Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Rosehill: G1 Tancred S., $1,500,000, 2400m
Kalapour (Ire) (War Command {USA}) was the second outsider of the field but too tough for his rivals.
One of the 14 stakes winners for his G1 Dewhurst S. winning sire who is now based in Southern France, Kalapour was bred by The Aga Khan's Stud.
His dam Kaladena (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) is also dam of the Listed Lenebane S. winner Kalaxana (Ire) (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). And her dam is the successful producer Kalamba (Ire) (Green Dancer {USA}) whose seven winners include the dual Group 1 winner Kalanisi (Ire), the G2 Scottish Derby winner Kalaman (Ire) (Desert Prince {Ire}) and the two times Listed winner Kaloura (Ire) (Sinndar {Ire}).
This is an international family that has also enjoyed local success with the Listed Mornington Cup winner Instrumentalist (Ire) (Amadeus Wolf {GB}) and the G2 Queensland Guineas and G3 Doomben Classic winner Saxon.
G1 Vinery Stud S., $750,000, 2000m
Bringing her New Zealand Group 1 form to Australia, Orchestral (NZ) (Savabeel) had to dig deep late but she did just that. One of the 143 stakes winners and 33 Group 1 winners for her Waikato Stud based sire, she is the first live foal for her Group 3 placed four times winning dam Symphonic (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who foaled another Savabeel filly last spring - again served by him.
Symphonic is out of a half-sister to the G1 Ellerslie Sires Produce S. winner Good Faith (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}), dam of the stakes winners Tully Dane and Mygoodgrace (Royal Academy {USA}).
Symphonic's dam is also the grandam of the recent G3 Matamata Slipper winner Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel) who was on the heels of the placegetters in the G1 Sistema S.
Other members of this prolific family include the Group 1 gallopers Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}), Daffodil (NZ) (No Excuse Needed {GB}) and Atishu (NZ) (Savabeel) who ran third in today’s G1 Australian Cup.
She is bred on the same Savabeel/O’Reilly cross as Wymark (NZ) who won the G2 Tulloch S. earlier in the day.
G2 Emancipation S.,$300,000, 1500m
Back to her best at third run in, Olentia (Zoustar) raced away to an easy win - her second at stakes level.
One of the 51 stakes winners for her Widden Stud based sire and one of three for her dam, the city placed two times winner Mabkhara (Anabaa {USA}), she was bred by Damijack Pty Ltd and J Pritchard.
Sold by Tyreel Stud to Star Thoroughbreds and Randwick Bloodstock for $310,000 at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, she is a half-sister to the G3 Newcastle Newmarket H. winner Wandabaa (Wandjina), the dual Listed winner Malkovich (Choisir) and the Group 3 placed Seewhatshebrings (Sebring).
Mabkhara - who has as her fourth dam the wonderful mare Easy Date (Grand Chaudiere {Can}) - sadly died last spring, leaving behind an I Am Invincible filly.
She had missed the previous season with her most recent named foal being the 2-year-old Shirvington (Capitalist) who was second in a recent Rosehill trial for the Bjorn Baker stable.
G2 Tulloch S., $300,000, 2000m
Wymark (NZ) (Savabeel) is on track for the G1 ATC Derby on the back of this tough win in a race which has proven a good guide to the Classic in recent years.
Bred by Waikato Stud, he was sold by Sledmere Stud to Mick Wallace as agent for Freedman Brothers for $200,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 143rd stakes winner for his Waikato based sire, he is out of the unraced Pasadena (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), full sister to the four times Group 1 winning stallion Alamosa (NZ).
Served last spring by Tivaci after foaling a Noverre (NZ) filly with her previous foal being a full sister to Wymark, Pasadena can count amongst her relations the Group 1 gallopers Dal Cielo (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and Lights Of Heaven (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Wymark is the 33rd Savabeel stakes winner out of a mare by O’Reilly (NZ) and the 34th combining Savabeel and Centaine whose second dam sire Todman is Savabeel’s fourth dam sire - and Savabeel’s dam also carries a strain of Todman’s brother Noholme.
Wymark has as his sixth dam the multiple Group 1 winning successful broodmare Chicquita (Blank {GB}), dam of Eskimo Prince (Todman).
G3 Doncaster Prelude, $250,000, 1500m
Considered one of the most promising horses in the country, Another Wil (Street Boss {USA}) is G1 Doncaster bound after this dominant performance.
The winner of five of seven starts, he was bred by J Thomson out of the two times winner Arohanui (Bianconi) who died in the spring of 2021 with her final foal being a filly by Puissance de Lune (Ire).
