Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Listed Black Pearl S. - well-related mares chasing valuable black type
It is the 10th running of this Listed contest for the sprinting fillies and mares at Geelong, a race in which those with an eye on the future are keen to win.
Damian Lane has enjoyed good success in the race, twice successful in the last four years - winning aboard Turaath (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) last year and on Smart Coupe (Smart Missile) in 2019.
Damian Lane is looking for his third success in five years in the Listed Black Pearl S. with Va Via | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He is a chance to add a third win with Godolphin's Va Via (Astern) a major chance having recorded smart splits finishing off well when resuming over a slightly shorter trip at Randwick a couple of weeks ago.
It would be valuable black type for a mare who already has plenty of worth being a half-sister to two stakes winners - last year's G1 Spring Champion S. hero Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and the Listed Canberra Guineas winner Promotions (Exceed And Excel).
She is one of several well-related mares contesting the race, others including Eternal Flame (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) who has jumped out well in preparation for her return... she is out of a three-quarter sister to the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Noverre (NZ).
Va Via, the current favourite for the Listed Black Pearl S. at Geelong | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Racing in the Ingham all cerise is Waverider Buoy (Nicconi), a granddaughter of Fangirl's (Sebring) triple stakes-winning dam Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago).
Material Dreams (Lean Mean Machine) is building a good record with her four wins from five starts and Marble Arch (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) looks primed for a bold first-up showing having won jump-outs at Bendigo and Flemington.
Listed Marton Cup - another stakes winner for Proisir?
This Listed contest over 2200 metres sees 14 horses bidding to out-stay each other in what is likely to be rain affected conditions at Hastings.
Rich Hill Farm's high-achieving Proisir - who has already enjoyed 2024 Group 1 success in the shape of the New Year's Day G1 Railway S. winner Waitak (NZ) - sired last year's winner of this race - Soldier Boy (NZ).
He has another chance this time around with Chikira Lass (NZ) racing in consistent form, stepping up from a mile to 2100 metres at her most recent outing and finishing off strongly.
Proisir | Standing at Rich Hill Stud
She is up in class, however, there is not a great deal of strong recent black-type form in this race with the two coming off the best latest runs in stakes races being Prince Alby (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Never Look Back (NZ) (Shocking).
The former was safely held but picking up late off a slow start when fifth in the G3 Manawatu Cup whilst the latter had won two in a row before his third in that same race - in which the winner Sagunto (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) put 6l on his rivals.
Uareastar (NZ) (Jakkalberry {Ire}) comes back in trip after contesting the G3 New Zealand Cup over 3200 metres whilst Winnie Rose (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) was very tough having been slowly away and wide in a 2100-metre contest at Otaki on Boxing Day.
Geelong Diamond - exciting debutants
All of the 10 acceptors for this $150,000 race with VOBIS bonuses are yet to face the starter.
Seven of the 10 debutants have won either trials or jump-outs whilst the most expensive of the race's purchases - the $1.3 million Inglis Easter colt Trunk (a Snitzel full brother to the triple Group winner Splintex) has run into the exciting Straight Charge (Written By) in two Randwick trials, on both occasions finishing second to that recent winner.
He is one of the four Snitzels lining up - the others being the $250,000 Inglis Easter colt Vacillation (son of the triple Listed winner Indecision {NZ} by Per Incanto {USA}) who has won jump-outs at Werribee and Flemington, the $380,000 Inglis Easter filly Declichy Boulevard, a Flemington jump-out winner whose dam is a half-sister to Stratum Star and the Flemington jump-out winning $320,000 Magic Millions graduate Markdel whose Group 3-winning grandam Penkenna Princess (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) is also grandam of the G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Tagaloa.
Stay Focused as a yearling, the current favourite for the Geelong Diamond | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) - who sold for $190,000 as a weanling and $250,000 as a yearling - is a jump-out winner at Pakenham and a trial winner at Cranbourne and his dam has already produced six winners including the stakes placegetters Miss Moana (Uncle Mo {USA}) and Hollywood Mo (Uncle Mo {USA}).
A cheaper buy - the $45,000 Inglis Premier filly Stahnado (Toronado {Ire}) is also showing ability with Mornington and Sandown jump-out victories whilst the $260,000 Inglis Premier colt Landmark (Nicconi) (out of the G3 How Now S. winner Valentine Miss by Danetime {Ire}) who has won a couple at Cranbourne. And Vixenette (a Trapeze Artist granddaughter of the Listed-winning juvenile How Funny by Rory's Jester) comes off a Horsham jump-out success.
