Written by Jesse Dart

Cover image courtesy of World Horse Racing

Japan

Lemon Pop a brave winner of Champions Cup

Talented 5-year-old Lemon Pop (USA) (Lemon Drop Kid {USA}) stepped out to 1800 metres for the first time and handled it with aplomb, taking out the G1 Champions Cup at Chukyo Racecourse, located south of Tokyo between it and Osaka. Lord Kanaloa (Jpn) looks to have another stallion prospect rising through the ranks, while at Sha Tin a number of top riders enjoyed good results ahead of the Hong Kong International Raceday this Sunday.

The story of Lemon Pop has taken its fair share of twists and turns throughout the years, but on the dirt of Chukyo Racecourse on Sunday, the only narrative was that of the Godolphin-owned entire racing away with his second Group 1 success.

Despite stepping beyond 1600 metres for the first time, jockey Ryusei Sakai was aggressive early, firing the 5-year-old across the face of the field from barrier 15 to have the lead prior to the first turn.

“He jumped out of the gate quickly so I decided to lead the field and control the pace. He almost stopped right before the finish line but was resilient. These race conditions definitely didn’t suit him but he still won. Today we opened up another door to the mile races and hope we can enjoy the journey together,” Sakai said post-race.

Bred by Twin Hills Stud in Kentucky, he is one of 10 Group 1 winners for his sire, Lemon Drop Kid (USA), who saw his first crop hit the racetrack all the way back in 2002. Pensioned from Lane’s End in 2021, Lemon Drop Kid can boast 108 stakes winners, 50 of which won at Group level. Lemon Pop is out of Unreachable (USA) (Giant’s Causeway {USA}), who commenced her breeding career having not won a race, she has produced four winners to date, with Lemon Pop being the clear standout.

Flying home late to grab second from an impossible position was Wilson Tesoro (Jpn) (Kitasan Black {Jpn}), getting past the 3-year-old Dura Erede (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}). The ever-consistent T O Keynes (Jpn) (Sinister Minister {USA}) was fourth, while the previously undefeated Seraphic Call (Jpn) (Henny Hughes {USA}) was unsighted in the finish.

Bellagio Opera rises to the challenge

Saturday’s G3 Challenge Cup at Hanshin was the perfect launching pad for Bellagio Opera (Jpn) (Lord Kanaloa {Jpn}), who came out on the right end of a thrilling finish.

The 3-year-old, who was last seen running fourth in the G1 Japan Derby in May, was positioned in the first half of the field by jockey Kazuo Yokoyama, and timed his move perfectly to strike the front right on the post, narrowly denying Boccherini (Jpn) (King Kamehameha {Jpn}) and Joao Moreira.

Now twice victorious at Group level, Bellagio Opera is quickly positioning himself as a breeding prospect of the future, which would see him join a number of quality sons of Lord Kanaloa as stallions.

Australian audiences will recall the exploits of Tagaloa, who won the G1 Blue Diamond S. as a 2-year-old, who now stands at Yulong Stud. There’s been plenty of early support for him, with 232 live foals across his first two breeding seasons, with a fertility percentage over 80 in both years. His 2023 fee is $27,500 (inc GST).

Another son that calls Australia home is the talented Diatonic (Jpn), who’s most notable success on the racetrack was the G2 Hanshin Cup. Out of Sunday Silence (USA) mare To Harmony (Jpn), he now resides at Yulong Stud, commanding a fee of $13,750 (inc GST).

Despite coming out on the wrong end of the photo finish, Boccherini certainly lost no admirers, the 7-year-old being a son of the legendary King Kamehameha, who has produced a host of top stallions himself, including Lord Kanaloa, Rulership (Jpn), Duramente (Jpn), Rey de Oro (Jpn) and Leontes (Jpn).

Hong Kong

Badel finds groove ahead of International Raceday

French jockey Alexis Badel has the plum ride of Wellington (All Too Hard) to look forward to this Sunday, but in the meantime he made sure to remind the jockeys' room of his ability by riding a double at Sha Tin, including a delightful steer aboard Ping Hai Galaxy (The Factor {USA}).

Controlling the tempo from the front, the 8-year-old stole a break with 150 metres to go, and despite a roaring finish from Flying Ace (Swiss Ace) and Zac Purton, was able to hold on in the Golden Jubilee Challenge Cup, the feature of the meeting.

Ping Hai Galaxy started life in Australia as Silverlink, winning two races at Ipswich in 2018 as a 3-year-old before relocating to Hong Kong. He has won at least once in every season since, with his best year coming as a 7-year-old, a season in which he was thrice victorious.

