Saturday summary: Peace Treaty dominant, consistency rewarded at Doomben

Written by

Jesse Dart

6 min read

Exciting filly Peace Treaty (National Defense {GB}) gave her rivals little hope of catching her with an arrogant display at Moonee Valley, while at Doomben, consistent customers Lady Laguna (Overshare) and Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) broke through for deserved victories.

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Race-Day Recap

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Toowoomba-based trainer Rex Lipp enjoyed one of his biggest wins in recent years at Doomben on Saturday, when Cifrado (Encryption) powered home to claim victory in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate.

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The Annabel Neasham-trained Lady Laguna (Overshare) continues to relish life in Queensland, picking up a win in the Listed Nudgee S.

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Jockey Blake Shinn continued his day out at Doomben in The Buffering, delivering a perfect steer aboard Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) to get the James Cummings-trained gelding a second win this preparation.

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It was an easy watch for supporters of Peace Treaty (National Defense {GB}), with the speedy filly showing her talent in an easy win at Moonee Valley in the VOBIS Gold Carat.

Cifrado roars home to claim Vo Rogue Plate

There was certainly a task awaiting Cifrado (Encryption) as the field turned for home in the G3 Vo Rogue Plate, affording a number of key rivals a big head start. Once jockey Damien Thornton got to the outside, the gelding picked sharply, and was able to reel in Chrysaor (Better Than Ready) to secure his third success at stakes level.

One of Queensland’s top 2-year-olds of the 2022/23 season, having won the G2 Sires’ Produce S. and the G2 Spirit Of Boom S., it is his first success since competing as a 3-year-old, in his fourth run of the preparation.

Fleetingly, it looked like Chrysaor had the victory in his keeping, only being caught in the final strides as Cifrado descended on him. It was a superb result for Toowoomba trainers, Rex Lipp, who prepares Cifrado, trains out of the venue, as does Kevin Kemp, who saddled up third-placed Ringer’s Reward (Under The Louvre).

Out of a winning daughter of Excites, Madame Fly, Cifrado is well related to speedy types in the sunshine state, being a half-brother to Miami Fleiss (Spirit Of Boom), as well as being a relation to Chapter And Verse (Rothesay) and Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom), the latter winning this race in 2018.

Connections went to $320,000 to secure him in the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, out of the draft of Eureka Stud. It’s proven to be a shrewd purchase, with over $900,000 in the bank from his first 12 career starts.

Cifrado bolts in to win the G3 Vo Rogue Plate at Doomben | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Lady Laguna snatches victory in the Nudgee

Talented mare Lady Laguna (Overshare) seldom runs a bad race, and her consistency was rewarded in the Listed Nudgee S., with a clever ride by Tyler Schiller enabling her to greet the judge first.

Positioned off the speed by Schiller, the 4-year-old was able to duck back in towards the inside running rail, sneaking up the inside as a scrum of challengers presented in the centre of the track, fighting on strongly to win by 0.8l from a game Chinny Boom (Spirit Of Boom).

Remarkably, she has now finished in the top three in her last eight starts, mixing it with the likes of Magic Time (Hellbent), Aft Cabin (Astern) and Yellow Brick (The Mission). Her success on Saturday notches her fourth win from 20 career starts, in which she has finished in the top three on 14 separate occasions.

Lady Laguna is the most successful daughter of Overshare, being his only stakes winner to date. She is out of a thrice-winning daughter of Encosta De Lago, Catalina De Lago (NZ), who is a half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner She Will Be Loved (Strategic) and stallion Thorn Dancer.

Lady Laguna storms home to win the Listed Nudgee S. at Doomben | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Bred by Spendthift Farm, she was acquired by syndicators OTI Racing, and has gone on to win over $700,000 in prizemoney to date. Her success here grants a wildcard entry into the $1 million Magic Millions Fillies and Mares race in a fortnight.

Tamerlane gets the better of his rivals in The Buffering

The Godolphin operation have consistently enjoyed forays into Queensland around carnival periods, with Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) pulling off a successful raid to take out The Buffering at Doomben on Saturday.

Jockey Blake Shinn, who brought up a treble as he looks to build momentum across the upcoming carnivals in Queensland and New Zealand, was able to slice through and take a run close to the inside running rail, with the 6-year-old gelding showing plenty of fight to deny a fast-finishing Freedom Rally (Rubick) and a game Zoustyle (Zoustar), winning by 0.85l.

Now a holder of a wildcard entry for the $1 million Magic Millions Cup on January 13, the win on Saturday pushes Tamerlane past $900,000 in career prizemoney to date, accrued across 31 starts, nine of which have seen him victorious.

