Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Caulfield: G1 Blue Diamond S., $2,000,000, 1200m
Part of a filly domination of this year's running of Victoria's premier juvenile contest, Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) finished off strongly to record the third win of her five-start career.
Bred by MJ O’Donnell and Austramore and sold by Fairhill Farm to James Bester and C Mok for $47,500 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, she is a member of (and the first stakes winner) the debut crop of her handsome Leneva Park-based, G1 Criterium International-winning sire.
Her unraced dam China Road (Commands) has also produced the nine-time winner Dynastic (Love Conquers All) and the four-time winner Never Say Nay (No Nay Never {USA}) who are both city-placed.
Served last spring by Jacquinot and Royal Meeting (Ire), China Road has not had a great deal of luck in recent years with Hayasugi being her most recent foal.
China Road is a half-sister to the stakes-placed multiple city winner Bejewelled (Anabaa {USA}) out of a half-sister to the Group 3 winners Alert Me (Genghiz {USA}) and Techniques (Palace Music {USA}) who is in turn dam of the Listed Black Opal S. winner You’re Canny (Canny Lad).
Hayasugi is one of two recent stakes winners from this family - today's G3 Mannerism S. placegetter Vagrant (Pariah) the other.
Bred on the same Invincible Spirit (Ire)/Canny Lad cross as I Am Invincible, Hayasugi can also count amongst her relations the Group 1 gallopers With Me (Covetous), Accomplice (Canny Lad) and Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
G1 Futurity S., $750,000, 1400m
It was a soft sixth Group 1 victory for Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) who is enjoying another stellar carnival - his prizemoney increased to beyond $12.3 million taking him to the top echelon of Australian stakes earners.
Bred by R.I and Est Late M.A.G Johnson, he was purchased by Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$22,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Weanling Sale.
Later passed in with a reserve of NZ$50,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale - Mr Brightside is one of the three stakes winners for his Orange Court-based, G3 CS Hayes S.-winning sire who serves only small books of mares.
Mr Brightside's dam is the unraced Lilahjay (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) who has changed hands several times and never for much - sold as a weanling for $1400, later online for $500 and then for $3000!
Also dam of the Hong Kong-based, eight-time winner Will Power (NZ) (Power {GB}) and a couple of winners in New Zealand, Lilahjay was not served in 2022 so no foal last year, her latest being a 2022 born filly by Darci Brahma (NZ).
Her 2-year-old by that same stallion has been named Lady Brightside (NZ) and is a member of the Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young stable.
Lilahjay is a granddaughter of the classy broodmare Delia’s Choice (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) whose six winners include the Group 1 winners Foxwood (NZ) (Centaine) and Celtic Tiger (NZ) (Jetball) - the former going on to produce the G3 Frank Packer Plate winner Rockwood (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}).
Also third dam of the Singapore-based, multiple Group 1 winner Mr Clint (NZ) (Power {GB}), Delia’s Choice is a full sister to the multiple Group 1 winners Sovereign Red (NZ) and Gurner’s Lane (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).
Boasting Sadler’s Wells (USA), Sir Ivor (USA) and Secretariat (USA) crosses, Mr Brightside is also line-bred to the outstanding mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}), Somethingroyal (USA) (Princequillo {Ire}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}) and Flower Bowl (USA) (Alibhai {GB}).
G1 Oakleigh Plate, $750,000, 1100m
Travelling well on pace and engaging victorious from an exciting finish, Queman (Mint Lane {USA}) won this Group 1 dash at his first attempt at the elite level having won the Listed WJ Adams S. at the same track in late January.
The homebred for the Smith family is one of the three stakes winners - and the first Group 1 winner - for his Group 2-winning sire (a son of Maria’s Mon {USA}) who last served mares in 2019. A descendant of the legendary Pretty Polly (GB) (Gallinule {GB}), he never had big groups of mares visit him but he has been represented by 68 winners amongst his 117 runners.
Queman is the first live foal produced by the lightly raced Strathalbyn maiden winner Langreen (Clangalang) who was also bred and raced by the Smiths. Not served every year, she visited Peltzer last spring with her previous foal a 2022 born filly by Denman.
Langreen is one of the four winners (from as many named foals) for the city-placed winner Nilreen (General Nediym) whose metropolitan-winning son General Mint is also by Mint Lane (USA).
Nilreen - who died yesterday - is a granddaughter of the Listed winner Fashion Fun (Arch Sculptor {GB}), dam of the Listed winner Stitches (Alzao {USA}) and grandam of the Macau-based dual stakes winner Club House (Genuine {Jpn}).
Queman boasts a cross of the high-class broodmare La Mirambule (Fr) (Coaraze {Fr}) via her feature race-winning sons Nasram (USA) and In The Purple (Fr).
G2 Autumn Classic, $300,000, 1800m
Remaining unbeaten after three impressive starts, Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) looks to be a horse to follow on the back of this 3l victory.
