Saturday summary: Munhamek gives Ollie legendary farewell at Ascot

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

Ollie’s farewell a winner!

Retiring legendary jockey Damien Oliver drew the crowds through the Ascot gates on Saturday, with fans and even the casual racegoer eager to glimpse the Champion in motion one last time. They weren’t disappointed. In Race 7, Oliver rode the David Harrison-trained Devine Belief (Playing God) to a popular 2.8l success over Rear Admiral (Astern), ridden by Craig Williams.

Oliver then hopped in the saddle of the Stephen Miller-trained Magnificent Andy (Magnus). The 5-year-old gelding stormed to victory in Race 8, with the crowds cheers heard in the background; to the mounting yard, Oliver was cheered by the excited crowd.

Gallery: Some of Damien Oliver's thrilling Ascot winners on his final day in the saddle, images courtesy of Western Racepix

Racing often doesn’t go to script, fairytale farewells are few and far between. However, Oliver saved the best until last aboard the Nick Ryan-trained Munhamek (GB) (Dark Angel {Ire}). Fittingly, it was in the race named in his honour - G3 The Damien Oliver Gold Rush.

Oliver settled the 8-year-old gelding towards the rear of the field but began to make his move through the field before the home turn, electing to save ground on the inside. Clint Johnston-Porter could have been forgiven for thinking he had the race at his mercy aboard the exciting 3-year-old Ripcord (Written By), but as many know, it’s hard to outride Oliver as he and Munhamek surged between a gap and hit the front to the cheers of thousands.

The Playing God-sired pair Comfort Me, and the Railway S. victor Bustler finished third and fourth, respectively.

An overwhelmed Oliver told Sky Racing Central, “I can’t think of a better way to finish it (career). I had some confidence in this horse because he can really take a gap.

“It’s a bit of relief. All this attention isn’t really my area. The crowd here at Ascot, the roar and applause I got from those last three winners, is something I’ll never forget.”

Encoder bounces back

Backers who forgave the Lee Freedman-trained Encoder (Encryption) last start on the Sunshine Coast were rewarded in a big way when the 3-year-old gelding bounced back to score the G3 Grand Prix S.

Encoder joined a strong cohort of recent winners of the G3 Grand Prix S., including this year’s runaway G1 Queensland Derby winner Kovalica (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Gypsy Goddess (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}), who won the G1 Queensland Oaks in 2022.

The Freedman-trained galloper, ridden by Damien Thornton, appreciated the 2100-metre journey to defeat Kirikan (NZ) (Tivaci) and Imezaaki (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).

Encoder is the second stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s royally bred second-season sire Encryption. Encoder’s dam, the Sebring mare Eight Below, saluted five times from 1400 to 1700 metres and has produced the G3 Gunsynd Classic and G3 Gold Coast Guineas placegetter Soothsayer (Divine Prophet).

The gelding was picked up for $10,000 by the Smarter Energy Group when offered by Alexia Fraser Bloodstock at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. Reoffered by Lucas Bloodstock at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale, Encoder was sold for $40,000 to Dream Thoroughbreds and Lee Freedman Racing.

Well-deserved stakes victory for Abounding

Very few would begrudge the Listed Gold Edition Plate victory by Robert Heathcote’s bonny filly Abounding (Rich Enuff) on Saturday at Eagle Farm.

The daughter of Woodside Park Stud’s Rich Enuff had earlier recorded placings in the G2 Ken Russell Memorial Classic, the Listed Bill Carter S., the Listed Mode S. and the Listed Oxlande S. However, ridden by Martin Harley, Abounding narrowly secured the win from Avone (Spirit Of Boom), while Show Me Mercy (Astern) ran third.

Abounding is the sixth stakes winner for Rich Enuff, a son of the Champion Sire Written Tycoon. The filly’s dam, the Casino Prince mare, Transonic, won five races and was placed in the G2 Wakeful S. and the Listed Ethereal S.

Abounding’s success gave her half-brother, by Russian Camelot (Ire), a superb update when he’s offered as Lot 1443 by Telemon Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Abounding, a graduate of Telemon Thoroughbreds, was part of their 2022 edition of the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft, selling to Light Racing and Robert Heathcote Racing for $75,000.

Rich Hill Stud sires quinella in Eulogy

The Stephen Autridge-trained Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) scored the most significant success of her career to date in Saturday’s G3 Eulogy S. at Trentham.

The daughter of Satono Aladdin (Jpn) broke her maiden on a Heavy 9 track at Te Aroha three starts ago. She was sixth last start in a BM65 at Pukekohe Park before seemingly jumping out of the ground to claim Saturday’s time-honoured Eulogy S.

Still Bangon, ridden by Tegan Newman, defeated the Ace High filly My Lips Are Sealed (NZ), giving Rich Hill-based sires a quinella in the Eulogy S., while Chica Mojito (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) finished third. The admirably tough Chantilly Lace (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) finished fourth.

“I’m thrilled to get that result,” trainer Autridge said. “It was a very close finish and a very testing race, but she fought strongly and deserved the win. She’s been racing well all through the spring, so it’s pleasing to see her step up into black-type company and put in a performance like that. To win a Group 3 race is absolutely massive for her owner-breeders and great for the filly.

“I’m picking that her next target is going to be at Pukekohe, stepping up over a bit more ground for the Sir Patrick Hogan Stakes on New Year’s Day.”

The November-born Still Bangon was bred and retained to race by M I and P M Guise. Her dam, the Le Bec Fin (NZ) mare Shebang (NZ), won five races and is a full sister to the multiple Listed placegetter Elle Tresor (NZ).

Also, part of She Bangon’s family is Purde (NZ) (Bahhare {USA}), who won four races, including the G3 Auraria S. and was placed in the G2 Matriarch S. and the G2 Herbert Power S. in addition, the daughter of Bahhare (USA) recorded fourth-place finishes in the G1 Australasian Oaks and the G1 South Australian Derby.

Still Bangon provides her sire Satono Aladdin with his eighth stakes winner.

Classy Campionessa

Te Akau Racing’s head trainers Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson enjoyed a superb Saturday at Te Rapa in New Zealand. They saluted in the opening race with a promising colt on debut, Move To Strike (I Am Invincible), a $525,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate. Race 4 then saw the classy 6-year-old mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) continue the perfect start to her latest preparation by winning the G2 Cal Isuzu S.

The Cal Isuzu S. is the ninth career victory for the daughter of Contributer (Ire), and her third success in a Group 2 race. Campionessa showed connections she was on track for a productive campaign when a first-up winner of the G2 Auckland Breeders’ S. over Faraglioni (NZ) (El Roca). On Saturday, partnered by the Champion Jockey Opie Bosson, who also partnered Move To Strike, Campionessa was a comfortable victress over Zaila (Street Boss {USA}) and Polygon (NZ) (Highly Recommended).

Co-trainer Bergerson told local media, “She’s come back from a short freshen-up in fantastic form. She’s really back in the groove.

“She was aided by a fantastic ride from Opie (Bosson), who got her into a lovely spot. She relaxed beautifully, was presented at the right time and was strong to the line.

“All systems go for the Zabeel Classic now. As long as she comes through today (Saturday), we’ll press on for that and going up to the 2000 metres will be ideal for her.”

Campionessa failed to meet her reserve of NZ$70,000 when offered by Mapperley Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Sent to Australia for the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale as part of the Westbury Stud draft, she sold for $60,000 to David Ellis.