Also dam of the stakes placed dual city winner Wahine Toa (Dalakhani {Ire}), Arohanui is out of the stakes placed Flemington winner Tiffany’s Best (Soviet Lad {NZ}) from the family of the G1 AJC Sires Produce S. winner Alf (NZ) (Masterclass {USA}).
This is a family with good Victorian history, Another Wil’s dam co-bred by Brian and Judy McKnight of Oakford Thoroughbred Farm and his grandam by the late Ed Barty’s Trevenson Park Stud.
Another Wil is the eighth Street Boss stakes winner out of a mare carrying a strain of the wonderful galloper Swaps (USA) whose Group 2 winning grandam Iron Maiden (USA) (War Admiral {USA}) is the dam of Street Boss’ G1 Kentucky Derby winning fourth dam sire Iron Liege (USA).
G3 Star Kingdom S., $250,000, 1200m
It was a double figure odds victory for the in-form Bandi’s Boy (The Brothers War {USA}) who was having just his second go at stakes level - recording the fifth win of his ten start career.
A home-bred for JR Woods, Bandi’s Boy is the second stakes winner for his Kooringal Stud based sire.
He is the only foal for the city placed two times winner Tibidabo (Hinchinbrook) who died young. Her grandam is the stakes placed Mariton (Marscay) who produced the G1 Australasian Oaks placegetter Arboretum (Woodman {USA}).
Hailing from the same branch of the prolific Chelandry (GB) (Goldfinch {GB}) family as the influential broodmare Summoned (Crowned Prince {USA}), Bandi’s Boy is the fifth stakes winner for Hinchinbrook as a broodmare sire.
G3 Race Colours Baillieu, $250,000, 1400m
Remaining unbeaten after an exciting two horse battle with Anode (I Am Invincible), Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) justified her short quote.
Bred by GSA Bloodstock who raced her sire, she was sold by Haunui Farm to John O’Shea Racing & Suman Hedge Bloodstock for $160,000 at last year’s Karaka Yearling Sale.
One of the four first crop winners for her Waikato Stud based G1 Caulfield Guineas winning sire, she is his first stakes winner.
Her dam is the unraced Garden Of Swans (GB) (Oasis Dream {GB}) who missed to Super Seth’s sire Dundeel (NZ) last year having foaled a filly by that same stallion.
She is a half-sister to the G1 Eclipse S. winner Mukhadram (GB) out of a half-sister to the G1 Milano Gran Criterium winner Kirklees (Ire) (Jade Robbery {USA}) and the G1 St Leger/G1 Hong Kong Vase winner Mastery (GB) (Sulamani {Ire}).
Linebacker boasts duplications of the lovely mares Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}) and Doubly Sure (GB) (Reliance {Fr}).
G3 Neville Sellwood S., $250,000, 2000m
G1 Epsom Derby winner Serpentine (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is in great form, this is his second stakes success in a row.
One of the 373 stakes winners for his famed sire, the Coolmore 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).
Flemington: G1 Australian Cup, $3,000,000, 2000m
Recording his first run since taking out this same race last year, the popular, flashy and classy nine-year-old Cascadian (GB) (New Approach {Ire}) finished too strongly for the brave leader Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
One of the 62 stakes winners for his multiple Group 1 winning Dalham Hall based former shuttling sire, Cascadian is a Godolphin home-bred.
He is one of the six winners (from as many to race) for the G3 UAE Oaks winner Falls Of Lora (Ire) (Street Cry {Ire}), also dam of the G1 Woodbine Summer S. winner Albahr (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}) and Isle Of Jura (GB) (New Approach) who won a Listed race in Bahrain just a couple of weeks ago.
Falls Of Lora is one of the four stakes winners (and ten winners from 12 runners) produced by the Listed Prix des Sablonnets winner Firth Of Lorne (Ire) (Danehill {USA}) - also dam of the dual Group winner Master Of The Seas (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) and the Listed winners Latharnach (USA) (Iffraaj {GB}) and Etive (USA) (Elusive Quality {USA}).
And grandam of last year’s G1 Metropolitan H. winner Just Fine (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}).
Firth Of Lorne's dam is the G3 Cherry Hinton S winner Kerrera (Ire) (Diesis {GB}), ancestress of 19 stakes winners.
Cascadian boasts crosses of four high class broodmares within seven generations - Natalma (USA) (Native Dancer {USA}), Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr}), Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr]) and Relance (Fr) (Relic {USA}).
G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S., $200,000, 1200m
Tobeornottobe (Pierata) had good form lines around Victoria’s best 2-year-olds, making it no surprise to see her race away with this race at her third start - a nice way to break her maiden.