Bred by Cambridge Stud's Lindsay family, he made his way through the sales ring on two occasions - sold by Kiltannon Stables to Game Lodge for NZ15,000 in Book 2 of the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale and by Riverrock Farm to Busuttin Racing and Group 1 Racing for the considerably bigger sum of NZ$200,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
The third stakes winner for his Westbury Stud-based, G1 VRC Derby and G1 Rosehill Guineas-winning sire, Immediacy is out of the three-time winner But Beautiful (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) who was served last year by Embellish (NZ) having missed to him the previous season.
But Beautiful is out of the Group 3-placed Sweet Firebird (Ire) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) - also dam of the Listed winners Ayrad (Ire) (Dalakhani {Ire}) and Dawn Of Hope (Ire) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}).
Sweet Firebird's G1 Beverley D S.-winning dam Fire The Groom (USA) (Blushing Groom {Fr}) is the dam of the dual Group 1-winning successful stallion Stravinsky (USA).
Immediacy is line-bred to the three-quarter brothers Sadler's Wells (USA) and Nureyev (USA).
G2 Angus Armanasco S., $300,000, 1400m
Too good on pace backing up from a Sale BM64 victory last Sunday, Sassy Boom (Spirit Of Boom) is the 26th stakes winner for her classy and consistent Eureka Stud-based sire.
Bred by Emirates Park and sold by them to Danny O'Brien Racing for $155,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is the second live foal and second winner for the unraced Harbour Fun (Harbour Watch {Ire}) whose half-sister is the Listed Ken Russell Classic winner Cat D'Antibes (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).
Served last spring by Tassort after foaling a Bivouac filly, Harbour Fun has the yet-to-race 2-year-old Simply Fun (Pride Of Dubai) in the Kelly Schweida stable.
Harbour Fun is also a half-sister to Allegra (Dehere {USA}), dam of the stakes winners Hostwin Achilles (Deep Field) and Eximius (Exceed And Excel) and grandam of the G3 Eurythmic S. winner Karli's Karma (Deep Field).
And another of her half-sisters Eye For Fun (Snitzel) produced the G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Mossfun (Mossman), dam of the G3 Festival S. winner Dajraan (Frankel {GB}) and grandam of Saturday's G1 Blue Diamond S. scratching Bodyguard (I Am Invincible).
G2 Peter Young S., $300,000, 1800m
Bringing her outstanding New Zealand form to Caulfield, Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) was game holding off a run from the evergreen Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}).
Bred by Simms Davison, Campionessa was sold by Westbury Stud for $60,000 to David Ellis at the 2010 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale. She is one of nine stakes winners for her Mapperley Stud-based, dual Group 1-winning sire.
And she is one of three stakes winners for her metropolitan-winning dam Bella Carolina (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) - also dam of the Listed winners Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Leedox (NZ) (Time Test {GB}).
Hailing from the family of the G1 Metropolitan H. winner Dress Circle (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the G1 Easter H. winner Carson's Cash (NZ) (Lord Ballina), Campionessa is a descendant of the influential Kite (GB) (Bustard {GB}).
Bella Carolina was due to have foaled last spring to Bivouac after producing - in mid-September 2022 - a full sister to Campionessa. Her 2-year-old son Naitanui (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is a member of the Lindsay Park stable.
G3 Zeditave S., $200,000, 1200m
The second stakes winner for the day for his sire, Raikoke (Written Tycoon) was too strong on pace - doing a good job at just his second start having recorded an easy win in a Sandown maiden late last month.
Bred by Rushton Park and sold by them to MG Price Racing & Breeding for $275,000 at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, he is the 61st stakes winner for his Yulong-based sire.
His dam is the stakes-placed city winner Sunset Affair (Exceed And Excel) whose first three to race are all winners including the metropolitan winner Twilight Affair (Zoustar).
Also the dam of a Written Tycoon yearling colt (a $200,000 Magic Millions weanling purchase for Suman Hedge) and a colt foal by Shamus Award, Sunset Affair is out of the imported winner Tuscan Sky (USA) (Gulch {USA}) whose dam is a half-sister to the triple Group 1 winner Chris Evert (USA) (Swoon's Son {USA}) - dam of the USA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt Chief's Crown (USA).
Raikoke is the second Written Tycoon stakes winner (from 18 runners/13 winners) out of a mare by Exceed And Excel, Axe the other.
G3 Mannerism S., $200,000, 1400m
Racing in great heart is Revolutionary Miss (Russian Revolution) who was able to record her fifth 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 10 stakes winners for her Newgate Farm-based, 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 (Press Statement) 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}).
Otaki: G1 Otaki-Maori WFA Classic, NZ$400,000, 1600m
Back to her best at just her second run this campaign, La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) was in Group 1-winning form for the second time.
