Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Flemington: G1 Darley Champions Sprint, $3,000,000, 1200m
Twenty-three starts - 17 wins, three placings - eight times first across the line at the elite level… Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) was having her first start down the Flemington straight, once again proving her classy and adaptability.
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 was 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}).
G1 Champions Mile, $3,000,000, 1600m
She was taking on the boys after her daring victory in last weekend’s G1 Empire Rose S. and once again Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) was able to put on display her outstanding speed and class.
One of the 20 stakes winners for her in-form Coolmore Stud-based, G1 Blue Diamond S. and ATC Sires' Produce S.-winning sire, she was bred by Trelawney Stud and the Taylor Family Trust and sold by Segenhoe Stud to Cape Schanck Stud for $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the four-time winner Sancerre (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G1 Queensland Oaks heroine Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Served last spring by Per Incanto (USA) after foaling a colt by that same stallion, Sancerre is also dam of the lightly raced and promising Awatere (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) who has been in the placings at her first two starts.
Vouvray is also the grandam of the Listed Calaway S. winner Champ Elect (Choisir) and her dam is the triple Group winner Real Success (Success Express {USA}) who also produced the Listed Victoria Cup winner Bolton (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) as well as the dam of the G1 Thorndon Mile winner A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) and the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute's Choice).
Ancestress of this family is the influential broodmare Pocahontas (USA) (Roman {USA}).
G1 Champions S., $3,000,000, 2000m
It was a second Group 1 victory for the tough mare Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who back in April took out the G1 Queen of the Turf S. at Randwick.
One of the 135 stakes winners for her Waikato Stud-based sire, Atishu is a NZ$260,000 graduate of the New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale (Book 1) - sold by Waikato Stud to Go Racing.
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Nureyev (USA), Atishu is a well-named daughter of the two-time winning No Excuse Needed (GB) mare Posy (NZ), sister to the New Zealand Champion 3-Year-Old Daffodil (NZ) whose three wins at Group 1 level include the AJC Oaks.
Served last spring by Noverre (NZ) with her most recent foal being her 2020 Savabeel filly named Dream All Day (NZ) - a member of the Price/Kent Jnr stable - Posy is also dam of the G3 Desert Gold S. winner Mazzolino (NZ) - also by Savabeel.
The G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) also hails from this family, one which has as its ancestress the high-class UK broodmare Felucca (GB) (Nearco {Ity}).
G2 Matriarch S., $300,000, 2000m
Backing up from a gutsy fourth in last weekend’s G1 Empire Rose S. - a race which has proven one the best form references of the week - Deny Knowledge (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai) was too good in front, showing plenty of fight over the final stages.
Imported to Australia by Honeycomb Stud, having won at Redcar and Newcastle, the tough mare has now won four times for the Mick Kent stable, also taking out the G3 Belle of the Turf S. at Gosford late last year.
A mare capable of sustaining her high-cruising speed, Deny Knowledge was bred by Mylestown Farms and originally purchased by Peter and Ross Doyle for €26,000 (AU$43,700) at the 2019 Goffs Sportsman's Yearling Sale.
She is one of the 20 stakes winners for her in-form Coolmore Stud-based, dual Group 1-winning sire and the first winner of two winners for her winning dam The Paris Shrug (GB) (Manduro {Ger}).
The Paris Shrug is one of six winners produced by the winner Miss Brown To You (Ire) (Fasliyev {USA}) - also dam of the G1 Royal Ascot Gold Cup winner Big Orange (GB) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}) who campaigned in Melbourne, running third in the G2 Sandown Classic - as well as finishing fifth and 10th in the G1 Melbourne Cup.
Miss Brown To You is one of eight winners for Almaaseh (Ire) (Dancing Brave {USA}) whose son Military Attack (Ire) (Oratorio {Ire}) was crowned Hong Kong Horse of the Year and whose daughter Artisia (Ire) (Peintre Celebre {USA}) produced the popular globe-trotter Red Cadeaux (GB) (Cadeaux Genereux {GB}).
G3 Queen Elizabeth S., $300,000, 2600m
What great form Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}) is in - three starts this campaign (back from gelding and wind operations), three smart wins.
A $500,000 graduate of the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Muramasa was bred by Arrowfield Stud and GSA Bloodstock and sold through the Arrowfield draft to Busuttin Racing.
He is one of the 200 stakes winners for his late sire, a legend of Japanese racing, and he is the first foal for the G2 Silver Shadow S.-winning, G1 Golden Rose runner-up Omei Sword (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Missing last spring to Snitzel, she foaled a colt by that stallion last October with her previous foal being an I Am Invincible colt who Busuttin Racing bought for $260,000 at this year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Her 2-year-old Yayoi (I Am Invincible) also sold well, purchased by Kia Ora for $800,000 at Inglis Easter in 2022 and she was second, for the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes stable, in a Warwick Farm jump-out in mid-September.
