Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
A fortnight after Mr Brightside (Bullbars) claimed his fifth Group 1 in the CF Orr S. at Caulfield, the Lindsay Park-trained galloper was back at the venue winning his sixth in the G1 Futurity S.
Te Akau Racing’s star mare Campionessa (Contributer) had to call on all her quality to deny the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War) in Saturday’s G2 Peter Young S.
Katrina and Simon Alexander’s brilliant mare La Crique (Vadamos) returned to form in the G1 Otaki-Maori Classic at Otaki.
The Les Bridge-trained Celestial Legend (Dundeel) stormed to success in the G2 Hobartville S. on Saturday at Rosehill.
The Westbury Stud-based Tarzino sired his third stakes winner when Immediacy was a dominant victor of the G2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield.
Despite his relative inexperience Raikoke (Written Tycoon) was too speedy for his rivals in the G3 Zeditave S. on Saturday at Caulfield.
Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom celebrated his 26th stakes winner when Sassy Boom scored the G2 Angus Armanasco S. at Caulfield on Saturday.
South Australian raider Queman (Mint Lane) secured a maiden Group 1 success in the Oakleigh Plate with a determined victory.
Another Group 1 for Brightside
It doesn’t matter what tactics the opposition employ, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) just gets the job done. A fortnight after claiming his fifth Group 1 in the CF Orr S. at Caulfield, the Lindsay Park-trained galloper was back at the venue to claim the G1 Futurity S.
Mr Brightside became the first horse since Black Heart Bart (Blackfriars) in 2017 to claim both races in the same season. Ridden by regular partner Craig Williams, Mr Brightside beat Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) by 1.5l, while Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}) held on for third after setting a hot tempo.
Williams told Racing.com, “I can only ride the horse I’ve got but I have so much faith and confidence in Mr Brightside, and you would too if you’ve seen his record.
“I can only ride the horse I’ve got but I have so much faith and confidence in Mr Brightside, and you would too if you’ve seen his record.” - Craig Williams
“The team has such a great handle on him, makes my job really easy. Mr Brightside is such a great horse, he’s a killer and a winner, just a pleasure to ride.”
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 Yearling Sale. Phoenix Park reoffered Mr Brightside at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale he failed to meet his NZ$50,000 reserve.
Connections of Mr Brightside (NZ) after winning the G1 Futurity S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
South Aussie all heart in Oakleigh Plate
Queman (Mint Lane {USA}) was one of two runners for Shane and Cassie Oxlade in Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate. The son of Mint Lane (USA) wasn’t on everybody’s radar with his stablemate Sghirripa (Lonhro) taking most of the attention.
However, at the end of the 1100-metre dash it was Queman who collected the silverware. Ridden by Harry Coffey, the 5-year-old gelding fought off a tenacious Hypothetical (Pride Of Dubai), while Mornington Glory (Shalaa {Ire}) ran third and Benedetta (Hellbent) was fourth.
The favoured King’s Gambit (I Am Invincible) and Asfoora (Flying Artie) were both unplaced.
Queman, bred by FJL Smith, has won nine races, with the G1 Oakleigh Plate his biggest success alongside a victory in the Listed WJ Adams S. He is the best runner for Mint Lane (USA), and his sole Group 1 winner.
His dam Langreen, a daughter of Clangalang has a yearling filly by Denman and was served by Twin Hills Stud’s Peltzer.
Connections of Queman after winning the G1 Oakleigh Plate at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Kiwi star denies Cup winners
Te Akau Racing’s star mare Campionessa (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) had to call on all her quality to deny the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}) in Saturday’s G2 Peter Young S. Finishing strongly in third was another Melbourne Cup victor Gold Trip (Fr) (Outstrip {GB}).
Campionessa has been racing in good heart, having finished second to the brilliant Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in the G1 Herbie Dyke S. last start and claimed her maiden Group 1 success this preparation in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
The daughter of Contributer (Ire) is the best runner from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Bella Carolina (NZ), who has also produced the Listed winners Leedox (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) and Tennessee (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).
Campionessa has won 11 races after initially passing in short of NZ$70,000 reserve at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Westbury Stud reoffered her at the 2019 Magic Millions National Yearling Sale where David Ellis (BAFNZ) paid $60,000.
La Crique finds form
Katrina and Simon Alexander’s brilliant mare La Crique (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) returned to form in the G1 Otaki-Maori Classic at Otaki.
The 5-year-old mare, ridden by Matthew Cameron, defeated Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) and Desert Lightning (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai).
