Cover image courtesy of Peter Rubery (Race Images Palmerston North)
Wrote (Ire) sired an Oaks winner this year, and on Saturday he added a juvenile stakes winner with Read About It. Several nicely bred 2-year-olds won around the nation including Lavalier who became blue hen mare Accessories' sixth winner.
Break-out box
New Zealand’s Listed Ryder S. won by Read About It, who became Wrote’s third stakes winner this season.
Tarpaulin made it two in succession at Randwick and will head to the Listed Rosebud S. next.
I Am Velvet wins the Gold Ingot at Caulfield despite hanging badly.
Coolmore looks to have another bright prospect with debut winner Public Attention.
Bella Khadiji flew home at Doomben to become the tenth winner for Pierata.
At Kembla Grange, stunningly well bred Lavalier was one of two juveniles who beat older horses in maiden events.
Oscar's Fortune's full sister Cleanemup stays unbeaten in second start at Belmont.
Encryption’s Mr Bubbaluski won on debut at the Gold Coast.
Listed Ryder Stakes to Read About It
The favourite 2-year-old gelding Read About It (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) added to his sire’s excellent season by winning the Listed Ryder S. at his second start winning by 1.8l for jockey Craig Grylls. In second place was Team Rogerson-trained Grove Street (NZ) (Ferrando {NZ}) who became the second stakes horse for his first season sire, while in third was Ortega (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) for trainer Stephen Marsh.
Trained by Robbie Patterson, Read About It was having his second start, having run second on debut a month ago.
“We were in a horrible spot in that race today,” Patterson told Loveracing.nz. “The horse in front of him wasn’t really travelling and they slammed those anchors on. But he won with his ears pricked, didn’t he? He was just dominant.
“I think he’s a serious horse. It was probably not the most elite field that he beat today, but going forward, he’s pretty exciting. We’ve always liked the horse, and I think the trip down to Riccarton for his debut probably made him as well. It was a big call going all the way down there, but it paid off.
“I won’t go too far with him now. He can have a week in the paddock, and then we’ll head towards the Wanganui Guineas at the end of August, and then we might back off him a little bit. Whether we go to a race like the 2000 Guineas, I’m not too sure. But we’ve got a bit to look forward to with him.”
“I think he’s (Read About It) a serious horse. It was probably not the most elite field that he beat today, but going forward, he’s pretty exciting.” - Robbie Patterson
G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf S. winner Wrote retired to stud in America in 2014 before moving to New Zealand in 2017. His American crops have yielded no stakes winners from 94 foals, while in New Zealand he’s been much more successful with a stakes winner in each of his first four crops who are aged two, three, four and five from only small crops.
It was this season that he really broke into everyone’s conscious with G1 NZ Oaks winner Pulchritudinous while Wrote To Arataki won the G2 Tristarc S. in the spring. Read About It becomes his third stakes winner of the season, while Best Seller won the 2022 G3 Gold Trail S.
A NZ$5,000 purchase by Prestige Worldwide at the NZB National Weanling Sale from the draft of Platinum Bloodstock, Read About It is currently owned by KRD Racing.
Robbie Patterson and Craig Grylls | Image courtesy of Race Images
Read About It is the second foal of unraced mare Diggilou (NZ) (Iffraaj {}) who is a half-sister to G1 Australian Oaks-placed Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice {GB}). Read About It’s fourth dam, stakes placed winner Gypsy Alert (Solitary Hail {USA}) is the third dam of this season’s G1 Blue Diamond S. winner Hayasugi (Royal Meeting {Ire}). Gypsy Alert produced two stakes winners, one of whom, Techniques (Palace Music {USA}) is the third dam of Read About It. Techniques also produced Listed winner She’s Canny (Canny Lad) who is therefore a half-sister to winning mare Dagmar (Danehill {USA}), the dam of Diggilou and Perfect Rhyme.
Tarpaulin heads to Rosebud after strong win at Randwick
Godolphin’s 2-year-old colt Tarpaulin (Harry Angel {Ire}) made it two wins in succession with a bold showing as $1.80 favourite in the first at Randwick on Saturday. Ridden by champion jockey James McDonald, Tarpaulin won by 2.48l from Peter and Paul Snowden-trained million dollar filly Sakima (Snitzel) with Bjorn Baker-trained Ride The River (Headwater) a further 4l in arrears.
“He's got a lethal turn of foot,” McDonald said. He really moves through the ground and he's got a killer will to win, so he is up at the right time. He is a bit better than this and he will measure up in whatever he runs in.”
Tarpaulin took his record to two wins from four starts. He was first seen at the end of December where he ran fourth on debut in a race won by future G2 Silver Slipper winner Straight Charge (Written By). Tarpaulin then resumed in June with a second, before putting together these two wins in succession.
