Cover image courtesy of Michael McInally
Race-Day Recap
Godolphin’s outstanding juvenile Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) added the G2 Sires’ Produce S. to his victory in the G1 Champagne S. in impressive fashion at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
Smart colt Emirate (Extreme Choice), a $1 million yearling, took his record to two-from-two after another impressive effort in Sydney at Rosehill.
Lovatsville’s Royal Meeting sired his second individual winner when his daughter Royal Majesty ran out an impressive albeit surprise victress in the opening race at Morphettville on Saturday.
Darley’s Blue Point sired the first two home at Caulfield on Saturday. His last start winners Interest Point and Blue Renegade outclassed the field, as they battled out the 1100-metre event, with Interest Point narrowly getting the upper hand.
The Peter and Paul Snowden-trained Counteroffensive (Deep Field) brought Group form to Saturday’s maiden at Newcastle, and duly let his class shine, winning the 900-metre contest.
Andrew Forsman’s promising juvenile Belardi (Belardo) was a comfortable winner of Saturday’s Listed Castletown S. at Wanganui.
All class in Sires'
Godolphin’s G1 Champagne S. victor, Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}), showcased his class in the $1 million G2 Sires’ Produce S. at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The last-start Group 1 winner, ridden by Jamie Kah, was visually impressive as he ran over the field, leaving the outsiders Zouna (Zousain) and Superalloy (Too Darn Hot {GB}) to fight for second and third place.
“He’s a class animal,” trainer James Cummings told Sky Racing. “There was a lot going on turning into the home straight, and his experience really shone through. But what a cool ride that was from Jamie Kah, and Broadsiding has a devastating turn of foot. It was an outstanding effort to get up and win, given the difficulties they had to overcome. He’s a very good 2-year-old, and he should be perfectly set up for the G1 JJ Atkins in two weeks. We’re lucky to have him, and he’s a credit to the international team, given he’s by Too Darn Hot.”
Kah added, “The first furlong was a bit yucky, but that horse (Broadsiding) was just all class. He wasn’t entitled to do what he did. We were miles off them at the top of the straight, but he was fantastic. Good horses shouldn’t even win like he just did. He was like riding a pony; the mile will pose no problems.”
Broadsiding is one of nine individual winners for Darley’s Too Darn Hot (GB) from his debut Southern Hemisphere crop. The colt is also one of six stakes performers for the son of Dubawi (Ire).
Broadsiding | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
His dam, the late Speedway, a daughter of Street Cry (Ire), won twice. She is a half-sister to Flit (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), a victress of the G1 The Thousand Guineas and the G2 Light Fingers S.
Broadsiding was her final foal. Her first foal, by Lonhro, was deceased after birth, and was followed by the unraced No Breaks (Lonhro) before visiting Too Darn Hot to produce Broadsiding.
Too Darn Hot, who sired the G1 Irish 1000 Guineas victress Fallen Angel (GB) and the G2 German 2000 Guineas winner Darnation (Ire) last weekend, will return to Darley, Australia, at an increased fee of $110,000 (inc GST) this spring.
$1 million colt shows tenacity and talent
The $1 million dollar colt, Emirate (Extreme Choice) turned plenty of heads at Rosehill on Saturday, bringing his unbeaten record to two from two.
Emirate from the Chris Waller stable, and ridden by Joshua Parr, was a 2.38l winner from Sovereign Hill (Written Tycoon) and Mr Artemisia (The Autumn Sun), also from the Waller stable.
Parr was understandably impressed with the colt, telling Racingandsports.com.au, “What an easy horse to ride. Emirate just bounced and put himself in the perfect position.
Emirate | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“He is a very nice horse. There was a bit of nonsense at the top straight, Jay Ford’s horse (Commanding Artist) was wandering around, and we made contact, which just upset him.
“But when he went through the gap and I found clear air, my gosh, we all saw it. It was very impressive.”
Representing the Waller stable at Rosehill on Saturday was Damien Fitton, he added, “He has been a tough horse ever since he came into the stable and he is continuing to rise through the grades.
“He (Emirate) has been a tough horse ever since he came into the stable and he is continuing to rise through the grades.” - Joshua Parr
“It was quite heavy at Warwick Farm last start so he has had the benefit of being on a heavy track and we were quietly confident coming into today (Saturday).
