Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-Day Recap
Gentleman Roy (So You Think) was successful in Saturday’s feature race: the G2 P.B. Lawrence S. continuing the dominance of Lindsay Park in the event.
Two sons of Harry Angel, Arkansaw Kid and Tom Kitten positively benefited from a gelding operation to help get them back to their best.
Five-year-old mare A Little Deep (Deep Field) took her record to four victories from eight stakes, when making a winning return on Saturday at Caulfield.
The Cambridge Stud-raced Lovazou (Zoustar) scored a hat-trick on Saturday at Caulfield, after posting earlier victories at the venue and Ballarat.
Classy mare Illicit Dreams (Vancouver) found her best form at Ruakaka on Saturday and will return to stakes grade in the coming starts.
Gentleman Roy takes the Lawrence
For the third consecutive year, the G2 P.B. Lawrence S. was claimed by a horse from the Ben, Will, and JD Hayes stable. In the past two years, this race has been dominated by Lindsay Park’s star, Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), but on Saturday, it was the gutsy Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) who took the grand prize.
The 8-year-old Gentleman Roy settled off a hot pace set by Buffalo River (USA) (Noble Mission {GB}), yet he managed to outfight that gelding and withstand a late charge from Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}), Pericles (Street Boss {USA}), and Aegon (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}).
Co-trainer Ben Hayes expressed his excitement to 7Horseracing, saying, “It’s a big thrill, especially to get the win for the Woods family. Gentleman Roy has been a special horse for us. He was one of those horses who really put us on the map three years ago, winning several races in a row.
“He actually won our first Group 1 here in Victoria, but was relegated to second. He’s been a fantastic horse, and it was such a tough win. Buffalo River really went hard, but Gentleman Roy absorbed it, and his winter fitness kicked in.
Gentleman Roy with his strapper | Image courtesy of Melbourne Racing Club
“It’s a recipe that we’ve used for the last few years. The most logical next race for Gentleman Roy would be the G1 Memsie Stakes. If he pulls up well and we’re happy with him, we’ll definitely have a go.”
“It’s a big thrill, especially to get the win for the Woods family. Gentleman Roy has been a special horse for us.” - Ben Hayes
Gentleman Roy is out of the Last Tycoon (Ire) mare La La Land, who is also the dam of Jacquinot Bay (Galileo {Ire}), a 15-time winner, including the Listed Lord Stakes and the Listed Canberra Cup. Jacquinot Bay was also placed in the G2 P.B. Lawrence Stakes. The son of So You Think (NZ) has now won 11 races, including the G3 Sandown Stakes and the Listed John Dillon Stakes.
Gelding does the trick for Kitten and the Kid
A gelding operation seems to have done wonders for two sons of Harry Angel (Ire), Arkansaw Kid and Tom Kitten, as both returned to the winner’s circle on Saturday.
The James Cummings-trained Tom Kitten, who showed immense talent as a spring 3-year-old by winning the G1 Spring Champion S., had a solid but somewhat subdued autumn campaign.
However, after being gelded, the 4-year-old son of Harry Angel made an impressive return at Rosehill in an Open Handicap, comfortably accounting for the field over 1400 metres. Ridden by James McDonald, Tom Kitten defeated Amor Victorious (Caravaggio {USA}) and Lavish Empire (Spieth {NZ}).
Cummings commented to Sky Racing, “That was the perfect execution for a horse who had an ideal lead-up. He’s had a good week and preparation to have him ready first-up today (Saturday). That’s got the team excited about what lies ahead this campaign.”
When asked about the decision to geld Tom Kitten, Cummings added, “I don’t know how we’re going to forgive ourselves, but he’s now got the ability to get back to the top. He’s down in the ratings, so it will give him a chance to tackle handicaps before weight-for-age. I like the idea of bookmarking the Bill Ritchie Handicap for him.”
“He’s (Tom Kitten) had a good week and preparation to have him ready first-up today (Saturday). That’s got the team excited about what lies ahead this campaign.” - James Cummings
Meanwhile, at Caulfield, Arkansaw Kid was also resuming. The gelding, trained by Ben, Will, and JD Hayes, was partnered by Luke Currie in the Listed Regal Roller S. He proved much too classy for his opposition, beating Who Dares (Deep Field) and Expressiveness (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}).
A winner of the R. Listed Inglis Banner and the Listed Gothic S., Arkansaw Kid also finished a commendable fourth in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. Arkansaw Kid is out of the Exceed And Excel mare Florabella and was a $190,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Untapped mare indicates future
The lightly raced A Little Deep (Deep Field) took her record to eight starts and four victories when resuming first-up to win a BM84 at Caulfield on Saturday. The Ciaron Maher-trained 5-year-old mare, with rising star Jaylah Kennedy in the saddle, was 1l the better of the race-fit Charmed Run (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) and Sunset Dreaming (Impending).
Kennedy told Racing.com, “She showed me plenty. She bounced well, and I wanted to show initiative and be up on speed until they wanted to work hard early, I was happy to hand it up and let her get into rhythm.
“I hit the front, and I nearly fell off the side of her, so I’d say there’s plenty up the sleeve. She’s got a lot of upside and I feel they’ll be better races for her.”
A Little Deep is the second foal from the Lonhro mare Laugh A Little. She was a $250,000 purchase by Astute Bloodstock (FBAA) and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock from the draft of KBL Thoroughbreds at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Hat-trick for Lovazou
Danny O’Brien’s Lovazou (Zoustar) has been in exceptional form this preparation. On Saturday, the 4-year-old mare extended her winning streak to three with a determined victory in Race 3 at Caulfield.
With Carleen Hefel in the saddle, Lovazou outperformed Alectrona (The Autumn Sun) and Le Mans (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}). This latest win follows earlier victories at Caulfield and Ballarat.
Lovazou was purchased by Cambridge Stud for $400,000 from Kia Ora Stud’s draft at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the second foal of the Lonhro mare Lovani, who won five races and was placed in the G2 Let’s Elope S. and the G3 Chairman’s H.
Saturday’s success marked Lovazou’s fourth win from eight starts overall, with her resume also including a placing in the G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S
Illicit back on stakes path
Trainer Kenny Rae indicated that Illicit Dreams (NZ) will target stakes-class events after comfortably winning the BM75 at Ruakaka. Ridden by Jasmine Fawcett, the daughter of Vancouver led from start to finish, securing a convincing victory over Patricia (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}).
“She’s got a bit of class about her,” Rae told Loveracing.nz. “She’s a lovely horse and is easy to work with. I’m considering a shot at the Listed Stewards S. or something similar later on, but we’ll take it one race at a time. She travelled down to Wanganui as a 2-year-old and got beaten by a Te Akau runner, then a year later at Riccarton, she was beaten by Te Akau again, so when they’re not in the race, I’ve got a chance.”
Illicit Dreams was a NZ$30,000 purchase by Rae Racing from Westbury Stud’s draft at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale. The daughter of Vancouver, out of the Snitzel mare Illicit Romance, has now won four races, including the Listed Canterbury Belle S.