“He is exciting. He cruised up to them with such an effortless stride,” trainer James Cummings said. “That is a good progression from putting away a handy maiden field and I liked the win of the runner-up Sakima ten days ago when she was excellent.
“To put the margin on that field today, I think that bodes well for his prospects in a race like the Rosebud. Hopefully he doesn't go up too much in weight for the sake of the win.”
“He (Tarpaulin) is exciting. He cruised up to them with such an effortless stride.” - James Cummings
The Listed Rosebud will run on August 17 and of the last five winners, all of them won the Rosebud at their first start at three, and all bar last year’s winner were winners at two. 2023 winner Tiz Invincible (I Am Invincible) came into the race off a placing in the G2 Percy Sykes S. in April at her start prior. She had two starts at two for a fourth and a second, both in group company.
2022 winner Zoukerino (Snitzel) won the same 2-year-old race that Tarpaulin won last start, then went directly into the Rosebud to claim that race at his second start. The other winner with wins in the winter heading into spring was 2020 winner Anders (Not A Single Doubt) who had six starts at two, winning twice with both wins in May.
2021 winner Paulele (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had five starts at two, winning twice in the spring, then again in the G3 Kindergarten S in April before heading to the Rosebud first up at three, while 2019 winner Dawn Passage (Dawn Approach {Ire}) had just the two starts at two, winning on debut in January then third to Castelvecchio in the R-Listed Inglis Millennium in February.
James Cummings | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
Harry Angel’s oldest Australian crop are rising 4-year-olds and as he improved as he aged, it should be expected that his progeny will do the same. Harry Angel won a Group 2 race at two, then improved at three to win two Group 1 sprints, the Haydock Sprint Cup made famous by Danehill (USA) and the G1 July Cup. At four, Harry Angel was a Group 2 winner and Group 1 placed.
At stud, he’s sired 13 stakes winners so far with four of those in his first Australian crop of 3-year-olds, led by G1 Spring Champion S. Tom Kitten, G2 Danehill S. winner and Group 1 placed Stretan Angel, and Listed winner Arkansaw Kid and War Machine.
“One thing I will say about the Harry Angels, for the mares he has had so far he is doing a very good job,” Cummings said. “(Tarpaulin) is yet another promising colt that (Harry Angel) has got out and about and it's exciting for the team.”
“One thing I will say about the Harry Angels, for the mares he has had so far he is doing a very good job.” - James Cummings
Tarpaulin is a half-brother to three stakes winners, and their dam, Shelters (Lonhro) won three races including one in Sydney and one in Melbourne. Shelters’ has produced 4-year-old gelding Aft Cabin (Astern) whose best win to date is the G2 Danehill S., while her two older stakes winners are Group 3 winner Multaja (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}) and Listed winner Veranillo (Medaglia d’Oro {USA}).
Shelters is a half-sister to G1 JJ Atkins winner Benfica (Lonhro) (but when it was called the TJ Smith S.) and both are out of stakes placed winner Hut (Danehill {USA}). Shelters has a rising 2-year-old colt Cavern (Brazen Beau) and a 2023 colt by Astern.
I Am Velvet remains unbeaten in Gold Ingot
Phillip Stokes-trained 2-year-old filly I Am Velvet (I Am Immortal) gave jockey Daniel Stackhouse plenty of trouble in the Gold Ingot, struggling to run straight, but her class saw her extend her unbeaten streak to three. Despite her greenness, she won by 1.5l from favourite Dom (Pierro) trained by Lindsay Park, with Tony and Calvin McEvoy trained Cavity Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}) in third.
“You would think if she went perfectly straight and did everything right, she’d have a few lengths up her sleeve, but until we do that, we aren’t going to reach any great heights,” breeder Darren Dance told racing.com.
“She’s not dirty, it’s just a habit and one that I am sure Phil is going to be working on hard to get her out of. The Thousand Guineas wouldn’t be out of the question. Being at the back end of the carnival, Phil might want to take a month doing some dressage or the like to try and clean her act up a bit and then target her there.”
I Am Velvet wasn’t offered at auction and is raced by a large syndicate headed by Australian Thoroughbred Bloodstock. “Mick Kent had the mother,” Dance said. “She won a race at Sandown one day and flew home and ran a really fast time. Normally, I wouldn’t keep a mare with a moderate pedigree like this, but she was such a lovely mare, so I thought ‘I’ll just keep her and breed a few out of her’. The first foal out of her was Tobaysure and he won $250,000 and has just been retired now. We lost the second foal and (I Am Velvet)’s the third foal and she looks a bit special.
“I just wanted to breed to race and so I went back to her genetic family and tried to pick out the right sire line and I just liked the Invincible Spirit cross with Domesday. That’s why I went to Cable Bay, then I went to I Am Immortal and now Shalaa because I believe they match best with her genetic make-up.”
