Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-Day Recap
Jenni’s Meadow credited her sire Brutal (NZ) with his first stakes winner when she turned the tables on her stablemate Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) in the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington.
The $600,000 son of Fastnet Rock, Aldofito, made an impressive debut, winning the Listed Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington.
The well-regarded Michael, Wayne and John Hawkes-trained Brave One became the seventh individual winner for Vinery Stud’s Exceedance.
In deteriorating conditions at the Sunshine Coast, the Pat Webster-trained Shows A Sign (Capitalist) led all the way to win Race 1 before the meeting was later abandoned.
Westbury Stud’s sire Ferrando sired his second winner when the Team Rogerson-trained Grove Street (NZ) saluted at Hastings in New Zealand.
Wind And The Lion (Written By) was a dominant 3.10l winner at Belmont on Saturday for the Sean and Jake Casey.
Kitchwin Hills-based Dubious sired his fifth individual winner when Indubitably broke her maiden at Beaudesert.
Jenni Turns the tables on Sneaky
Jenni’s Meadow (Brutal {NZ}) turned the tables on her stablemate Sneaky Sunrise (The Autumn Sun) in Saturday’s Listed Taj Rossi Series Final at Flemington. The Ben, Will, and JD Hayes-trained 2-year-old had been racing in fine form, hitting the line strongly in her last start when she finished fourth at Flemington behind Sneaky Sunrise.
Ridden by Ethan Brown, Jenni’s Meadow enjoyed the 1600-metre trip and put 1.3l on her stablemate, while Stay Silent (Deep Field) was a further 3.3l away in third.
Co-trainer Ben Hayes told Racing.com, “The last couple of starts, Jenni’s Meadow has been ducking in, losing momentum at the wrong part of the race, picking up and hitting the line strongly.
“Today (Saturday) she went nice and straight, and she was super impressive. It’s a big thrill to get a nice win for Tony (Ottobre), black-type it’s a good result. I’m not exactly sure what’s next, we’ll have to have a think… this was the grand final.
“This is the race we wanted to win, and to see her win impressively like that is fantastic.”
“Today (Saturday) she went nice and straight, and she was super impressive. It’s a big thrill to get a nice win for Tony (Ottobre), black-type it’s a good result.” - Ben Hayes
Hayes was also pleased with the performance of Jenni Meadow’s stablemate, Sneaky Sunrise, saying, “She ran super. Just the weight got her late, but she still hit the line strong. She’s picked up black-type, she’s had a really good preparation herself.
“They’re both really progressive fillies, and to get black-type for both of them is a big tick.”
Jenni’s Meadow was an impressive winner on debut at Moonee Valley last December and then was a credible eighth in the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic. She is from the first crop of Newgate Farm’s G1 Doncaster H. winner Brutal (NZ) and is his first stakes winner.
Jenni’s Meadow | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
The filly was a $260,000 purchase by Cape Schanck Stud from the draft of Raheen Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Jenni’s Meadow is raced by Tony and Lynn Ottobre, who also race the champion mare Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).
Jenni’s Meadow is the fourth foal from the Redoute’s Choice mare Meadow, who won once. She is a half-sister to the stakes-placed Flower In The Wind (Sebring), while her second dam Strawberry Field (Encosta De Lago) won the Listed Maybe Mahal S. and was fourth in the G1 Queen of the Turf.
Meadow’s filly by Heroic Valour was passed in at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale and she was served by Better Than Ready.
Son of Fastnet sizzles in Next Gen
Pakenham-based duo Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman look to have another exciting prospect on their hands. Aldofito (Fastnet Rock) made easy work of his rivals in the Next Generations Sprinters Series Final at Flemington on Saturday.
The son of retired Champion Sire Fastnet Rock, ridden by Damian Lane, finished strongest in the 1200-metre feature. Coming from the pack, Aldofito quickly overtook the short-priced favourite I Found You (I Am Invincible) and Factcheck (Press Statement).
Co-trainer Katherine Coleman told Racing.com, “It was really pleasing to see Aldofito do that today. He’s a horse we’ve always had a decent opinion of, but as a colt he was just really unfocused and a real lad.
“He was also a bit of a baby and hadn’t figured out what life was about. Coming back this preparation as a gelding, he’s a real racehorse this campaign.
“Aldofito was in a beautiful rhythm, and I just hoped when he came off the bridle, he’d continue to travel like that, and he did.”
“Aldofito was in a beautiful rhythm, and I just hoped when he came off the bridle, he’d continue to travel like that, and he did.” - Katherine Coleman
Speaking about the future for the 2-year-old gelding, Coleman said, “We’ll just see how he pulls up and go from there. Obviously, he’s got the run on the board today, so we could look to bring him back in the back-end of the spring if there’s a suitable option there.”
Aldofito was a $600,000 purchase by Curran Bloodstock from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. He is the third foal from More Than Ready (USA) mare Madame Lily.
Madame Lily was purchased for $725,000 at the 2018 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale and is a full sister to Champagne Run, who is the dam of Group 3 winner Flying Evelyn (Not A Single Doubt).