Earlier in the week Waller indicated Emirate will likely be spelled and prepared for the spring despite holding a nomination to the G1 JJ Atkins S. However, his third-placed stablemate could push onto the event his sire, The Autumn Sun won in 2018.
“Off that run, Mr Artemisia was hitting the line strongly and he could be a candidate if he can get into the JJ Atkins field,” Fitton said.
“As always, we will see how they pull up from today and then make decisions.”
Emirate is the first foal from the winning Dream Ahead (USA) mare Sweet Bouquet, who is a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and Group 1-producing sire Santos. Additionally, the mare is from the family of the G1 Epsom H. victor Fat Al (Al Maher).
Sweet Bouquet’s Time To Reign colt was sold for $120,000 earlier this year at the 2024 Inglis HTBA Yearling Sale. She returned to Extreme Choice last spring.
Emirate was a $1 million purchase by Aramco Racing, Mick Price Racing and Breeding and Rick Connolly Bloodstock from the draft of Kingstar Farm at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Emirate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Newgate Farm’s Extreme Choice will stand for $275,000 (inc GST) this season.
New winner for Royal Meeting
Chris Bieg’s Royal Majesty (Royal Meeting {Ire}) sprung a surprise victory at Morphettville on Saturday, saluting at odds of $26. The 2-year-old filly, having her second start after finishing eighth on debut in the G3 David Coles AM S. behind Flyer (Exceedance) improved out of the ground to break her maiden.
Ridden by Ben Price, Royal Majesty, defeated Colmar (Strasbourg) by 1.8l, while Magna Mak (Magna Grecia {Ire}) was third.
Royal Majesty is the second individual winner for the Lovatsville-based Royal Meeting (Ire), who is the sire of the G1 Blue Diamond S. victress Hayasugi. The son of Invincible Spirit (Ire) will stand the 2024 season for a fee of $22,000 (inc GST).
The filly is the third foal from the well-related Personable (Lonhro), a four-time winner, she is from the family of the G1 VRC Oaks victress Personal (Fastnet Rock) and Sejardan, who won the G2 Todman S. and the G3 Breeders’ Plate. Personable foaled a colt by Swettenham Stud’s Wooded (Ire), a son of Wootton Bassett (GB), and was served by In The Congo last spring.
Royal Majesty was a $65,000 purchase by Brentknoll Thoroughbreds from the draft of Erinvale Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale.
Blue Point boys quinella at Caulfield
Caulfield’s juvenile race turned into a thrilling contest between two sons of Darley’s Blue Point (Ire): Interest Point, trained by David Brideoake and Matt Jenkins, and Blue Renegade from the Matthew Ellerton stable. Both colts, last start winners, fiercely contested the 1100-metre event.
In a tight finish, Interest Point, ridden by Jamie Mott, narrowly outperformed Blue Renegade, with Damian Lane in the saddle. Yulong’s Earth God (Written Tycoon) secured third place.
Interest Point maintained his unbeaten record, having won on debut at Mornington on May 13.
Interest Point staves off the Blue Renegade challenge to claim the Dexion Victoria H. | Image courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club
The colt is the seventh foal from the Exchange Rate (USA) mare Libor Lady (USA), owned by co-trainer David Brideoake.
Co-trainer Jenkins told Racingnewsandsport.com.au, “The Blue Points were hyped up before Christmas, fulfilled that with their trials but didn’t show that on race day.
“We’ve got a few European guys that work with us, and they were all adamant they are horses that need time.
“We took baby steps with this horse (Interest Point), and he might even go out now and be a better 3-year-old. David (Brideoake) is someone that has not raced too may 2-year-olds, but we’re getting them up and rolling in the system earlier now.
“We took baby steps with this horse (Interest Point), and he might even go out now and be a better 3-year-old. David (Brideoake) is someone that has not raced too may 2-year-olds, but we’re getting them up and rolling in the system earlier now.” - Matt Jenkins
Nothing will be pushed, but if they’re suitable, they will run.”
Bred by his co-trainer Brideoake, Jenkins shared he had liked the horse from his days, “David liked this horse before he had run.
“Personally, he exceeded my expectations on debut at Mornington with the way he won and to see him do it today (Saturday), it was really good.
“He was brave. Interest Point is a pretty easy-going colt that is now unbeaten and I’m looking forward to seeing where he can get to now.”