“You would think if she (I Am Velvet) went perfectly straight and did everything right, she’d have a few lengths up her sleeve, but until we do that, we aren’t going to reach any great heights.” - Darren Dance
I Am Velvet’s dam Black Velveteen (Domesday) won one of her four starts, and her first foal 5-year-old gelding Tobaysure (Cable Bay {Ire}) won four of his 19 starts and over $277,000. Black Velveteen’s dam, Mrs Kravitz (Distant Music {}) is a 2-year-old winning daughter of Listed winner Super Snooper (Zeditave) who also produced Listed winner Forest Spy (Shinko Forest {Ire}) and Group 2-placed winner Danish Spy (Dane Shadow), who is the dam of G2 BRC Sires’ Produce S. winner Strasbourg (I Am Invincible). Strasbourg’s first crop are 2-year-olds this season and he’s sired Group 3 winner Colmar and one other winner, as well as stakes placed Flying Straz.
I Am Velvet is one of three winners for first season sire I Am Immortal who has also sired stakes placed winner Immortal Star.
Public Attention wins on debut for Coolmore and partners
Coolmore Stud have a Guineas prospect on their hands with debutant winner 2-year-old colt Public Attention (NZ) (Written Tycoon). Ridden by Ethan Brown, punters only rated Public Attention a $16 chance for his debut, but he flew home from mid-field to win by 0.4l from Team Hayes trained last start winner Ndola (Justify {USA}) with a length to Matthew Ellerton trained Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach {USA}) in third.
“I said to Junior (training partner Michael Kent Jnr) this morning that he is one of the horses we have not done a DNA on,” co-trainer Mick Price said. “Without a DNA, I would be going to the Caulfield Guineas with him. It’s at this point (of the season) that you either say he’s a Coolmore horse or a Guineas horse and I’d say he’s a Guineas horse.
Public Attention (NZ) | Image courtesy of Bruno Cannatelli
“He’s a beautifully clean-winded horse. He was in New Zealand (when sold as a yearling) and he was a light, backward type of yearling and it took him I reckon 15 months before he started to morph into a colt. Look at him now, he’s a beautiful horse. Pre-race, he was a black-type horse coming, so we’ll have a crack at a good race.”
Tom Magnier purchased Public Attention at the NZB National Yearling Sale for NZ$160,000 from the draft of Carlaw Park, who have been on the yearling sale scene since 2018 and who share their name with a now-demolished rugby league stadium in Auckland. The stadium was built in 1916 and demolished in 2007. Used as a carpark for a while, it is now home to office buildings and student accommodation for Auckland University.
“Coolmore bought him at K1 and I was there and they said, ‘have a look at this horse’,” Price said. “I said I thought he was a nice horse but was very immature. That horse you just saw there is 50 per cent bigger than the yearling he was. I had him in and he went shinsore three times, but the last time in, he just morphed into this strong, teenage, muscular horse.
“It’s at this point (of the season) that you either say he’s a Coolmore horse or a Guineas horse and I’d say he’s a Guineas horse.” - Mick Price
“He’s got a good temperament and hopefully we can do something good with him.”
Written Tycoon has enjoyed three new Group 1 winners this season led by G1 Golden Slipper winner Lady Of Camelot, and 3-year-old colt Southport Tycoon who won the G1 Australian Guineas, while in NZ, 2-year-old filly Velocious won the G1 Sistema S. He will win the Champion 2YO Sire title this season with approximately $5million in progeny earnings, and Public Attention is his 18th individual 2-year-old winner this season.
In hindsight, Public Attention was a bit of a steal at the sales. He is the second foal of winning mare Legramor (Commands) who is a daughter of Champion 3YO in NZ Katie Lee (Pins) who won both the G1 NZ Two Thousand Guineas and G1 NZ One Thousand Guineas. Katie Lee is a half-sister to Champion 2YO in NZ and Group 1 winner Banchee (NZ) (Oratorio {Ire}). Katie Lee and Banchee’s Group 3 winning dam, Miss Jessie Jay (NZ) (Spectacularphantom {USA}), is a half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Gee I Jane (NZ) (Jahafil {GB}). Gee I Jane only had two foals, and both are winners.
Mick Price
Legramor has a rising 2-year-old filly Proud Katie (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
Bella Khadija becomes 10th winner for Pierata
In the first at Doomben, jockey Jag Guthmann-Chester came down the middle of the track to run down the leaders with flying 2-year-old filly Bella Khadija (Pierata) to win by 0.78l for trainer Peter Robl from favourite Savour The Dream (NZ) (Super Seth) who is trained by Bevan Laming, with Jack Bruce trained Data Scramble (Encryption) holding on for third.
Bella Khadija as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The consistent filly was having her fifth start having placed three times prior, with her only career miss being in the R-Listed Inglis Millennium. She becomes the tenth first crop winner for Group 1 winner Pierata who stands at Yulong in 2024 for $66,000 inc GST. He has sired Group 3 winner Coleman and Tobeornottobe in his first season as well as Fearless who ran third in the G1 Champagne S. and Red Sea (NZ) who ran second in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce S.