Katherine Coleman
Additionally, Madame Lily is a daughter of the classy G1 Coolmore Classic victress Bollinger (Dehere {USA}), the dam of two individual Group 2 winners.
Lucky seven for Exceedance
Vinery Stud’s Exceedance sired his seventh individual winner on Saturday, thanks to the Michael, Wayne, and John Hawkes-trained Brave One at Randwick on Heavy 9 conditions.
On debut, after impressing in a trial at Rosehill on June 21, Brave One, ridden by Zac Lloyd, showed grit to get the better of Mayfair (Fastnet Rock) from the Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable. Finishing third was Winning Proposal (Shalaa {Ire}).
Michael Hawkes told Sky Racing, “Brave One likes to show he’s a colt. He was like that at his first trial, but in his second, he relaxed well.
“First, I’ve got to give Zac (Lloyd) credit because that was a lovely ride. He made use of the favourite and had a lot of horse underneath him. Brave One’s trial has been fantastic at home and he just oozes class, this fella.
“He looks the part, and we paid a bit for him ($300,000) at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. We know the breed very well, having trained Exceedance. The truth is anybody that listens to me knows I can’t get enough of them (Exceedance progeny). I rate them highly, and this guy is right up there with them.”
“Brave One likes to show he’s a colt. He was like that at his first trial, but in his second, he relaxed well.” -
Commenting on the future for Brave One, Hawkes said, “Truth is, all we really wanted to do was win a 2-year-old race this preparation, but he’s been a slow maturer. He might have freshened up now and come back, but he’s definitely got a lot of class.
“The best part about him is when Zac got on him, his demeanour changed.”
Brave One was presented at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale by Vinery Stud, where Hawkes Racing paid $300,000 for the son of Exceedance. The colt is the fourth foal from the Northern Meteor mare Runway Star, a six-time winner, including the G3 Proud Miss S.
Michael Hawkes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Runway Star’s Exceedance colt sold for $330,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock. She was served by Russian Revolution last spring.
Brave One is from the family of the Australian Champion 2-Year-Old Fashions Afield (Redoute’s Choice) and the Group 2 winner Kiss And Make Up, alongside Fashion Legend (Deep Field), who won the G3 Vo Rogue Plate.
Sign shows all the way
On a Heavy 10 track, Shows A Sign (Capitalist) kept out of trouble with Les Tilley in the saddle to secure victory in the opening race. This was the third start for the race-experienced Shows A Sign, who had previously placed on debut behind the stakes-performed El Morzillo (Star Witness) and was a last-start winner at Ipswich.
Shows A Sign defeated the last-start winner Bonfire Spark (Under The Louvre) and Toro Strike (Toronado {Ire}). The son of Capitalist was passed in for $110,000 at last year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale when offered by Murrulla Stud.
He is the fourth foal from the Street Boss (USA) mare Our Miss Bossy, who won five races. Our Miss Bossy foaled a filly by Nicconi and was served by Ellsberg.
First winner for Ferrando
Westbury Stud’s Ferrando (NZ) sired his first winner when the Team Rogerson-trained Grove Street (NZ) was successful at start three at Hastings. Grove Street, ridden by Leah Hemi, narrowly got the better of Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca) and Rhythm ‘N’ Spice (NZ) (Ardrossan).
Grove Street is from the Senor Pete (USA) mare Dancing Song (NZ), who won seven races up to 1500 metres. Grove Street is a half-sister to Malambo (NZ) (Duelled). The colt was bred by his trainer Graeme Rogerson (MNZM), who has remained in the ownership.
The colt’s sire Ferrando (NZ) stands at Westbury Stud and is a speedy son of Fast ‘N’ Famous (NZ). He is standing for NZ$5000 (plus GST).
Lion roars on debut
Sean and Jake Casey’s debutant Wind And The Lion (Written By) was an authoritative winner of the opener at Belmont on Saturday. The son of Written By, ridden by Chris Parnham, defeated Areduet (Rommel) by 3.10l and Scenic George (Snippetson).
Wind And The Lion was pinhooked by Shaun Nolen for $62,500 from the draft of Riverdene Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. Nolen reoffered the gelding through his JCS Thoroughbreds at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast 2YOs In Training Sale where Hancock Quality Bloodstock (FBAA) paid $200,000.
The son of Written Tycoon is the only foal from the late Mandalong Sera, a winning daughter of Sebring. She is a half-sister to Queen’s Kiss (French Deputy {USA}), who is the dam of the G1 Toorak H. winner Attrition (Churchill {Ire}).
Dubious gets five
First-season sire Dubious, who stands at Kitchwin Hills was represented by winner number five when the Kurt Goldman-trained Indubitably saluted at Beaudesert.
Indubitably as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The 2-year-old filly, partnered by Jace McMurray was sent out favourite at start four, and was a comfortable winner over Sidled (Sidestep) and Alpine Raider (Alpine Eagle).
Indubitably is the last reported foal from the Dane Shadow mare Lady Mary, who was Listed-placed as a 2-year-old. The filly was passed in for $50,000 when offered by Mane Lodge at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. Indubaitly was reoffered by Grandview at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale where Kurt Goldman paid $20,000.