Libor Lady was a successful runner, winning nine races, including the Listed Presque Isle Downs Satin & Lace S., the Listed Delaware Park Walking in Da Sun S., and the Listed Monmouth Klassy Briefcase S. in 1100-metre track record time. In 2022, Libor Lady foaled a colt by Blue Point (Ire) and sat out the 2023 season before visiting Widden Stud’s Doubtland last spring.
Interest Point was withdrawn from the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is a half-brother to G2 Sandown Guineas winner Allibor (All Too Hard). The colt is one of three Australasian winners for Blue Point, who will stand the upcoming season for $44,000 (inc GST).
Counteroffensive shines at Newcastle
After a commendable third-place finish in the G3 Chairman’s S., trailing the subsequent dual Group 1 placegetter Coleman (Pierata) and G2 Percy Sykes S. victress Eneeza (Exceed And Excel), followed by a fourth-place run behind Aardvark (Capitalist) in the Listed Talindert S., it was Counteroffensive’s (Deep Field) turn to shine on Saturday.
Trained by Peter and Paul Snowden and ridden by Mitchell Bell, Counteroffensive triumphed in a competitive juvenile field at Newcastle, winning the 900-metre race. Finishing 1.2 lengths behind was Flying Argyle (Flying Artie), with Darley’s Blue Illusion (Blue Point {Ire}) taking third place.
Counteroffensive is out of the outstanding producer Victory Cry (General Nediym), who is also the dam of Group 1 winner Run Fox Run (Foxwedge) and the speedy Guard Of Honour (Northern Meteor), winner of the Listed Heritage S. Although Victory Cry died in 2022, she left behind a filly by Kia Ora Stud’s G1 Golden Slipper victor Farnan.
Counteroffensive was a $425,000 purchase by China Horse Club, Newgate, Go, and Trilogy from the Mill Park Stud draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Stakes step-up no issue for Belardi
Belardi (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) romped in the Listed Castletown S., transitioning smoothly from maiden company to stakes company under the guidance of trainer Andrew Forsman. Ridden by Joe Doyle, Belardi claimed a comfortable victory over Raziah (NZ) (Niagara) and He’s Lucid (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) in the 1200-metre feature, named in honor of the six-time Group 1-winning son of One Pound Sterling (GB).
After debuting on May 11 with a sixth-place finish at New Plymouth, Belardi improved to break his maiden at Taupo on a Heavy 8 track. Bred and owned by The Sunlight Trust, Belardi is out of the Encosta De Lago mare Japonica.
He didn’t break particularly well, but he was quick into gear and then just travelled so smoothly from there,” said Doyle to Loveracing.nz.com, who has now ridden 14 Group and Listed winners this season.
Belardi (outside) pulls away to win the Listed John Turkington Forestry Castletown S. at Wanganui | Image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
“He’s a Belardo, and these kinds of tracks often seem to suit them. When we got on to the better ground in the straight and I gave him a squeeze, he picked up very nicely. He might have idled a touch when he was in front in the straight, so I’d say there’s still more in the tank.
“He’s not overly big, but he’s a very willing horse. That tendency to idle won’t be there for much longer and I’m sure we’ll see more improvement from him.”
With Forsman in Brisbane for Saturday’s Queensland Derby, he was represented at Wanganui on Saturday by assistant trainer Trina Riddell.
“That was a really good win, and with his half-sister racing in the Queensland Derby today, it’s a big day for the Sunlight Trust,” Riddell said.
“Belardi is a really nice horse, and I thought Joe did a great job to lead and get him to that outside ground in the straight.”
While Japonica did not win during her racing career, she has excelled as a broodmare, with all five of her foals being winners, including two stakes winners. Among her progeny is the Group 3 winner Moonlight Magic (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who competed in Saturday’s G1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm. Japonica was last sold to Paul Moroney Bloodstock at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
“Belardi is a really nice horse, and I thought Joe did a great job to lead and get him to that outside ground in the straight.” - Trina Riddell
Belardi hails from the family of Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}), a 10-time winner who triumphed in Queensland’s premier winter race, the G1 Stradbroke H., and was placed in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup. Belardi represents the 11th stakes winner worldwide for Belardo (Ire), a Group 1-winning son of Lope De Vega (Ire), who shuttled to Hanuni Farm.