He is one of 25 stakes winners for his sire, Golden Horn (GB), and his only to date in Australia, with the Listed Paris Lane S. in October adding him to the black type boards. Perhaps unsurprisingly for a Godolphin-raced horse, he is well bred, being out of Wordcraft (GB), a winning daughter of the great Shamardal (USA).

The family has enjoyed great success in Australian racing, with Tamerlane boasting relations to stallions Not A Single Doubt and Snippets, while his grandam is the G1 Golden Slipper winner Forensics (Flying Spur).

Peace Treaty an arrogant winner of the VOBIS Gold Carat

The purple patch for Damian Lane continued at Moonee Valley on Saturday, with ‘Frosty’ securing the VOBIS Gold Carat aboard promising filly Peace Treaty (National Defense {GB}).

Pouncing on the lead after stepping cleanly from barrier one, the lightly raced 3-year-old had plenty left in the locker when turning into the home straight, accelerating away smartly to win by 3.25l in her fourth career start.

Luck appeared to desert Flying Mean (Lean Mean Machine) at a crucial stage just before the final turn, but he acquitted himself well to run second, while Setosa (Capitalist) was an honest run to grab third.

Speaking to Racing.com upon returning to scale, Lane was glowing in his appraisal of the filly, indicating there is much more in store for connections.

Damian Lane returns to scale aboard Peace Treaty | Image courtesy of Racing Photos

“She was great, she left the barriers really sharply which helped, I was able to kick up and hold my spot and control the race,” Lane said.

“I thought she was travelling a little close to her top there into the first corner but she found a nice rhythm after that and (she was) nice enough to be able to give a good finish.”

Peace Treaty is out of Statue Of Liberty (USA) mare Relaunch, who has produced two foals to race for as many winners. She is a half-sister to Cavaloce (Testa Rossa), who was twice successful at Listed level in South Australia, and is related to G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Reactive (Geiger Counter {USA}). She was picked up for $50,000 out of the Widden Stud draft by Roll The Dice Racing at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.

Cifrado

Lady Laguna

Tamerlane

Peace Treaty

Juvenile summary: Millions contenders record statement victories

Written by

Jesse Dart

6 min read

Three 2-year-old races were contested on Saturday, with all being taken out by Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale graduates, as the squeeze for a start in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic gets tighter.

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Race-Day Recap

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It was the fillies to the fore in the opening race at Moonee Valley on Saturday, with Jenni’s Meadow (Brutal {NZ}) providing her Newgate-based stallion with his first winner.

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Heading to Randwick after a brave second at Ballarat on debut, Parkour (Extreme Choice) showed a sizzling burst of acceleration to gather up his rivals and win impressively under Jamie Kah.

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The promising Wolfgang (Exceed And Excel) has accrued plenty of mileage in two months of racing, competing in three different states, with the colt able to chalk up another win at Doomben under Blake Shinn.

Jenni’s Meadow stamps Gold Coast credentials with strong debut

Only four runners were needed for Brutal (NZ) to get off the winning mark in the first-season sire race, with his daughter Jenni’s Meadow a strong victress at Moonee Valley to kick off proceedings on Saturday.

Settling in the back half of the field under Daniel Stackhouse, the filly moved into the race as the field rounded the corner for home, surging down the outside of her rivals and denying In Her Eyes (Star Witness) in a close finish.

The trifecta was ruled by fillies, with third placegetter Lady Gimlet (Starcraft {NZ}) holding on after being an early part of the speed, resigning Four Ace (Brutal {NZ}) to fourth.

Trained by Ben, Will and JD Hayes, who are developing their reputation as leading 2-year-old trainers in Victoria, the filly is another promising runner for owner Tony Ottobre, who names his horses after his late daughter Jennifer, who passed away from brain cancer in 2015.

Speaking to Racing.com after the race, co-trainer Ben Hayes revealed the way the exciting runner came into the care of Lindsay Park.

Jenni's Meadow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“Big congratulations to Tony (Ottobre), it’s a good story behind her, we loved her at the sales and he actually beat us, so we went straight up to him and went, ‘Is there a chance we could have her to train?’ and obviously, Tony gave her to us.”

Jenni’s Meadow was bought from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Ottobre for $260,000. She is out of a winning daughter of Redoute’s Choice, Meadow, who has produced two winners from three foals to race. Her 2022 foal, a filly by Heroic Valour, will be offered at the 2024 edition of the sale, as Lot 1256.

View Lot 1256

Jenni's Meadow is eligible to contest the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic in a fortnight, which carries $3 million in prizemoney.

