Flemington: Listed Kensington S., $200,000, 1000m
It was an impressive performance for a lightly raced horse, Katsu (Mikki Isle {Jpn}) digging deep to win at Listed level at his first run since July.
It was the fifth win from 10 starts for the promising 4-year-old who is the sixth stakes winner (the second local with Dragonstone the other) for his former Arrowfield shuttler - a Group 1 son of the great Deep Impact (Jpn).
Bred by Arrowfield, Katsu was sold by them to Grahame Begg Racing for $170,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale (Highway Session).
He is one of two winners produced by the lightly raced Nowra maiden winner Zing And Swing (Not A Single Doubt) whose grandam is the outstanding matriarch Summoned (Crowned Prince {USA}). Not yet returned to the Stud Book for 2023, Zing And Swing has a 2-year-old called Two Wolves (Castelvecchio) - missing to Admire Mars (Jpn) the following season.
Zing And Swing is one of the nine winners produced by the city-placed Zest (Marauding {NZ}), dam of the G3 Triscay S. winner Zestful (Redoute's Choice), the dam of the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic and dual Group winner Military Rose (General Nediym) whose grandson Espionage (Zoustar) won this year's G3 Breeders' Plate at debut.
Katsu is Summoned's 36th stakes-winning descendant, that great broodmare best represented by her five-time Group 1-winning son, the successful stallion Zeditave.
Ascot: Listed ATA S., $125,000, 2200m
It was a good race for the Pearce stable providing the quinella - Queen Alina (Mahuta) digging deep to defeat Black Fantasy (Blackfriars) in an exciting finish.
Stakes placed on two occasions, Queen Alina was a deserved stakes winner on the back of consistent form - her record reading five wins and nine placings from 18 starts.
A homebred for the Van Heemst family's Lynward Park Stud, she was passed in for $55,000 at the 2020 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
She is the first stakes winner for her Lynward Park-based sire, a triple Group-winning son of Flying Spur.
Queen Alina is out of the multiple city winner High Aims (Southern Image {USA}) who has also produced by Mahuta the lightly raced and promising Highest Award who has won two of her first six starts.
In late October foaling a colt by Playing God - and last year a colt by Bondi, High Aims has a 2-year-old full sister (Karsavina) and a 3-year-old full brother (Miro) to Queen Alina.
Queen Alina's dam is the stakes-placed import Milezka (USA) (Geiger Counter {USA}), grandam of the Listed Alexandra S. winner Torah (Spinning World {USA}).
Her third dam is the dual Listed winner Northeastern (USA) (Northern Dancer {Can}) whilst her fourth dam is the G1 Vanity H. winner Miss Toshiba (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}) - ancestress of the Group 1 winners Isolda (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Waikuku (Ire) (Harbour Watch {Ire}) and Grand Arch (USA) (Arch {USA}).
And of Mahuta - giving Queen Alina a 5 X 4 cross of Miss Toshiba.
