Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
City racing geared up for the spring with some promising winners at Canterbury, Sandown, and Doomben.
Raceday Recap
Half-brother to Melbourne Cup entry Maramusa, 3-year-old colt Daggers (I Am Invincible) looked impressive on debut at Sandown.
Justify (USA) 3-year-old colt Axius justified his favourite’s tag with a win at Canterbury at only his second start.
Godolphin’s 3-year-old filly Zeitung (Exceed And Excel) resumed at three with a strong win at Canterbury.
At Doomben, daughter of Group 1 winner Hurtle Myrtle, Field Of Myrtle (Deep Field) won her first city race in her third career victory.
Emotional victory for Moody/Coleman stable with Amigo (Snitzel) at Sandown.
Daggers impressive on debut
Daggers (I Am Invincible) stabbed his rivals, metaphorically, in the heart with a stunning 4.25l win on debut at Sandown on Wednesday.
The 3-year-old colt, trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young, shot clear in the 1300 metre event for 3-year-olds under the guidance of jockey Luke Currie, with Phillip Stokes trained Athantos (I Am Immortal) in second and Robbie Laing trained Honey Maker (Impending) in third.
“I'm certainly happy when they win like that,” Busuttin said. “We liked the horse early days. He had been sharp in trackwork, but in his jump-outs, very dumb. I thought he would just jump and trial up like a jet, but he didn't. He trialled up good, but not like we expected, and he won like how he worked, not how he trialled. We were hoping to see that, but more often than not, they make liars out of you, so it's good to see them do it.
“He's an impressive looking horse. He was a cheap I Am Invincible, only $260,000 as he was a skinny, narrow horse and then he ballooned sideways.”
Daggers is the third foal of Group 2 winner Omei Sword (High Chapparal {Ire}) whose first foal is Group 3 winner Muramasa (Deep Impact {Jpn}), who is also trained by Busuttin and Young. Muramasa is currently $41 with Sportsbet for the G1 Melbourne Cup, and hasn’t raced since fourth in the Listed Victoria Gold Cup over 2000 metres in March 2024.
“He knows he's a colt like Muramasa did and (Muramasa) ended up a gelding, so hopefully this bloke doesn't. We'll take the next step and see where he ends up. He can carry on a bit, but he behaved himself pretty well today and behaved where it counted. At this time of year there's always first starters from good stables and you don't know what you're up against, but he quickened up nicely.”
“I'm certainly happy when they win like that... We liked the horse (Daggers) early days. He had been sharp in trackwork.” - Trent Busuttin
Relatively good value for a well-bred colt by Champion Sire I Am Invincible, Daggers was purchased by Busuttin Racing for $260,000 from Arrowfield Stud’s draft at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale. His dam, Omei Sword, was a $675,000 yearling who won the G2 Silver Shadow S. and was second to Astern in the G1 Golden Rose. She was sold as a broodmare prospect at the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in 2018 to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock and Freyer Bloodstock for $1.7million.
Muramasa was a $500,000 yearling, while Daggers’ full sister Yayoi was an $800,000 yearling. Yayoi has run fourth in both her only two starts this year and was on-sold at this year’s Magic Millions National Sale for $350,000.
Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Omei Sword is out of Group 1 winner Irish Lights (Fastnet Rock) and is one of three stakes winners for her dam; the others being American Listed winner and Group 1-placed 3-year-old Just Steel (USA) (Justify {USA}) who is recovering from an injury sustained in the G1 Preakness S. and Listed winner Lipizzaner (USA) (Uncle Mo {USA}).
Axius justifies favouritism at Canterbury
Ciaron Maher trained 3-year-old colt Axius (Justify {USA}) was sent out favourite in race two at Canterbury on Wednesday over 1200 metres and was ahead of the field heading into the straight, winning easily by 2.29l for jockey Tim Clark. Paul Murray trained 4-year-old mare Harry’s Bar (Harry Angel {Ire}) was second, while Team Hawkes trained 4-year-old mare Peschiera (I Am Invincible) was third. Of note, the $1.6million 3-year-old colt Behaviour (I Am Invincible) ran fourth in his debut outing and will surely improve from there given he was winding up all the way down the straight.
Axius was having only his second race day start, having run second as a 2-year-old in mid-July behind Clear Proof (Justify {USA}). A $200,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications from Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Axius is the ninth individual winner from Justify’s second Southern Hemisphere crop.
Justify, who isn’t shuttling in 2024, has 34 stakes winners in his first four crops (two in each hemisphere) with 29 of those in the Northern Hemisphere.