Brutal (NZ) | Standing at Newgate Farm

Parkour shows his quality at start number two

Bumping into Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was always going to be a tricky debut for Parkour (Extreme Choice), but the baldy faced colt had the beating of his rivals in the opening race at Randwick on Saturday at his second attempt.

Given a patient ride by visiting jockey Jamie Kah, the colt showed his class over the concluding 200 metres, winning by 1.2l from Vianarra (Shalaa {Ire}), who followed the winner north from the Magic Millions Ballarat 2YO Classic that they both contested at their prior starts.

The victory is an important one for Godolphin, who have been buying a small number of yearlings at sales in recent years, a departure from the breed-and-race focus previously utlised by the powerful operation.

They’ve already found success through In Secret (I Am Invincible) at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and now Parkour has put his best hoof forward to continue the trend, having been picked up for $600,000 in the 2023 edition of the sale out of the Goodwood Farm draft.

Parkour as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

“It seemed to my eye that the field only went at a leisurely gallop, so he needed to really knuckle down and run the six furlongs right out and pick them up with substantial enough sectionals,” trainer James Cummings told Channel 7 after the race. “To see him run away late is a good sign for a very promising colt.

“There’s a lot about this 2-year-old that screams out to us that he’s a 2-year-old contender.”

Parkour is out of Trestrail, a winning daughter of Sebring, who hails from a strong sprinting family. Herself a winner at 1200 metres, Parkour is her first foal to race, with her next foal a colt by Castlevecchio. She has recently visited Darley Australia shuttle stallion Pinatubo (Ire).

“There’s a lot about this 2-year-old (Parkour) that screams out to us that he’s a 2-year-old contender.” - James Cummings

Well-travelled Wolfgang chalks up second win on the bounce at Doomben

Having provided Lloyd Kennewell and Lucy Yeomans their first metropolitan winner as a partnership when winning stylishly at Morphettville, Wolfgang (Exceed And Excel) showed his potential with a strong performance over 1200 metres at Doomben on Saturday.

Sent out a $1.50 favourite against a band of local rivals, the colt travelled beautifully behind the speed in the hands of Blake Shinn, peeling out shortly after passing the home corner and taking Defiant Boom (Spirit Of Boom), who gave plenty of cheek in the lead for James Orman.

Now a victor in two of his three career starts to date, Wolfgang has emerged as a leading contender for the R. Listed Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YO Classic in a fortnight, and has now ticked the box of being able to run a strong 1200 metres.

It’s a lucrative carrot to chase, with Kennewell Racing, Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) and Matt Houldsworth parting with $500,000 to secure him out of the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Wolfgang is out of the Star Witness mare Serenade, who is a half-sister to the G1 Kingston Town Classic (now Northerly S.) winner Stratum Star and electric 2-year-old Prague, both of whom are now enjoying stud careers.

Wolfgang as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions

His half-brother will be offered in the 2024 iteration of the sale, with Lot 164, a colt by King’s Legacy being available for purchase.

View Lot 164

Jenni's Meadow

Wolfgang

Parkour

Magic Millions

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Job Board

3 min read

On today's Job Board

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Silverdale Farm - Assistant Stud Manager

Silverdale Farm - Assistant Stud Manager

Silverdale currently has an exciting and unique opportunity for an Assistant Stud Manager to join its expanding team. Become a part of a growing and forward-thinking business that aspires to be an employer of choice in the thoroughbred industry.

This position would also ideally suit a couple (with family) should the partner have skills in horse care, gardening, photography, social media, administration skills, etc.

Candidates must be motivated, have a 'can-do' attitude and be passionate about working with horses. Previous experience working on stud farms is a must.

• Opportunity to use your experience and skills working with horses.

• Use your leadership skills.

• Unique state-of-the-art horse breeding farm and facilities.

• Great benefits for successful applicant.

• Modern accommodation and great staff facilities.

• Potential opportunity for a couple looking to both work and live on a farm.

• Work vehicle provided.

The Assistant Stud Manager role:

• Work closely with Rob Petith, our Stud Manager, in the day-to-day running of a commercial thoroughbred farm.

• Management of staff rostering, daily planning, and assigning daily tasks.

• Preparation of yearlings and weanlings for sales.

• Assist farriers and veterinarians – booking and coordinating.

• Experience in foaling mares (including post-natal care).

• Handling, exercising and caring for horses of various ages.

• Overseeing the daily care and supervision of horses, paddocks and stable work.

• Feeding, grooming, mucking boxes, general farm cleaning and tidying.

