Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix
Ascot: G2 Ted van Heemst S., $300,000, 2100m
Really knuckling down late to gamely overhaul the brave leader Marocchino (Maschino), Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was in winning form for the first time since taking out the G2 The Q22 in June last year.
A three-time stakes winner on Australian soil and once in Ireland, the 8-year-old bred by Whisperview Trading Ltd is one of the 100 stakes winners for his former shuttling sire, a dual Group 1-winning son of Danehill (USA).
Numerian's dam Delicate Charm (Ire) (High Chaparral {Ire}) has produced another three winners including the Group 3-placed Montesilvano (Ire) (also by Holy Roman Emperor) and the dam of this year's G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Porta Fortuna (Ire) (Caravaggio {USA}).
Delicate Charm is out of a half-sister to the G3 St Simon S. winner Kithanga (Ire) (Darshaan {GB}) whose son is the G1 St Leger hero Milan (GB) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}).
This is a strong European family, Numerian is able to count amongst his relations the Group winners Koora (GB) (Pivotal {GB}), Kemari (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Karpion (GB) (Cape Cross {Ire}) as well as the G1 Epsom Derby-winning successful sire Kahyasi (Ire) (Ile de Bourbon {USA}).
Ancestress of this family is the multiple Group 1 winner Majideh (GB) (Mahmoud {Fr}), dam of the big race winners Gallant Man (GB) and Masaka (Ire) (Nearco {Ity}).
Eagle Farm: G3 BJ McLachlan S., $300,000, 1200m
Proving a class above his rivals after finding early trouble, Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) remains undefeated as he heads towards the Magic Millions in which he is currently fighting out favouritism with his stablemate Straight Charge (Written By) who also impressed today.
Bred by Katom and sold by Coolmore Stud to Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $460,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Storm Boy is the 25th stakes winner (the fourth locally) for his Coolmore-based American Crown-winning shuttling sire.
The well named colt is the first foal produced by the lightly raced Moonee Valley winner Pelican (NZ) (Fastnet Rock) whose second foal is a Pierro colt and whose third - born in mid-October this year - is a filly by St Mark's Basilica (Fr).
Pelican is one of the four winners produced by the star New Zealand-bred mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}) - the seven-time Group 1 winner who also produced the Group 3-placed dual city winner Divan (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Seachange is one of two Group 1 winners produced by the placed Just Cruising (NZ) (Broad Reach {NZ}), also dam of the G1 Levin Classic winner Keepa Cruisin (NZ) (Keeper) - in turn dam of the Listed winner Espresso Martini (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}).
Storm Boy is the fourth (from 14 runners/12 winners) Justify stakes winner out of Fastnet Rock mares - a cross which provides for the duplication of the terrific mare Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}) via her grandson Storm Cat (USA) and son Royal Academy (USA).
Listed Bernborough Plate, $200,000, 1600m
Once into clear running, Acquitted (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) was off and away, impressive recording his second Listed win in a row.
One of the 43 stakes winners for his former Darley shuttling sire, he is out of the lightly raced Blameless (Ire) (Authorized {Ire}) whose dam is the dual Group 1 winner Crystal House (Chi) (Golden Voyager {USA}) who earned the titles of Chilean Horse Of The Year and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
The dam of the Dubai Group 2 winner Desert Fire (Ire) (Cape Cross {Ire}), Crystal House is out of Cristalline (Chi) (Northair {USA}) who was also crowned Chilean Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.
And she produced yet another winner of that title - the G1 Chilean Oaks winner Crystal Clear (Chi) (Golden Voyager) whose grandson is the Group 1 winner Califat (Chi) (Until Sundown {USA}).
This is a prolific Chilean family, one which has also produced the Champion 2- and 3-Year-Old Colt Crisantemo (Chi) (Fappavalley {USA}) and the G1 Gran Premio El Derby hero Cefalu (Chi) (Dushyantor {USA}) who ventured to Australia, winning the Listed JRA Cup at Moonee Valley.
