Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Storm Boy explosive in San Domenico S.

There would have been a collective sigh of relief from trainers Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott and the connections of Storm Boy (Justify {USA}) when the boom colt dominated his rivals in the G3 San Domenico S. at Rosehill on Saturday.

Reunited with Adam Hyeronimus, the imposing son of Justify (USA) was eager from the get-go, bounding out with the field. Hyeronimus pushed Storm Boy to take control of the 1100-metre contest.

Showing sustained speed, Storm Boy fought off his stablemate Mayfair (Fastnet Rock), who bravely held second 2.89l away. The third-placed Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) went into the blackbook with his first-up run, finishing third after settling at the rear of the field.

The disappointment of the race was the explosive Listed The Rosebud S. winner Gatsby's (Snitzel), who failed to show his previous form when finishing fourth on Saturday.

Co-trainer Adrian Bott told Sky Racing, “He’s such a brilliant colt; there is so much talent there. I’m glad he’s come back and been able to race in that manner and showcase his talent and the natural speed he has.

“There’s further improvement. I always thought Storm Boy is going to get better over further, but to do that today (Saturday) and show that good sustained speed; he was able to run them into the ground.

“He’s just a quality colt.”

Bott added, “Look, I think the Golden Rose has always been first and foremost an important target for him because I think it gives us the options as in the back of our minds we have always considered the Caulfield Guineas and Cox Plate.

“That’s what we felt going into the campaign, but after the brilliance he’s shown, he could be a The Everest horse dropping back off the Golden Rose. Everything is on the table; no decisions have been made.

“The Golden Rose is his immediate target, and I’d love to get that Group 1 for him because he’s a Group 1 colt. He will head to the G2 Run To The Rose, but it was important to come here (Rosehill) today (Saturday) and get the racing into him.

“It’s amazing to be able to talk about a horse that has the potential of being a Cox Plate horse or a horse for The Everest.”

Storm Boy is the first foal from the well-related Fastnet Rock mare Pelican (NZ), a daughter of the Champion mare Seachange (NZ) (Cape Cross {Ire}). The G3 San Domenico S. is the fifth victory for the son of Justify (USA), who won the R. Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic, the G2 Skyline S., and the G3 BJ McLachlan S. as a juvenile.

Storm Boy was sent out as the favourite in the G1 Golden Slipper but finished third behind Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) and then was fourth to Manaal (Tassort) in the G1 Sires’ Produce S.

The colt was a $460,000 purchase by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott Racing and Kestrel Thoroughbreds from the draft of Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

During his 2-year-old preparation, Coolmore acquired the controlling share in Storm Boy for an undisclosed sum.

Future Glows brightly for Autumn

The sky is truly the limit for Chris Waller’s filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) after stepping up from benchmark company to success in the G3 Up And Coming S. at Rosehill on Saturday, becoming the first filly to claim the feature.

With Kerrin McEvoy in the saddle, Autumn Glow peeled out at the top of the straight in the 1300-metre contest and gamely ran down Wanaruah (Snitzel), putting a 2.03l margin on the colt.

Godolphin’s Snack Bar (Frosted {USA}) ran into third, while Iron Hawk (Written Tycoon) held fourth.

Champion trainer Waller, speaking to 7horseracing, said, “She’s a very nice filly; I’m not going to get too far ahead of myself, but as you can tell, my emotions are still high from talking to the jockey.

“Kerrin (McEvoy) gave us a very glowing report on her. Considering it’s Autumn Glow’s first preparation, I want to look after her the best we can. I don’t think we’ll see the best of her until she’s three and a half, four, maybe five.

“What I’m getting at is trying to protect her as a young 3-year-old filly, so we’ll try and keep her to her own sex and age to make it as easy as possible. Without talking to the owners, I’d say the G2 Tea Rose S. in a couple of weeks’ time is an option.

“Autumn Glow is entered for the G1 Golden Rose, but being her first campaign, I’d be cautious of that.”

Autumn Glow made her debut on 17 August at Rosehill in a BM72 and is now unbeaten from two starts. She is a daughter of the Champion South African Sprinter Via Africa (SAf) (Var {SAf}), who has found success as a broodmare in Australia as the dam of the G1 Golden Rose victor In The Congo, now a stallion at Newgate Farm and welcoming his first foals this spring.

