Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ascot: G2 WATC Derby, $400,000, 2400m
A Lot Of Good Men (A Lot {USA}) relished the step up to the Classic distance, recording his easy win - his first in stakes company.
Bred by G Williamson who remains in the ownership, he was sold by Mungrup Stud to Trevor Andrews for $42,500 at the 2022 Perth Magic Millions.
The second stakes winner for his Westbury Park based sire, he is a half-brother to the G1 Railway S. winner Bustler (Playing God) out of the three times winner Cosmah Domination (Oratorio).
Served last spring by Playing God having slipped to him the previous season, she is a half-sister to the stakes placed six times winner Amelia Storm (Stormy’s Son) from the family of the South African based Group 1 winner Mythical Play (NZ) (Defensive Play {USA}).
Apiam Bendigo: Listed Golden Mile, $200,000, 1600m
El Soleado (Toronado {Ire}) really put in the big strides late, providing his sire with a Bendigo double - and becoming that Swettenham Stud horse’s 37th stakes winner.
A home-bred for the Bamfords who are no strangers to big race success having raced the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Americain (USA), El Soleado is one of two winners for the imported winner Sunnyvale (Ger) (Monsun {GER}).
Again served last spring by Toronado with her previous foal being a 2022 born son of Yes Yes Yes (also sire of her 2021 filly), Sunnyvale hails from the family of the Group 1 winners Sagace (Fr), Star Lift (GB) (Mill Reef {USA}), Steinlen (GB), Zagreb (USA), Stacelita (Fr) (Monsun), Soul Stirring (Jpn) (Frankel {GB}) and Sauterne (Fr) (Kingman {GB}).
Listed Bendigo Guineas, $200,000 1400m
It is a very nice record being put together by War Machine (NZ) (Harry Angel {Ire}) whose first stakes victory is one of his three wins from just five starts.
Bred by MDJ Bloodstock, he was passed in at two sales - as a Karaka yearling in 2022 and again the Ready To Run Sale later that year.
The 11th stakes winner for his Darley shuttling sire, War Machine is one of four winners (from as many to race) for the winner Caserta (Hussonet {USA}) whose half-brother Fire In The Night (Danewin) won the G3 Coongy H.
Also a half-sister to the dam of the four times Group winner Hooked (Casino Prince), Caserta was served by In The Congo last spring, in October foaling a colt by Satono Aladdin (Jpn).
Riccarton Park: NZB Insurance S., NZ$80,000, 1600m
It was the first stakes win for Epee Beel (NZ) (Epaulette) who delivered for her owners at nice odds.
The 20th stakes winner for her now Turkey based sire, she was bred by Monovale Holdings and sold by Lansdowne Park to Forsman Racing for $80,000 at the 2022 Karaka Yearling Sale.
Her three times winning dam Pipi Beel (NZ) (Savabeel) was Group placed on two occasions and she has also produced the Victorian based city placed times winner Bellsprout (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}).
Served last spring by Almanzor (Fr), she has a 2022 filly by that same stallion, last spring foaling a Proisir colt.
Pipi Beel is a granddaughter of the dual Group 1 winner Nimue (Star Way {GB}) whose great granddaughter Coventina Bay (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) also won at the elite level twice.
Listed Welcome S., NZ$80,000, 1000m
It was a Te Akau quinella with Nucleozor (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) beating home stablemate Discretion Rules (Alabama Express).
Remaining unbeaten after three starts, Nucelozor is the 15th stakes winner for his Cambridge Stud based sire.
A home-bred for Te Akau and Westonlea Bloodstock, he is the third foal and second black-type performer for the metropolitan winner Nucleonic (NZ) (Burgundy {NZ}) whose now Cranbourne based daughter Qali Al Farrasha (NZ) (Almanzor) is a last start G1 New Zealand Oaks placegetter.
Due to have foaled last spring (no stud book update as yet) to Hello Youmzain (Fr) having foaled a colt by that same stallion in 2022, Nucelonic is a daughter of the Singapore based triple Listed winner Mexican Rose (NZ) (Volksraad {SA}) whose son Tijuana (American Pharoah {USA}) won the G2 Bill Stutt S.
Otaki: Listed Hawkes Bay Cup, NZ$120,000, 2200m
He was back in distance off a NZ St Leger win but again too good, Testify (NZ) (Atlante) recording the fifth win of his 17 start career and his first in stakes company.
The sixth stakes winner for his late sire, he was bred by his part-owners the Millar family.
His winning dam Cherry Bomb (NZ) (Volksraad {USA}) is out of a half-sister to the Listed CS Hayes Memorial S. winner Gold Sand (Footstepsinthesand {USA}).
Served last spring by King Of Comedy (Ire) having not been served since 2017, Cherry Bomb has as her fourth dam the champion mare Optimistic Gal (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}).
Listed City Of Napier Sprint, NZ$80,000, 1200m
It was a soft win for Imwonderfultonight (I Am Invincible) who relished the heavy conditions.
Bred by Lightning Thoroughbreds, she was sold by Newgate Farm to Windsor Park Stud, Lionrock and Andrew Williams Bloodstock for $450,000 at the 2020 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale.
The 107th stakes winner for her Yarraman Park based Champion Sire, she is out of the Group 2 winning mare Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}) whose Listed winning dam Diamond Like (Danehill {USA}) is out of the dual Group 1 winner Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {NZ}).
Tristalove’s dam Diamond Lover (Sticks And Stones) is one of the five Group 1 winners bred by the star broodmare Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}).
Served last spring by Anamoe, Forever Loved foaled an I Am Invincible colt in August. She missed the previous season with her 2-year-old being Lovey Dovey (Pierro). A member of the Chris Waller stable, she ran fifth in a recent Flemington jump-out.
