Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Trentham: G1 New Zealand Oaks, NZ$500,000, 2400m
Last start G2 Lowland S. winner Pulchritudinous (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) was again too good, relishing the step up to the Classic distance.
Bred by Tony Rider, she is one of the three stakes winners - and the first Group 1 winner - for her Highview-based sire, a G1 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire).
Sold by Rider's Milan Park to Riverrock Farm for NZ$32,500 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale (Book 2), Pulchritudinous was again offered at that year's Ready to Run where she was passed in with a reserve of NZ$50,000.
Her dam, the unplaced Showus (NZ) (Pentire {GB}, has also produced the Happy Valley winner Double Show (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}). She is one of only two foals for the unplaced Perfect Pair (NZ) (Redoute's Choice), a half-sister to the triple Group winner Kenfair (NZ).
Showus' city-winning grandam Market Fair (Biscay) is a full sister to Marscay and this is also the family of the Group 1 gallopers Subzero (Kala Dancer {GB}) and Alacrity (NZ) (Grosvenor {NZ}).
Not served last spring, Showus foaled fillies by Ardrossan at each of her previous three years at stud with the first of those being named Fillygizalook (NZ) - a recent trial winner retained by Tony Rider.
Pulchritudinous is the sixth stakes winner and third Group 1 winner (from 41 winners/61 runners) combining High Chaparral and Pentire (GB) - a cross which provides for the duplication of the terrific mares Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Hardiemma (Ire) (Hardicanute {Ire}).
G2 Wellington Guineas, NZ$175,000, 1400m
Overcoming a wide draw to record a big win, Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) is stakes winner number 98 for his Dalham Hall Stud former shuttling sire.
Bred by Jamieson Park, he was sold by them to Kakapo Lodge for NZ$130,000 at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. He is the second stakes winner for the unraced Starwish (Redoute's Choice), also dam of the Listed Lough Neagh S. winner Deep Image (Testa Rossa).
A daughter of the G1 Australia S. winner Stella Cadente (Centaine) and half-sister to the Listed Gimcrack S. winner Brilliant Bisc (Elvstroem), she is also a half-sister to the dam of the dual Listed winner Aeronautical and the grandams of the stakes winners Kai (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Alison Of Tuffy (Manhattan Rain).
Boasting a cross of the G1 Canadian Oaks heroine Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}), Grail Seeker can also claim amongst his relations the big-race winners Bint Marscay (Marscay), Filante and Kenny's Best Pal.
Starwish, who died a few years ago, has as her last foal the yet-to-race 2-year-old Watersports (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}).
G3 Cuddle S., NZ$120,000, 1600m
Going right on with it off her previous fast-finishing G2 Taranaki Cup second, Hi Yo Sass Bomb (NZ) (Complacent) broke through for her first stakes level victory.
The first stakes winner for her Mapperley Stud-based, G1 Spring Champion S.-winning sire, the homebred for the Reid family is out of the five-time winner Hi Yo Soo (NZ) (Spartacus {Ire}).
Served last spring by Keano (NZ) having missed to that same stallion the year before, Hi Yo Soo is out of the stakes-placed, five-time winner Hi Yo Wassup (NZ) (Al Akbar) whose Group 3-placed full sister Luscious Lady (NZ) is the grandam of the G2 Championship S. winner Hezashocka (NZ) (Shocking).
Listed Lightning H., NZ$90,000, 1200m
It was a debut stakes win at the age of seven for Our Echo (NZ) (Echoes Of Heaven) who finished too strongly for his rivals.
The third stakes winner for his well-related (full brother to Manhattan Rain, half-brother to Redoute's Choice) Listed Port Adelaide Guineas-winning, Newmarket Stud-based sire, Our Echo was bred by part-owner P Jeffreys along with A Skelton.
He is the second last foal produced by the three-time winner Sakura Cluden (NZ) (Yamanin Vital {NZ}), a full sister to the G1 Wellington Cup winner Cluden Creek (NZ).
Also dam of the metropolitan winner To Love You (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}) Sakura Cluden - who died a few years ago - hails from the same family as the stakes winners Simon Snorkel (NZ) (Famous Star {GB}), The Blonde Bimbo (NZ) (Omnicorp {NZ}) and Beta Ray Bill (NZ) (Sound Reason {Can}).
Our Echo boasts a cross of the G1 Kentucky Oaks heroine Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
Caulfield: The All-Star Mile, $3,750,000, 1600m
She'd done it before - claimed the scalp of Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) and she did it again - the wonderful front runner Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) setting up a good clip... and able to sustain her good sectionals with another big all-the-way victory.
One of the 22 stakes winners for her Coolmore Stud-based, G1 Blue Diamond S. and ATC Sires' Produce S.-winning sire, she was bred by Trelawney Stud and the Taylor Family Trust and sold by Segenhoe Stud to Cape Schanck Stud for $100,000 at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Her dam is the four-time winner Sancerre (NZ) (O'Reilly {NZ}) whose dam is the G1 Queensland Oaks heroine Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Vouvray is also the grandam of the Listed Calaway S. winner Champ Elect (Choisir) and her dam is the triple Group winner Real Success (Success Express {USA}) who also produced the LIsted Victoria Cup winner Bolton (Zabeel {NZ}) as well as the dam of the G1 Thorndon Mile winner A Touch Of Ruby (NZ) (Pins) and the G1 NZ 1000 Guineas winner Loire (NZ) (Redoute's Choice).
