Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Flemington: G1 Lightning S., $1,000,000, 1000m
Showing both class and heart recording her ninth win at Group 1 level, Imperatriz (I Am Invincible) proved - on the back of an unplaced Cranbourne trial - that she is a professional who knows exactly when raceday is!
The most prolific stakes winner for her Yarraman Park-based, reigning Australian Champion Sire (whose stakes winner total sits at 105), Imperatriz was bred by Raffles Dancers and purchased by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) for $360,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Imperatriz is the second foal and first winner for Berimbau (Shamardal {USA}) who earned her black type with a G3 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic third to Lumosty (Fastnet Rock).
Also dam of the multiple city winner Cabaca (Fastnet Rock), Berimbau produced a full brother to Imperatriz last August, subsequently served by Pierata. Her 2-year-old is a Capitalist colt, a $200,000 Magic Millions purchase for Lofth Thoroughbreds and AGR Racing.
Berimbau is out of the winner Percussive (Encosta De Lago), half-sister to the G2 Todman Slipper Trial winner Royal Courtship (Royal Academy {USA}).
Percussive's six foals to race have all been winners including the Listed Spear Chief H. winner Vinco (also by I Am Invincible).
Boasting crosses of the wonderful mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}) and Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Imperatriz hails from the same family as the stakes winners Poor Judge (Royal Academy {USA}) and Proud Player (Squill {USA}).
G3 CS Hayes S., $200,000, 1400m
Part of a great 20 minutes or so for his proud owner and breeder Debbie Kepitis, Riff Rocket (American Pharoah {USA}) looked well in the yard and it was a smart performance to win over 1400 metres at his first run since taking out the G1 Victoria Derby in November.
One of the 43 stakes winners for his former Coolmore shuttling sire, Riff Rocket is the second foal produced by the stakes-placed, multiple city winner Missile Coda (Smart Missile) who was also raced by Debbie Kepitis.
Her first foal Quintillion (Deep Field) is a lightly raced metropolitan maiden placegetter and she was served last spring by Home Affairs having also visited him (no online stud return as yet) the previous season.
Her third foal is the Michael Freedman-trained 2-year-old Codetta (Nicconi).
Missile Coda is out of the triple city winner Rain Melody (Lonhro), a half-sister to the Listed Toy Show H. winner Walk Alone (Honour And Glory {USA}) from the family of the stakes winners Rai Affair (Commands), Ranges (Shooting To Win) and Wayupinthesky (Snitzel).
A descendant of the 1945 G1 Melbourne Cup winner Rainbird (The Buzzard {GB}), Riff Rocket boasts a cross of the terrific mare Crimson Saint (USA) (Crimson Satan {USA}) via her grandson Storm Cat (USA) and son Royal Academy (USA).
This cross works particularly well when Royal Academy appears via Fastnet Rock (sire of Smart Missile) - he and Storm Cat combining in the pedigrees of 45 stakes winners.
G3 The TAB Vanity, $200,000, 1400m
It was a second-generation stakes winner for Danny O'Brien - Grinzinger Belle (NZ) being a daughter of Shamexpress (NZ) who he trained to a G1 Newmarket H. victory in 2013.
That Windsor Park stallion's 10th stakes winner, she was bred by Windsor Park and sold by them to her owner J.R Wheeler for NZ$32,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale (Book 2).
She is the first foal produced by Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) who was a long last at her only outing at Awapuni. A half-sister to the G3 Kenilworth Chairman's Cup winner Golden Parachute (NZ) (Montjeu {Ire}), she is out of the G2 Matamata Breeders' S. winner Maxamore (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}).
A half-sister to the G3 Hawke's Bay Cup winner Maxam (NZ) (Gaius {Ire}), Maxamore is also grandam of the Group 2 winners Wild Night (NZ) (Vanbrugh) and Play That Song (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}).
Due to have foaled last spring to Turn Me Loose (NZ), Ripsomemore missed the previous season with her only other foal to date being the 2-year-old Porthouse Lady (NZ) (Rageese) who ran on well when fourth at her Riccarton Park debut last spring.
Grinzinger Belle is the first stakes winner (from eight runners/five winners) line-bred to Volksraad (GB), a 3 X 3 cross which is supported by duplications of the excellent mares Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Volksraad's fourth dam Mesopotamia (Ire) (Zarathustra {GB}) - also fifth dam of Rip Van Winkle (Ire).
G3 Frances Tressady S., $200,000, 1400m
Classy and consistent is Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) who so boldly recorded her fourth success at Group level.
Bred by China Horse Club Racing and purchased by Triple Crown Syndications for $195,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, the Snowden-trained 4-year-old is the one of the nine stakes winners for her Newgate Farm-based, G1 The Galaxy and G1 Oakleigh Plate-winning sire.
She is the fourth foal and one of two stakes winners for the stakes-placed Purcentage (Onemorenomore) whose son Equation won the 2021 Listed Canberra Guineas.
Last spring paying a return visit to Russian Revolution (no online return as yet for the previous spring), Purcentage foaled a Savabeel colt in 2022.
Her 3-year-old Hampton Palace (also by Russian Revolution) - a $250,000 Inglis Easter graduate, trained by Danny O'Brien - has been runner-up at three of his first four starts.
Purcentage is a daughter of the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Spurcent (Flying Spur), half-sister to the G1 Hong Kong International Mile winner Glorious Days (Hussonet {USA}) and the Listed Dunedin Guineas winner Bangalore Bullet (Hussonet {USA}).