By The Factor (USA), he is out of Encosta De Lago mare De Lago Flash, who has produced eight winners from 10 foals to race. She is a full sister to Just Forget It - Wall Street Boy (Encosta De Lago), who has G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) and G3 Tibbie S. winner All Saints Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) amongst her progeny.

Badel also rode Zoustar gelding Summit Cheers to victory, while Zac Purton steered promising debutant Ka Ying Rising (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) to win his first appearance under starter's orders.

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Widden Stud purchase I Am Unstoppable

Mat Becker’s Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) has brokered a deal with Antony Thompson’s historic Widden Stud for the Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans-trained I Am Unstoppable, a son of Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible.

I Am Unstoppable won the Listed Redoute’s Choice S. as a juvenile and was placed in the sire making G1 Coolmore Stud S. and the G2 Danehill S. during the spring.

Thompson said in a press release, “I Am Unstoppable was a fast, unbeaten stakes-winner at two that has trained on at three and has all the attributes we like to see in a stallion prospect, and I was blown away when I saw him last week.”

Reportedly, the colt has returned to pre-training and will be aimed at races such as the G1 Lightning S. and the G1 Newmarket H.

Strong nominations for Magic Millions 2YO Classic

Racing Queensland released the top 30 horses in the order of entry for the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic on Tuesday, with a number of exciting prospects currently well-positioned to feature at the summer spectacular.

Heading the first release of the order of entry is Eneeza (Exceed And Excel), a dominant winner of the Listed Merson Cooper S. at Caulfield on Saturday. Second in the order is Dublin Down (Exceedance), who could give an enormous boost to his freshman sire's reputation by taking out the $2 million feature.

Impressive colt Bodyguard (I Am Invincible) occupies fourth spot off the back of his win in the Listed Maribyrnong Trial S. in early October, while impressive Saturday winner Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) occupies position number nine.

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott also have Straight Charge (Written By) in the mix, the G3 Breeders’ Plate runner-up sits 16th in the current order of entry.

Also in the mix is exciting Tassort filly Astapor, who could give Rockhampton-based trainer Clinton Taylor a career highlight under the Gold Coast sun. She currently occupies 10th place, meaning she will likely need at least one more start to assure her security in the field.

Snowdens prepare assault on Magic Millions 3YO Guineas

Powerful training partnership Peter and Paul Snowden are set to play a strong hand in the R. Listed Magic Millions 3YO Guineas in January, with five horses in the top 15 spots of the current order of entry.

Chief among them is Empire Of Japan (Snitzel), who hasn’t been seen since running fourth in the G2 Champagne Classic at Doomben in May. Also occupying order of entry positions sufficient to gain starts for the Snowdens are Sovereign Fund (Capitalist), Godfather (I Am Invincible), Snapback (Snitzel) and Heman (I Am Invincible).

Cifrado (Encryption) sits atop the current order, having accrued over $850,000 in prizemoney to date.

Chris Waller-trained Chrysaor (Better Than Ready), who last start won the G2 Callandar-Presnell S. at Randwick, also features prominently as a leading contender for the $3 million in riches available.

Highfield Princess ready to fire in Hong Kong

John Quinn is hopeful his star sprinter Highfield Princess (Fr) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) can give Great Britain a first win in the G1 Longines Hong Kong Sprint.

The daughter of Night Of Thunder (Ire) missed the G1 Breeders’ Cup Sprint in North America in favour for Hong Kong’s premier sprint.

“It was a difficult decision but we purposely skipped it in the hope we could give her the best chance to get to Hong Kong in top form,” Quinn told Punters.

“We were always thinking this year would be a lighter campaign. Her first run was in May and she turned up at every big gig all year and ran brilliantly.”

Freedman eyes Plate

Sam Freedman, co-trainer of the 2023 Melbourne and Caulfield Cup winner Without A Fight (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) revealed the gelding has Cox Plate aspirations.

Freedman recently visited Without A Fight’s owner Sheikh Mohammed Obaid to deliver the Cups, “We had discussions in Dubai and we would love to win all three,” he told Racing.com.

“Without A Fight has the speed to do that he has shown fresh in a campaign he can do that.”

The Freedmans currently train Without A Fight, Legend Of Dubai (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}), Third Realm (GB) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Dubai Poet (GB) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for Mohammed Obaid along with several unraced horses. However, Freedman said they are open to accepting more, “Sheikh Mohammed Obaid owns 80-100 horses over in the UK, regally bred horses, and I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t watching every single one of them run and push for certain ones to come out to Australia.”

