Juvenile summary: sons of Vinnie make a mark on Saturday

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Traffic Warden impresses at Caulfield

The royal blue silks of Godolphin landed the first strike at Caulfield on Saturday with a promising colt in Traffic Warden. The son of Street Boss (USA) brought race experience to the 1000-metre event, having been placed on debut behind the impressive Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) at Rosehill early in December.

On that occasion Traffic Warden was slow to begin and sat towards the rear of the field, while Storm Boy dominated from the front, but the son of Street Boss was impressive working towards the line getting within 2.3l of the winner despite coming from a less than desirable position.

Traffic Warden, ridden by Jamie Kah, at Caulfield was able to muster more speed from the barriers settling in a much closer position during the running, before Kah, using her expertise was able to peel the colt to the outside of the Amy and Ash Yargi-trained and stakes-placed runner Express Yo’Self (Alabama Express), asked Traffic Warden for more effort. Duly responding, he put away the Alabama Express filly to record a 1.5l victory. Running into third was the Starspangledbanner colt, I’m Kenough, from the Leon and Troy Corstens yard.

Kah was impressed by the feel Traffic Warden gave her, post-race she told Racing.com, “Even just going to the gates he gave me the feeling he’s a really nice horse. When you ask him, he comes back to you.

“Traffic Warden has a beautiful big action, and I was happy when he jumped well because I really didn’t want to be too far away from the field. As we saw last start (Rosehill) he got back quite far and ran home strongly, but the way the Caulfield track is playing today (Saturday) I didn’t want that.

“He’s a very push-button runner, when I asked him to take the gap he obliged and accelerated. I think he’s very classy but I believe he'll be nicer over a bit further.”

Traffic Warden is the second foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Efficiently. She won only once (from only seven starts) but carries a beautiful page, being a full sister to the Group 2 winner and G1 Golden Slipper placegetter Sidestep.

Other relatives to Efficiently include the G1 VRC Oaks and the G2 Wakeful S. victress Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), the G1 Champagne S. hero Skilled and the late Ambidexter, a winner of the G2 Theo Marks S. and placegetter in the G1 Epsom H.

They all hail from the outstanding producer Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}). Not only was she a successful broodmare she was equally adept on the racecourse, winning five races including the G2 Sandown Guineas and the G3 Vanity S.

In addition to her stake-winning progeny, Dextrous, is also the dam of the G3 Adrian Knox S. placegetter and G1 Australasian Oaks fourth finisher, Flexible (Hallowed Crown).

Efficiently’s first foal, a full brother to Traffic Warden, named Organized, passed away before he was able to race. The mare has a filly by Frosted (USA), and recently foaled another full brother to Saturday’s Caulfield winner.

Anode provides half-brother timely update

Saturday’s juvenile event at Randwick saw the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) all the rage. The 2-year-old lit up Rosehill with a 7.5l trial win on December 5; the success saw him trot out the $1.22 favourite. However, Amazing Eagle proved no match for the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Anode (I Am Invincible) at the end of the 1100-metre event.

The son of I Am Invincible, ridden by Rachel King, was the ultimate professional. While Amazing Eagle missed the start and raced a tad greenly, Anode hit the front and stayed there, coasting away by 3.5l from the Capitalist colt, finishing the best of the rest was War Council (Royal Meeting {Ire}), from the Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes yard.

Anode was a 3.5l trial winner at the Rosehill meeting in December, although his effort was overshadowed by Amazing Eagle’s. Before the December 5 trial, Anode was also a trial winner at Randwick on November 20.

Anode is the ninth foal from the Fantastic Light (USA) mare Mysterious Light. Saturday’s success provided a timely update for Anode’s half-brother, by Maurice (Jpn), who will be offered as Lot 416 by Evergreen Stud Farm at the 2024 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale next March.

Anode is a half-brother to the Listed Singapore Derby victor and G3 Grand Prix S. placegetter Han Xin (Sepoy). His second dam, Cirque Du Soleil (Danehill {USA}), is a full sister to the brilliant sire and galloper Fastnet Rock. The son of I Am Invincible failed to meet his $375,0000 reserve when consigned at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Evergreen Stud, who now races the colt under Evergreen Rich.

Move strikes at Te Rapa

The powerful Te Akau Racing operation took the wraps off a $525,000 colt at Te Rapa on Saturday, named Move To Strike, a son of I Am Invincible, who enjoyed an Australasian juvenile double with Anode winning on the Rosehill card in Australia.

Move To Strike is trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson and was ridden by Opie Bosson, he an authoritative 4.8l winner over Montana Bay (NZ) (Thunder Down Under) and further away in third was Force Of Law (NZ) (War Decree {USA}).

The success provided the Champion Jockey Bosson with his 2000th winner. Move To Strike, bred by Gerry Harvey, is the ninth foal from the outstanding No Evidence Needed. The daughter of Shamardal (USA) won six races, including the G2 Let’s Elope S. and the G3 Southern Cross S.

She also filled placings in the G1 Sir Rupert Clarke S. and the G1 Schweppes Oaks. The best progeny to date by No Evidence Needed has been the Snitzel gelding Discharged, a five-time winner and Group 2 placegetter.

Move To Strike found many admirers at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when offered by Baramul Stud and was ultimately knocked down to Te Akau Racing’s principal, David Ellis, for $525,000.

No Evidence Needed is set to have a colt by Widden Stud’s Zoustar at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Catalogued as Lot 1008, the colt is part of the Westbury Stud draft.