Group 1 goals for Benedetta
Talented mare Benedetta (Hellbent) has skirted Group 1 company during her ascent through the grades, but that will change in the autumn, according to trainer Jason Warren.
Last seen running fourth in The Silver Eagle at Randwick in October, the exciting sprinter will look to build on her imposing record of six wins from 10 career starts against elite opposition in the coming months.
Benedetta | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s right on track time-wise and we’re really pleased with her,” Warren told Racing.com.
“She’ll probably kick-off in the (G1) Oakleigh Plate all being well and the race we’re really keen to get her to is the (G1 Robert) Sangster Stakes in Adelaide.”
Kai shows her class in Hazlett
Damp conditions proved no barrier to Kai (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the Listed Hazlett S. at Wingatui on Tuesday, with the 5-year-old mare powering home late to propel herself into the winner's circle.
Jockey Kylie Williams was able to negotiate a tricky barrier (13 after scratchings) to find a run down the middle of the straight, lengthening smartly to claim victory for the fifth time in her career to date.
She is the 21st black-type winner for Ocean Park (NZ), out of Testa Rossa mare Brilliant Blush (NZ).
Ryan and Alexiou with early double at Randwick
The start of the Randwick program on Tuesday couldn’t have gone any better for Rosehill-based trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, who prepared the first two winners on the program.
Proceedings got off to a hot start for the co-trainers when Franz Josef (Snitzel) finished strongly in his 1400-metre maiden H. assignment, winning by 0.3l under jockey Rachel King.
Gerald Ryan and Stirling Alexiou | Image courtesy of Inglis
Race 2 provided the pair with another winner, with Jacob’s Time (Trapeze Artist) winning nicely under Jay Ford to secure a running double.
Ryan and Alexiou will run their progressive 4-year-old gelding Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}) in the Marouba Mile at Royal Randwick on Saturday.
In foal, Bubbly wins at Caulfield
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Bubbly Lass (More Than Ready {USA}) had not won a race since September 2022 before she stormed to success at Caulfield on Boxing Day.
The 6-year-old mare was served by Yulong’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa in October this year and has found form after an unplaced effort at Bendigo in November, which was followed by a placed effort at Sandown-Lakeside before winning at Caulfield.
Bubbly Lass was a $140,000 purchase by Thompson Creek Thoroughbreds and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Blue Gum Farm at the 2019 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Wild Night back in the winner’s circle
Wild Night (NZ) Vanburgh returned to the winner’s circle on Tuesday at Pukekohe Park. The 4-year-old gelding had always shown bundles of talent but hadn’t won since December 2022. However, he made amends on Boxing Day, ridden by a flying Opie Bosson. Wild Night found his best form to defeat Uderzo (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}).
Bosson had earlier won the opener on the Te Akau Racing-owned Cool ‘N’ Fast (NZ) (Savabeel), followed by the second event on Petrucci (I Am Invincible), and claimed the feature, the G1 Zabeel Classic on Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Chrissie too slick
The Ciaron Maher and David Eustace-trained Mrs Chrissie (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was too slick for her rivals on Tuesday at Caulfield. The 5-year-old mare was lining up for start 10 and brought her record to three victories and three placings with a dominant performance.
Mrs Chrissie (NZ) | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Mrs Chrissie is the daughter of the nine-time winner Turf Fire (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was placed in the G3 Stewards S.
Startantes to bow out
Robert Heathcote has indicated his Group 1 winner, Startantes (Star Turn), is likely to retire following the running of Saturday’s The Buffering at Doomben.
“It has been a stellar career, and The Buffering is an apt race for her to retire in,” Heathcote said.
“She has been a wonderful member of an incredible family, which is just the gift that keeps giving. The family came into my life in 1998 with Canantes, and there have been 70-odd winners. She has clearly been the jewel in the crown with a Group 1 to her name.”
Robert Heathcote and Damian Browne | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Heathcote added that Startantes would be offered for sale via the 2024 Inglis Chairman’s Sale in Sydney.
