Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Moonee Valley: G1 WS Cox Plate, $5,000,000, 2040m
There was a roar across not only Moonee Valley but across Hong Kong as their star galloper Romantic Warrior (Ire) (Acclamation {GB}) pipped Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) right on the line in an exciting finish to Australia’s greatest weight-for-age race.
Improving on his 4l defeat in the G1 Turnbull S.., the 6-year-old gelding was a much quieter horse in the mounting yard this time and his relaxed demeanour saw him able to conserve his energy for when it counted.
He is one of the 66 stakes winners for his sire who calls the Rathbarry and Glenview Studs home and they have another link to the WS Cox Plate - standing the 2021 winner State Of Rest (Ire).
Bred by Corduff Stud and Timothy Rooney, Romantic Warrior is out of the juvenile winner Folk Melody (Ire) whose sire Street Cry (Ire) is the grandsire of last year’s Cox Plate hero Anamoe.
Purchased from the 2019 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale for 300,000gns (AU$602,900) by the Hong Kong Jockey Club, Romantic Warrior is a grandson of the G1 E.P Taylor S. winner Folk Opera (Ire) (Singspiel {Ire}) - also grandam of the South American Group 1 winner Mr Bailetti (Arg) (Exchange Rate {USA}).
Sourced for the HKJC by Mick Kinane, Romantic Warrior was on-sold by them to his owners for HK$4.8 million at their annual Hong Kong International Sale.
He can count amongst his relations the Group winners Hannibal Barca (Ire) (Zoffany {Ire}), Vote Often (GB) (Beat Hollow {GB}) and Proportional (GB) (Beat Hollow).
G1 Manikato S., $2,000,000, 1200m
It was a change of tactics for Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) going to the lead but there were shades of a great New Zealand mare of the past when she shot clear in Sunline-esque style who also had her G1 Manikato S. won a long way from home!
The accolades keep flowing for Imperatriz with this, her 13th stakes win and her seventh at Group 1 level - and there is still plenty to come!
The most prolific stakes winner for her Yarraman Park-based, reigning Australian Champion Sire (whose stakes winner total sits at 100), Imperatriz was bred by Raffles Dancers and purchased by David Ellis for $360,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Imperatriz is the second foal and first winner for Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}) who earned her black type with a G3 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic third to Lumosty (Fastnet Rock).
Also dam of the multiple city winner Cabaca (Fastnet Rock), Berimbau produced a full brother to Imperatriz in early August, last year foaling a colt by Capitalist having sadly lost her previous foal, a Press Statement filly.
Berimbau is out of the winner Percussive (Encosta De Lago), half-sister to the G2 Todman Slipper Trial winner Royal Courtship (Royal Academy {USA}).
Percussive's six foals to race have all been winners including the Listed Spear Chief H. winner Vinco (also by I Am Invincible).
Boasting crosses of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Imperatriz hails from the same family as the stakes winners Poor Judge (Royal Academy {USA}) and Proud Player (Squill {USA}).
G2 Moonee Valley Vase, $400,000, 2040m
Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) showed his rivals a clean pair of heels with this dominant display as he heads towards the G1 VRC Derby.
A homebred for Meadowvale Pastoral and Revelstone Stud, he is the ninth stakes winner for his late sire - and his second winner of this race following on from the success of Stars Of Carrum in 2018.
Apulia is the first foal for the placed mare Giannerelli (High Chaparral {Ire}) whose dam is the Group-placed Can’t Hackit (NZ) (Fasliyev {USA}), dam of seven winners including the Group-placed Spot The Rock (Fastnet Rock).
Served last spring by Nicconi after foaling a filly by that same stallion, Giannerelli also has a Pride Of Dubai 2-year-old called Eyes Wide Shut in the Hayes stable.
Her grandam is the G2 Angus Brut S. winner Close Your Eyes (Geiger Counter {USA}) whose grandam is the G1 AJC Oaks winner Just Now (Semipalatinsk {USA}).
Fiorente (Ire) fared very well with progeny line-bred to his own Simon’s Shoes (GB) (Simon Square {GB}) family and Apulia’s dam boasts three strains - Sadler’s Wells (USA), Nureyev (USA) and Geiger Counter (USA).
G2 Crystal Mile, $300,000, 1600m
Again bringing her outstanding New Zealand form to Australia, Prowess (NZ) (Proisir) enhanced upon her already impressive record - this win her eighth from just 11 starts.
Bred by Hallmark Stud Ltd, she was sold through their 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale draft for NZ$230,000 to the Roger James and Robert Wellwood stable.
She is one of the 14 stakes winners for her Rich Hill Stud-based sire and the second stakes performer for her placed dam Donna Marie (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}), also dam of the stakes-placed Ajay Tee (NZ) (Foxwedge) as well as the Singapore winner Diamond Ring (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).
Paying a return visit last spring to Proisir having foaled another filly by him in late August last year, Donna Marie has an El Roca colt who was sold to Hong Kong's Ricky Yiu for $130,000 at the 2022 Inglis Ready2Race Sale.
Donna Marie is out of the G2 Sir Tristram Fillies Classic winner Scarlet Runner (NZ) (Kingdom Bay {NZ}) who also produced the high-class Singapore galloper Onceuponatime (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}).
Hailing from the family of the Group 1 mare Sky Cuddle (Snippets), Prowess boasts a 6 X 6 cross of the great mare Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) who appears via her grandson Fairy King (USA) and son Nureyev (USA).
G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic, $300,000, 1600m
Remaining unbeaten as she continued the good spring form for the Mitchell Freedman stable, Skybird (Exosphere) showed plenty of heart squeezing through a gap having been last approaching the turn.