The winner of 2022 G1 Arrowfield Stud Plate is a homebred for the Cassin family. She is one of the six stakes winners for Rich Hill's G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp winner Vadamos (Fr), one of the best sons of the great Monsun (Ger) (Konigsstuhl {Ger}).
Her dam is the multiple city winner Destiny Cove whose sire Dubai Destination (USA) (Kingmambo {USA}) has made quite the name for himself as a broodmare sire.
Also dam of the good metropolitan class five-time winner Bari (NZ) (Proisir), Destiny Cove foaled a Circus Maximus (Ire) colt last spring and a full sister to La Crique the year before.
Destiny Cove is a granddaughter of the G2 Prix de Pomone winner Whitehaven (GB) (Top Ville {Ire}) whose son Copeland (GB) (Generous {Ire}) earned the title of Swiss Champion 3-Year-Old with his 11 victories.
His half-sister Ennerdale (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}) has done a great job at stud locally, producing eight winners including the G3 Caulfield Guineas Prelude winner Eclair Big Bang (NZ) (Savabeel), the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude winner Samara Dancer (NZ) (Hinchinbrook), the Listed CS Hayes Memorial S. winner Black Sail (NZ) (Savabeel) as well as a couple of stakes-placed city winners.
Matamata: G2 Matamata Breeders' S., NZ$150,000, 1200m
Four starts, four wins - it is a very nice record being built by Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) who provided Yulong with an exciting finish beating Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) - a quinella for their stallions.
Bred by Makybe Racing & Breeding and sold by Milburn Creek to David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) for $525,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is one of the 60 stakes winners for her Champion Sire.
She is the first foal for the lightly raced Bendigo and Flemington winner Moldova (Snitzel) who produced her third foal - a filly by Toronado (Ire) in late September with her second being a colt last year by Too Darn Hot (GB).
Served by Justify (USA), Moldova is out of the lightly raced La Fluorescent (NZ) (General Nediym) and that dam of another three winners is a half-sister to the G2 Moonee Valley Vase and G3 Spring S. winner Savvy Nature (NZ) (Savabeel) and the G3 Ming Dynasty H. winner Addictive Nature.
Captured By Love's fourth dam is the dual Listed winner La Lagune (Danehill {USA}) whose daughter Halloween (Encosta De Lago) is an outstanding broodmare - producing four stakes winners; the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas heroine Hasahalo (NZ) (Savabeel) and the Group 3 gallopers Hasabro (NZ) (Savabeel), All Saints' Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and All Hallows' Eve (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
One of the two stakes winners (from 21 runners/14 winners) for Written Tycoon out of a Snitzel mare - Velocious from the same crop the other - Captured By Love is bred on a cross (via Try My Best {USA} and Redoute's Choice) of the wonderful mare Best In Show (USA) (Traffic Judge {USA}).
G3 Matamata Slipper S., NZ$100,000, 1200m
Atoning for a somewhat unlucky fifth in the R. Listed Karaka Millions 2YO, Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) was strong to the line recording the second win of his five-start career.
Bred by Waikato Stud (home to his high-achieving sire whose tally now sits on 140 stakes winners), he was sold by them to The Oaks Stud for NZ$400,000 at last year's New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
He is one of the two winners (from her first three named foals) for Glee (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose Group 3-placed full sister Symphonic (NZ) is the dam of Savabeel's exciting filly Orchestral (NZ) - winner of her last three starts including last weekend's G2 Avondale Guineas.
This is one of New Zealand's finest families, its members also including the Group 1 winners Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel), Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) and Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}).
Savaglee is the 31st Savabeel stakes winner out of a mare by O'Reilly (NZ) and the second (Orchestral the other) bred on that cross whilst also having Danasinga as the second damsire (a cross which has produced 11 winners from 13 runners).
Glee paid a return visit to Savabeel last spring having foaled a filly by him (or Noverre {NZ}) in November.
Listed Kaimi S., NZ$80,000, 2000m
Getting up right on the line to record her first win (her seventh overall) at stakes level, Saint Alice (So You Think {NZ}) became the 56th stakes winner for her Coolmore Stud-based sire.
Bred by J Chapman, she was sold by Jamieson Park to GC Beemsterboer for NZ$220,000 at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the two-time winner Rare Delight (Redoute's Choice) whose Listed Belmont Guineas-winning dam Creatrix (Umatilla {NZ}) also produced the Listed La Trice Classic winner Tranquility (Redoute's Choice) and the dam of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Booker (Written Tycoon) and the Listed Springtime H. winner Banquo (Written Tycoon).
A descendant of the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Sister Olive (Red Dennis {GB}), Rare Delight was due to have foaled last spring to Tarzino (NZ) having had an Almanzor (Fr) colt the year before.
Saint Alice is the fifth (from 57 runners/42 winners) stakes winner for So You Think (NZ) out of a mare by Redoute's Choice with others including the Group 1 gallopers D'Argento and Inference.