The filly was a $600,000 pinhook by Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock from the draft of Newhaven Park at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. Silverdale Farm presented Autumn Glow the following year at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, where Arrowfield Pastoral, alongside Hermitage Thoroughbreds, paid $1.8 million for her.

Autumn Glow is the fifth stakes winner for The Autumn Sun, who stands at Arrowfield Stud but is sitting out the 2024 breeding season after sustaining an untimely pelvis injury.

Empire set to take Coolmore

Exciting colt Growing Empire (Zoustar) firmly established himself as a contender for the G1 Coolmore Stud S. in November after winning the G3 HDF McNeil S. at Caulfield on Saturday.

Growing Empire was first-up after a 126-day break, having last been seen winning the G3 Breeders’ S. at Morphettville by 4.5l. Ridden by Mark Zahra, the son of Zoustar was dominant in the contest, with Wonder Boy (Cosmic Force) running best of the rest in second.

Another son of Cosmic Force, Stay Focused, finished third, while the last-start Group 3 winner Band Of Brothers (Omaha Beach {USA}) took fourth.

Maher, who had previously won the G3 HDF McNeil S. with Merchant Navy—who later won the G1 Coolmore Stud S.—told Racing.com, “I’ve certainly got him on the same path.”

“He’s a very exciting colt. I didn’t really tie Mark (Zahra) with too many instructions. If he pinged the lids, we were going to go forward, but he ended up in a perfect spot.

“Growing Empire is just a very progressive colt, and he has started the campaign well. He has always had really good ability and he spelled well at Yulong. The team has done a fantastic job with him, but you can see late there’s still a lot more there.

“He needs a bit more experience, and hopefully now we can get him to Flemington, and he can have a look around there.”

Growing Empire was a $700,000 purchase by Yu Long Investments from the draft of Vinery Stud at the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale. He is out of the Snitzel mare Miles Of Krishan, who is also the dam of the Group 3-placed Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible).

Te Akau's Snitzel colt triumphs in season’s first juvenile race

The tangerine and blue silks of the powerhouse operation Te Akau Racing struck the first blow in the juvenile ranks, winning the opening 2-year-old race of the 2024/25 season at Wanganui in New Zealand, courtesy of To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel).

Trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson, and ridden by Opie Bosson, To Bravery Born was sent out as the second favourite in the 800-metre contest, behind Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan).

However, at the business end of the race, it was the son of Snitzel who proved dominant, with Toretto finishing second and Ensign Aria (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) coming in third.

“I remember when Dave (Ellis) bought him as a yearling, we looked at each other and couldn’t believe that he only made $200,000, and were quite perplexed at the time as to why, but it was late in the day and there was torrential rain,” Walker told Loveracing.nz

“For a Snitzel colt he was great value, and it was exciting to see him win the way he did on his debut outing.

“He broke in well, has always been a very forward type, and the way he relaxed and went to the line today, really uncontested, suggests he has a nice future.”

On Twitter, Te Akau Racing posted, “Brilliant and chuffed to again win the first 2-year-old race of the season—this year with a talented Snitzel colt bought by David Ellis (CNZM).

“To Bravery Born (Google his dam Milunka; she’s inspirational) and you will understand his name! Great ride again, Opie Bosson—thrilled for the owners and team.”

The colt is the second foal from Milunka (All Too Hard), who is named after the Serbian war heroine Milunka Savić, who fought in the Balkan Wars and in World War I.

Savić is cited as the most decorated female combatant in the history of warfare. Milunka, the horse, won twice and is a half-sister to Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), a victress of the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas, and her full brother Distinctive Darci (NZ), who won 11 races, including a Listed contest.

Milunka is also a half-sister to Kuro (Denman), an eight-time winner, including the Listed Starlight S., the Listed Heritage S., the Listed Brian Crowley S., the Listed Mick Dittman Plate, and the Listed Takeover Target S., alongside Southern Lad (Ocean Park {NZ}), who won seven races, including a Listed race.

To Bravery Born was a NZ$200,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the draft of Curraghmore at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Milunka foaled a filly by Tarzino (NZ) last spring and was served by Satono Aladdin (Jpn).

