Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Flemington: G1 Newmarket H., $1,500,000, 1200m
It was a timely 19th Group 1 winner and second Newmarket winner for Exceed And Excel who won the race in 2004 - and whose retirement was announced just this week.
The sire of the 2020 winner (Bivouac) in the same colours (Godolphin), Exceed And Excel - the only Australian-bred stallion represented by over 200 stakes winners (215) has another extra smart one in the shape of Cylinder who was so strong out wide running down the favourite Imperatriz (I Am Invincible).
A three-time Group 2 and one-time Group 3 winner who ran second in the G1 Golden Slipper S. and third in the G1 Golden Rose, Cylinder has rarely been far away - winning five of his 13 starts and finishing in the placings on a further four occasions.
He is one of the two stakes winners - the dual Group 3 winner Parisal (Astern) the other - produced by the Group 3 Matron S. winner Circular (Street Cry {Ire}).
Served last spring by Extreme Choice after foaling a Brazen Beau colt, Circular (whose Bivouac yearling has been named Sphere) is out of the city winner Hexameter (Octagonal {NZ}) whose G3 Sweet Embrace S.-winning grandam Shadea (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}) produced the Group 1 gallopers Lonhro and Niello.
What a terrific family this is, also represented at the elite level by Mahaya (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Grosvenor (NZ), National Gallery (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Tavago (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), Miss Keepsake (NZ) (Keeper) and Lankan Rupee (Redoute's Choice).
Cylinder is the second Group 1 winner - September Run the other - and one of the four stakes winners by Exceed And Excel out of a Street Cry (Ire) mare; a cross represented by 37 winners from 56 runners.
And he is third Group 1 winner (and one of the 26 stakes winners from 253 winners/377 runners) for the Exceed And Excel/Octagonal (NZ) combination; Golden Mile (Astern) and Bounding (Lonhro) the others.
G2 Sires' Produce S., $300,000, 1400m
Relishing a step up in distance having recorded good late splits in the G1 Blue Diamond S., Traffic Warden (Street Boss {USA}) was too fast and too good recording his first stakes victory at his fifth outing.
The Godolphin homebred is the second foal and first winner for their Goulburn maiden winner Efficiently (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the outstanding broodmare Dextrous (Quest For Fame {GB}).
That winner of the G2 Sandown Guineas and the G3 Vanity S. has done such a great job with all nine of her foals to race being winners including the G1 VRC Oaks winner Willowy (Kermadec {NZ}), the G1 AJC Champagne S. winner Skilled, the dual Group 2 winner Sidestep and the G2 Theo Marks S. winner Ambidexter.
A success story for the transition of Woodlands Stud to Darley to Godolphin, Traffic Warden hails from the family of one of the greats of the Australian turf - the champion mare Emancipation (Bletchingly).
The 69th stakes winner for her Godolphin-based sire, Traffic Warden has a yearling half-sister called Immerse (Frosted {USA}) and her dam foaled a full brother to her last spring - subsequently missing to Blue Point (Ire).
Traffic Warden is the 17th Street Boss (USA) stakes winner out of a mare with Danehill (USA) who hails from the same family as Street Boss' grandsire Machiavellian (USA) whose damsire Halo (USA) is also a member of this prolific family - as is Danehill's grandsire Northern Dancer (Can).
G2 Kewney S., $300,000, 1600m
Deriving good benefit from her nice first-up effort in the G2 Angus Armanasco S., last spring's G3 Ethereal S. winner Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun) was quickly into winning form.
The Ethereal is proving to be a handy form reference, runner up that day being last weekend's G1 Flight S. winner Tropical Squall (Prized Icon).
Bred by Arrowfield and Jungle Pocket, Autumn Angel was sold by Arrowfield to Dalziel Bloodstock and Moody Racing for $230,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
One of the three stakes winners for her Arrowfield-based, five-time Group 1-winning sire, she is out of the G3 Lord Mayor's Cup winner Angel Of Mercy (Hussonet {USA}) whose dam Pieta (Clay Hero) is a city-winning half-sister to the four-time Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) and the G3 Standish H. winner Blessum (Umatilla {NZ}).