The seventh stakes winner for her Oaklands Stud-based sire, a G1 Golden Rose-winning son of Lonhro, Skybird is out of the winner Real Desire (Wanted) whose Listed-winning grandam Snow Finch (Ire) (Storm Bird {Can}) is the grandam of the Champion Sire Snitzel.
This spring’s G1 Epsom H. winner Rediener (Redoute’s Choice) also hails from this prolific local family which has also produced the stakes winners Hinchinbrook, Captain Bax (Snippets), Snippets’ Lass (Snippets), Viennese (Redoute’s Choice), Arcaded (Street Boss {USA}), Rathlin (Fastnet Rock) and Private Eye (Al Maher).
Bred by HP Thoroughbreds, Skybird was sold by them to her trainer for $110,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (Highway Session).
Her dam Real Desire was not returned to the Stud Book last year with her latest recorded produce being her 2022 born Deep Field colt.
G3 Tesio S., $200,000, 1600m
What great form Wishlor Lass (Mshawish {USA}) is in, backing up her G3 Ladies Day Vase success with another dominant victory.
A six-time winner from just eight starts, she is one of the six stakes winners 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-time 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 {NZ}).
G3 Red Anchor S., $200,000, 1200m
It was a second win in this race within three years for Mornington trainer Matt Laurie who cheered home Portland Sky three years ago.
This one is an even bigger win for him as, along with his partner Kate Brideoake, he owns the talented Archo Nacho (Sioux Nation {USA}) for whom he paid only $10,000 for at the 2021 Inglis Great Southern Weanling sale.
At one stage due to be sold to Hong Kong, his owners deciding that “the family horse” could give them a lot of fun, Archo Nacho is one of the 12 stakes winners for his G1 Phoenix S.-winning sire who shuttled just once to Australia, serving just 54 mares with 39 live foals the result.
Bred by Mr P Johnson, Archo Nacho is one of the five winners (from six to race) for the Wellington Boot and triple city winner Jackpot Queen (Not A Single Doubt) whose son Big Red (Starcraft {NZ}) and daughter Star Galaxy (Star Witness) are city winners.
From the family of the stakes winners Hot As Hell (County), Pekalan (Sri Pekan {USA}), Craig's Dragon (Catbird), Flaming Hot (County) and Alart (Excellent Art {GB}), Jackpot Queen was served last spring by Saxon Warrior (Jpn) having sadly lost her foal by Harry Angel (Ire).
Listed Crockett S., $175,000, 1200m
Gumdrops (Written Tycoon) put her nose down right where it counted to secure a valuable black-type victory at just her third start.
Bred by Ravenswood Bloodstock, the 54th stakes winner for her Yulong-based Champion Sire, she was sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $600,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is the only foal produced by the G3 Wenona Girl H. winner Sugar Bella (Not A Single Doubt) who sadly died young. Her dam is the dual Group winner Hula Wonder (Hula Chief {NZ}) who also produced the Listed winner Willy Jimmy (Dehere {USA}).
Hula Wonder’s dam was also classy, Natural Wonder (Aurilandy) winning 12 races, two of those at Listed level for the Roger Hoysted stable.
And so that is four generations of female stakes winners!
R. Listed Inglis Banner, $500,000, 1000m
Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) kicked off Lindsay Park’s Cox Plate Day in fine style with this fast and impressive victory.
Bred by the Pope family and sold by Blue Gum Farm to Lindsay Park and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $270,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, she is the 25th stakes winner for her Darley Victoria-based sire.
Her dam is the Listed Bob Hoysted winner Chloe In Paris (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the four-time Group winner Innovation Girl, a daughter of the G1 WS Cox Plate winner Rubiton.
Missing last spring to So You Think (NZ), Chloe In Paris foaled a full brother to Bold Bastille that year. Her half-brother Ideas Man - who won this same race - is also by Brazen Beau.
Friday night’s Moonee Valley stakes winner She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) is also from this family.
Ascot: Listed Belgravia S., $125,000, 1200m
Doing what Amelia's Jewel (Siyouni {Fr}) did last year - winning this race having also taken out the G2 Karrakatta Plate - Super Smink (Super One) overcame trouble in running to record a determined victory.
Bred by B Duncan and sold by Forest View Farm to Morton Racing for $45,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale, she is one of three stakes winners for her Lincoln Farm-based sire, whose biggest win came in the same race - the G3 DC McKay S. - won by his sire I Am Invincible.
Super Smink is the first foal (the second the yet-to-race Sessions 2-year-old No Short Man) for the lightly raced (just the one start, finishing off well as favourite in a Bunbury maiden) Sminky Shorts (Snitzel).
Sadly losing her I'm All The Talk 2022 foal (not yet returned to the Stud Book for 2023), Sminky Shorts is a half-sister to the city winner Disco Donut (Safeguard) out of the unraced Most Joyous (Viscount) whose dam is the triple Listed winner Most Secret (Bletchley Park {Ire}).
The dam of 10 winners including the G1 Railway S. winner Covertly (Metal Storm {Fr}), the Group 3 winners So Secret (Danetime {Ire}) and Crack The Code (I Am Invincible) as well as the Listed winner Secret Link (Encosta De Lago), Most Secret is also grandam of the Listed winner Bombay Blitz (Snitzel) and third dam of the Listed Singapore Gold Cup winner Big Hearted (Hallowed Crown).
Super Smink boasts strong male line-breeding with crosses of Canny Lad, Storm Bird (Can), Danzig (USA), Northern Dancer (Can), Sir Ivor (USA), Lunchtime (GB) and His Majesty (USA).
