Saturday summary: Mr Brightside secures fifth Group 1 in nail-biting CF Orr finish

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Mr Brightside back with a bang

It wasn’t comfortable viewing for Mr Brightside’s (NZ) (Bullbars) connections and legion of fans in Saturday’s G1 CF Orr S. at Caulfield. The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained star, ridden by his usual partner Craig Williams, was slow to begin in a race stacked with speed.

Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) took up leading roles trying to outdo each other in a tenacious battle, while Mr Brightside looked to be going nowhere fast having come off the bit.

But as champions do, they find a way when the cards are stacked against them. Mr Brightside started to build revs in the home straight and dug on all his reserves to range up on the outside of Buffalo River and an ironhearted Pride Of Jenni.

On the line it was the son of Bullbars who claimed his fifth Group 1 success, as he looked to head towards the G1 Futurity S. and then defend his title in The All-Star Mile before a potential tilt at the G1 Australian Cup.

Mr Brightside’s victory in the CF Orr S. provided the Hayes family with their eighth success in the time-honoured event but first for the current generation at the helm of Lindsay Park.

“What a horse. He’s so dear to our hearts,” co-trainer JD Hayes told Racing.com.

“Mr Brightside was slow away but it all panned out well. Pride Of Jenni was so brave there but I was glad he got there late. There is so much improvement to come with him.”

Mr Brightside was a NZ$22,000 purchase by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from the draft of Phoenix Park at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka May Sale.

Legarto exercises demons in Herbie Dyke

After a shock defeat in the Aotearoa Classic at Ellerslie, the supremely talented Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) bounced back with a powerful display in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. at Te Rapa on Saturday.

They say that you can’t keep a champion down, and in the case of Legarto, that rang true on Saturday, with the brilliant mare bouncing back from her last start defeat to take out the G1 Herbie Dyke S. at Te Rapa.

Settling down forward of midfield early, Ryan Elliot elected to take off early on the star mare, rushing up three-wide before the corner to really serve it up to Sharp ‘N’ Smart (NZ) (Redwood {GB}).

Even having dragged Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), she had ample stamina in the locker to keep her at bay, ticking the 2000-metre box in impressive fashion.

Those two had built a margin on the rest of the field, with One Bold Cat (NZ) (The Bold One {NZ}) hitting the line strongly for third.

Now a winner of nine races from 13 career starts, the trans-Tasman conqueror is a flagbearer for her stallion Proisir. She is out of Geordie Girl (NZ) (Towkay), and unsurprisingly, Legarto is the best of her produce to date.

The Ken and Bev Kelso-trained superstar has proven herself to be a fantastic investment for connections, having been picked up for NZ$90,000 from the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. She will now progress to the G1 Bonecrusher New Zealand S. in March.

Snow Patrol takes a step closer to Group 1 glory

The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr-trained Snow Patrol (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) announced himself as a major contender for the G1 Australian Guineas at Flemington next month, having ground out a brave victory in the G2 Autumn S. at Caulfield on Saturday.

At just his fourth competitive race start, Snow Patrol rocketed up the list of contenders for a 3-year-old Group 1, having upset Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in a riveting finish to the G2 Autumn S. at Caulfield on Saturday.

Settling down behind a middling tempo set by Carbonados (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}), Mark Zahra was able to conserve energy for a titanic tussle up the straight, with Southport Tycoon coming up just short of Snow Patrol in the final 50 metres.

The quinella were comfortably ahead of third-placed Zipaway (Playing God), with the G2 WATC Guineas winner being ridden conservatively, and despite coming off the bridle before the corner, hit the line strongly for third. Another sound run from the back was Hey Fat Cat (Rubick), having initially detached from his rivals in the middle stanza of the race.

Snow Patrol brings up stakes winner number nine for Contributer (Ire), who has begun to hit his stride after battling seminal issues from a covering accident early in his career. He is the first foal to race for O’Rocker (O’Reilly {NZ}), who never made it to the track to race herself.

Trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr plucked him from the Mapperley Stud draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale for NZ$170,000.

Caballus a gritty winner of the Eskimo Prince

No cover, no worries for Caballus (I Am Invincible) who toughed out a win in the G3 Eskimo Prince S. at Randwick on Saturday.

In a tactical battle, Caballus had the class and the toughness required to claim the G3 Eskimo Prince S. continuing his good form for Bjorn Baker since joining the affable horseman’s yard.

Josh Parr was left without cover early in the piece and elected to persist with a three-wide position, a decision that arguably played a major factor in the final result. The pair quickly strode up to the leading duo Griff (Trapeze Artist) and Moravia (Snitzel), rapidly brushing them aside and kicking clear to resist a late rally from Makarena (Snitzel).

Encap (Capitalist) was a solid return for third place, in a race that may not have been run to suit him, while Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) was only beginning to warm up in the concluding stages of the 1200-metre affair.

Caballus has become a dream purchase for syndicators Darby Racing, who parted with $315,000 in the Inglis Digital October (Early) Online Sale to take him from Tom Magnier, who had paid $1 million at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale out of the draft of Bhima Thoroughbreds.