Stakes winners Maternal (Street Cry {Ire}) and Live To Tell (Territories {Ire}) also hail from this family.
The dam of another two winners, Angel Of Mercy was served last spring by Hitotsu having foaled a colt by his sire Maurice (Jpn) in October. Her 2022 foal is a full sister to Autumn Angel whilst her 2-year-old Stolen Summer (also by The Autumn Sun) has been retained by Arrowfield and Jungle Pocket and is a member of the Paul Messara and Leah Gavranich stable.
Autumn Angel is one of the 31 stakes winners (from 259 winners/380 runners) for the Redoute's Choice/Hussonet (USA) combination - one which has produced the Group 1 gallopers Extreme Choice, King's Legacy and Majmu (Redoute's Choice).
G3 Shaftesbury Avenue H., $200,000, 1400m
Finishing off strongly to record a feature-race win at his 11th start, the three-time winner Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel) is stakes winner number 142 for his Waikato Stud-based sire.
Bred by Waikato Stud, he was sold by Stonehouse Thoroughbreds to Cliff Brown Racing for $190,000 at the 2021 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
His metropolitan-winning dam Tiara (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) has produced another two multiple winners by Savabeel and she is a granddaughter of the G1 Auckland Cup winner Royal Tiara (NZ) (Blanco {USA}) who performed well in Australia, finishing second in the G1 Queensland Oaks - and she is also grandam of the stakes winners Ransom Express (Red Ransom {USA}) and Sidera (Galileo {Ire}).
Royal Tiara's dam Maganyos (Hun) (Pioneer {USA}) won 10 races in six countries, four of those at Listed level (including a couple over the jumps). Five of her six foals were winners including the six-time Group winner Elbio (GB) (Precocious {GB}).
Tiara was served last spring by Banquo having produced a colt and a filly by Tivaci at her two previous seasons at stud.
Von Hauke is the 32nd Savabeel stakes winner out of an O'Reilly (NZ) mare - a cross which has been represented by nine Group 1 winners and 163 winners from 221 runners.
G3 Matron S., $200,000, 1600m
It was a deserved win on the back of a couple of unlucky runs for Eternal Flame (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) who rounded off a big and hot day at Flemington with a smart performance wearing down Running By (Impending) over the final stages.
Bred by Hooftbeat Ltd, she was sold by Kilmore Farm to Phill Cataldo Bloodstock for NZ$260,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready to Run Sale.
She is the ninth stakes winner for her late sire, a four-time Group 1-winning son of O'Reilly (NZ).
She is one of the five winners produced by the winner Suriyan (NZ) (Savabeel) whose grandson Kinane (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) won the G3 Frank Packer Plate for the Michael Kent stable.
Not served last spring having lost her Jon Snow (NZ) foal, Suriyan has not had much luck at stud in recent years with her only live foal since Eternal Flame being her 2022 born Jon Snow filly.
Suriyan is a daughter of the dual Listed winner Dazzling Belle (NZ) (Desert Sun {GB}) whose G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic-winning daughter Magic Dancer (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) produced the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas winner Noverre (NZ).
She was the second Flemington stakes winner for the day combining the New Zealand stalwarts O'Reilly and Savabeel; the reverse cross producing the G3 Shaftesbury Avenue H. winner Von Hauke (NZ) (Savabeel).
Randwick: G1 Randwick Guineas, $1,000,000, 1600m
No winner of this race had ever gone on to sire a winner and not only did Dundeel (NZ) break that hoodoo, but he provided the quinella with Celestial Legend gamely holding on from the favourite Militarize (NZ).
