Cover image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Race-Day Recap
Linebacker provided his Waikato Stud-based sire Super Seth with his first stakes winner in the G3 TL Baillieu H. at Rosehill.
Tobeornottobe upset the hot-favourite Ameena (Tassort) to win the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. at Flemington and provided her sire, Pierata, with his second stakes winner.
Too Darn Hot's Killcare Beachgirl became the sixth winner for her sire at Wyong.
The Robert Dennis-trained Great Time (Time Test) was an impressive 5l winner at Riverton on Saturday.
Linebacker lands first stakes winner for Super Seth
After an impressive 4l victory debut in February at Hawkesbury on a Heavy 8 track, the John O’Shea-trained Linebacker (NZ) (Super Seth) was thrown into the deep end in Saturday’s G3 TL Baillieu H. at Rosehill.
The son of Super Seth had to show a new dimension and plenty of grit to get the upper hand on the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Anode (I Am Invincible), who refused to fold.
Linebacker, ridden by Tommy Berry, responded gamely to defeat Anode narrowly. Meanwhile, the James Cummings-trained Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) finished the best of the pack in third.
O’Shea told 7HorseRacing post-race, “It was a good challenge for Linebacker today (Saturday) because he lacked a bit of ringcraft, and it was something new for him to chase something.
“It has been hard to make up ground off the fence today, so that’s a new string to his bow. Linebacker is a quality animal, and he’ll learn plenty of that.”
O’Shea was queried where the son of Super Seth may head now, “I’m really keen to get him to a mile. I think the G1 Champagne S. is an ideal target for him in three weeks.”
“I’m really keen to get him (Linebacker) to a mile. I think the G1 Champagne S. is an ideal target for him in three weeks.” - John O'Shea
Linebacker is the first stakes winner for G1 Caulfield Guineas winner Super Seth who stands at the famed Waikato Stud in New Zealand. The son of Dundeel (NZ) has produced four individual winners of four races from 14 runners.
The colt is the third foal from the Oasis Dream (GB) mare Garden Of Swans (GB), who was unraced and purchased by Dean Hawthorne (BAFNZ) for 160,000gns (AU$323,000) at the 2017 Tattersalls December Mares Sale.
Garden Of Swans is a half-sister to Mukhadram (GB) (Shamardal {USA}), a victor of five winners, including the G1 Eclipse S. at Sandown. Linebacker was purchased for NZ$160,000 by John O’Shea Racing and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from the draft of Haunui Farm at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.
John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
John O’Shea Racing and James Bester Bloodstock went to $80,000 to purchase the full brother to Linebacker, who Bhima Thoroughbreds offered at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Tobeornottobe upsets applecart
Tobeornottobe (Pierata) burst down the Flemington straight under a well-timed ride under Jye McNeil in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. to secure a maiden victory. The Robbie Griffiths and Mathew de Kock-trained filly defeated the hot-favourite Ameena (Tassort) and a fast-finishing Yes Lulu (Yes Yes Yes).
Co-trainer Mathew de Kock told Racing.com post-race, “Tobeornottobe, unfortunately, had a little hiccup before the G1 Blue Diamond S. We would have loved to have taken our place in that race. However, it didn’t eventuate.
“So, we were patient with the filly, and she stayed in work. She was very happy and trialled superbly well on Monday in preparation for today (Saturday), and she’s just a lovely filly to work with.
... she (Tobeornottobe) was very happy and trialled superbly well on Monday in preparation for today (Saturday), and she’s just a lovely filly to work with. - Mathew de Kock
“Tobeornottobe setback wasn’t too bad, but it was poorly timed. I guess things work out for a reason, and she came to Flemington today (Saturday) and put a big run on the board.
Tobeornottobe is the second-stakes winner for the Yulong-based Pierata. She is his fourth individual winner for the son of Pierro, who has produced five winners and four stakes-performed 2-year-olds from 16 runners.
The aptly named filly is the third foal from the Written Tycoon mare Shakespearean Lass. She won six races from 1000 to 1200 metres, including the Listed WJ Adams S. Tobeornottobe has been her best-performing runner to date with a second in the G3 Blue Diamond Preview (Fillies) and a fourth in the G2 Blue Diamond Prelude (Fillies) in addition to her Group 3 success.
Tobeornottobe was a $200,000 purchase by Griffiths de Kock Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) from the draft of Widden Stud at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling. That duo, alongside Yabby Dan Farm, went to $180,000 to bring home the filly’s half-sister by Russian Camelot (Ire) from the 2024 Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale when offered by Widden Stud.
Great Time franks Nucleozor form
The Robert Dennis-trained Great Time (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) was a well-beaten fourth on debut at Wingatui behind the unbeaten Nucleozor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}).
On Saturday, the 2-year-old filly improved significantly at start two to win by 5l at Riverton over 1100 metres. Great Time, ridden by Samantha Wynne, was too slick for More Sass (NZ) (Mongolian Falcon) and Mamaea (NZ) (Ribchester {Ire}).
Great Time (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
Great Time is the fourth foal from the O’Reilly (NZ) mare Great Expectations (NZ), who won twice. She is closely related to the G1 Queensland Oaks victress Provocative (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and the Joint Champion 3-Year-Old Filly, El Patroness (Shamus Award), who won the G1 Australian Oaks and was placed in the G2 Let’s Elope S.
Robert Dennis Racing paid NZ$85,000 to secure Great Time from the draft of Little Avondale Stud at the 2023 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale at Karaka.
Blueblood salutes on debut
First-season sires had a day out on Saturday. In addition to Super Seth and Pierata siring stakes winners, Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB) also got on the board with the royally bred Killcare Beachgirl at Wyong and provided the second-placed runner Interjection.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 2-year-old filly provided Too Darn Hot with his sixth individual winner from 16 runners in his debut Southern Hemisphere crop.
Killcare Beachgirl, ridden by apprentice Amy McLucas, defeated Interjection and Marais (Capitalist). Strawberry Hill Stud bred Killcare Beachgirl and remains in ownership alongside P Fenton.
The filly is the eighth and final from Absolute Joy (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), who won twice and was fourth in the G1 Queensland Oaks. Absolute Joy has produced the dual stakes winner Castlereagh Kid (Snitzel). She is a daughter of the grand mare Joie Denise (Danehill {USA}), a victress of the G1 Queensland Oaks and the dam of star mares Tuesday Joy (NZ) (Carnegie {Ire}) and Sunday Joy (Sunday Silence {USA}).
Sunday Joy, of course, produced the Champion Mare More Joyous (NZ) (More Than Ready {USA}).
Battle Commander puts it all together
Race-experienced Battle Commander (Rommel) put it all together on Saturday at Ascot to break his maiden at start eight. The Paul Jordan-trained 2-year-old gelding came into Saturday’s event with two consecutive-placed efforts at Ascot and Belmont on his CV.
Craig Staples struck with Battle Commander, and together, they defeated Yuwill Be The One (Shalaa {Ire}) and Show The Way (Ducimus). Battle Commander is the seventh foal from the Lonhro mare Weona Lady. She has produced four winners from five to run, three of whom were by Rommel.
Weona Lady is closely related to the eight-time winner Flying Missile (Cable Bay {Ire}), who claimed the Listed Placid Ark S. Battle Commander was a $62,500 purchase by Paul Jordan from the draft of Mogumber Park at the 2023 Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale.