• If a couple is applying, a combination of horse and aligned skills is considered.

• Managing daily worksheets, billing and record keeping.

• Responsible for training of new staff.

• Participation and planning with the Silverdale Academy Intern Programs and coordination of Silverdale Intern Program – on-site learning skills.

Desirable Experience:

• Strong ability to lead a team.

• Focused attention to detail.

• Able and willing to be ‘hands-on’.

• Must have experience in areas of broodmare management, handling and yearling sales preparation.

• Must have proven experience in similar operations with health and safety management practices.

• Ability to effectively organise and supervise a small team.

• Equine nursing skills are an advantage.

Benefits:

• In return for your skills, expertise, and commitment, you will be rewarded with a generous salary commensurate with your qualifications, experience and skill level.

• Relocation costs for successful applicants interstate.

• Incentives offered for further training and upskilling.

• Utilise our great staff facilities, including accommodation, gym, rock climbing wall, tennis court, swimming pool and staff pavilion with a full-sized pool table.

Silverdale Farm is a unique 260-acre private elite thoroughbred farm located in the beautiful Southern Highlands region in NSW, southwest of Sydney near Bowral. Living and working in the Southern Highlands has many benefits, such as excellent schools, top medical providers, a supportive community, and close proximity to Sydney and Wollongong beaches, racetracks, and extensive shopping and entertainment facilities.

Please send a resume with a brief cover letter to: dtiller@silverdalefarm.com.au

Visit our website here

Job Board

Analyse This: December sire focus on Shamardal

Written by

Caitlin Smith

4 min read

In this series, TTR AusNZ shines the analytical spotlight on an in-form sire, trainer, vendor or breeder who is enjoying a particularly good run and Shamardal (USA) is TTR AusNZ's sire of the month.

While he may no longer be with us, the late great Shamardal’s legacy continues both with his direct progeny and increasingly more commonly with descendants of his daughters.

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Of the leading broodmare sires in Australia, Shamardal maintains one of the best stakes winners to runners strike rate (seven per cent).

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This season, Shamardal’s daughters produced six stakes winners which included three Group 1 wins.

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Shamardal’s daughters produce more stakes-winning colts than fillies with nine per cent of males achieving black-type wins as opposed to four per cent for fillies.

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Green Dessert (USA) and Danehill (USA)-line stallions are the strongest nicking stallions with daughters of Shamardal.

Entering stud in 2005, the four-time Group 1 winner made an impact worldwide having sired over 165 worldwide stakes winners and six champions including Australian Champion 3-Year-Old Filly Faint Perfume and Hong Kong Horse of the Year Able Friend. Striking at 11 per cent stakes winners to runners worldwide and with a series of sons now at stud to continue his legacy, Shamardal has well and truly stamped himself as one of the elite shuttle stallions of the modern era.

Sadly, euthanised in April 2020 at his Kildangan Stud base due to health complications, the then 18-year-old was well into the peak of his career and only just beginning to witness his daughters making their mark on the breeding world. Three years on, the champion racehorse and leading sire is creating waves as a broodmare sire. His daughters are responsible for 24 stakes winners which has him striking at an incredible seven per cent stakes winners to runners. This is better than current leading broodmare sires in Encosta De Lago, Flying Spur and Fastnet Rock who maintain rates of around five per cent stakes winners to runners. Of his 24 stakes winners as a broodmare sire, three are Group 1 winners including eight-time Group 1 winner Imperatriz (I Am Invincible), two-time Group 1 winner Converge (Frankel {GB}) and G1 Epsom H. winner Private Eye (Al Maher).


Encosta De Lago	3136	141	4.50%
Flying Spur	2525	100	4.00%
Fastnet Rock	1392	74	5.30%
Street Cry	639	36	5.60%
Dubawi	241	11	4.60%
Shamardal	346	24	6.90%
Lonhro	1080	60	5.60%
O'Reilly	1698	118	6.90%
Redoute's Choice	2311	129	5.60%
Exceed And Excel	1058	54	5.10%

Table: Current top 10 Australian leading broodmare sires - data pulled at December 23

It has been a remarkable season for Shamardal’s daughters whose progeny have captured six feature-race wins this season across Australia. Included is the elite sprinting sensation Imperatriz who added three Group 1 victories to her illustrious CV this spring, while both Loch Eagle (Lonhro) and Doull (Snitzel) earned maiden stakes victories this campaign.