Spywire Phelan Ready for Queensland campaign

Exciting colt Spywire (Trapeze Artist) will look to solidify his case as a leading R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic hope on Saturday, when he contests the Listed Phelan Ready S.

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained 2-year-old was an impressive debut winner at Rosehill in November, roaring away under Tyler Schiller to record a 2.3l victory.

Chris Waller has nominated Too Darn Hot (GB) colt Aboveforty for the Phelan Ready, while Mishani Explorer (Top Echelon) will look to string together successive wins after breaking through on debut at the Sunshine Coast.

Don’t forget about Young’s charge

Co-trainer Natalie Young expects sharp improvement from Forgot You (NZ) (Savabeel) in the G1 Northerly S. at Ascot on Saturday, after finishing down the track in the G1 Railway S.

Speaking about the run, Young told The Races WA, “On face value it was a little disappointing, but then he floated to Sydney, had a plane trip to Perth and then with the heat, it all just flattened him a little bit.”

Veteran jockey Paul Harvey, who can boast four wins in the 1800-metre Group 1, has taken the ride, replacing Daniel Moor, giving Young some local expertise around an often tricky Ascot circuit.

“He’s a great rider and a nice good strong rider too,” Young said of Harvey, “It’s what you want for this type of horse and he knows the track well.”

French stakes winner for Shalaa

The Woodside Park Stud boys are firing on all cylinders. Resident stallions Vancouver and Rich Enuff sired the first two home in Saturday’s G1 Winterbottom S. However, eager not to be left out of the action was Shalaa (Ire), whose 4-year-old son Siam Paragon (Fr) won the Listed Prix Luthier S. over the weekend. It was the second stakes victory for the entire, having earlier claimed the Listed Prix de Pontarme.

Yonce on the comeback

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Yonce (NZ) (Proisir) has taken further steps towards her comeback to racing on Monday with a jump-out.

Yonce was last seen finishing fourth in the G1 Queen of the Turf in 2022. However, Maher was happy with the daughter of Proisir’s latest jump-out effort.

“She’s trialled well, but she just wanted to overdo it a fraction early and it took a little bit out of her finish,” Maher said.

“Yonce is still getting there. It’s her third jump-out and just getting her back is the main thing.

“She did a super job and went to Group 1 company and ran well, so she’s that sort of quality.”

Defibrillate retired

The G1 Zabeel Classic winner Defibrillate (NZ) (Shocking) has been retired. The multiple stakes winner was trained in Australia by Patrick Payne, and started his career under his breeder Graham Richardson in New Zealand.

“He won three Listed races over there, sadly we couldn’t get over there much due to COVID at the time, but I managed to get one of his races when he won at Flemington,” Richardson told Racing.com.

“We’ve retired Defibrillate, he’s had a couple of bad incidents in his races and hasn’t been the same since, but he’s certainly earned his way.

“He’s been a great horse and I want to look after him.”

Brown’s Capacity surges to Matriarch victory

The Chad Brown-trained Surge Capacity (USA) (Flintshire {GB}) proved best of Brown’s four entries in the G1 Matriarch S. at Del Mar.

The 3-year-old daughter of Flintshire (GB) took a lucky gap to nab stablemate Fluffy Socks (USA) (Slumber {GB}).

Surge Capacity, already a dual Group 3 victress, becomes the first Group 1 winner for the Champion Turf horse and son of Dansili (GB).

Surge Capacity is from the Listed-winning Warrior’s Reward (USA) mare Strong Incentive (USA), and is a half-sister to the G3 Monmouth Cup victor Highly Motivated (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}).

Kay Army is something special

Kay Army (Chi) (Katmai {Chi}) has been making a splash in his native Chile and after winning Saturday’s St Leger by 6l looks set to take out the Chilean Triple Crown. Kay Army’s had already won the El Ensayo (Chilean version of the Guineas).

Kay Army is a son of Katmai (Chi), a son of Scat Daddy (USA) was unbeaten in all five starts as a 2-year-old and won all four of his starts as a 3-year-old, all being Group 1s. In total Kay Army’s has beaten his competition by 44.25l.

Stay Hot rebounds

Stay Hot (USA) (Summer Front {USA}) rebounded from an unplaced effort in the G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf with a late-flying victory in the G3 Cecil B. DeMille S. at Del Mar on Sunday.

The ridgling is the 18th stakes winner for the Airdrie Stud-based Summer Front (USA), a son of the Champion Sire War Front (USA). Stay Hot is a half-sister to the G2 Wonder Again S. victress Prerequisite (USA) (Upstart {USA}).