The 2013 G1 Randwick Guineas was one of the six elite level races won by Dundeel who has now sired eight Group 1 winners amongst his 26 stakes winners.
Bred by Arrowfield and sold by them to Legend Racing/Avenue Bloodstock for $220,000 at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he is the first foal produced by the unraced Sarraqa (Snitzel) whose second foal National Code (Written Tycoon) was purchased by MDK International/Griffiths de Kock Racing for $160,000 at last year's Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Again served last spring by Dundeel having missed to his son Castelvecchio the previous season, Sarraqa has a yearling colt by Maurice (Jpn)... Lot 260 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Sarraqa is a daughter of the outstanding mare National Colour (SAf) (National Assembly {Can}) - a triple Group 1 winner in South Africa who also raced well in Dubai and England.
Five of her six foals to race are winners including the Australian-bred, South African-based Group 1 sprinters Rafeef and Mustaaqeem - both sons of Redoute's Choice. Also grandam of the Group 3 winner Full Velocity (SAf) (Philanthropist {USA}), National Colour is out of the Listed winner Rainbow Cake (SAf) (Mr Eats {Ire}).
Celestial Legend is the second Group 1 bred on a Dundeel/Redoute's Choice cross, Super Seth the other.
G1 Canterbury S., $750,000, 1300m
What great form Lady Laguna (Overshare) is in, doing a great job measuring up to the elite level at just her second attempt having been unplaced in the 2022 G1 Golden Slipper S.
The sole stakes winner for her Widden Victoria-based, G3 Zeditave S.-winning sire - a son of I Am Invincible - Lady Laguna was bred by Spendthrift Australia.
She is the second of three foals so far for the dual city winner Catalina De Lago (NZ) (Encosta De Lago), half-sister to the G2 Edward Manifold S. winner She Will Be Loved (Strategic) out of the unraced Katie O'Neill (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
That half-sister to the dual Group winner Soleil Rouge (NZ) (Red Tempo {NZ}) and the G3 Metric Mile winner Black Sun (NZ) (Otehi Bay) is also grandam of the two-time Group winner Luke's Luck (Show A Heart) and third dam of the Listed Takeover Target H. winner Enchanted Heart (Show A Heart) and the G2 Percy Sykes S. winner Kristilli (Hellbent).
This is also the family of the Group 1 winners All Thrills Too (St Covet), Lucia Valentina (NZ) (Sabaveel) and Danzdanzdance (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and of two Group 3 winners currently at stud in Australia - Swear and Extreme Warrior.
Lady Laguna boasts crosses of Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) and her dam Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}) via Sadler's Wells (USA), Fairy King (USA) and Nureyev (USA).
Now a Kingstar Farm mare, Catalina De Lago has not had much luck in recent times - slipping two years running with her latest foal being Lindelago (Bolt D'Oro {USA}) who sadly died having raced just the once; not disgraced in last year's G3 Ottawa S. She was served last spring by State Of Rest (Ire).
G2 Reisling S., $300,000, 1200m
Erno's Cube (Rubick) had her nose down at the right time in an exciting three-way go, recording her first stakes victory at her fourth start.
The 12th stakes winner for her Swettenam Stud-based sire, she was bred by Daleigh Park Livestock and Akuna Park and sold by Edinglassie Thoroughbreds to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $230,000 at last year's Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the unraced Long Wink (Stratum) whose dam is the Listed Dark Jewel Classic winner Romare (Marscay) - also dam of the Listed Debutant S. winner Eramor (Stratum) and grandam of the stakes-winning sprinters Emerald Kingdom (Bryannbo's Gift) and Streel Frost (Bryannbo's Gift).
Served last spring by Rubick's son Jacquinot, Long Wink missed the previous year, sadly losing her previous foal.
The cleverly named Erno's Cube is the second Rubick stakes winner - Jacquinot the first - out of a mare with Redoute's Choice whose dam Shantha's Choice (Canny Lad) is Redoute's Choice's dam; hence a 3 X 4 cross.