Shamardal’s daughters work with a range of stallions with 20 of the 24 stakes winners produced by different stallions with Dream Ahead (USA) and Sebring the only stallions represented twice. It is unsurprising that daughters of Shamardal have clicked in Australia with male descendants from the Danehill line who represent almost 30 per cent of all his stakes winners. They include Wild Vixon (Fowedge), Ranch Hand (Fastnet Rock) and Chains Of Honour (Redoute’s Choice). Sires from the Green Desert line also click well with daughters of Shamardal. Descendants of Green Dessert have also worked well with Shamardal mares with three stakes winners in Imperatriz, Al Aaabir (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) and Tamerlane (Golden Horn {GB}) all hailing from Green Dessert-line stallions.

Shamardal's (USA) broodmare sire stakes winners by distance

The former Champion 2-Year-Old of Europe, Shamardal’s precocity has lived on through his descendants with his daughters responsible for six juvenile stakes winners including G1 JJ Atkins winner Converge. Over 60 per cent of his stakes winners have occurred at distances of 1400 metres or less while only 13 per cent have occurred at distances beyond 2000 metres. By sex his daughters have produced far better results with their colts rather than females. His male descendants have claimed stakes wins at a rate of nine per cent as opposed to his females who strike at four per cent stakes winners to runners.

With the average stakes-winning strike rate of the current top 10 broodmare sires hovering at around five per cent, by numbers Shamardal is performing at a rate far superior to his peers. With over 90 daughters active across Australia, it's only inevitable that Shamardal’s record as a broodmare sire will continue on an upwards trajectory.

Analyse This

Shamardal

Black type results: Doomben

3 min read

Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

G3 Vo Rogue Plate, $300,000, 1350m

Charging home late out wide, Cifrado (Encryption) put in a classy performance to win his third race at Group level.

Also winner of the G2 BRC Sires' Produce S. and the G2 Spirit Of Boom (Champagne) Classic, the 3-year-old has done a fine job winning four of his 12 starts - this latest success taking his prizemoney to seven figures.

Bred by Black Soil Bloodstock, he was sold by Eureka Stud - home to his dual Group-winning sire (a son of Lonhro) - to Cliff Little for $320,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

One of his sire's two stakes winners (the last start G3 Grand Prix S. winner Encoder the other), he is the third live foal and third stakes horse for the city winner Madame Fly (Excites), also dam of the Listed Eureka Stud Classic winner Miami Fleiss (Spirit Of Boom) and the stakes-placed Cochrane (Spirit Of Boom).

Sadly, Cifrado is Madame Fly's second last foal as she died after foaling a Spirit Of Boom filly in the spring of 2021. That filly was purchased by Yes Bloodstock for $475,000 at this year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has been named Bombard - having a jump-out for the Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr stable in September.

Madame Fly's dam is the stakes-placed, multiple city winner McFly (Perugino {USA}) who also produced the G3 George Moore S. winner Chapter And Verse (Rothesay) and the stakes-placed Soaring Heart (Show A Heart). And her dam Freebird (Bluebird {USA}) is also grandam of Boomsara (Spirit Of Boom) who won this same race in 2018.

Carrying three Danehill (USA) strains - Exceed And Excel, Camarena and Danewin - Cifrado is also line-bred to Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}) via Octagonal (NZ) and Danewin.

Listed Nudgee S., $200,000, 1200m

Gamely taking the gaps as they come, strong up along the inside of her rivals, Lady Laguna (Overshare) was in winning form at just her second run for the campaign.

The sole stakes winner for her Widden Victoria-based, G3 Zeditave S.-winning sire - a son of I Am Invincible - Lady Laguna was bred by Spendthrift Australia.

She is the second of only three foals so far for the dual city winner Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner She Will Be Loved (Strategic) out of the unraced Katie O'Neill (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).

That half-sister to the dual Group winner Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}) and the G3 Metric Mile winner Black Sun (NZ) (Otehi Bay) is also grandam of the two-time Group winner Luke's Luck (Show A Heart) and third dam of the Listed Takeover Target H. winner Enchanted Heart (Show A Heart) and the G3 Percy Sykes S. winner Kristilli (Hellbent).

This is also the family of the Group 1 winners All Thrills Too (St Covet), Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Sabaveel) and Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and of two Group 3 winners currently at stud in Australia - Swear and Extreme Warrior.

Lady Laguna boasts crosses of Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) and her dam Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via Sadler's Wells (USA), Fairy King (USA) and Nureyev (USA).

Now a Kingstar Farm mare, Catalina De Lago has not had much luck in recent times - slipping her last two pregnancies with her latest foal being Lindelago (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) who sadly died having raced just the once; not disgraced in last year's G3 Ottawa S.

