King gets his Group 2
Malkovich (Choisir) tried gallantly to steal Saturday’s G2 Expressway S. but he couldn’t hold the late charge of Peter and Paul Snowden’s King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible), who also held Coal Crusher (Turffontein) in the feature.
It was the first Group 2 success for King Of Sparta, who had previously won a Group 3 and a Listed race, alongside three R. Listed events on the Gold Coast on Magic Millions Raceday.
King Of Sparta wins the G2 Expressway S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of
The son of I Am Invincible was a $700,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Starlight Racing from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2020 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. King Of Sparta’s dam Octavia (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) was served by I Am Invincible last spring.
Four for J-Mac
Champion Jockey James McDonald rode four winners on Saturday at Randwick. Starting with Switzerland (Snitzel) for Chris Waller in Race 1 and Fangirl (Sebring) in the G2 Apollo S. in Race 7.
In between, McDonald won the G2 Expressway S. on King Of Sparta (I Am Invincible) for Peter and Paul Snowden and a BM88 for Annabel Neasham on Redstone Well (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}).
Pericles causes an upset in Uncle Remus
The Mike Moroney and Pam Gerard-trained Pericles (NZ) (Rubick) caused an upset in Saturday’s Listed Uncle Remus S. at Ellerslie. The 3-year-old gelding, ridden by Vinnie Colgan, was sent out at $41 but was too good for Just A Floozie (NZ) (I Am Invincible) and No Rain Ever (No Nay Never {USA}).
Pericles (NZ) causes an upset in the Listed Uncle Remus S. at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Pericles is from the unraced O’Reilly (NZ) mare Empyrean (NZ), who is a daughter of the great mare Ethereal (NZ) (Rhythm {USA}). The gelding is the 10th stakes winner for Rubick.
Paul Moroney Bloodstock and Ballymore Stables paid NZ$110,000 to secure Pericles from the draft of Pencarrow Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Mother and daughter celebrate Randwick win
Trainer Karen Owen and jockey Madeline Owen celebrated a mother and daughter success at Randwick when Fay’s Angels (Anacheeva) took out Race 3 by 2.2l from Leica Storm (Snitzel) and Brok Cafe (Mikki Isle {Jpn}).
Genuine as the day is long
Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) showed plenty of tenacity when winning Saturday’s G3 Frances Tressady S. at Flemington. The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained 4-year-old mare was able to get the upper hand on Forbidden City (I Am Invincible), while Fortunate Kiss (Divine Prophet) ran into third.
Revolutionary Miss wins the G3 Frances Tressady S. at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Revolutionary Miss was a $195,000 purchase by Triple Crown Syndications from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and has proven to be an astute purchase with earnings over $1 million and four stakes victories, alongside two placed efforts in Group 1s. She is one of two stakes winners for her dam Purcentage (Onemorenomore), who was served by Russian Revolution last spring.
Thunder rumbles at Flemington
Rumbled Again (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) done her future broodmare prospects no harm when the Michael Trotter-trained mare won at Flemington. The 6-year-old mare, ridden by Craig Williams, launched late to nab Magnaspin (Magnus) and Belle Savoir (Not A Single Doubt) in the Royal Ascot Plate.
Rumbled Again is the 11th and final foal from the Flying Spur mare Adulate, who is the dam of seven winners.
Three in a row for Aberlour
The Kelvin Tyler-trained Aberlour (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) has been in rare form and on Saturday claimed the Listed Southland Guineas at Ascot Park. It was the second consecutive Listed victory for the daughter of Mongolian Falcon, who won the Listed Gore Guineas last start.
Aberlour (NZ) claims the Listed Southland Guineas at Ascot Park | Image courtesy of Monica Toretto
Aberlour, ridden by Kylie Williams, was a 5.5l winner over Quintabelle (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion {Ire}).
Derby hero wins Avondale Cup
Asterix (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) found his best form to win the G2 Avondale Cup at Ellerslie on Saturday. The Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott-trained 5-year-old gelding had won the G1 New Zealand Derby as a 3-year-old but had mixed his form since.
Asterix (NZ) bursts through to win the G2 Avondale Cup at Ellerslie | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Asterix was a NZ$450,000 purchase by Bruce Perry Bloodstock (BAFNZ) from the draft of Curraghmore at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
Makram upsets the apple cart
The Ben, Will and JD Hayes-trained Makram (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) was a shock winner of the Listed Elms H. on Saturday at Flemington. Most expected the progressive Ciaron Maher-trained Jimmysstar (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) to go about his winning ways but Makram, ridden by Harry Coffey, swamped the favourite late to secure success.