Bred by Widden Stud, J Wheeler and M Edwards, she was sold by Widden to Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford for $200,000 at last year’s Inglis Melbourne Premier.
She is the second stakes winner amongst the four debut crop winners for her Yulong based sire, the other being Coleman (Pierata) who went close in last weekend’s G1 Golden Slipper S.
Her Listed winning dam Shakespearen Lass (Written Tycoon) has also produced the multiple city winner Hamlet Von Snitzel (Snitzel). Not served last year having lost her previous foal, she has a Russian Camelot (Ire) yearling filly who the same stable snapped up for $180,000 at the recent Adelaide Magic Millions.
Shakespearen Lass is a half-sister to the stakes placed triple city winner Dan Zephyr (Danbird) out of the metropolitan winner Eliza Dream (Desert Sun {GB}), half-sister to the stakes placed Royal Dalton (Danbird).
Tobeornottobe boasts a cross of Mill Reef (GB) and also carries a strain of that great stallion’s close relation Western Symphony (USA). She is the fourth stakes winner for Written Tycoon as a broodmare sire.
Listed Sunlight Classic, $500,000, 1100m
Breaking the class record held by Giga Kick (Scissor Kick), Estriella (I Am Invincible) was dominant recording her fourth win from just seven starts.
One of her Yarraman Park based Champion Sire’s 105 stakes winners, she was bred by Arrowfield and GSA Bloodstock and sold by Arrowfield Stud to Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $750,000 at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She is one of the four foals produced by Madrigals (Lonhro) who had just the one start. Her 2-year-old daughter Love Poem (Snitzel) is also showing plenty of potential, in the placings in Group company at her first two starts in New Zealand.
Served last spring by Maurice (Jpn) after foaling a colt by The Autumn Sun (having had the previous year off), Madrigals is a full sister to Pierro, half to the G2 Wakeful S. winner Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}) and full to the dam of the Listed Gothic S. winner Sandpaper (Snitzel).
Madrigals' two times (in Australia and France) winning dam Miss Right Note (Ire) (Daylami {Ire}) is a half-sister to the dual Group 1 winning European galloper Laverock (Ire) - the best northern hemisphere bred son of Octagonal (NZ).
Laverock's half-sister Song Street (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) has also produced a smart one from this sire line - Lonhro's G2 The Ingham winner Loch Eagle.
Estriella is a descendant of the influential matriarch Prunella (GB) (Highflyer {GB}) as is I Am Invincible and she also boasts strains of Never Bend (USA) and his G2 Kentucky Oaks winning dam Lalun (USA) (Djeddah {Fr}).
Listed Bob Hoysted H., $175,000, 1000m
Sans Doute (Not A Single Doubt) really sprouted wings late to record her first win at stakes level.
Bred by Greg Ingham, she was sold by Arrowfield Stud to David Ellis (FBAA) and Williams Bloodstock (FBAA) for $300,000 at the 2021 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
She hails from the penultimate crop of her late sire and is his 83rd stakes winner.
Her unraced dam My Prerogative (I Am Invincible) has been represented by four winners from as many runners. Served last spring by Showtime, she is a half-sister to the Listed winner Given (Canny Lad), dam of the Listed winner Green Roller (Flying Spur), and grandam of the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas winner Ugo Foscolo (NZ) (Zacinto {GB}).
This is an in-form family, its members also including the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine S. winner Vagrant (Pariah) and the G1 Blue Diamond S winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}).
Bred on a 4 X 4 cross of Canny Lad, Sans Doute is the sixth stakes winner for I Am Invincible as a broodmare sire.
Listed Roy Higgins S., $500,000, 1200m
Charging home from well back, Mark Twain (NZ) (Shocking) earned himself a berth in the G1 Melbourne Cup which his Rich Hill based sire won in 2009.
Bred by Taikorea Thoroughbreds, he is his sire’s 24th stakes winner and he is the second stakes performer for his placed dam Pinders Prize (NZ) (Prized {USA}), also dam of the four times Group placed five times winner Pentathalon (NZ) (Pentire {GB}).
Mark Twain is that now retired mare’s second foal, her last being a yet to be named 2-year-old son of Vadamos (Fr).
Pinders Prize is a half-sister to the triple Group winner Pentathon out of a daughter of the G2 Matamata Breeders S. winner Star Lot (NZ) (Imperialist {USA}) whose daughter Starline (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) won the G1 New Zealand Oaks.
Star Lot is also ancestress of the Group winners Starry Way (Danehill {USA}), Red Colossus (Testa Rossa), Nediym’s Glow (General Nediym), General Beau (Brazen Beau) and Kinglike (Exceed And Excel).