Bred by Lannister Holdings, Acquitted boasts a cross of the terrific mare Where You Lead (USA) (Raise A Native {USA}) via her descendants Deploy (Ire) and Rainbow Quest (USA) - noting that he is one of the 37 stakes winner bred on this Dubawi (Ire)/Rainbow Quest combo - and one of the three by Night Of Thunder.
Listed Falvelon, $200,000, 1200m
It was a case of deja vu with Zarastro (I Am Invincible) racing away to an easy win at Listed level - as he did four weeks ago when taking out the Listed Recognition S. at Doomben.
A good advertisement for Inglis Digital - the $1,050,000 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduate was purchased for just $32,500 by the Tony Gollan stable in October last year.
Bred by Fairway Thoroughbreds, he is one of the 101 stakes winners for his Yarraman Park-based Champion Sire. He is the first live foal for the G2 Light Fingers S. winner Adrift (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Missing last year after foaling a full brother to Zarastro, Adrift has a 2-year-old daughter by the same sire - Seascape retained to race by Fairway; trained by Michael Freedman. Her 3-year-old Helmsman (Merchant Navy) was out of the placings in his only trial.
Adrift is one of the 11 winners produced by the unraced Stray (NZ) (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), also dam of the R. Listed Karaka Million winner Imperial Win (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and grandam of the G1 Railway S. winner Entriviere (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).
A descendant of the outstanding matriarch Myrtlewood (USA) (Blue Larkspur {USA}), Stray is half-sister to Maldivian (NZ) (Zabeel), winner of the G1 W.S Cox Plate, the G1 C.F Orr S. and the G1 Caulfield S.
Zarastro is one of the nine winners - from as many runners - for I Am Invincible out of mares by Zabeel.
Trentham: G2 Challenge S., NZ$150,000, 1400m
Kept up to the mark with a trial win since taking out a Group 3 contest at Riccarton Park in mid-November, Puntura (NZ) (Vespa {NZ}) was again in good form charging home out wide in this shorter contest.
One of the five stakes winners for his Mapperley Stud-based Group 1 winning sire - a son of Elusive City (USA), Puntura is a home-bred for Carole and John Lynskey out of their two-time winning mare Mumzahoney (NZ) (Magic Of Sydney) who has produced another three winners.
Two of whom have been successful at metropolitan level - Margherita Veloce (NZ) (also by Vespa) and Four Degrees (NZ) (Shocking).
Retired from stud duties with her final foal being a full brother to Puntura foaled last year, Mumzahoney hails from the family of the stakes winners Foxbay (NZ) (Zephyr Bay), Ellakapella (NZ) (Pompeii Court {USA}), Warrentherooster (NZ) (Savabeel) and Jason Belltree (NZ) (Ferlax {NZ}).
G3 Manawatu Cup, NZ$120,000, 2300m
The first horse since Lomondy (NZ) (Noble Bijou {USA}) in 1986 and 1989 to win this race twice - and the first to record consecutive victories since Bandon (NZ) (Jekyll {GB}) in 1965 and 1966, Sagunto (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) certainly knows how to shine on this day.
Bred by Waikato Stud and purchased by the McKay family for NZ$120,000 at the 2017 New Zealand Bloodstock Premier Yearling Sale, Sagunto is one of the 96 stakes winners.
He is one of the four winners (from five to race) for the Listed Breeders S. winner Queen Sabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) who has also produced the Flemington winner Tyrannize (NZ) (also by O'Reilly).
Served last spring by Tivaci after producing a filly by Per Incanto (USA), Queen Sabeel is one of the five winners for the metropolitan winner Vanessatheundressa (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) who also produced the Group 3-placed Vandancer (NZ) (Savabeel).
Vanessatheundressa's dam is the Listed Queen Adelaide S. winner Voguessa (Almurtajaz {NZ}), half-sister to the durable Group 2 winner Gypsy Rogue (Gypsy Kingdom) from the family of the champion Vo Rogue (Ivor Prince {USA}).
