Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
It was the familiar faces of Chris Waller and James McDonald in the winner’s circle, after the pair combined with Joliestar (Zoustar) to defend their title in the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield on Saturday.
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) prevailed in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas at Riccarton Park. The victory provided the second-season sire Ace High, with his first stakes winner.
The Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time (Hellbent) left her rivals spellbound in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield. The 4-year-old mare, in just career start number eight.
Warwick Farm-based trainer Joe Pride continued his fine season on Saturday, taking out the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle with his consistent galloper Coal Crusher (Turffontein).
McDonald and Waller go back-to-back in Thousand Guineas
After claiming the G1 Thousand Guineas with Madame Pommery (No Nay Never {USA}) in 2022, the Champion jockey James McDonald and trainer Chris Waller were back in town with the Zoustar filly Joliestar.
The 3-year-old proved too hard to catch with a 1.5l victory over the fellow Sydneysider Kimochi (Brave Smash {Jpn}), while the favoured Victorian pair of Skybird (Exosphere) and Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) finished third and fourth respectively.
McDonald told Racing.com, “To have these famous silks on (Cambridge Stud) is an added pleasure. I had a really good feeling about the filly (Joliestar) today (Saturday).
“She’s a good filly and I’ve felt she’s just been building towards something as her run last start was good. We drew a good gate (barrier one) and were able to get a good economical run, in transit, and we were able to produce.
“The barrier played a really important role especially because the circle track has been playing a bit to those on speed. It had us grinning from ear to ear.”
“To have these famous silks on (Cambridge Stud) is an added pleasure. We drew a good gate (barrier one) and were able to get a good economical run, in transit, and we were able to produce.” - James McDonald
Mike Moroney added on the performance of the hot favourite Coeur Volante, “Blake Shinn wasn’t disappointed in her performance, but she was under pressure a long way from home, and that’s unlike her. Maybe she has just come to the end of her preparation? She’s a pretty fragile sort of filly, there’s not much off her.
“Considering that she boxed on gallantly to finish fourth, but she’ll definitely head to the paddock now.”
Joliestar was placed in the Listed Desirable S. at Flemington behind Roll On High (Shamus Award) and before that was second to the fifth-placed Thousand Guineas runner, Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) in the Listed Reginald Allen S.
Brendan Lindsay, James McDonald and Chris Waller after winning the G1 Thousand Guineas at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Joliestar is the 47th stakes winner for her Widden Stud-based sire Zoustar, who also enjoyed his 46th stakes winner in France courtesy of Zoum Zoum (GB). Now a seven-time Group 1-winning sire, Zoustar was also trained by Chris Waller when active, providing a unique connection for the champion trainer.
The filly is the fifth foal from the Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Bay, a full sister to the G1 Coolmore Stud and Royal Ascot hero, Merchant Navy.
Jolie Bay and Merchant Navy are progeny from the grand mare Legally Bay (Snippets), who won the G3 Sweet Embrace S. and the Listed Brian Crowley S. alongside placing in a host of stakes races, including the G1 Oakleigh Plate.
Joliestar was a $950,000 purchase by Cambridge Stud from the draft of Segenhoe Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. She was bred by Chris and Jane Barham, who have enjoyed continual success with this family, primarily thanks to grandam Legally Bay.
Zoustar | Standing at Widden Stud
Molly Bloom prevails in New Zealand 1000 Guineas
The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained Molly Bloom (NZ) descended on her rivals from a long way back in the field, securing a maiden stakes win for her sophomore stallion, Ace High in Saturday’s G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas.
Positioned a long way off some of her key rivals when turning into the Riccarton straight, jockey Joe Doyle didn’t panic, getting his filly through her gears to take her rivals in the final strides. It was a slashing performance from Molly Bloom, who finished 0.7l off Impendabelle (Impending) in the G2 Soliloquy S. at her last outing. The tables were turned on this occasion, Impendabelle running second from Tulsi (The Autumn Sun) in third.
Molly Bloom is out of Dancilla (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), a winner over 2000 metres and a half-sister to G3 Auckland Cup winner Decorah (NZ) (Pins). Her fourth dam, Certain Habit (NZ) (Ashabit {GB}), produced the legendary Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), a 29-time winner and a winner of Group-races all across Australia and New Zealand.