Gold Nugget - a Magic Millions candidate a week out
With the big Magic Millions raceday so close, the Gold Coast's juvenile race this Saturday has attracted only six runners but there is still plenty of interest with three of the four to have already raced showing good talent whilst the unraced pair have trialled nicely.
One to keep a very close eye on is Spywire (Trapeze Artist), the pacy Rosehill debut winner and R. Listed Magic Millions Wyong 2YO Classic runner-up who is high up in the Magic Millions betting. The $520,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase is a son of the Listed Bright Shadow H. winner Secret Trail (Denman).
Spywire, the current favourite for the Gold Nugget at the Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Backing up after running such a bold race at his Doomben debut last weekend is Defiant Boom (Spirit Of Boom) who has the breeding to show up early and go on with it - his dam Defiant Dame (More Than Ready {USA}) a 2-year-old Listed winner who has produced the Singapore-based 21-time winner Grand Cross (Fastnet Rock).
Beau Dazzler (NZ) (Ardrossan) is already a stakes winner and should again prove hard to toss whilst both Balastier (Brazen Beau) and Cosmic Fire (Cosmic Force) have won trials.
The former - a $200,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling out of the Group 3-placed See Me Exceed (Exceed And Excel) - won a late November Deagon trial before a Doomben second whilst the latter, an $80,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast graduate out of the four-time winner Exellas (Helmet) proved 3.25l too good for four others at Deagon.
Gold Pearl - the Gold Coast's second juvenile contest
Another 2-year-old race being held at the Gold Coast is this race for the fillies - a field of nine with seven having raceday experience.
Arabian Summer (Too Darn Hot {GB}) already has a place in next week's Magic Millions having won the recent Ballarat Classic - showing her rivals a clean pair of heels leading throughout to win in impressive fashion by 3.5l.
The $220,000 Magic Millions Book 2 graduate is out of the triple city winner Maraam (Street Cry {Ire}) and she is the only horse in this race by a first-season stallion.
Territory Ash (Territories {Ire}) and Mishani Crown (Love Conquers All) are the others coming off last-start wins whilst the debutants have both trialled nicely.
Arabian Summer, the current favourite for the Gold Pearl at the Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The $170,000 Inglis Premier yearling Moulin Miss (Spirit Of Boom) bolted in with her trial at Doomben - easily defeating Spirited (Spirit Of Boom) who was a subsequent third (with the Gold Nugget contender Defiant Boom by Spirit Of Boom second) at her Doomben debut last weekend.
She has Gold Coast form in her pedigree, her VOBIS Gold Strike-winning dam Je Suis Tycoon (Written Tycoon) being a full sister to the G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner Hightail.
One of the race's bargain buys, the $10,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling Pride Of Venus (Pride Of Dubai) has been placed in both of her trials - at the Sunshine Coast in mid-September and at Deagon in late December. Her dam I Am Venus (I Am Invincible) won in town at two and her second dam sire General Nediym won the Magic Millions.
Other features - races of interest in Victoria, Queensland and Western Australia
Whilst there is not much black-type action on Saturday there are a number of valuable races being contested by nice horses. Such as the $300,000 Coastal Classic at Geelong, a 1700-metre event that sees a number of horse horses who have been racing well at stakes level take their place.
Such as Junipal (Reset) who has been in consistent form since winning the Listed Seymour Cup in late October and the last-start Listed Lord S. placegetter Keats (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who just does not know how to run a bad race. Hard for them to beat will be the in-form Independent Road (Declaration Of War {USA}) who backs up from a game second to the classy Dunkel (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}) at Moonee Valley last weekend.
The $250,000 TAB Wave is a nice race on the Gold Coast program, an 1800-metre race which sees Zoe's Promise (Swear) well-fancied on the back of her on pace G3 Belle of the Turf S. second at Gosford late last month.
The Vowels, the current favourite for the TAB Wave at the Gold Coast | Image courtesy of Edmonds Racing
The Vowels (Better Than Ready) also comes off a nice run in stakes company, finishing off well for a Listed Bernborough H. third over a mile - looking well-placed up in distance. The lightly raced Sacred Mission (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) is lightly raced and promising as is the 3-year-old Encoder (Encryption) who comes back in trip off his G3 Grand Prix win.
The Easingwold S. - named in honour of the second ever G1 WS Cox Plate winner (successful in 1923 having been second the year before) - is the feature of the Ascot card. Let's Galahvant (Galah) has won two Listed races from his last four starts and is a leading contender with one of the threats coming from the promising Starry Heights (Star Turn) who has not tasted defeat since last winter - winning six in a row.
