Saturday summary continued: brave Bella Nipotina upstages The Everest runners in Giga Kick

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Bella upstages Everest pair

Bonny mare Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) became a giant killer on Saturday in the $3 million Giga Kick S. over 1300 metres.

Joe Pride’s The Everest hero Think About It (So You Think {NZ}), and the placed Private Eye (Al Maher) were all the rage coming into the feature. The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bella Nipotina had skipped The Everest, running third in the G3 Sydney S. behind I Am Me (I Am Invincible).

The third runner from the Pride stable Coal Crusher (Turffontein) led and began to be challenged by his stablemate Think About It. However, The Everest winner couldn’t quite put away his rival, as his other stablemate, Private Eye, surged past him; although victory looked certain, along the rail was Craig Williams aboard Bella Nipotina and when the gap came, the pair made it count.

“Bella Nipotina walked into the mounting yard, and she just looked amazing. Her performance last start warranted that she would run in the top four or five in The Everest. Although she finished third, it was a brilliant effort,” Williams told 7HorseRacing.

“We came to the Giga Kick over the 1300 metres and drew a wide barrier. I had never ridden in the 1300-metre start here at Rosehill, so I rang my good friend Rodney Quinn to gave me some heads-up. I don't want to tell everybody what he told me.

“I can only do what I do as a jockey provided I have the horse underneath me. I’ve won a Group 1 on her dominantly, and the only reason she’s been racing in Sydney is the excellent prizemoney. But all the people who look after her so well need to be thanked because they make me look good, but I can’t do it unless I have a happy and healthy horse.

“The only reason I’m being interviewed is because of how gusty and good Bella Nipotina is.”

Pride said of his pair, “I am gutted for the connections of Private Eye. It felt like he just had it. Think About It and Private Eye will both be going for a spell, and we’ll see them in the autumn.

“They both ran credible races. It was disappointing to get beaten after a sequence of wins, but it would happen at some point.”

Amazonian Lass tenacious in Wakeful

In a courageous front-running performance in the G2 Wakeful S., the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Amazonian Lass (More Than Ready {USA}) booked her place in Thursday’s G1 VRC Oaks.

It was shades of Kaizad (Capitalist) in the G3 Carbine Club S. Earlier on Saturday, ridden by Tim Clark, Amazonian Lass went to the front, where she stayed. Although she was shortening stride, the filly had enough in store to hold Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) at bay, while Harlow Miss (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) was doing her best work late.

“We’ve just kept the work up to Amazonian Lass, and that’s not too mean we’ve been tough on her; It’s just about being consistent and Amazonian Lass works very well, eats well and she’s gone to the beach,” said Gai Waterhouse. “We’ve just kept her a happy horse!

“She will certainly be here on Thursday (Oaks) and Tim Clark is just on fire.”

Amazonian Lass is the second foal from the late Dynastic Lady, a daughter of Fastnet Rock. Her first foal, Riverplate (NZ) (Flying Artie), has won four races from 1300 to 1800 metres. Amazonian Lass is related to the G1 Levin Classic winner, Age Of Fire (Fastnet Rock).

Amazonian Lass was bred by Go Bloodstock, who has stayed in the ownership of the filly and also bred and owns Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible).

The filly is the 223rd stakes winner for the late More Than Ready (USA). Amazonian Lass was a $325,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Spacewalk and Kah combine in Rising Fast

The Godolphin homebred Spacewalk (Exosphere) amended his last start defeat to Doull (Snitzel) in the G2 Caulfield Sprint with a tenacious victory in the G3 Rising Fast S.

Jamie Kah perfectly timed the 4-year-old gelding’s sprint to collar the runaway leader Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner) and hold Crosshaven (Smart Missile) at bay.

Godolphin’s Head Trainer, James Cummings, told Racing.com, “It worked out quite well. Jamie Kah saved Spacewalk for his final dash, and it was timed perfectly.

“It’s good for my team to get their first winner in Cup Week.”

Kah added, “I would love it if Najem Suhail were in every race Spacewalk contested because he needs a bum to follow and a horse to chase. Last start, we just got there too soon. He’s got a short sprint, but it worked out perfectly today (Saturday).”

Spacewalk is one of 13 stakes winners for Exosphere and is from the five-time winner Beneden (Dubawi {Ire}).

Waterhouse and Bott strike with ‘nerdy’ Kaizad

Kaizad provided the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable with an ideal start to Cup week with a determined victory in the G3 Carbine Club S.

With Tim Clark in the saddle, the 3-year-old gelding held the Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Heman (I Am Invincible) by 0.50l, while Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}) from the Ciaron Maher and David Eustace yard was 1.25l adrift.

Waterhouse was on course and had a rather peculiar adjective to describe Kaizad - ‘nerdy’.

