Second winner for I Am Immortal
Swettenham Stud’s first-season sire I Am Immortal signed his second winner on Sunday at Ballarat. The Danny O’Brien-trained Immortal Star improved on her debut sixth in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery to defeat Evaporate (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Altermatum (Zoustar) with Blake Shinn in the saddle.
The filly is the second foal from the Hinchinbrook mare Tuskar Brook, who won four races. Her colt by Dirty Work, unfortunately, died after birth. Tuskar Brook foaled a filly by Fierce Impact (Jpn) in October and was served by I Am Immortal in the spring.
Immortal Star was a $30,000 purchase by Superstar Racing from the draft of Noorilim Park at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Geegee keeps unbeaten record
Smart filly Geegees Mistruth (Wordsmith) took her unbeaten record to four, and claimed her second stakes success in the Listed Gold Sovereign S. at Launceston. The Stuart Gandy-trained filly, ridden by Anthony Darmanin, defeated Flattered (Yes Yes Yes) and Zoete’s Rock (Impending).
Geegees Mistruth is the fourth foal from the Jetball mare Miss Mana. She has a yearling filly by Wordsmith.
The filly is one of eight stakes winners for the son of Testa Rossa, who is represented by Lot 93, on behalf of Motree Thoroughbreds at the 2024 Magic Millions Tasmanian Yearling Sale.
Estrondo wins on debut as half-brother March sale bound
The Robert Heathcote-trained Estrondo (Spirit Of Boom) made the perfect start to her career, winning on debut at the Sunshine Coast on Sunday. Estrondo, ridden by Samantha Collett, defeated Mishy (The Mission) and Top Rooster (Goodfella).
The filly is the third foal from the Snitzel mare Azores, who is a half-sister to the stakes winner Simply Fly (Spirit Of Boom). Azores will be represented by Lot 222, a colt by Lean Mean Machine, to be offered at the 2024 Gold Coast March Yearling Sale by Eureka Stud. She foaled a filly by Winning Rupert in September and was served by Eureka Stud’s Encryption.
Estrondo was a $70,000 purchase by Adrenaline Thoroughbreds from the draft of Eureka Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Kah to ride Southport in Guineas
Saturday’s G1 Blue Diamond S.-winning hoop Jamie Kah will chase her 11th Group 1 success with the Ciaron Maher-trained Southport Tycoon (Written Tycoon) in Saturday’s G1 Australian Guineas.
Just Fine is fine
Last year’s G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) is coming along well, according to his co-trainer Gai Waterhouse.
“He’s going along very nicely,” Waterhouse told Racing.com.
Just Fine (Ire) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Just Fine has had two trials, he’s down to run in about two weeks’ time. He’s on track for the Sydney Cup and races like that. He’s a very exciting horse.”
Pride: she’ll get scared
Joe Pride, the trainer of The Everest winner Think About It (So You Think {NZ}) is enjoying the friendly rivalry between his star galloper and Te Akau Racing’s outstanding mare Imperatriz (I Am Invincible). Although the two have yet to meet on the racetrack, the two could potentially meet in the G1 Canterbury S.
“She’ll get scared, she won’t come up,” Pride told RSN927.
“Think About It is a really genuine horse and we’re always holding him back to be honest. He will trial well because he’s a good horse and I just can’t wait to get him to the races.”
‘Forgotten horse’ targeting Guineas
The Lindsay Park-trained Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) will tackle the G1 Australian Guineas after co-trainer Ben Hayes announced the G1 VRC Derby runner-up had impressed in a recent jump-out.
“Apulia is a little bit forgotten, but we’re happy to go first-up into the Guineas,” Hayes told Racing.com.
Apulia | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“He’ll probably need the run, but he’s a horse that we hoping to get to the South Australian Derby or the Australian Derby, so with his record we thought we’d bring him back through the Guineas.”
Shinn to ride Elliptical
Victorian-based hoop Blake Shinn will head to Sha Tin next Sunday to reunite with the G3 CS Hayes S. victor Elliptical. The son of Dundeel (NZ) is now trained by Caspar Fownes in Hong Kong and has yet to finish in the placings from four starts at Sha Tin.
“He’s been slightly disappointing to everyone’s expectations, running second in a Caulfield Guineas and a Spring Champion S.,” Shinn told Racing.com.
