Boxing Day summary continued: Zennzella reigns supreme in the Lord S.

Cover image courtesy of Racing Victoria

Zennzella finds form

Classy mare Zennzella (Snitzel) was an eye-catching third on resumption at Caulfield after 245 days off the scene. The daughter of Snitzel returned to Caulfield on Tuesday to contest the Listed Lord S. over 1700 metres.

Zennzella, ridden by Jamie Kah, and despite hanging out had too much in hand to deny her stablemate Mankayan (Ire) (Intello {Ger}) and Keats (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).

Trained by Ciaron Maher and David Eustace, the mare was sold earlier in the year through the Newgate Consignment to Dermot Farrington Bloodstock for $750,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare Sale.

Maher speaking to Racing.com after the success said, “The future looks very bright for her. She’s a Group 2 winner, won the Wakeful and it’s great to get a winner for Rick Jamieson and the Gilgai team.

“She is a Magic Millions horse, so there is a staying race that is fairly restricted for good money, but it doesn’t carry black type, so I will see what they want to do with her.”

Always showing a high level of ability, the daughter of Snitzel had won the G2 Wakeful S. earlier in her career and finished fourth in the G1 VRC Oaks. Zennzella was originally a graduate of Baramul Stud’s 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling draft where Kennewell Racing and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $350,000 to secure her.

Her dam, the Zenno Rob Roy (Jpn) mare Zennista (NZ), won nice races from 1200 to 2400 metres including the G3 ARC Sofitel Luxury Hotel S. twice and the G3 Tauranga S. Zennista was also placed in the G1 New Zealand Oaks and the G2 Brisbane Cup.

Zennzella was one of three winners for the Maher and Eustace camp. Having earlier trained Bubbly Lass (More Than Ready {USA}) in Race 3 and Mrs Chrisse (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) in Race 5.

South Australian raiders land Christmas spoils

The South Australians were to the fore in the Listed Christmas S. on Tuesday at Caulfield. A handy field of 11 lined up to contest the $200,000 feature. However, it was the Shane and Cassie Oxlade-trained Sghirripa (Lonhro), under an inspired ride by Craig Newitt, who reigned supreme.

The progressive 4-year-old gelding was having only his 13th career start of which he’s won six races. The Listed Christmas S. is the son of Lonhro’s biggest success to date and earned him a spot in next year’s G1 Oakleigh Plate, if the connections wish to chase that path.

Finishing behind the son of Lonhro was Najem Suhail (Starspangledbanner), who was on the six-day backup, while Curran (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) flashed into third. The resuming The Astrologist (Zoustar) finished fifth just ahead of the race favourite Rose Quartz (Written Tycoon).

The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Yonce (NZ) (Proisir), who returned from a 626-day hiatus, made some late ground in ninth.

Sghirripa’s dam is the unraced Encosta De Lago mare Wonder I Do. She is a half-sister to the Listed winner Albumin (Foxwedge), who was also placed in the G2 Standish H.

Sghirripa was a $70,000 purchase by Franceso Sghirripa from the draft of Grenville Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. The gelding is the 97th stakes winner for the pensioned Champion Sire Lonhro.

Colmar gives Strasbourg win number two at Morphettville

Colmar (Strasbourg) showed plenty of dash to beat his rivals at Morphettville, leading boldly under Justin Potter to score a strong victory at his second career start.

Having run a nice race behind promising colt Wolfgang (Exceed And Excel) on debut, Colmar improved sharply at his second competitive appearance, winning in commanding fashion under jockey Justin Potter in the second race at Morphettville on Saturday.

Capatilising on bungled starts by the Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained duo Dancing Storm (Sir Prancelot {Ire}) and Mondello (Grunt {NZ}), building a significant margin on his main market rivals before the home turn.

The gelded son of Strasbourg went past the winning post under a hold, 2.3l clear of second-placed Darlinc (Nicconi), with a further length back to race favourite Dancing Storm. The success gives his sire a second career success in his first-season, from just four to race in the early stanza of the 2-year-old season.

Trained by Ron Daniel and Trish Stanbury, Colmar was offered at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, but was later withdrawn. He has made his way to the ownership of the Stanbury family, having been bred by the Phelan-Tribel Partnership.

Out of Rapala (Encosta De Lago), who was twice a winner in New South Wales, Colmar is her third foal to win a race out of four to race, with both Evil Speedo (Hinchinbrook) and Star Legend (Exosphere) greeting the judge first in Singapore.

O’Shea’s Lion takes out Summer Cup

Finding a more prominent position in the running proved the key for Lion’s Roar (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), who was able to taste victory in the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick on Tuesday.

Having run into the minor money in his last two starts, there was a wave of support for Lion’s Roar to finally find the winning post with his head in front, a feat he was able to achieve thanks to a well-judged ride by Tyler Schiller.

Gallery: Lion’s Roar (NZ), was able to taste victory in the G3 Summer Cup at Randwick on Tuesday, images courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

Settling down outside the leader, a far cry from his customary position towards the rear of the field, the 6-year-old gelding was able to grab control early in the home straight, and withstand a late challenge from Luncies (GB) (Iffraaj {GB}) to take out his first race since the G1 Randwick Guineas in March 2021.

The original leader of the race, Baby Rider (Fr) (Gleneagles {Ire}) was able to gamely stick on for third, ahead of the veteran Stockman (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who fleetingly looked as though he was going to use his wet-track affinity to figure in the finish.

Lion’s Roar is out of Minnaleo (NZ) (Black Minnaloushe {USA}), who was successful four times when in training. She has transferred her talents to the barn, producing three winners from three to race.

Purchased by Champion Thoroughbreds for NZ$65,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, the gelding has now notched over $2 million prizemoney across his 30-start career.