Read About It increases black-type tally at Wanganui Jockey Club

Read About It (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}) doubled his black-type wins in just three starts with a 1.5l win in the Listed Wanganui Guineas on Saturday. The 3-year-old son of Highview Stud resident stallion Wrote (Ire) sat comfortably to the rear of the field for most of the 1200-metre contest, starting to make ground around the outside on the home turn before surging clear in the last furlong under a calculated ride from Craig Grylls.

Read About It headed into the race as the clear favourite off the back of his victory in the Listed Levin RC Ryder S. at Otaki in July. A quiet trial in between performances kept the gelding ticking over perfectly for Saturday’s race, which is the first step in trainer Robbie Patterson’s plan to prepare him for the G1 New Zealand Derby.

“He’s got the looks, he’s got the personality and he’s got the ability, so he’s the complete package,” said Patterson when speaking to the New Zealand Herald three days before the Guineas. “We’ll just concentrate on getting him to the Derby in the right frame of mind.”

Read About It is the best performed of two named foals from unraced Iffraaj (GB) mare Diggilou (NZ), and was a savvy buy at $5000 from the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Weanling Sale. His half-brother by Eminent (Ire), Silver Destiny (NZ), was a $24,000 acquisition ast the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, and has since been imported to Hong Kong.

Diggilou is out of winning Danehill (USA) mare, Dagmar, making her a half-sister to Perfect Rhyme (Poet’s Voice {GB}) who ran second in the G3 Adrian Knox S. behind Waking Moment (Authorized {Ire}) before also finishing second in the G1 Australian Oaks behind three-time Group 1 winner Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).

A Group 1-winning son of High Chaparral (Ire), Wrote has already sired an elite-level winner in the 2024 G1 New Zealand Oaks victress Pulchritudinous (NZ), who was purchased privately from her Kiwi connections and now races in the Yulong silks this year.

Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, her most recent outing was a narrow fifth place finish in the Australasian Oaks behind The Autumn Sun’s trifecta. Wrote’s other top offspring included G2 Tristarc S. winner Wrote To Arataki (NZ) and G3 Hawkes Bay Gold Trail S. victress Best Seller (NZ), who also finished second to Legarto (NZ) (Proisir) in the G1 New Zealand One Thousand Guineas.

Zousain Filly Gives Te Akau a Double

The good times continued for Te Akau Racing on Saturday. After the success of To Bravery Born (NZ) (Snitzel) at Wanganui, the operation was later successful at Riccarton in the Vale Kevin Hickman 3YO over 1000 metres with The Victress (Zousain).

Ridden by Wiremu Pinn, the 3-year-old filly got the better of her favoured stablemate About Last Night (Capitalist), with Enterprise (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) finishing third ahead of Lavender Haze (Dubious).

The daughter of Zousain was presented by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the 2022 Inglis Australian Weanling Sale, where she was purchased by Manson Place Bloodstock for $130,000.

Later offered by Coolmore Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, The Victress was bought by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ).

The filly is the sixth foal from the Exceed And Excel mare Liesele, who won nine races, including the Listed Alinghi S. The well-related mare is a half-sister to Paramalove (Snitzel), who in turn produced Velocious (Written Tycoon), a victress of the G1 Sistema S. and the R. Listed Karaka 2YO Million last season.

Widden Stud’s Zousain stands for the 2024 season at $27,500 (inc GST), and has already tasted stakes success this season courtesy of his talented daughter Drifting, who won the G3 Quezette S.

Odinson thunders home a winner at Doomben

Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) displayed a return to form to take out the Quayclean QTIS 3YO Plate at Doomben on Saturday.

Hugging the rail around the home turn, jockey Kyle Wilson-Taylor patiently waited for a gap to emerge to the inside of Kahlisee (Dracarys), before letting the son of Night Of Thunder (Ire) extend past the rest of the field to score by 2.64l.

Trainer Ciaron Maher scratched the gelding from the G3 San Domenico S. in Sydney and has been handsomely rewarded for his decision. Odinson has previously borne the navy and yellow silks of leviathan owner Aziz “Ozzie” Kheir to victory in the R. Listed Inglis Nursery, following up a debut third in the G3 Maribyrnong Plate.