“But I will say, now he’s stepping out to 1800 metres next weekend, if he’s ever going to do something, I’d love to see him do it in this particular race because he’s got a lot of class and we’re just waiting for him to put it together. As we know, in Hong Kong, they can take a bit to acclimatise, he might be just one of those horses.”
No Newmarket decision yet
Shane Oxlade, who trained Saturday’s G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Queman (Mint Lane {USA}) and runner Sghirripa (Lonhro) has advised he has made no decision whether both or one of his talented gallopers will contest the G1 Newmarket H. on March 9.
“I’ll have a look when I get home,” Oxlade told the Racing.com program The Wrap.
Shane Oxlade | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Queman, that was going to be his grand final yesterday (Saturday), but I’ll have a look, I don’t know if he’s a 1200-metre Newmarket horse.
“The other horse (Sghirripa), Froggy (Craig Newitt) was really disappointed. He should have won, he just missed the kick a touch, then got plenty of interference and finished off enormous. I’m just starting to get the feeling that he might be at the end of it. I don’t want to go to the well too many times when you’ve got the G1 Goodwood H. at home.”
Quintessa Guineas bound
Te Akau Racing’s brilliant filly Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) is on track to contest the G1 Australian Guineas this coming Saturday at Flemington. Trainer Mark Walker confirmed the Group 1 winner had arrived in Melbourne this week.
Quintessa (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images (Peter Rubery)
“She won the G1 Levin Classic in January, so we thought we’d give her a crack in Australia,” Walker told Racing.com.
“She’s a winner. She’s got a good record and Flemington will suit her as well.”
Hayes: Brightside is super
Co-trainer Ben Hayes confirmed star galloper Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) has pulled up “super” following his sixth Group 1 success in the Futurity S. on Saturday.
Hayes also indicated Makram (Ire) (Make Believe {GB}) would eye a start in The All-Star Mile when he contests Saturday’s G2 Blamey S. where the winner is guaranteed a wildcard.
“Makram is an interesting horse, who we think has gained so much confidence from that first-up win,” Hayes said to Racing.com.
“He’ll run in the Blamey and if he wins he’ll likely go to The All-Star Mile.”
Shades of Alligator
David Vandyke is excited at the future prospects of Saturday’s debut winner All Inclusive (All Too Hard). The juvenile was impressive at Doomben winning the QTIS Jewel Prelude 2YO Colts and Geldings Plate promoting Vandyke to say the gelding reminded him of another son of All Too Hard, Alligator Blood.
“If All Inclusive pulls up well, we’re off to Sydney,” Vandyke told Punters.
“We always thought he’d be a better 3-year-old so what he’s doing now and what you saw on Saturday is just raw talent.”
Vale Dave Bradford
Respected racing journalist and administrator Dave Bradford passed away peacefully in Auckland on Thursday, aged 91.
Having started out as a cadet reporter with the Thames Star, Bradford moved onto the Rotorua Daily Post before later becoming racing editor of the Auckland Star/8 O’Clock. A committee member of Auckland Racing Club and Matamata Racing Club, Bradford was the first editor of the New Zealand Racing Annual from early the 1970s for MOA Publications. He managed Whitford agistment property Lone Oak Lodge, then established Glen Orchard Stud Matamata in partnership with ARC president and New Zealand Racing Conference chairman Arthur Hughes.
Dave Bradford | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell
Following the death of first wife Nancey in the early 1980s, he moved to Australia for two years, but returned to New Zealand and joined the New Zealand Thoroughbred Breeders’ Association as executive director in 1986, where he played a big part in overseas trade missions in conjunction with the likes of Labour Government Trade Minister Mike Moore. He would later join Magic Millions New Zealand. Bradford married wife Sonia in 1987 and together they formed Bradford Publishing, and resumed editorship of Racing Annual, while also racing editor of Sunday News until the mid-2000s. Retired to Havelock North in 2012, Bradford was forced by failing health to return to Auckland in late 2023 until his death last week.
At his own request there will be no funeral, however it is hoped for an opportunity in the near future for family and friends of Bradford to gather in his memory.
Timberlake stars in Rebel
The Brad Cox-trained Timberlake (USA) (Into Mischief {USA}) returned to claim the G2 Rebel S. at Oaklawn and continued his march to the G1 Kentucky Derby.
Timberlake won the G1 Champagne S. at Belmont and was second in the G1 Saratoga Hopeful S. The son of Into Mischief (USA) is from the family of the Listed Parramatta Cup winner and G1 Tancred S.-placed King Frankel (Ire) (Frankel {GB}).