An $80,000 purchase by Peter Robl from Fernrigg Farm’s 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft, Bella Khadija is the first foal of Mouquet (Viscount) who won four races in WA and placed in the G3 La Trice Classic. Mouquet is out of a winning half-sister to Listed Wyong Cup winner Aphasia (Orojoya {USA}).
Perth filly Cleanemup remains unbeaten
Belmont’s Bolton Classic meeting opened with a juvenile race over 1000 metres and it was 2-year-old filly Cleanemup (Rich Enuff) who extended her unbeaten streak to two with a 1.5l win for jockey William Pike over Peter Fernie trained Sunshine Tafe (All American) and Russell Stewart trained Gold Maker (Universal Ruler).
Trained by Dion Luciani, Cleanemup debuted at the same track on July 10 winning for the same jockey on a heavy track. Today’s surface was rate soft, but the same result applied.
Owned by Loloma Farms, Cleanemup is a full sister to 3-year-old gelding Oscar’s Fortune who won the G3 Roma Cup in April before running third in The Quokka and fifth in the G1 Goodwood Handicap at his two most recent starts.
Both are by Rich Enuff, who has nine stakes winners, and are the first two foals of Oscar Award (Sebring) who placed at two and three. She is out of a winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner and young sire Prized Icon, as well as Group 3 winners Matras (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) and Romantic Moon (More Than Ready {USA}).
Blue Hen mare Accessories adds another winner
Godolphin’s 2-year-old colt Lavalier (Microphone) headed to Kembla Grange for his second start, after running third on debut at Newcastle a fortnight ago, and under jockey Jean Van Overmeire, he eked out a tight victory by 0.2l from John Sargent trained 3-year-old gelding Hooligan Tommy (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}) and Peter and Paul Snowden trained $1.4million 2-year-old colt Everybody Rise (Snitzel).
Lavalier is the fourth winner for first season sire Microphone, who has also sired stakes placed winner Matisse, but it is Lavalier’s dam, Accessories (GB) (Singspiel {Ire}), who is the real star of the show.
Microphone | Standing at Darley
Accessories has produced six winners from seven runners, with five of them at stakes level, led by Group 1 winners Helmet and Epaulette who are both Group 1 producing stallions. Epaulette has 21 stakes winners with three at Group 1 level, Daumier, Red Lark (Ire) and Soqrat whose first crop in South Africa are 2-year-olds. Helmet has 18 stakes winners led by dual G1 Dubai World Cup winner Thunder Snow who currently stands at Darley Japan.
Group 2 winning filly Pearls (Exceed And Excel) sadly died before going to stud, while Group 2 winner Pericles (Street Boss {USA}) is a gelding. Her other major winner is Group 3 winner Bullbars (Elusive Quality {USA}) who sired Mr Brightside (NZ).
Juvenile winner for Dundeel
Trainer Matthew Smith saw a ton of improvement in 2-year-old filly Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) who won her second start at Kembla Grange on Saturday, following a fifth on debut a fortnight ago at Newcastle. Ridden by Jaden Lloyd, Idle Flyer won by 2.3l from Ross McConville trained 3-year-old filly Thaibeefsalade (Salade) and Michael Freedman trained 2-year-old filly Dream Baby (Justify {USA}).
A $70,000 purchase by her trainer in conjunction with Randwick Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from Torryburn Stud, Idle Flyer is the seventh juvenile winner for Dundeel this season.
Idle Flyer is the third winner for winning mare Progressive (Street Cry {Ire}) who is a full sister to the winning dam of G1 Spring Champion S. winner Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) and Listed winners Va Via (Astern) and Promotions (Exceed And Excel). This is a branch of the Redoute’s Choice family.
Mr Bubbaluski wins on debut at Gold Coast
Trainer Jack Bruce debuted 2-year-old gelding Mr Bubbaluski (Encryption) at Saturday’s Gold Coast Poly track meeting and he won for jockey Micheal Hellyer by 0.5l from Lee Freedman trained 2-year-old gelding Headline Legend (Star Turn) and Allan Chau’s 2-year-old filly Aima Sun (Sebring Sun).
Mr Bubbaluski as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
A $50,000 purchase by his trainer and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Eureka Stud draft, Mr Bubbaluski is the fourth juvenile winner from Encryption’s second crop. Encryption almost had a juvenile double for the day when stablemate Data Scramble ran third in the first at Doomben earlier in the day.
Mr Bubbaluski is the third foal and second winner for winning mare I Am Poppy (I Am Invincible) who is from I Am Invincible’s third crop and is out of a winning full sister to G1 Doomben Cup winner Akhenaton (Snippets).