A graduate of the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Odinson was offered by Widden Stud and bought by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $320,000. He is the only named foal of Good Vibes (GB) (Due Diligence {USA}), a twice blacktype winner who was victorious in the G3 Newmarket Cornwallis S. and the Listed York Marygate S. in her juvenile season.

Good Vibes was a 390,000gns (AU$794,500) purchase at the 2019 Tattersalls December Mare Sale, and was imported after being covered by Night Of Thunder on Southern Hemisphere time. She has since produced two colts by Zoustar for owners Qatar Bloodstock and is expecting a foal by Coolmore first crop stallion St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) off of an October cover.

Odinson’s sire Night Of Thunder stood for one season in Australia at Darley Kelvinside in 2016, leaving behind a modest crop of less than sixty foals, which has since yielded five stakes winners.

These are headed by Cherry Tortoni, winner of the G2 Moonee Valley Vase as well as three Listed contests, and Kiwi bred Kukeracha (NZ), who won the G1 Queensland Derby. Since his return to Kildangan Stud in Ireland, Night Of Thunder has covered a handful of mares on Southern Hemisphere time who have returned to Australian shores. Of his 2021 foals born in Australia, all three runners are winners, with Odinson the most prominent.

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Pinstriped prevails in Memsie clash

The build-up for Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. was billed as a match race between Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars), with the rest of the small field expected to play supporting roles.

However, Enver Jusufovic’s 6-year-old gelding Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) clearly didn’t get the memo and spoiled the party. Pride Of Jenni employed her usual tactics but was a spent force heading into the straight, with Mr Brightside surging to the front.

Pinstriped, with his regular rider Ben Allen in the saddle, set sail for the son of Bullbars, and for the remainder of the time-honoured 1400-metre feature, it was a battle to the line, with the son of Street Boss (USA) proving better on this occasion.

Mr Brightside held on for second, with his stablemate Gentleman Roy (So You Think {NZ}) finishing third.

It was an emotional win for Jusufovic, who told Racing.com, “There’s a lot of relief and a big thank you to a lot of people, especially Gary Mudgway.

“We found this horse and paid $80,000 for him as a weanling. I can’t afford to buy expensive yearlings, so it was the first time I had purchased a weanling.

“I was really disappointed that he laid in quite badly last start, and I tried a tongue tie on him every day last week, but in his final gallop on Tuesday, he didn’t impress me, so I decided not to change anything.

“Ben (Allen) and I decided, with the wind today (Saturday), we’d just ride the horse the way he should be ridden, and when you go for a run, just give him a little bit of room to move.

“Because I think when a horse nudges him or touches him, he tends to not think about going forward in a race. Now that he has won a Group 1, I’ll just watch every race as it comes.

“I’ll discuss it with Ben and see if he goes to the Makybe Diva or the Feehan S.”

Pinstriped was an $80,000 purchase by Enver Jusufovic and Gary Mudgway Bloodstock from the draft of Noorilim Park at the 2019 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. He is the second foal from the Snitzel mare Snitzel Blitz, who won as a 2-year-old.

The son of Street Boss (USA) is a half-brother to Menindee (Unencumbered), a winner of 14 races. Pinstriped has now won seven races, with Saturday’s G1 Memsie S. being his first elite-level success.

He had previously won the G2 John F Feehan S. and the G3 CS Hayes S., and he has placed in the G2 PB Lawrence S. twice.

Darley’s Street Boss (USA) has sired nine Group 1 winners. He returns to the operation’s Northwood Park facility in Victoria and is standing the 2024 season at a fee of $66,000 (inc. GST).

Recommendation loves Caulfield

Recommendation’s (Shalaa {Ire}) affinity for Caulfield continued on Saturday, when the Ciaron Maher-trained sprinter secured his third consecutive Group 3 victory at the venue, winning the G3 Vale Black Caviar S. (The Heath) over 1100 metres.

Partnered by Blake Shinn, the 5-year-old speedster was too slick for Kallos (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and Nettuno (I Am Invincible).

Speaking to Racing.com, Maher said, “I thought Blake (Shinn) executed the ride perfectly. We knew Kallos would be hard to beat; he’s got a great fresh record.

“But Blake basically controlled the race, so it was a great effort by him, the horse, the team, and Jack (Turnbull) who manages the team at Cranbourne.”

