEvoy) and the Rosemont team because I had Doull in a Benchmark 78 race in Sydney, and they said I better throw him in this Group 2,” winning trainer Annabel Neasham proclaimed to Racing.com.
“He’s the most beautiful colt. We haven’t had him all that long, and obviously the Freedmans (Anthony and Sam) did a phenomenal job with Doull because he’s just so professional.
“He’s (Doull) the most beautiful colt. We haven’t had him all that long, and obviously the Freedmans (Anthony and Sam) did a phenomenal job with Doull because he’s just so professional.” - Annabel Neasham
“It’s great that he got his head in front, and hopefully, he can go on with it.”
Shadwell Stud Australasia bred Doull who was a $1.2 million purchase by the Rosemont Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) and David Redvers Bloodstock when offered by Yarraman Park Stud at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Doull is the 137th stakes winner for Snitzel, who became the third Arrowfield Stud stallion to sire a stakes winner on Saturday, with Dundeel (NZ), the sire of Sunsets, and The Autumn Sun, via Autumn Angel, also hitting the board.
Sunsets out stays Rocket
All eyes were on the hot favourite Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) in Saturday’s G3 Caulfield Classic. The Chris Waller-trained gelding was an ultra-impressive winner of the Listed Super Impose S. last start.
However, stepping out to the 2000 metres, Riff Rocket could not gain the upper hand this time on the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Sunsets (Dundeel {NZ}).
The son of Dundeel was last seen finishing fourth in the Super Impose but found the step up to 2000 metres to his liking.
Sunsets (spotted silks), winner of the G3 Caulfield Classic on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
It has been a superb 48 hours for the Busuttin and Young stable, having taken out the Moe Cup on Friday with Suizuro (Real Impact {Jpn}).
“There were a few things against Sunsets today (Saturday), and when Gold Bullion didn’t lead, I thought we would be under some pressure. However, he stuck on very well,” Young told 7HorseRacing.
“I actually thought we were going to run second to Riff Rocket, but it was a great ride by Johnny (John Allen).
“I think this colt will definitely get further than the 2000 metres today (Saturday), and he’s just the most relaxed colt you can come across.
“He just sleeps in the stalls and doesn’t work himself up. We will charge on to the Derby.”
“... he’s (Sunsets) just the most relaxed colt you can come across... We will charge on to the (VRC) Derby.” - Natalie Young
Sunsets is the second foal from the Group 2-placed Fastnet Rock mare Waterloo Sunset. She’s a daughter of the G1 Flight S. victress Unearthly (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and a half-sister to the G1 Schweppes Oaks winner Invest (Dehere {USA}).
Segenhoe Stud initially offered Sunsets at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale, where DJM Bloodstock paid $34,000.
Newhaven Park reoffered the colt at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, where Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Busuttin Racing paid $150,000 to secure him.
Sunsets is the 25th stakes winner for Arrowfield Stud’s Dundeel.
Super for Yulong rolls on
The dominant success of Shangri La Express (Alabama Express) in Saturday’s Kirkham Plate at Randwick was the crescendo for Yulong.
Yulong stands the first-season sires Alabama Express and Pierata at their Victorian Farm. On Wednesday, Pierata sired his first winner and stakes winner for that fact with the hugely impressive Coleman, who took out the Listed Magic Millions Debutant S.
On Saturday, Pierata’s barn mate, Alabama Express, continued his flying start with the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Shangri La Express.
The colt’s 2.5l victory gave his sire his second winner from three starters.
It was a first-season sire trifecta with Miss Judas and Blue Illusion by Darley’s exciting prospects Microphone and Blue Point (Ire) filling second and third place.
Shangri La Express, ridden by Regan Bayliss, told Sky Racing, “He’s a lovely horse. I’ve ridden Shangri La Express a couple times at home and he’s very bombproof.
“He’s not a squib; he’s got plenty of scope. He’s a big rangy horse who is only going to keep getting better.
“He’s (Shangri La Express) not a squib; he’s got plenty of scope. He’s a big rangy horse who is only going to keep getting better.” - Regan Bayliss
“His best work was probably his last 100 metres, so he’s got a big future.”
Shangri La Express is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Sent From Above. She was bred by Gooree Park Stud and won over 900 metres.
Sent From Above is a half-sister to the Group 2 placegetter Major Conquest (More Than Ready {USA}). The pair are daughters of Gamble Me (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), a victress of the G3 Birthday Card S. and the G3 Thoroughbred Club S.
Shangri La Express as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The colt caught the eye of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing alongside Kestrel Thoroughbreds, who paid $220,000 to secure at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when consigned by Yulong.
First winner for Cosmic Force
Newgate Farm’s first-season sire Cosmic Force became the latest to join ‘the winners club’ when the son of Deep Field sired his first winner courtesy of the Chris Munce-trained Devine Force.
The filly was sent out as an $8.50 chance in the 1000-metre dash at Eagle Farm and was able to deny Accelar (Alabama Express) by 0.12l, while Mishani Ego (Kobayashi) finished third.
Devine Force is the third foal from the Trusting mare Munjai. She is a three-quarter sister to Whittington, an up-and-running juvenile who claimed the Listed Breeders’ Plate and was third in the Listed Canonbury S.
The filly was a $100,000 purchase by Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau from the draft of Kingstar Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Crocetti peerless again!
Danny Walker and Arron Tata’s Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) made it four from four in Saturday’s G2 James & Annie Sarten Memorial S. at Te Rapa.
The 3-year-old gelding is on a path towards the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas at a mile and was running over 1400 metres for the first time. However, under Warren Kennedy, the rise in distance proved no obstacle for Crocetti running away from Lupo Solitario (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) by 1.5l, while To Catch A Thief (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) held on for third.
“He’s a dream, he really is,” Walker said. “That was a good win today.
“He learned a lot last start – it was just one of those things, the way the race was run, and he was able to show that he could take a sit just off the pace. Today I told Warren to just make his own luck, and he did that.
“We’re really looking forward to the 2000 Guineas now. The step up to 1600 metres won’t bother him at all.”
Arataki holds Dancer at bay
Matthew Williams’ bonny mare Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) upstaged a competitive field of mares in the G2 Tristarc S.
Dean Yendall, riding the 5-year-old, allowed her to lead under her own steam and had found plenty in reserve to hold off Shuffle Dancer (I Am Invincible) and Call Di (Frankel {GB}).
Wrote To Arataki (NZ), winner of the G2 Tristarc S. on Saturday | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Tristarc S. was the second time Wrote To Arataki has saluted in a Group race, having previously won the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S.
Arguably, the disappointment of the Tristrac was the G1 Tarzino Trophy victress Skew Wiff (NZ) (Savabeel), who finished sixth, albeit only 1.30l away.