A descendant of the G1 VRC Oaks winner Sanderae (NZ) (Oncidium {GB}), Revolutionary Miss boasts a 5 X 6 cross of her sire's high-achieving fourth dam Fanfreluche (Can) (Northern Dancer {Can}) - the third dam of Purcentage's damsire Flying Spur.
Putting a seal on a lovely pedigree, Revolutionary Miss is also line-bred to the great mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}) and Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
Listed Talindert S., $175,000, 1100m
Holding up the Coleman (Pierata) form from the spring, Aardvark (Capitalist) recorded a smart win at just his second outing - the team behind him to make a decision during the week as to whether or not he backs up in the G1 Blue Diamond S.
Bred by Highgrove Stud, he was sold by them to Baystone Farm for $240,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The 18th stakes winner for his Newgate Farm-based sire, he is the third live foal for Hollywood Mistress (All American) who was also bred by Highgrove, racing six times for them - winning a 1000-metre maiden at Hawkesbury.
Served last year by Ole Kirk after foaling a Bivouac filly, Hollywood Mistress - whose dam Sponsored (Redoute's Choice) was also bred by Highgrove - missed the previous season.
Sponsored is a half-sister to the stakes winners Order Of The Sun (Encosta De Lago), Beauty (Smart Missile) and Get To Work (Snippets) and to the dams of the G1 Diamond S. winner Summer Passage (Snitzel), All That Pizzazz (Spirit Of Boom) and Excitable Boy (More Than Ready {USA}).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Danehill (USA) with duplications of the terrific mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}), Aardvark can boast amongst his relations the stakes winners Shania Dane (Danehill {USA}), Scintillation (Danehill {USA}), Risk Aversion (Encosta De Lago), Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}), Man From Uncle (Uncle Mo {USA}) and Head Of State (American Pharoah {USA}).
Listed The Elms H., $175,000, 1400m
Not too many stakes races are won by 100-1 shots but Makram (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) is one of them!
Purchased by Blandford Bloodstock and Lindsay Park for 340,000gns (AU$689,000) at the 2021 Tattersalls Autumn Horses in Training Sale, he was bred by Frank Dunne.
He is the ninth stakes winner for his Ballylinch Stud-based sire, a dual Group 1-winning son of Makfi (GB).
And he is the second stakes winner (both at Flemington) for his winning dam Spontaenous (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}), also dam of Glentaneous (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) who won the the Listed Bagot H. on New Year's Day.
Spontaneous is a daughter of the outstanding broodmare Sadima (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) whose 10 foals to race are all winners including the Group 1-winning stallions Youmzain (Ire) and Creachadoir (Ire) and the Group 3-winning filly Shreyas (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}).
Hailing from the family of the European Champion Older Horse Pilsudski (Ire) - damsire of the late Fiorente (Ire), Makram boasts crosses of the terrific mares Little Hut (USA) (Occupy {USA}) and Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}).
Pinjarra Park: R. Listed Magic Millions WA 2YO Classic, $250,000, 1200m
Choosing a nice race in which to break his maiden, Big Shots (Sizzling) was deserving of the win having finished runner-up at three of his first four starts.
Bred by Joslyn Summerhayes and sold by Alwyn Park Stud to Luke Fernie for $27,500 at last year's Magic Millions Perth Winter Yearling Sale, Big Shots is the second stakes winner for his Riverdene Stud-based sire, a Group 1-winning son of Snitzel.
HIs dam is the five-time winner Pintupi (Alert {Arg}) whose dam Girl Trouble (Zemindar {NZ}) won nine races - producing another three winners including the multiple city winners Casanova Jack (Jacamar {Ire}) and Yourcayeye (Real Jester).
Served last spring by Ducimus after foaling a Gingerbread Man colt, Pintupi has a yearling colt by King's Troop.
Hailing from the family of the Group 1 mare Ellicorsam (Fimiston) and the Group winners Ellicazoom (Testa Rossa) and Soul Patch, Big Shots has as his seventh dam Enticing (NZ) (Nightmarch {NZ}) - three-quarter sister to the legendary Phar Lap (NZ) (Night Raid {GB}).
R. Listed Magic Millions WA 3YO Trophy, $250,000, 1200m
Well here is a horse who knows where the line is - Bondi Bubbles (Bondi) up in class but too good recording his seventh consecutive victory from a total of 15 starts.
The first stakes winner and one of the five winners amongst the first 19 runners for his Lynward Park Stud-based, Group 1-placed sire - a son of Snitzel - Bondi Bubbles was bred by Alwyn Park and sold by them to Bridge Patrol Lodge for $35,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
He is the second foal and first winner for Tousled (More Than Ready {USA}) who was a long last at her only outing in a Geraldton maiden.
Served last spring by Ducimus after foaling a colt by Macshino, Tousled has yet-to-be-named fillies by Awesome Rock and Maschino.
She is out of the city-placed Snaps (Flying Spur), dam of eight winners and gramdam of the stakes-placed One Lotto (Super One).
Snaps is a daughter of the Listed Keith Mackay H. winner Snapshots (Success Express {USA}) whose full sister Express A Smile produced the triple Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock) who has been in the limelight of late as dam of the recently retired globe-trotting multiple Group 1 winner Warm Heart (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Ancestress of this family is the famed matriarch Cinna (GB) (Polymelus {GB}).