He is a descendant of Democratie (Fr) (Epinard {Fr}) who has enjoyed influence via her descendants Showdown (GB) and Red Ransom (USA).
G2 Todman S., $300,000, 1200m
Heading to the G1 Golden Slipper S. unbeaten - as is the favourite Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) - Switzerland (Snitzel) finished off strongly at his first run over 1200 metres.
Bred by Arrowfield and Cloros Bloodstock, he was sold by Arrowfield to Tom Magnier for $1.5 million at last year's Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
The 142nd stakes winner for his Arrowfield-based, Champion Sire, he is the first foal produced by the G3 Ladies Turf S. and Listed China Doll S. winner Ms Bad Behavior (Can) (Blame {USA}), daughter of the dual Listed winner Cumulonimble (USA) (Stormy Atlantic {USA}).
Purchased by Freyer Bloodstock for US$600,000 (AU$903,000) at the 2019 Fasig-Tipton Kentucky November Mixed Sale, Ms Bad Behavior has visited Snitzel at each of her four years at stud - producing colts in 2022 and 2023.
She is a half-sister to the Listed winners One Bad Boy (Can) (Twirling Candy {USA}) and Blessed Truly (Can) (Souper Speedy {USA) from the family of the G1 Santa Anita Derby winner Personal Hope (USA) who stood locally, his best runner being the dual Group 2 winner Paris Dream.
Switzerland's sire and dam are bred on the same Danzig (USA)/Nijinsky (Can)/Storm Bird (Can) cross.
G2 Challenge S., $500,000, 1000m
This race has had a good run of being won by the same horse twice, Passive Aggressive (Fastnet Rock) making it two in a row - joining Eduardo (Host {Chi}) and English (Encosta De Lago) to accomplish that feat within the last nine years.
Having her first run since last May, the Grahame Begg-trained 5-year-old also won the 2022 Listed Creswick S.; her overall record an impressive six wins from nine starts.
One of the 193 stakes winners for her Coolmore Stud-based sire, a stalwart of Australian breeding, she was bred by Cressfield and purchased for $500,000 by Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock at the 2020 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Racing in the red and white colours of Jonathan Munz’s Pinecliff Racing, Passive Aggressive is one of the six winners (from as many to race) for the G3 How Now S. winner Miss Judgement (Strategic).
Also dam of the G3 Percy Sykes S. winner Missrock (also by Fastnet Rock) who changed hands as a broodmare for $2.3 million, Miss Judgement was retired in 2021 - Passive Aggressive her final foal.
Miss Judgement is one of the four stakes winners for the city winner Miss Jakeo (Unbridled’s Song {USA}), also dam of the G1 Oakleigh Plate winner Mrs Onassis (General Nediym), the G3 Matron S. winner Fifth Avenue Lady (Encosta De Lago) and the G3 Ming Dynasty winner Aussies Love Sport (Redoute’s Choice)... and grandam of the multiple stakes-winning Macau galloper Pearl Green (Fastnet Rock) and the dual Group 3 mare Renaissance Woman (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Miss Jakeo as her name suggests is a daughter of the outstanding race and broodmare Lady Jakeo (Last Tycoon {Ire}), the dual Group 1-winning sprinter whose 11 winners include the Australian-bred, US Group 3 winner Red Arrow (Red Ransom {USA}) and the Hong Kong Champion Griffin Able Choice (Dehere {USA}).
G3 Aspiration Quality, $250,000, 1600m
Well-fancied on the back of her first-up strong finishing fifth in the G2 Millie Fox S. in which G1 Canterbury S. winner Lady Laguna (Overshare) was second, Lekvarte (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) was good to the line recording her eighth victory and her second at stakes level.
Also the winner, in late December, of the G3 Belle of the Turf S., the grey is one of the 26 stakes winners for her Westbury Stud-based sire.