“Tim’s (Clark) ride was terrific, and he just understands pace perfectly. He bounced Kaizad out of the gates and got him on the bunny, and you know it was ‘see you later, alligator’,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.

“Kaizad has improved this preparation out of all knowledge. He was the most ‘nerdy 2-year-old’, I couldn’t tell you; we nearly pulled our hair out with him. The moment Kaizad was gelded, he just changed his attitude and hasn’t looked back.

“This was a really good win today (Saturday). The Carbine Club is not an easy race to win, and I’ve always wanted to win it with a nice horse, so I’m pleased.”

Clark also hailed Kaizad a changed horse, “I was able to utilise his great tactical speed. I wanted to ensure we kept up the gallop and tested the stamina of the opposition.

“Kaizad has made leaps and bounds in this preparation; he’s a completely different horse to the one I rode at Gosford. The gelding operation and a bit of maturity have played a big part.”

Kaizad is from the Exceed And Excel mare Baby Corn, who won the Listed Pewsey Vale S. and was placed in the G3 Jansz S.

The gelding is a half-brother to the Group 1-placed Cornrow (Duporth) and from the family of the G3 Matriarch S. winner Sweet Corn (Scenic {Ire}).

Kaizad was a $300,000 purchase by Silverdale Farm and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Kitchwin Hills at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale.

Silverdale Farm reoffered the son of Capitalist at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he caught the eye of Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Blueblood Thoroughbreds, who paid $390,000 to secure Kaizad.

Kaizad is the 19th stakes winner for Newgate Farm’s Champion 2-Year-Old Capitalist.

Ollie's masterclass in The Archer

It is the last Cup week the retiring Champion Jockey Damien Oliver will compete in. On the opening Saturday - Derby Day, he showed everybody again his superb skill in the saddle.

Jumping into the saddle of the Kris Lees-trained Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}) in the G3 The Archer S.

Allowing the rock-hard fit 7-year-old gelding to bowl along in front over the 2500-metre journey, Oliver put his rivals into a false sense of comfort; with nobody making a move to challenge Kalapour, it was a matter of asking the gelding to increase the tempo and sustain it to the line, while the opposition were made to sprint. Ultimately, Oliver and Kalapour had too much in hand.

There was a lot on the line in the Group 3; it was the final opportunity to secure a spot in Tuesday’s G1 Melbourne Cup, in which Kalapour is likely to do so.

“I was rapt to have a winner for Damien (Oliver) in what will be his final Derby Day. It means a lot to me,” Lees told Racing.com.

“I didn’t give Ollie (Damien Oliver) any instructions on Kalapour, but it was a brilliant ride when he jumped clean, and we got a few cheap sectionals; I knew he would be hard to run down.

“I think Kalapour will be back here Tuesday in the Melbourne Cup. It depends on how he pulls up, but it wasn’t a tough run today (Saturday), so I’d expect he will back up.”

Oliver was back in the winner’s circle after partnering the Michael Freedman-trained Queen Of The Ball (I Am Invincible) in the G3 Furphy Sprint.

It was a sensational and another meaningful victory aboard the classy 4-year-old mare. Bursting from the back of the pack down the vast Flemington straight, Queen Of The Ball swamped the Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai), while the Bryce Heys-trained favourite Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible) finished third.

“I thought there was enough speed in the race to ride Queen Of The Ball with cover today (Saturday),” Oliver explained the ride to Racing.com.

“She’s a gusty, fast filly, and we were able to use that at the end of the race instead of the start. It was great to get a win for Michael (Freedman). We were flatmates at Flemington, just behind the main grandstand. There were many fun days back in our teenage years and early twenties. Obviously, Michael being in Sydney now, I don’t see or ride for him as much, but it’s fantastic to get a win on my final lap.”

Cause For Concern nabs The Damien Oliver

Cranbourne-based trainer Shawn Mathrick has always maintained faith in his classy galloper Cause For Concern (Worthy Cause) and he was vindicated when the 4-year-old was brave in winning the G2 The Damien Oliver.

The son of Worthy Cause was afforded a well-executed ride by Jamie Kah, to beat Bandersnatch (Casino Prince) and Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}).

It was a Derby double for Kah, who had won the G3 Rising Fast S. aboard Spacewalk (Exosphere) earlier in the day.

“I couldn’t care about me, it’s the horse mate! He’s done it all and has had no luck the last few starts,” an excited Mathrick told Racing.com.

“I’ve had a big opinion about Cause For Concern since we got him, and he’s shown today (Saturday) he’s the real deal.

“I love the Cause For Concern and we’ve probably copped some flack talking him up but the horse goes good.”

Cause For Concern is the second stakes winner for Worthy Cause.