Still a colt, he’s now a winner as a 2-year-old and a Group-winning 3-year-old, giving him a strong foundation to go and chase a stallion career in time. He is out of Calming Influence (Commands), who has produced five foals to race, all of whom have won. She will have a colt by Zoustar offered as Lot 449 at the 2024 iteration of the Inglis Easter sale, who is part of the Alma Vale/Kitchwin Hills Partnership draft.

Lass rolls Crocetti

The Graham Richardson and Rogan Norvall-trained Bonny Lass (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) brought an end to the unbeaten streak of the boom 3-year-old Crocetti (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}) in Saturday’s G1 BCD Sprint at Te Rapa.

Ridden by Craig Grylls, Bonny Lass narrowly got the better of the previously unbeaten Crocetti, who was gunning for eight straight. The multiple Group 1 winner Callsign Mav (NZ) (Atlante) was a further 2l in arrears, followed by the last Group 1 winner Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award).

The G1 BCD Sprint is the biggest success to date for the daughter of Super Easy (NZ), who has now won seven races. Previously, she saluted in races such as the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. and the G3 Sweynesse S.

Bonny Lass had been placed in three Group 1s before her breakthrough success on Saturday. She provided her Hallmark Stud-based sire with his first Group 1 winner.

Bonny Lass is from the Le Bec Fin (NZ) mare Posh Bec (NZ), who was placed in the Listed Soliloquy S. The 5-year-old mare was bred by Sandy Moore, who has remained in the ownership alongside Social Racing Start Gates Syndicate, Brent and Wendy Cooper.

Star Kiwi filly bounces back

Molly Bloom (NZ) (Ace High) reminded anybody that needed it she is one classy filly. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained filly had her colours lowered when unplaced in the R. Listed Karaka Millions 3YO at arguably leader-biased Ellerslie on January 27, but showed all her grit on Saturday to add the G2 David and Karyn Ellis Fillies Classic at Te Rapa to her rapidly growing resume.

Molly Bloom, ridden by Joe Doyle, defeated Harlow Rocks (NZ) (Roc De Cambes {NZ}) and Livid Sky (NZ) (Proisir). The daughter of Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High provided her sire with his first Group 1 winner when she took out the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, along the way she also won the G2 Eight Carat Classic.

The filly is a daughter of the Iffraaj (GB) mare Dancilla (NZ), who won over 2000 metres and is a half-sister to the G3 Auckland Cup and G3 Manawatu Breeders’ S. victress Decorah (NZ) (Pins).

Further down the page is the Champion Rough Habit (NZ) (Roughcast {USA}), a galloper who exhibited attributes such as determination, grit and sheer class. Retiring a victor of 29 races, including the G1 Queen Elizabeth S., the G1 Stradbroke H. twice and the G1 Doomben Cup thrice.

Molly Bloom was a NZ$150,000 purchase by Wexford Stables from the draft of Seaton Park at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.

Yonce leads them a merry dance in the Carlyon Cup

It has been a long time between drinks for comeback galloper Yonce (NZ) (Proisir), but a change of tactics brought the best out of her in the G3 Carlyon Cup at Caulfield on Saturday.

You’d have to flick all the way back through the record books to March of 2022 to find the last time Yonce appeared in the winners’ stall, but the comeback mare reminded us all of her quality with a classy win in the G3 Carlyon Cup on Saturday at Caulfield.

Jockey John Allen was eager to be forward on the 6-year-old mare, which proved to be a recipe for success over the 1600-metre distance, skipping away from stablemate Unusual Culture (NZ) (Unusual Suspect {USA}) and holding the chasing pack comfortably at bay through the line.

The first win for her since a long-term injury layoff, Yonce is now a winner of seven races from 10 starts, and now holds some valuable black type for her post-racing career in the barn.

Despite being asked for effort by Blake Shinn before the corner, Foxy Cleopatra (American Pharoah {USA}) was able to make a late run along the inside rail to snatch second from the heavily backed Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who was positioned ideally prior to the corner, but couldn’t quicken with Yonce. The talented stayer Loft (Ger) (Adlerflug {Ger}), who hadn’t raced below 2000 metres prior to Saturday, wasn’t able to beat a runner home, but now has fitness under the belt for a tilt at more suitable races deeper into the preparation.

She is the 17th stakes winner for Proisir, who enjoyed a trans-Tasman feature double, and is out of the Zabeel (NZ) mare Ziva, who retired without a win next to her name out of the Chris Waller yard. Her career in the barn has been significantly more successful, with Yonce flying her flag as a talented racemare.

Vinnie filly lives up to billing

Ciaron Maher made no secret of the regard he and connections hold Estriella (I Am Invincible) in and was relieved to see the filly secure a valuable stakes success in the G3 Peter Le Grand S. at Caulfield.

Estriella, ridden by Blake Shinn, was a hugely impressive 2l winner of the race from Lazzago (Capitalist) and Brazen Style (Brazen Beau).

The filly is the 105th stakes winner for Australia’s reigning Champion Sire I Am Invincible, who sired three stakes winners on Saturday with Bodyguard and Caballus in Group 3 events. Estriella is the third foal from the Lonhro mare Madrigals, who is a full sister to the Champion Pierro.

Madrigals foaled a colt by The Autumn Sun in September and was served by Maurice (Jpn). Estriella was a $750,000 purchase by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.