A NZ$150,000 purchase at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale, she was sold by Seaton Park to her trainers Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott.
Molly Bloom is the first stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High. The son of High Chaparral (Ire) was an exceptional 3-year-old in Australia, recording victories in the G1 VRC Derby and the G1 Spring Champion S.
Ace High | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
Ace High enjoyed a double on Saturday, with his son Leroy Brown (NZ), breaking through at start four for Stephen Ralph at Tauranga.
To date Ace High has had six individual winners of seven races from 21 runners. While the filly has been the standout by winning the New Zealand 1000 Guineas and finishing fourth in the G2 TR Soliloquy S. Ace High is standing the 2023 breeding season at a fee of NZ$10,000 (plus GST).
Magic provides timely result for Hellbent
The Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time (Hellbent) left her rivals spellbound in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield. The 4-year-old mare, in just career start number eight, overcame a wide barrier under a superb ride from Michael Dee, who continues to enhance his reputation as a big-race rider.
Storming home late to claim I Am Me (I Am Invincible), the mare was full of running through the line, giving Begg a 16th Group 1 in the final stanza of a difficult spring.
The Cranbourne-based horseman lost Cardinal Gem (Choisir) in early October, he was also forced to retire stable star Lunar Flare (Fiorente {Ire}), who sustained an injury in the G2 Moonee Valley Gold Cup just weeks later.
Straight Acer (Headwater) dashed through late to grab third, relishing the strong tempo set by Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) and General Beau (Brazen Beau).
Dee, who rode four winners on the Caulfield circuit on Saturday told Racing.com, “Magic Time is usually a mare who naturally puts herself on speed, and I felt there would be plenty of tempo in this race.
“We didn’t get any favours, so she’s done it tough, faced the breeze and to her credit prevailed. I had doubts the whole race with the run we got.”
Connections of Magic Time after winning the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Magic Time is out of stakes-winning mare Time Awaits (Nicconi), a prolific performer on the track, having won the G3 Sires’ Produce S. and Listed Cinderlla S. in South Australia. The victory also carries significance for Nicconi, who enjoyed victory for the first time as a broodmare sire.
Her extended family boasts the likes of G2 Tulloch S. winner Stella Grande (Marquetry {USA}) and Mystic Chantry (Chanteclair).
Passed in as a yearling at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she was retained by breeders Milburn Creek, providing the New South Wales-based operation a Group 1 success. She is the first Group 1 winner for Hellbent as a stallion.
Hellbent stands at Yarraman Park Stud alongside his reigning Champion Sire, I Am Invincible. The G1 William Reid S. victor is standing the 2023 breeding season for a fee of $38,500 (inc GST).
Hellbent | Standing at Yarraman Park Stud
Coal Crusher salutes in The Hunter
Warwick Farm-based trainer Joe Pride continued his fine season on Saturday, taking out the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle with his consistent galloper Coal Crusher (Turffontein).
The 6-year-old, ridden by Tyler Schiller, recorded his ninth career victory beating King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) by 1.1l, while Rocketing By (So You Think {NZ}) and Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}), ran into third and fourth.
Pride was all smiles when talking to 7HorseRacing after the victory of Coal Crusher, “It’s really special because Coal Crusher is my son Brave’s favourite horse and he straps him.
“We also part-own Coal Crusher with the Murphy family. He’s been an amazing horse and it’s been a great ride. When he first walked into the stable there was nothing special about him, we had to drag him out to Orange to win a maiden, but he just kept winning.
“It’s really special because Coal Crusher is my son Brave’s favourite horse and he straps him. We also part-own Coal Crusher with the Murphy family. He’s been an amazing horse and it’s been a great ride.” - Joe Pride
“Just a fantastic moment on the racetrack.”
Coal Crusher has been racing in good heart this preparation recording fourth-place finishers behind the star mares Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai) and I Am Me (I Am Invincible), who scored another Group 1-placing in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. at Caulfield on Saturday.
Brave Pride with Coal Crusher after winning the $1 million The Hunter at Newcastle | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Coal Crusher, bred by CM Murphy, is the best foal from the unraced Royal Academy (USA) mare Media Academy. She descends from the family of star juvenile, Serena Miss (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
