Doomben: G1 Doomben 10,000, $1,500,000, 1200m
It was a well deserved second Group 1 victory for Bella Nipotina (Pride Of Dubai), the tough, classy and consistent mare who took her prize money tally to over $9.8 million with this, her eighth win from 49 starts.
Bred by Saconi Thoroughbreds by Coolmore Stud's dual Group 1 winning Street Cry (Ire) stallion Pride Of Dubai (one of his 23 stakes winners and four multiple Group 1 winners), she is the first foal produced by the lightly raced Bella Orfana (Star Witness) - half-sister to the G2 sprinter Hallowell Belle and the G3 winner Fuddle Dee Duddle (dam of the G3 Maribyrnong Plate winner Brereton by Zoustar).
A granddaughter of the lightly raced Bella Inez (Beautiful Crown {USA}) - full sister to the G1 Caulfield Guineas winner In Top Swing - Bella Nipotina is an $80,000 graduate of the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.
Bella Orfana died only recently with her final of only four foals being a filly by Trapeze Artist. Her 3-year-old Quello Dorato by that same sire is a yet to race (twice placed from three Flemington jump-outs) member of the Danny O'Brien stable.
G2 Spirit Of Boom Classic, $300,000, 1200m
Choosing a nice race in which to break his maiden, Bittercreek (Snitzel) was having just his third start. Bred by B Bateman, he was sold by Arrowfield Stud to Malua Bloodstock and Baystone Farm for $375,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, later passed in for $700,000 at the Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale.
The 144th stakes winner for his Arrowfield based four times Champion Sire, Bittercreek is the third stakes winner for the dual city winner Rose Of Cimmaron (Bite The Bullet {USA}) who also produced the Group 3 winners Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) and Bull Point who stands at Kingstar Farm.
Served last spring by Capitalist after losing a filly by that same stallion - and missing to him the previous year - Rose Of Cimmaron is a full sister to the G3 Research S. winner Mica's Pride (Bite The Bullet), dam of the Group 1 winners Criterion and Comin' Through (Fastnet Rock).
This is a prolific black-type family, Bittercreek also closely related to the Group winners Varenna Miss (Redoute's Choice), Muwaary (O'Reilly {NZ}), Najoom (Northern Meteor) and Charm Stone (I Am Invincible).
G3 Habit Plate, $250,000, 2000m
Getting clear with 100 metres to go, Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}) looks one to follow as he heads towards the G1 Queensland Derby.
Bred by Highclere Stud Australia, he was sold by Milburn Creek to China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock and Trilogy Racing for $425,000 at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
The 29th stakes winner for his Arrowfield Stud based sire, he is out of the stakes placed Moonee Valley winner Luqyaa (Exceed And Excel) whose dam is the G3 Winter S. winner Charmview (Royal Academy {USA}).
Served last spring by Anamoe having missed at her two previous seasons, Luqyaa has a yet to race 2-year-old called Analicia (Zoustar) with Chris Waller whilst her 4-year-old Liquor (Spirit Of Boom) has won five of ten starts for the Tony Gollan stable.
Tannhauser hails from a consistent black-type family, able to boast amongst his relations the Group 1 winners Shiva's Revenge (NZ) (Nassipour {USA}), Just Now (Semipalatinsk {USA}), Foxzami (NZ) and Divide And Rule (NZ) (Alcimedes {GB}).
G3 Chairman's H., $200,000, 2000m
It had been a while between drinks for Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) but he was game to the line recording his fourth win in stakes company.
Bred by Juddmonte Farms, he was purchased for 100,000 gns by De Burgh Equine and Darby Racing at the 2019 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale.
One of the 35 stakes winners for his Newsells Park Stud based sire, Spirit Ridge is one of the four winners produced by the dual Group 1 winner Tates Creek (USA) (Rahy {USA}).
Grandam of the Group 3 winner Tide Of The Sea (USA) (English Channel {USA}), she is out of the dual Listed winner Viviana (USA) (Nureyev {USA}) whose daughter Sightseek (USA) (Distant View {USA}) won seven races at Group 1 level.
Line-bred to the great mares Almahmoud (USA) (Mahmoud {Fr]) and Special (USA) (Forli {Arg}), Spirit Ridge can also claim amongst his relations the Group 1 winners Special Duty (GB) (Hennessy {USA}) and Expert Eye (GB).
Listed Bright Shadow, $160,000, 1110m
Aureus Angel (Turffontein) is a story of a reward for patience, the 6-year-old showing plenty of heart winning five of her 13 starts - this success her first at stakes level.
Bred by P C Racing Investments, she had won a Kembla Grange maiden before being placed in an Inglis digital sale as a bleeder and roarer in September 2022 - Andrew Baddock picking her up for just $2,500.
She won first up for her new connections and has been in flying form since! The ninth stakes winner for her Motree Thoroughbreds (Tasmania) based sire, Aureus Angel is out of the placed Miss Marriott (Sebring) from the same family which produced today's Flemington 2-year-old winner Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun).
Aureus Angel is the final of four foals for her dam who died two years ago. All of her foals are winners and her dam Sadler's Girl (Fr) (Sadler's Wells {USA}) had five winners from six to race including the stakes placed Super Five (Sebring).
Aureus Angel's fourth dam is the G1 Prix de la Foret winner Brocade (GB) (Habitat {USA}) whose four stakes winners include the big race winners Barathea (Ire) and Gossamer (GB) (Sadler's Wells).
This is a family which has enjoyed Group 1 success around the world including Australia with the G1 Stradbroke H. winner Linton (Galileo {Ire}).
Listed Member's H., $160,000, 1600m
Making it three wins in a row with another classy effort, Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) made his stakes race debut a good one.
Bred by Totara Park Stud, Gringotts was sold by Archer Park to Kasa Bloodstock for $100,000 at the 2021 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale - later passed in with a reserve of $450,000 at the Ready To Run.
The 29th stakes winner for his Little Avondale Stud based sire, he is a half-brother to the stakes placed seven times winner Millefiori (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) out of the unraced Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel). Served last spring by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) after foaling a Proisir filly, Miss Bluebell is out of a half-sister to the dual Listed winner Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar) who is of course dam of the mighty Winx (Street Cry {Ire}).
Belmont: G3 Belmont Sprint, $200,000, 1400m
Putting his nose out right on the line, Western Empire (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) recorded the ninth win of his 23 start career and his eighth in stakes company.
One of the 98 stakes winners for his Darley (Newmarket) based sire who shuttled to Haunui Farm between 2008 and 2019, the Peters Investments bred 6-year-old is one of the five winners produced by the Peters bred G2 Perth Cup winner Western Jewel (Jeune {GB}).
Also dam of the Listed Bunbury S. winner Western Temple (Dream Ahead {USA), Western Jewel was served last spring by Playing God having missed to Toronado (Ire) the previous season - her latest foal Westbound being a yearling son of that stallion whilst her 2-year-old daughter Western Lady is another Toronado.
That Bruce Watkins trained chestnut was fourth and fifth in Lark Hill and Belmont trials in February. Western Jewel is a half-sister to the Listed winner Western Blaze (Hard Spun {USA}) out of the city winner Our Millster (Marooned {GB}) whose dam is the Group 3 and triple Listed winner Timeless Action (Serheed {USA}).
Western Empire's grandsire Zafonic (USA) is out of a mare by The Minstrel (Can) whilst Western Jewel is bred on a 4 X 4 cross of that horse's three-quarter brother Nijinsky (Can) - the Canadian Oaks heroine Flaming Page (USA) (Bull Page {USA}) duplicated.