Doomben

Black type results

Black type results: Hobart

2 min read

Cover image courtesy of Tasracing Australia

Listed Tasmanian S., $125,000, 1600m

Showing good heart getting up along the rails to record his second victory (from his last three starts) at Listed level, First Accused (Turffontein) went one better in the race in which he ran second last year - turning the tables on this year's fourth placegetter The Inevitable (Dundeel {NZ}).

Bred by Mandy Gunn, he was sold by her Motree Thoroughbreds to Andrew Scanlon for $16,000 at the 2019 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.

One of the eight stakes winners for his Motree-based, dual Group 1-winning sire who turned 19 this year, First Accused is one of the four winners produced by the imported four-times stakes placed, three-time winner Keep On Talking (USA) (Royal Academy {USA}).

Also dam of the metropolitan winner Gibberer (Rahy {USA}), Keep On Talking foaled a full sister to First Accused last year. She is a daughter of the G3 Arundel S. winner Gin Talking (USA) (Allen's Prospect {USA}) whose G3 Cicada S.-winning daughter Dixie Talking (USA) (Dixieland Band {USA}) produced the stakes winners Done Talking (USA) (Broken Vow {USA}) and Dixie Twist (USA) (Indian Charlie {USA}).

First Accused boasts a 6 X 3 cross of Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}) who appears via her grandson Storm Cat (USA) and Royal Academy (USA).

Hobart

Black type results

Black type fields: Pukekohe

1 min read

G1 Sistema Railway, NZ$450,000, 1200m

G2 Rich Hill Mile, NZ$225,000, 1600m

G2 Sir Patrick Hogan S., NZ$225,000, 2050m

G2 Eclipse S., NZ$225,000, 1200m

G3 Queen Elizabeth II Cup, NZ$220,000, 2400m

Black type fields

Pukekohe

Black type fields: Ascot, Flemington and Canterbury Park

1 min read

Ascot: G2 Perth Cup, $1,000,000, 2400m

G3 La Trice Classic, $200,000, 1800m

Listed Summer Scorcher, $125,000, 1000m

Flemington: Listed Bagot H., $200,000, 2800m

Listed Chester Manifold S., $175,000, 1400m

Canterbury Park: Listed Canterbury Sprint, $200,000, 1200m

Black type fields

Ascot

Flemington

Canterbury Park

Daily News Wrap

Star sprinter to take Pride of place in new stable

Group 1-winning sprinter Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) will enjoy a new home in 2024, with Joe Pride taking over from Peter and Paul Snowden after a vote by the ownership group.

Pride has a knack for rejuvenation of older horses, having turned Eduardo (Host {Chi}) into a formidable rival to Nature Strip (Nicconi).

Mazu | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan

In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Triple Crown Syndications said, “Our 5-year-old elite sprinter, Mazu, will be trained by Joe Pride in 2024. A majority of the ownership group decided they wanted to try something new and whilst we disagreed with changing trainer, we respect their decision.

“We have had great success with Joe in the past. He is also an outstanding trainer and will no doubt continue on the Snowdens’ success with this horse. We look forward to seeing Mazu return in the Autumn.”

Sydney Bowler remains unbeaten at Randwick

Against a handy field for a 3-year-old BM72 H., Sydney Bowler (Deep Field) was able to extend his unbeaten record to three, with a gritty victory in the fourth race on the program on Saturday.

The John O’Shea-trained gelding tracked race favourite Keenan (Capitalist) into the corner, before extending away impressively to win by 2.15l.

King Of Dubai (Pride Of Dubai) was able to stomp home late to grab second, getting past Dazzle Legend (Zoustar) and Keenan, who crossed the finish line in third and fourth place respectively.

Debut winner for Written By

In a pulsating finish at Morphettville, debutant Nosie By Nature (Written By) was able to get his nose down right at the post, giving his second-season sire another first-crop winner.

Backed into favourtism off a strong trial, the Craig Curtis-trained 3-year-old was able to sit outside the leader and show plenty of fight under Lachlan Neindorf, stretching his neck out in the knick of time to win in a photo finish.

He is the 20th winner from 52 runners in Written By’s first crop, which includes the G3 BJ McLachlan S. winner The Novelist, and the Listed Placid Ark S. winner Ripcord.

Bonny Lass has Richardson Railway dreaming

Trainer Graham Richardson is no stranger to success in the G1 Railway S. in New Zealand, with two trophies already on his mantlepiece, with the veteran trainer hoping Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) can provide him another victory in the race.

Given a barrier trial to retain fitness, Bonny Lass is ready for the challenge, according to Richardson.

“We are very happy with her and I couldn’t have asked any more of her in the last trial she had,” Richardson told loveracing.nz.