Vale Sun King

Multiple graded stakes winner Sun King (USA) (Charismatic {USA}), a retiree at Old Friends since 2017, was euthanised Saturday at Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital due to inoperable cancer, the Georgetown retirement facility reported Sunday. He was 21.

Campaigned by Tracy Farmer and trained by Nick Zito, Sun King won the G3 Pennsylvania Derby, G3 Tampa Bay Derby and G3 Leonard Richards S. in 2005 and added the G2 Commonwealth Breeders' Cup S. in 2006.

He hit the board in eight Grade I events, including third place finishes in the 2004 GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile and GI Champagne S. and runner-up efforts in the 2005 GI Haskell S., 2006 GI Whitney S. and GI Metropolitan H., as well as the 2007 GI Woodward S.

Looking Ahead puts the spotlight on runners of interest across Australia and New Zealand. Whether they are a particularly well-bred or high-priced runner having their first or second start, a promising galloper returning to the track or a horse which has trialled particularly well, we’ll aim to give you something to follow.

Tuesday provides three runners at Bendigo, aptly nicknamed 'the nursery of champions', including an expensive purchase by Trapeze Artist in the opening race of the program.

Bendigo, Race 1, 1pm AEDT, Club Barham Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1100m

Trapeze Warrior, 3-year-old colt (Trapeze Artist x Cocoa Doll {More Than Ready {USA}})

Stepping out in the opening race at Bendigo on Tuesday is expensive Trapeze Artist colt Trapeze Warrior, who makes his debut for Phillip Stokes.

By the aforementioned Trapeze Artist, this colt is part of his sire’s first crop, one that includes G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Griff. Out of a handy More Than Ready (USA) mare Cocoa Doll, his pedigree indicates he should be effective over shorter trips, his dam having won three races up to 1200 metres.

Cocoa Doll is a half-sister to sensational sprinter Away Game (Snitzel), who consistently performed at the highest level when racing, including winning the G2 Percy Sykes S. and R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, success that would afford her the title of Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 2019/20.

Purchased for $850,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Phillip Stokes Racing, the colt has been given time to make it to the races. He was victorious in his most recent jump-out, a 1000-metre heat on the synthetic track at Pakenham.

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Bendigo, Race 2, 1.30pm AEDT, KFC Bendigo Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1000m

Ezeiza, 3-year-old filly (Rubick x Dirty {Hussonet {USA}})

Mornington-based trainer Cliff Brown makes the long drive to Bendigo on Tuesday to debut Rubick filly Ezeiza, who has the services of Damian Lane to partner her for a first look at a competitive race.

Bred and now raced by Greg Perry’s Greenwich Stud, the filly is out of Listed Vo Rogue Plate winner Dirty (Hussonet {USA}), who proved herself to be a reliable sprinting type in Queensland. Her production career has been strong, with six foals to make it to the track all winning, including Listed Ipswich Cup winner Happy Go Plucky (Pluck {USA}).

Sired by Rubick, who has proven himself to be a quality stallion in the opening phase of his stud career, Ezeiza would be winner number 247 for her stallion if she can greet the judge first on Tuesday.

Her work leading into her debut has given every indication she can run a bold race, winning two jumpouts in preparation.

Bendigo, Race 4, 2.30pm AEDT, Dearungo & Lea Electrical Mdn Plate, $27,000, 1400m

Justaboom, 3-year-old filly (Justify {USA} x Kononkop {Arg} {Pure Prize {USA}})

Making her debut on Tuesday at Bendigo is the superbly-bred Justaboom, who provides a pedigree rich in elite-level performances from across the Americas.

By the sparkling chestnut Justify (USA), who is enjoying an extraordinary run across both hemispheres so early into his stallion career, Justaboom is out of Kononkop (Arg), who won the G1 G.P de Portancas and the G1 G.P Estrellas Juvenile Fillies in Argentina. Also given the title of Champion 2-Year-Old Filly in 2016/17, she is a half-sister to Koller (Arg), a winner of the G2 Clasico America who has now sired four stakes winners in his own right.

Trained by the Cranbourne-based duo of Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock, who are striking at 16 per cent from their last 50 runners, this filly improved sharply from her first jump-out on November 13 into her second on November 20.

Connections parted with $150,000 to secure her from the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, out of the draft of Coolmore Stud.

Looking Back

Sunday provided a good result for Looking Ahead, with Monte Supreme (I Am Invincible) getting the job done at Hawkesbury. The only other runner, Ichika (Maurice {Jpn}) was withdrawn from her race at the same venue.

First-time starters lining up on Tuesday, December 5

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Monday, December 4

No first season sires' results

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Tuesday, December 5

No first season sires' runners

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