On future plans, Maher added, “He loves Caulfield, he seems to just bounce off the bend here. We’ll have a look at Flemington, though. He certainly seems to have gone to another level.”

It was the ninth victory for the son of Shalaa (Ire), whose other wins include the G3 Zeditave S., the G3 Sir John Monash S., and the G3 Bletchingly S.

Recommendation is out of the unraced Street Cry (Ire) mare Adviso (USA) and is her best runner to date. She had a full sister to Recommendation, who was sold for $150,000 to Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) and Omen Bloodstock at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Adviso foaled a filly by The Autumn Sun last September and was served by Snitzel last spring.

Quintessa a class above

Te Akau Racing’s Quintessa (Shamus Award) was a class above her rivals in Saturday’s G3 Cockram S., capping a sensational Saturday for the tangerine team.

The G3 Cockram S. also provided Quintessa with her maiden victory in Australia. Ridden by Daniel Stackhouse, the 4-year-old mare got the upper hand over Extratwo (Toronado {Ire}) and La Danseuse Rouge (Manhattan Rain).

Te Akau Racing’s assistant trainer Ben Gleeson told Racing.com, “There’s a lovely program for these fillies and mares, so Quintessa will go two weeks to the Let’s Elope S. Ideally, she’ll get to Cup week and run in the G1 Empire Rose S.; that looks like the perfect race for her.

“If you actually look at her form, I think she’s been overlooked. Mark (Walker) was very confident she’d run a big race. So we came to Caulfield rather bullish.”

Quintessa was a NZ$170,000 purchase by David Ellis CNZM (BAFNZ) from the draft of Wentwood Grange at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Shamus Award is out of the High Chaparral (Ire) mare Chaquinta (NZ), who won five races from 2000 to 2700 metres. Quintessa has now won five races, including the G1 Levin Classic and the G3 Gold Trail S. She has also finished fourth in the G1 Australian Guineas, the G1 Australian Oaks, and the G1 Waikato S.

Dawn tenacious in Heatherlie

Lindsay Park’s Rise At Dawn (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}) was tenacious in the Listed Heatherlie S. on Saturday at Caulfield. The race-fit 4-year-old had won his past two races in Melbourne.

Partnered by Michael Dee, Rise At Dawn defeated Positivity (NZ), also by Cambridge Stud’s Almanzor (Fr), while Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) finished third.

Bruno Rouge-Serret, a long-time employee of Lindsay Park Racing and a co-owner of Rise At Dawn, told Racing.com, “That was unbelievable. I’ve had a few buzzes in my life watching horses go across the line first, but I’ve never experienced it like I did watching that.

“I said to Jenny McAlpine, ‘He’s gone,’ but then a minute later, he was kicking back. Credit to the boys (Ben, Will, and JD Hayes). He’s tougher than I thought.”

Rise At Dawn was a $90,000 purchase by Lindsay Park Bloodstock from the draft of Monovale Farm at the 2022 Inglis Premier Yearling Sale. He has now won seven races, with the Listed Heatherlie S. being his first stakes success.

The son of Almanzor is out of the Towkay mare Kay’s Awake (NZ), a six-time winner and Listed victress. She is also the dam of Kay’s Ruebe (NZ) (Almanzor {Fr}), who placed in the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic.

Rise At Dawn is the 19th stakes winner for Almanzor, who stands for NZ$30,000 (plus GST) this season.

Turnbull on Werther’s agenda

Danny O’Brien’s 7-year-old gelding Young Werther (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) signalled he’s in for a big preparation after winning first-up at Caulfield on Saturday.

The son of Tavistock (NZ), ridden by Blake Shinn, raced prominently in the 2000-metre contest, and when push came to shove, Young Werther was able to edge out Duke De Sessa (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) for victory, while Gear Up (Ire) (Teofilo {Ire}) chased hard in third.

Also catching the eye, finishing strongly over the 2000 metres, was Young Werther’s stablemate Vow And Declare (Declaration Of War {USA}), a victor of the 2019 G1 Melbourne Cup.

O’Brien told Racing.com about the likely path for Young Werther, “I think we’ll run him in the G1 Turnbull S. He has run second and third in the race as a young horse. It’s set weights and penalties, so he won’t get any penalty.

“He’s got a great record at Flemington over 2000 metres, so we’ll use that to set up where he goes after it.”