“We will sell her at the Inglis Chairman’s Sale. It’s the ownership decision; normally, I’d like to have sold her at the Magic Millions here, but they made that call.”
Plenty Of Ammo remains unbeaten this preparation
The progressive Symon Wilde-trained Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) showed plenty of courage to prevail in Caulfield Race 4 despite not handling the conditions underfoot. The 5-year-old mare, ridden by Jordan Childs, has won all three starts this preparation, bringing her record to five starts and four victories. Plenty Of Ammo’s only unplaced run came on debut at Warrnambool.
Angel runs them into the ground
Angel Down (Hellbent) was an impressive victress in the Caulfield opener on Tuesday over 1700 metres. The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old proved to be too strong for her rivals, ridden by Jye McNeil, winning by 0.5l from Girls Girls Girls (Fiorente {Ire}) and Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}), a further 1.8l away in third.
The stable indicated Angel Down may head to Tasmania for stake targets or be put away for an autumn preparation.
Angel Down was a $220,000 purchase by Darby Racing from the draft of Redbank North/Huntworth Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Angel Down as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The filly is from the Snitzel mare Amoret, who is closely related to the G1 Vinery Stud S. victress Single Gaze (Not A Single Doubt).
Brad Parnham picks up Numerian ride
Jockey Brad Parnham will look to win his second G2 Perth Cup aboard a top chance in the form of Numerian (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), replacing Clint Johnston-Porter on the Annabel Neasham-trained import.
The 8-year-old gelding, who won the G2 Ted van Heemst S. at Ascot on Saturday, will carry 59 kilograms in the 2400-metre contest, half a kilogram more than fellow visitor Zoumon (Zoustar), with only Startrade (Trade Fair {GB}) and The Velvet Queen (Universal Ruler) joining the pair off the minimum weight of 53 kilograms.
Numerian (Ire) | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
Numerian is the second favourite in the current market, behind Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince), who will be ridden by champion jockey William Pike.
Pinjarra success continues for Man Crush in Boxing Day Dash
Manhattan Rain gelding Man Crush has come out on top of a five-horse thriller at Pinjarra on Tuesday, winning the Boxing Day Dash (RTG84+ H.) in a pulsating finish to the feature on the program.
Ridden positively by Holly Watson to sit outside Big Screen (Sessions) for the majority of the 1300-metre contest, Man Crush was able to creep past the lamplighter and repel challenges from last-start winner Let’s Galahvant (Galah), Vast Art (Flying Artie) and Street Parade (Lucky Street) to secure a narrow victory.
Manhatton Rain | Standing at Geisel Park
The win is his second from three starts at the venue, having also won the R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy in February.
Pearl Rain wins Nhill Cup
Benefitting from a furious need for speed in the middle stanza of the race, Pearl Rain (Al Maher) was able to slice through the field under Alana Kelly to take out the Nhill Cup at BM84 H. level on Tuesday in Victoria.
Settling down last as the speed was poured on early, Kelly was able to bide her time, and as the field fanned wide a perfect passage opened, affording the 5-year-old mare a dream run to stomp through and take out the Cup.
Now a winner of six races from 21 starts, her last victory came in August over 2500 metres at BM78 H. level.
Titleholder fee announced
Days after bowing out as a game third in the G1 Arima Kinen, the intial fee of Titleholder (Jpn) at Lex Stud in Hokkaido, Japan has been announced.
The son of Duramente (Jpn), who won seven races from 19 starts, last tasted victory in the G2 Nikkei Sho at Nakayama, thrashing his rivals by 8l after making an early beeline to grab control of the race.
Titleholder (Jpn) | Image courtesy of the JRA
His debut fee for 2024 will be ¥3,500,000 (AU$36,100), making him one of the most expensive first-season stallions in a crop boasting the likes of Palace Malice (USA), Hukum (Ire) and the recently retired Equinox (Jpn).