Bred by S Hume, she was sold by Westbury to BK Racing & Breeding and Andrew Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $210,000 at the 2020 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Her dam Plumm (Encosta De Lago) was second in the G3 Adrian Knox S. and she has produced another two winners including the stakes-placed, Hong Kong-based, five-time winner Total Power (Dundeel {NZ}).
Plumm is out of the stakes-placed, multiple city winner Madame Plume (NZ) (Military Plume {NZ}) whose grandam is the outstanding filly Toy Show (Showdown {GB}).
Lekvarte is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Fairy Bridge (USA) (Bold Reason {USA}) via her sons Sadler's Wells (USA) and Fairy King (USA).
G3 Wenona Girl Quality, $250,000, 1200m
Well-backed in the last race on a big card, Tintookie (Winning Rupert) charged to the line recording the fifth win of her 17-start career - winning a stakes race at her first attempt at that level.
Bred by R W Tierney who remains in the ownership, Tintookie was sold by Riversdale to Brad Widdup racing for $30,000 at the 2021 Inglis HTBA May Yearling Sale.
The fourth stakes winner for her sire who recently sold in an online Inglis Digital sale to Luke Fernie in Western Australia, Tintookie is the only foal produced by the Wagga Wagga and Canberra winner Lady Marionette (Dylan Thomas {Ire}).
Her dam Glove Puppet (Toy Pindarri {NZ}) won six races and produced seven winners but it has been a while since this family has enjoyed black-type success - Tintookie's closest stakes-winning relations successful in the 1980s and before that in the early 1940s!
Tintookie is bred on a 7 X 6 cross of Latest Edition (Ire) (Solferino {Ire}), third dam of Winning Rupert's second damsire In The Slot and dam of Toy Pindarri's (NZ) damsire Sovereign Edition (Ire).
Listed Randwick City S., $200,000 2000m
From a G1 Epsom Derby to a handicap win at Eagle Farm to a Listed win at Randwick, it has been quite some journey for Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) who dug deep at his first run since early December.
One of the 373 stakes winners for his famed sire, the Coolmore Stud-bred 7-year-old is out of the G1 Epsom Oaks runner-up Remember When (Ire) (Danehill Dancer {Ire}) who has produced another four stakes winners by Galileo (Ire) - the Group winners Wedding Vow (Ire), Bye Bye Baby (Ire) and Beacon Rock (Ire) and the Listed winner Bound (Ire).
Also dam - again by Galileo - of the stakes-placed Team Captain (Ire) who is also in Australia, winning the 2021 Hamilton Cup - Remember When is a three-quarter sister to the European Horse of the Year Dylan Thomas (Ire) and half-sister to the G1 Cheveley Park S. winner Queen's Logic (Ire) (Grand Lodge {USA}) whose daughter Lady Of The Desert (USA) (Rahy {USA}) won three Group races, going on to produce the G2 Lowther S. winner Queen Kindly (GB) (Frankel {GB}).
Also from this family is the G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint winner Big Evs (Ire) (Blue Point {Ire}), the G1 English 1000 Guineas winner Homecoming Queen (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}) and the G1 Moyglare S. winner Shale (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}).
Listed Fireball S., $200,000, 1100m
Infancy (Wandjina) is building a nice record, this win her third (her first at stakes level) from nine starts.
Bred by Australian Bloodstock, she is the fifth stakes winner for her Larneuk Stud-based sire, a G1 Australian Guineas-winning son of Snitzel.
Her dam is the two-time winner Childhood (USA) (Lonhro), half-sister to the G3 Victory Ride S. winner Baby J (USA) (J Be K {USA}) and the Listed winners Laureate Conductor (USA) (Bernstein {USA}) and Lavender Chrissie (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Served last year by Bivouac and the year before by Graff, Childhood has a 2022 born filly by the latter whilst her 2-year-old Perfect Justice (Justify {USA}) is a member of the John Sargent stable.