La Crique is from the Dubai Destination (USA) mare Destiny Cove (NZ), who won five races. It was the seventh success for the daughter of Vadamos (Fr) and her second Group 1 success.
Legend takes out Hobartville
The Les Bridge-trained Celestial Legend (Dundeel {NZ}) stormed to success in the G2 Hobartville S. on Saturday at Rosehill.
The grey, ridden by Kerrin McEvoy, defeated a gallant Encap (Capitalist), while Les Vampires (Pierro) was a further 2.8l away. The race favourite, Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) worked home to finish fifth in the 1400-metre event.
Celestial Legend is the second foal from the unraced Snitzel mare Sarraqa, who is a daughter of the Champion mare National Colour (SAf) (National Assembly {Can}).
Sarraqa has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn) and was served by Dundeel (NZ) last spring. Celestial Legend is the 26th stakes winner for the Arrowfield Stud-based sire.
Legend Racing and Avenue Bloodstock paid $220,000 to secure Celestial Legend from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Celestial Legend | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Derby dreaming for connections of Immediacy
The Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young-trained Immediacy (NZ) (Tarzino {NZ}) was a runaway victor of the G2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield over 1800 metres.
Immediacy, ridden by Luke Currie, had won a maiden at Cranbourne over 1500 metres and a BM64 over 1800 metres at Sandown-Hillside before contesting the Group 2.
Running into second behind Immediacy was Caracas (NZ) (Shocking) and Our Couver (Vancouver).
Immediacy is the third stakes winner for the Westbury Stud-based Tarzino (NZ), who won the G1 VRC Derby and the G1 Rosehill Guineas. Co-trainer Natalie Young indicated that Immediacy would likely head to Sydney the Rosehill Guineas before tackling the G1 Australian Derby.
The gelding is from the Pivotal (GB) mare But Beautiful (Ire), who is a half-sister to two stakes winners and from the family of the Champion Sprinter Stravinsky (USA).
Connections of Immediacy (NZ) after winning the G2 Autumn Classic at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Immediacy was a NZ$15,000 purchase by Game Lodge from the draft of Kiltannon Stables at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. Riverrock Farm reoffered the gelding at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale where Busuttin Racing and Group 1 Racing secured him for NZ$200,000.
Untapped galloper take out Zeditave
Raikoke (Written Tycoon) went into Saturday’s G3 Zeditave S. with one start under his belt - a 2.8l success at Sandown-Lakeside in January. Despite his inexperience the Mick Price and Michael Kent-Jnr-trained 3-year-old gelding was too good for his rivals in the Group 3 event at Caulfield.
Raikoke, ridden by Ben Melham, beat an unlucky Brave Mead (Brave Smash {Jpn}), who missed the start, while Scully (Shooting To Win) went into plenty of blackbooks with his run into third.
The gelding is from the Listed-placed Exceed And Excel mare Sunset Affair, who has a yearling colt by Written Tycoon and foaled a colt by Shamus Award in October. Raikoke was a $275,000 purchase by MG Price Racing and Breeding from the draft of Rushton Park at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
The Yulong-based Written Tycoon enjoyed a successful Saturday. In addition to Raikoke providing him with his 61st stakes winner, his brilliant daughter Captured By Love won the G2 Matamata Breeders’ S.
Connections of Raikoke after winning the G3 Zeditave S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sassy outlasts Glamorous
Danny O’Brien-trained fillies have been in fine form this autumn. Following the victory of Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) in the G3 Vanity S. at Flemington, Sassy Boom (Spirit Of Boom) did her part this weekend at Caulfield.
Sassy Boom was a last-start winner at Sale in BM64 company but took the step up to Group 2 level with aplomb in the Angus Armanasco. The 3-year-old filly, ridden by Blake Shinn, found enough to hold off the run of a game So Glamorous (So You Think {NZ}), while the classy Serasana (Snitzel) was third.
Catching the eye running on into sixth after not much luck was Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun).
Sassy Boom is the third foal from the unraced Harbour Watch (Ire) mare Harbour Fun, who foaled a filly by Bivouac in August and was served by Tassort.
Harbour Fun is from the family of the brilliant Mossfun (Mossman), who won the G1 Golden Slipper, the G2 Silver Slipper, the G3 Widden S. and the R. Listed Inglis Nursery.
Connections of Sassy Boom after winning the G2 Angus Armanasco S. at Caulfield | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sassy Boom was a $155,000 purchase by Danny O’Brien Racing from the draft of Emirates Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. The filly is the 26th stakes winner for Eureka Stud’s Spirit Of Boom.