“It was a first-class effort where she worked home well under a good hold and since then she has continued to thrive and we think she is ready to run a big race.

“I guess at the moment the weather is the biggest consideration as she can handle a reasonably wet track although if it became a bog then we would have to reconsider with her.

“The Railway is one of my favourite races and it would be nice to think we could add another trophy to the cabinet with her.”

Derby winner back in the winners’ stall

Seven months removed from success in the G1 SA Derby, Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) propelled himself past the winning post in first place, aided by a sublimely timed ride by Billy Egan.

Electing to hunt the fence, Egan blew the whistle as the field rounded the corner, kicking clear from a game Independent Road (Declaration Of War {USA}) to win by 1.25l, with the returning Grand Promenade (GB) (Champs Elysees {GB}) sticking on for third.

There are options aplenty for the talented stayer in the coming months, with the G2 Adelaide Cup over 3200 metres highlighted as a potential option for the talented 4-year-old.

Speaking to Racing.com, Egan highlighted his belief that the gelding could reach that level.

“The other day he came out and built into the race and he just peaked on his run probably not long after entering the straight and he just maintained that gallop to the line,” he said.

“Today, even though he had a very cruisy run in behind them, he sprinted quite well and he was very good through the line and he was getting away from them.

“I certainly think an Adelaide Cup would be right up his alley.”

Rothfire poised to be crowned king of Toowoomba

The Robert Heathcote-trained sprinter Rothfire (Rothesay) will get his opportunity to notch career victory number 10 on Monday, when he contests the King Of The Mountain slot race at Toowoomba.

The G1 JJ Atkins S. winner has been allocated an impost of 60 kilograms, eight above the minimum, and will have to jump from barrier 16.

Narrowly defeated by Zoustyle (Zoustar) at his last start, he was a brave second to Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) in the G2 McEwen S., with his last victory being in April 2023.

Gaudray with 14 wins in December

Apprentice Celine Gaudray has enjoyed a strong season to date, but December has been the cherry on top, with 14 winners to her name this month.

Celine Gaudray | Image courtesy of Racing Photos

She notched it up in style aboard A Little Deep (Deep Field) in the second race of the Moonee Valley program on Saturday, having been caught wide and forced to cover extra ground. Gaudray was able to keep the promising 4-year-old mare in a rhythm, and her class prevailed late, surging home to win by 0.8l.

It was an eventful day for the leading apprentice, who had to control a bucking Piaggio (NZ) (Our Vespa {NZ}) in the sixth race of the meeting, with the $3.50 favourite taking no part in the race.

Montather secures valuable win for Goodwin

Emerging trainer Reece Goodwin enjoyed his second metropolitan success as a trainer on Saturday, when preparing his $8000 purchase Montather (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) to a narrow victory at Moonee Valley.

Having placed second in three consecutive metropolitan races, it was a well-timed ride by Michael Dee that aided the 7-year-old gelding to finally get the breakthrough, defeating Naval Seal (Snitzel) and Zamborghini (Zoustar) in a close finish.

Goodwin, who trains at Pakenham, is enjoying a strong run of form, striking at 14 per cent from his last 50 runners, clear of his historical figure of nine per cent.

Grebeni wins thrilling edition of Maroubra Mile

Race favourite Grebeni (Ocean Park {NZ}) had to dig in for the fight to claim the feature at Randwick on Saturday, claiming the Maroubra Mile at BM100 H. level in a driving finish from Riyazan (Ire) (Iffraaj {GB}).

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy had the 4-year-old gelding positioned close to the speed from the early stanza of the race, and despite a hearty challenge from Riyazan, who took off for home early under Jamie Kah, was able to secure success by 0.5l.

Grebeni now improves his record to seven wins from 15 starts, with the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained galloper managed conservatively as he has ascended through the benchmark system.

Shoot Out goes to Princess Rhaenys

Leading trainer Tony Gollan brought up a treble in the sixth race of the day at Doomben, taking the Shoot Out Quality home courtsey of a gritty performance by Princess Rhaenys (Iffraaj {GB}).

Sent forward in the 2020-metre contest by Ben Thompson, the 6-year-old mare was able to extend through the line strongly, and repel a challenge from Red Wave (Red Dazzler), who closed off strongly from the back of the field.

Now a winner of four races from 22 starts, the breakthrough marks her first win since relocating from Victoria at the start of 2023.

Habana finds changed course into Rich Hill Mile

Not everything has gone to plan for Habana (Zoustar) this preparation, but Monday’s G2 Rich Hill Mile at Pukekohe presents as a good opportunity for him to regain winning form.