Ancestress of this family is the influential broodmare Pocahontas (USA) (Roman {USA}).
Served last spring by Hello Youmzain (Fr) having missed the previous season, Sancerre foaled a Per Incanto (USA) filly in 2022 - and her 3-year-old son Awatere (NZ) by that same stallion won his maiden at Matamata in January.
Listed Victoria Gold Cup, $175,000, 2000m
Doing a good job finding winning form at only his second run this time in, Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) has come up much improved after a gelding operation.
The 2020 G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud winner is one of his sire's 113 stakes winners. Bred by Jim Bolger who trained Teofilo (Ire), he is a full brother to the Group 3 winner Guaranteed (Ire) out of a half-sister to the Argentine Group 3 winner Plainswoman (Arg) (Zensational {USA}).
Originally a €52,000 (AU$86,300) purchase for Johnston Racing at the 2019 Goffs Orby Yearling Sale, Gear Up has as his third dam the wonderful mare Dispute (USA) (Danzig {USA}) - winner of four Group 1 races including the Kentucky Oaks.
A descendant of the influential matriarch Grey Flight (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}), Gear Up boasts a cross of the high-class broodmare Victoriana (USA) (Windfields {USA}).
Listed Anniversary Vase, $175,000, 1600m
Taking over turning and holding on gamely, First Immortal (Churchill {Ire}) recorded the eighth win of his 16-start career and his first in stakes company.
Bred by L O'Hara, S Itzcovitz, M Hayne, H Wood, P Bywaters, J Coyle, R Broadsmith and D Lee, he was sold by Widden Stud to Kavanagh Racing for $160,000 at the 2021 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
The 19th stakes winner for his Coolmore shuttling sire, he is out of the city-placed, four-time winner Storm Siren (Excites), also dam of the city winner Sirens Star (Star Witness).
A half-sister to the Hong Kong Centenary Sprint Cup winner Hot King Prawn (Denman) and the dual Group 3 winner Siren's Fury (Myboycharlie {Ire}), Storm Siren was served last spring by St Mark's Basilica (Fr) having missed the previous season - her most recent foal being a Written By colt who was purchased at this year's Magic Millions by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $220,000.
First Immortal carries a 6 X 6 cross of Lorgnette (Ire) (High Hat {GB}), grandam of Churchill's (Ire) second damsire Air Express (Ire) and of Excites' damsire Success Express (USA).
Listed Redoute's Choice S., $175,000, 1100m
With wins over the G1 Blue Diamond winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}) and today's G2 Magic Night S. winner Drifting (Zousain), Bold Bastille (Brazen Beau) had the right form lines - duly saluting in easy style.
Bred by the Pope family and sold by Blue Gum Farm to Lindsay Park and Group 1 Bloodstock (FBAA) for $270,000 at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, she is one of the 26 stakes winners for her Darley Victoria-based sire.
Her dam is the Listed Bob Hoysted winner Chloe In Paris (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the four-time Group winner Innovation Girl (Rubiton) - also dam of another R. Listed Inglis Banner (Bold Bastille won that last spring) winner in Ideas Man (also by Brazen Beau) and grandam of the stakes winners She Dances (Street Boss {USA}) and Larimer Street (Brazen Beau again).
Served last spring by Anamoe, Chloe In Paris missed to So You Think (NZ) the previous season with her yearling being a full brother to Bold Bastille.
Listed Bel Esprit S., $175,000, 1200m
Close up in the G1 Oakleigh Plate, Brudenell (Russian Revolution) appreciated this drop in class - able to win his first stakes race and his ninth overall from 17 starts.
The 11th stakes winner for his Newgate-based sire, he was bred by Macquarie Stud and sold by them to BRT Bloodstock for $80,000 at the 2020 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale.
He again made his way through the ring at the following year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, sold by Glastonbury Farms to Lees Racing and Tasman Bloodstock for the same price.
He is the second foal and second winner for the Randwick winner Knit 'N' Purl (More Than Ready {USA}) whose dam is the G3 Birthday Card S. and Listed PJ Bell H. winner Zingaling (Redoute's Choice).
Hailing from the family of the Group 1 mare Inspirational Girl (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and the Group winners Rainbow Styling (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), Demonetization (All Too Hard) and Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}), Knit 'N' Purl was served last spring by Anamoe having foaled a colt by Capitalist.
The previous year she had a Flying Artie colt who was purchased by Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock for $160,000 at this year's Inglis Classic Yearling Sale whilst her previous foal - a yet-to-be-named Capitalist 3-year-old filly - fetched $200,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, bought by Trilogy Racing.
Brudenell is the second (four winners/seven runners) Russian Revolution stakes winner - Insurrection the other - line-bred to Redoute's Choice. Overall there have been 11 stakes winners (122 winners/250 runners) with a cross of that Champion Sire.