Makram is a half-brother to the Listed Bagot H. winner Glentaneous (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
Makram (Ire) causes an upset in the Listed Elms H. at Flemington | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Jenni is best fresh
Jennilala (Shalaa {Ire}) had not raced since finishing unplaced in the G1 Empire Rose S. but returned to Flemington on Saturday and was an impressive winner first-up.
The Ciaron Maher-trained 4-year-old, ridden by Declan Bates, defeated Lounge Bar Rubi (Rubick) and Bel Air (Written Tycoon).
Jennilala was a $70,000 purchase by Tony Ottobre from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and won the Listed Auraria S.
Soleado impresses Kah
Jamie Kah labelled El Soleado (Toronado {Ire}) ‘freakish’ after the Robbie Laing-trained 4-year-old gelding won his third consecutive race at Flemington on Saturday. El Soleado took out a Flemington BM70 in January and then a BM78 at Caulfield before his latest success.
The son of Toronado (Ire) defeated the in-form Aramco (Ire) (Sea The Moon {Ger}) and Star Vega (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) in the BM84.
El Soleado is from the Monsun (Ger) mare Sunnyvale (Ger), who is from the family of the G1 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe victor Sagace (Fr). Sunnyvale has an unnamed 2-year-old filly and a yearling colt by Yes Yes Yes and revisited Toronado last spring.
Moroney’s Big Watch wins at Flemington
Mike Moroney’s progressive galloper Big Watch (Shamus Award) took out the second race at Flemington down the straight on Saturday.
The 4-year-old gelding, ridden by Jamie Mott, ran down a gallant Ouroboros (Harry Angel {Ire}), while Cute As (Thronum) held third.
Big Watch is the third and last reported foal from the Bon Hoffa mare Golden Sally, who's status reads, 'Dropped from official record (01/08/2023)' as stated on the Australian Stud Book. She won four races and her two foals to race have been winners.
Dubai Honour ruled out of Australian trip
Dubai Honour (Ire) (Pride Of Dubai), the winner of last year's G1 Ranvet S. and G1 Queen Elizabeth II S. in Sydney, will not be returning to Australia for this year's Championships after meeting with a setback.
The 6-year-old, who is trained in Newmarket by William Haggas for owner Mohamed Obaida, had been set to defend his crown this spring but will be prepared instead for Hong Kong's G1 QEII Cup, in which he finished third last year.
“We are disappointed to announce that Dubai Honour has had a setback and is unable to travel to Australia for the upcoming carnival in Sydney,” said Haggas on Friday morning. “It is particularly frustrating as we felt he was in the form of his life. We hope to be able to prepare him for another tilt at the QEII in Hong Kong on April 28, with a run beforehand, more than likely in Magnolia Stakes at Kempton on April 1.”
Dubai Honour (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
This year the trainer will be represented by two runners in Sydney, with Shadwell's G2 Huxley S. runner-up Mujtaba (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) set to travel to Australia along with the Old Borough Cup winner Post Impressionist (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}).
The trainer added, “We will be represented by Mujtaba who will be aimed at the Ranvet and Queen Elizabeth Stakes, although he does have the option of the Tancred Stakes. He is training well and due to enter quarantine today along with Post Impressionist, a useful stayer who will be aimed at the Manion Cup and the Sydney Cup. Once again Isabella Paul will be in charge.”
Pletcher’s Derby hopes' plans revealed
The road to the G1 Kentucky Derby has been unkind to Todd Pletcher so far this year, but that may be about to change. The Hall of Fame trainer is ready to regroup and will look to win the March 30 G1 Florida Derby with Fierceness (USA) (City Of Light {USA}) and the March 2 G2 Fountain of Youth with Locked (USA) (Gun Runner {USA}).
Locked was originally scheduled to make his debut in the G3 Sam F. Davis S. but Pletcher withdrew him from the race after he spiked a temperature and missed a piece of work. Pletcher had Locked back on the work tab Friday morning and said he was pleased with the move.
Locked won last year's G1 Breeders' Futurity at Keeneland before finishing third in the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile.
Fierceness, last year's Champion 2-Year-Old Male, kicked off his 2024 campaign with a lacklustre third-place finish in the Holy Bull S. Afterward, Pletcher said his next race was up in the air, but confirmed Friday that he will go next in the Florida Derby. Fierceness will have his first work since the Holy Bull next week.