Trainer Lance Noble knows the quality he possesses, but is wary of how troublesome the rain-affected surface will be for him.

“Obviously the weather is the big concern,” he told loveracing.nz. “It’s such a shame for everybody that it’s packed up the way it has, and at the moment it doesn’t look like the track is likely to be much better than a Heavy 8. It’s probably going to come down to who handles the conditions best.

“The Trentham race (the G1 TAB Classic) was a bit of a disaster for a lot of horses and I think we can put a line through his performance,” Noble said.

“The Rich Hill Mile wasn’t on our radar. We went down to Wellington hoping that we might run in the top three there, which probably would have meant he’d be weighted out of a race like this. As it turned out, this race has come back into our calculations, although he’s still ended up topweight.

“That makes it a bit tricky, but he’s come through the Wellington trip really well and has such a great record around Pukekohe, so we’re happy to have a go.”

Golden Sixty to miss Stewards’ Cup

Hong Kong hero Golden Sixty (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) will bypass the G1 Stewards’ Cup at Sha Tin in mid-January, owing to a setback.

Trainer Francis Lui told the Hong Kong Jockey Club that an issue with his left front leg is the reason for the decision.

“We found, the day before yesterday (Wednesday) in the morning, a little bit of filling and a little bit of heat (in his front left leg). The vets did a check, a scan and an MRI, there’s nothing serious, but they sent a report to England,” Lui said.

Golden Sixty | Image courtesy of the Hong Kong Jockey Club

“It’s very slight but, of course, for the safety side, we don’t want to push him because the race is only three weeks’ time.

“The vets said we can give him light trotting for three or four weeks and progressively we can check on him. The issue is just inside the pastern on his front left leg.”

Daily News Wrap

Looking Ahead - December 31

Gosford, Race 1, 1.45pm AEDT, Central Coast Mariners Midway Mdn Plate, $45,000, 1000m

Still Alice, 3-year-old filly (Epaulette x Academy Idol {Made Of Gold {USA}})

Lee and Cherie Curtis will make the trip from their Rosehill base on Sunday to debut their Epaulette filly Still Alice in the opening race at Gosford on Sunday.

Given four barrier trials in preparation, the filly was strong through the line in her most recent hitout, winning by 0.8l under Jay Ford, who has partnered her in all her work to this date.

Still Alice as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis

She is out of Academy Idol, a winner over 1000 metres and a consistent producer, including a full sister to Still Alice, Meryl (Epaulette), who won the G3 BJ McLachlan S. and the G3 Scarborough S. Of her 10 foals to race, eight have won, across sprinting and staying trips.

Mystery Downs had to go to $300,000 to secure her in the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, out of the draft of Riversdale Farm.

Gosford, Race 2, 2.20pm AEDT, Narara Super Mdn H., $60,000, 1200m

Rustenburg, 3-year-old gelding (The Autumn Sun x Mooinooi {Lonhro})

Second-season sire The Autumn Sun will have another of his initial crop debut on Sunday, when Rustenburg steps out in the second race on the program at Gosford.

In the care of leading trainer John O’Shea, he has been given plenty of time to find his feet, participating in six barrier trials, winning his most recent heat under Tyler Schiller over 1050 metres. Top apprentice Zac Lloyd, who no longer enjoys the luxury of a claim, will take over riding duties for his first start.

The Autumn Sun | Standing at Arrowfield Stud

Out of Lonhro mare Mooinooi, Rustenburg is very well-related, with his dam being a half-sister to the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing (Beautiful Crown) as well as being a relation to star sprinter Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai).

He was bred by Glentree Racing in Victoria, with the operation electing to retain and race him in their famous aqua colours.

Looking Back

On Friday, King Of Roseau (Capitalist) lived up to the hype around him, scoring nicely at Canberra, while My Spirit (Spirit Of Boom) was unable to trouble the judge at Ipswich. At Cranbourne, Northwest Lady (So You Think {NZ}) was the final runner home in the opening event.

Looking Ahead

Looking Back

Debutants

1 min read

First-time starters lining up on Sunday, December 31

2YO & 3YO Winners by Sire

First Season Sire Runners & Results

1 min read

First Season Sires’ Results

Results: Saturday, December 30

First Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Sunday, December 31

No first season sires' runners

First Season Sire Results

First Season Sire Runners

Second Season Sire Runners & Results

Second Season Sires’ Results

Results: Saturday, December 30

Second Season Sires’ Runners

Runners: Sunday, December 31

Second Season Sire Results

Second Season Sire Runners

NSW Race Results