Omei Sword is a daughter of the G1 1000 Guineas winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) who also produced the Listed Doncaster S. winner Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
Muramasa's fourth dam River Crossing (USA) (Affirmed {USA}) is a half-sister to the star broodmare Fall Aspen (USA) (Pretense {USA}).
Listed Always Welcome S., $175,000, 1200m
Out of the winner’s circle since taking out a G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (Colts and Geldings) in February 2021, General Beau (Brazen Beau) rewarded his connections for their patience in recording his third victory at stakes level.
A homebred for Contract Racing and the Psaltis family, General Beau is one of the 25 stakes winners for his Darley Victoria-based, G1 Coolmore Stud S.-winning sire.
His dam Phosphorescence (Lonhro) - dam of another two winners - is a daughter of the dual Group 3 winner Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym).
Not having much luck in recent years - slipping her last two foals - Phosphorescence has a 2-year-old full brother to General Beau.
Nediym’s Glow is a half-sister to the G3 Victoria H. winner Red Colossus (Testa Rossa) and to the dam of the stakes winners Kinglike (Exceed And Excel) and Royal Haunt (Hard Spun {USA}).
Listed The Amanda Elliott, $175,000, 1400m
Another nice up-and-comer for his in-form based Widden Stud-based sire, Schwarz (Zoustar) proved a class above his rivals recording his second win from just three starts.
Bred by Widden Stud, Qatar Bloodstock, Halatex and J Dimery, he was sold by Widden to Rosemont-Victorian Alliance, Suman Hedge and David Redvers for $1.25 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 45th stakes winner for Zoustar, he is the first live foal produced by the G2 Angus Armanasco S. winner Summer Sham (Not A Single Doubt) whose second foal Silver Wedding (Zoustar) is a member of the Maher/Eustace stable - that $800,000 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale graduate owned by Cambridge Stud
Foaling another Zoustar colt in early September, Summer Sham also foaled a colt by him last year.
Bred on a 3 X 3 cross of Redoute’s Choice, Schwarz also hails from that great stallion’s family, Summer Sham’s third dam being Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad).
This is the same branch of the prolific Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) family as the big-race winners Platinum Scissors, He’s No Pie Eater (Canny Lad), Umatilla (NZ), Hurricane Sky, Shoals (Fastnet Rock) and Manhattan Rain.
Riccarton: G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, NZ$600,000, 1600m
Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) remained undefeated after recording his sixth victory from as many starts - too strong as an odds-on favourite making his Group 1 debut.
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}).
Listed Metropolitan Trophy, NZ$100,000, 2600m
Game getting up along the rails, Nest Egg (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) recorded his first stakes victory whilst having his 30th start.
The five-time winner is the 25th stakes winner for his Westbury Stud-based, G1 French Derby and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S.-winning sire.
A homebred for DG Price and BG Stewart, he is out of the stakes-placed, three-time winner Run To The Bank (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}) whose dam is the stakes-placed Rebus (NZ) (Truly Vain).
Run To The Bank made a return visit to Reliable Man (GB) last spring and her 2-year-old Serendipitous (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is also a member of the Stephen Marsh stable.
Listed Pegasus S., NZ$90,000, 1000m
Getting her nose down at the right time in a busy finish, Not Guilty (Not A Single Doubt) was game recording the fifth win of her 15-start career.
A homebred for Frontier Bloodstock and VTW Breeding, she is the 82nd stakes winner for her late sire.
And she is the second stakes winner for the triple city winner Notice Received (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) whose other daughter Subpoenaed (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) won the G2 Golden Pendant and the G2 Millie Fox S.
Served last spring by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) having slipped the previous season, Notice Received has a 2-year-old called King Of Cordoba (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) in the Price/Kent Jnr stable.
Notice Received’s dam is a half-sister to the G3 Swettenham S. winner Apple Danish (Danehill {USA}).
Not Guilty is the 15th stakes winner combining Redoute’s Choice and O’Reilly (NZ), a cross which provides for the duplication of the wonderful mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
Te Rapa: Listed Legacy Lodge Sprint, NZ$90,000, 1200m
Having her first start since enjoying Group 3 success in March, Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) did a good job winning her eighth race from 25 starts.
Bred in Victoria by Bloodstock Resources Ltd, she is one of the 23 stakes winners sired by her Vinery Stud-based sire; the four-time Group 1-winning half-brother to Black Caviar (Bel Esprit).
She is the final foal produced by the winner You Can't Say That (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) whose six to race are all winners including the dual Group 3 winner Darci Be Good (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}).
You Can't Say That's dam is the two-time Group winner What Can I Say (NZ) (Khozaam {USA}) who also produced the dual Listed winner Gibraltar Campion (NZ) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}) and five-time Group winner Only Words (End Sweep {USA}) who in turn has produced the Group 2 winners Chat (Deep Field) and Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock).
Aquis Farm's Australian Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Invader also hails from this family as does the classy Hong Kong sprinter Not Listenin'Tome (Dylan Thomas {Ire}).
Babylon Berlin carries a 6 X 6 cross of the wonderful mare Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) via her descendant Flying Spur and son L'Enjoleur (Can).