O’Brien added, “We had always stayed away from Caulfield as he hadn’t had a good record here, but we may now look at the Turnbull into the Caulfield Cup this year.

“I thought Vow And Declare did plenty. He’ll head to The Archer in a couple of weeks, then into the Bart Cummings. I’m thrilled to get him back to Flemington. It would be very special for everyone if Vow And Declare can win another nice race there.”

Young Werther has won four races, including the Australian Cup Prelude. The son of Tavistock also has placings in the G1 Australian Derby, the G1 Turnbull S. twice, the G1 Mackinnon S., and the G1 VRC Derby.

He was a NZ$140,000 purchase by Aquis Farm and O’Brien Thoroughbreds from the draft of Cambridge Stud at the 2019 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Young Werther is out of the Fastnet Rock mare Romantic Time (NZ), who is also the dam of the G2 Sir Patrick Hogan S. winner About Time (NZ) (American Pharoah {USA}).

Look at Craig go!

Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young’s progressive import Craig (GB) (Territories {Ire}) returned with a bang at Caulfield on Saturday. Ridden by Luke Currie, the son of Territories (Ire) made a sweeping run on the outside to win the BM78 contest convincingly, defeating The Open (Deep Field) and El Rocko (Fastnet Rock).

Craig was having his first start since finishing third in the 1600-metre Silver Bowl Series Final at Flemington in July. The import has built an impressive record, winning three races from six starts.

Co-trainer Natalie Young told Racing.com, “I was a bit mindful that we trialled him on Monday just to give him a really nice, quiet one and leave a bit in the tank. He had to take off a bit early on the corner there, but he was just too good, and he had a good turn of foot, so a good ride.”

She added, “He’s rated 73, so he’s just got to get his rating up. We’ve just got to pick a path in the next couple of races, get another one on the board. I think there’s a nice race for him at Flemington on September 14. We’ll see what we can do and hopefully we can go on with that.”

Busuttin also commented that the Golden Eagle in Sydney could be an option for Craig. “We still have to pick our way through, and look, we’re a long, long way away from that, but he’s a 4-year-old. There’s a Golden Eagle—ten million reasons to dream—and we were keen to have a look at the 1400 metres today (Saturday) because if he couldn’t win a race like that, he’s no chance.”

Currie added, “He’s got a great turn of speed when given the chance. Craig rounded them up quite quickly, and it was pretty impressive. I think that’s been as good as any of his performances; he won like that at Bendigo.

“Just off his trial, he wasn’t quite as sharp as he’d been, so I was a tad worried. But today (Saturday), he jumped well, and it was a matter of just getting him clear, and it was easier than what I thought.”

Craig is the third foal from the unraced New Approach (Ire) mare Travel Writer (Ire), who is a granddaughter of Pure Grain (GB) (Polish Precedent {USA}), a victress of the G1 Irish Oaks and the G1 Yorkshire Oaks.

The son of Territories (GB) was a 10,000 gns (AU$20,400) purchase by Adam Potts and Donovan Bloodstock from the 2022 Tattersalls October Yearling Sale.

It’s A Knockout on the rise

Promising 4-year-old mare It’s A Knockout (Dundeel {NZ}) upstaged a competitive field in the BM78 at Rosehill on Saturday. Trained by Ciaron Maher, the daughter of Dundeel (NZ) was having her third start and claimed her second win.

Partnered by Tim Clark, It’s A Knockout took up the running, and despite a series of challengers emerging from the pack in the 1500-metre contest, the mare and Clark maintained their pace and proved too strong.

Crossing the line, It’s A Knockout held a 1.5-length advantage over her stablemate Vivy Air (Hellbent), while the Chris Waller-trained Mountain Top (So You Think {NZ}) finished third.

It’s A Knockout was a $150,000 purchase by Dynamic Syndications and Dean Watt Bloodstock at Arrowfield Stud during the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Dundeel (NZ) is out of the Redoute’s Choice mare Sport Chic, who previously produced the Group 2-placed Dealmaker by the Arrowfield stallion.

Sport Chic has a 2-year-old filly by Castelvecchio. She was subsequently sold to Mogumber Park for $70,000 through the 2022 Inglis Digital April Sale. Sport Chic was served by Safeguard last season.