Axius is the third foal and first winner for his dam, Orontes (Redoute’s Choice) who is an unraced half-sister to G1 Winterbottom S. winner Takedown (Stratum). Orontes has a 2-year-old filly named Arantu (Pierro) who was purchased by Dynamic Syndications for $90,000 at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Godolphin’s promising filly makes the news
Zeitung (Exceed And Excel), whose name translates to ‘newspaper’, had her first start as a 3-year-old at Canterbury on Wednesday for Godolphin’s trainer James Cummings and jockey James McDonald, resulting in a tidy win by 1.4l with Bjorn Baker trained pair of Bonita Queen (I Am Invincible) and Magnucat (Magnus) taking home the minor placings.
A winner at two in April, Zeitung took her record to two wins from four starts.
Exceed And Excel is one of those sires who defies his age, continuing to leave good young horses even in his later crops. He was retired from stud duties this year, with young sire sons such as Exceedance and Bivouac looking to take over the mantle from their Champion Sire.
Zeitung is the second foal of unraced mare News Story (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) who is a daughter of Group 1-placed winner Irish History (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) who is a half-sister to three stakes winners in Echo Of Light (GB) (Dubai Millennium {GB}), Akarem (GB) (Kingmambo {USA}) and Tocco D’Amore (Ire) (Raven’s Pass {USA}).
Zeitung's fourth dam is Group 2 winner Flame Of Tara (Ire) (Artaius {USA}), who produced five stakes winners as a broodmare including two Group 1 winners, led by five-time Group 1 winner Salsabil (Ire) (Sadler’s Wells {USA}) and Group 1 winner and sire Marju. Salsabil produced three stakes winners as a broodmare.
Group 1 daughter adds valuable city win
Field Of Myrtle (Deep Field) added to her broodmare credentials with a strong win at Doomben on Wednesday. Previously the winner of two races, this was her first trip to the city and the 4-year-old mare won by 0.83l for jockey Angela Jones over the favourite Dirt Cheap (Sepoy) with First Person (All Too Hard) in third.
Field Of Myrtle as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Field Of Myrtle took her record to three wins from 11 starts and was having only her second start for trainer Matthew Dunn, having run second in her first start for him. Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Field Of Myrtle was purchased by Bjorn Baker Racing and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) for $240,000.
A daughter of Deep Field, Field Of Myrtle is the sixth named foal for G1 Myer S. winner Hurtle Myrtle (Dane Shadow), making Field Of Myrtle a half-sister to dual Group 3 winner Holyfield (I Am Invincible) and Listed placed winner Vamos Bebe (I Am Invincible). Hurtle Myrtle, who was sold by Segenhoe Stud at this year’s Magic Millions National Sale for $130,000 to Grenville Stud and Belmont Bloodstock (FBAA), has an unnamed 2-year-old filly by Capitalist and a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett.
Amigo gives Moody/Coleman stable an emotional boost
Only a day after staff member Gio Spiga was badly injured in a truck accident, Amigo (Snitzel) has given the Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman stable a welcome emotional boost with a win at Sandown on Wednesday.
“Hopefully that puts a spring in everyone’s step again,” said Coleman. “It’s been a tough 24 hours for everyone at the stable and we are just thinking and sending all the positive thoughts to Gio and his partner and his family. This win does mean a lot. Gio is such an integral part of our stable and we are thinking of him and hoping for the best outcome.”
Amigo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Ridden by Luke Nolen, Amigo won by 0.75l from Japanese Emperor (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) and William Thomas (Nicconi). A $975,000 purchase by Tasman Bloodstock and TFI at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft, Amigo immediately showed promise debuting in the G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (c&g). He won his first two in succession as a 3-year-old before running fourth in the G3 Manfred S.
This was his first run for the 4-year-old gelded son of Snitzel, and Amigo now has a record of three wins from 11 starts. He is the second winner for Listed winner You’re So Good (NZ) (Savabeel) who placed in the G1 Australian Guineas. You’re So Good is a full sister to stakes placed winner Indrabeel (NZ), whose first two foals are Listed winner Madeira Sunrise (I Am Invincible) and 3-year-old filly Hallett (Deep Field) who won on debut at two last season and placed in the G3 Kindergarten S.
You’re So Good’s dam is a winning half-sister to dual Group 1 winner Melito (Redoute’s Choice) and to the winning dam of group winner and sire Pariah. You’re So Good’s 2-year-old colt by The Autumn Sun was withdrawn from the yearling sales by Arrowfield Stud.
