Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Race-Day Recap
Alalcance’s (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) first start in Australia went to plan for the Gai Waterhouse-Adrian Bott stable at Warwick, Bott saying she will be one to watch in some stakes staying races next autumn.
The Waterhouse-Bott stable celebrated a hat-trick of winners inside the first four on the card at the western Sydney venue, with Dominetta (Zoustar) and Rock Empire (Deep Field) also impressing.
Dominetta (Zoustar) is one to watch, after finishing third on debut in the G2 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Fillies Plate (1000 metres) at Gold Coast Turf Club on January 13. She showed admirable fight on the straight to pull away from Tango Queen’s (Tivaci {NZ}) to salute by 1l.
Darby Racing also enjoyed a memorable half-hour when Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist) cruised to a 2.5l victory in the Race 2. That was after the owners oversaw a strong display of trackwork from two-time Quokka winner Overpass (Vancouver).
Ravello (Savabeel) bounced back in style to record his third career win for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
At Doomben, Maragical (Better Than Ready) Out Of Aces (Dundeel {NZ}), Ivy Dexstress (Sidestep) and Hell Follows (Hellbent) were all impressive, convincing winners.
Meanwhile across the ditch, Donna Chiara (Belardo {Ire}) could be one to watch after producing a strong 1.5l win in 1:11.08sec over 1200 metres in a 3-year-old maiden at South Canterbury.
Stakes level next for Waterhouse-Bott trio?
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott stable enjoyed a fine outing at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, with Dominetta (Zoustar), Alalcance (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}) and Rock Empire (Deep Field) saluting in Race 1, 3 and 4 respectively.
Particularly impressive was the effort of UK import Alalcance.
First-up and making her Australian debut, she needed no time to settle in to racing Down Under, saluting by an impressive 3.8l over 2140 metres.
Bott said the 5-year-old mare would build off this effort next autumn, adding he expected her to acquit herself well in her new home city of Sydney.
“With those Europeans, that’s what they’re bred to do. That’s the suitable distance for her,” he said.
“As you saw throughout that race, she was able to find her feet from the early stages of the race, and that just allows them to find a better tempo in those races.
Adrian Bott | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She’s had some good trials and taken the next step today.
“We’ll see more of this mare in the autumn. We just wanted to get her acclimatised this campaign, get her seasoned and conditioned.
“I think she’ll keep improving when she gets out in trip. She’s obviously a real staying type of mare.”
“With those Europeans, that’s what they’re bred to do. I think she’ll (Alalcance) keep improving when she gets out in trip. She’s obviously a real staying type of mare.” - Adrian Bott
Alalclance was a 240,000gns (AU$489,900) purchase from Tattersalls December Sale for her trainers in partnership with McKeever Bloodstock.
In the Northern Hemisphere she won one race as a 3-year-old and placed twice from only four starts.
Zoustar filly Dominetta showed admirable fight on the straight, fending off Tango Queen’s (NZ) (Tivaci) challenge to pull away and salute by 1l in the 1200 metres of Race 1.
A half-sister to four-time Group 1 winner Hartnell (GB), Dominetta was a $500,000 Magic Millions purchase to Paul Messara Racing when offered by Arrowfield, and runs for Arrowfield in partnership with her US-based breeder Mt Brilliant Farm.
It was yet another impressive display after the 3-year-old finished third on debut in the G2 Magic Millions The Debut 2YO Fillies Plate (1000 metres) at Gold Coast Turf Club on January 13.
“Good to have her back at the races. I think there’s a lot of upside, and we can potentially get her out in trip,” Bott said.
“She’s a quality filly.”
“Good to have her (Dominetta) back at the races. I think there’s a lot of upside, and we can potentially get her out in trip. She's a quality filly.” - Adriant Bott
Rock Empire (Deep Field) rounded out a hat-trick for the Waterhouse-Bott stable inside the first four on the card, Adam Hyeronimus guiding the 4-year-old entire to a 0.6l victory in Race 4 over a mile.
Bott said it was a great effort after thinking his runner could get shuffled back at the point of the turn, adding he will think about putting him through the grades after his salute at BM72 level.
This is the second win in as many weeks for the upcoming entire who won at Randwick-Kensington on September 11.
Rock Empire was not offered for sale at public auction. He is the fourth foal for King’s Ballet (NZ), a daughter of Danehill Dancer (Ire).
Bred by Empire Racing, he hails from the family of Playwright (NZ) (Fantastic Light {USA}), a victor of eight races, including the G3 CS Hayes S. He was also placed in the G1 Australian Guineas.
Darby Racing enjoys a good day out
Darby Racing also enjoyed a memorable half-hour when Spirit Of Wealth (Capitalist) cruised to a 2.5l victory in the Race 2, making it two wins from two starts. The 3-year-old broke away at the 200-metre mark after leading by a length early in the 1200-metre sprint.
The promising Michael Freedman-trained filly was a $90,000 purchase for Darby Bloodstock from the Newgate Farm draft at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Not long before Spirit Of Wealth saluted, her Darby Racing owners oversaw a strong display of trackwork from Overpass (Vancouver), the 6-year-old not being seen since his second The Quokka triumph on April 20.
The trackwork effort set the scene for their rising 3-year-old to then triumph. And jockey Tommy Berry did not want to jump off her back after the impressive win.
Overpass | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“I don’t let anyone near her and she’s not the easiest to ride, either,” he said.
“She’s got a bit of an attitude, and I remember with her at home one day I gave her a slap on the shoulder, and she put her head between her legs and tried to drop me.
“She’s got a bit of buzz about her, but today was really good. She travelled a bit stronger than I would’ve liked in the middle stages, but she put them away effortlessly.”
“She’s (Spirit Of Wealth) got a bit of buzz about her, but today was really good. She travelled a bit stronger than I would’ve liked in the middle stages, but she put them away effortlessly.” - Tommy Berry
Berry said Spirit Of Wealth was capable of being a competitive Stakes horse this preparation.
“We always thought she’d get to 1400 (metres). I don’t know if that’s going to happen this prep, but there are some nice races and stakes company that she’ll be well suited in,” he said.
Ravello back in the winner's circle for O’Shea & Charlton
It had been more than a year since his last win, but Ravello (NZ) (Savabeel) bounced back in style to win by a neck over a brave French Endeavour (Rubick) for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton in Race 6 over 1300 metres.
Ravello was purchased for NZ$425,000 by Bruce Perry Bloodstock from Cambridge Stud at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Book 1.
It was the 4-year-old’s third win at his 13th start, Charlton saying Ravello has had some difficult challenges to overcome since finishing ninth in the G3 Gloaming S. over 1800 metres at Randwick on October 14 last year.
That was when the gelding could not find clear running, starting on some non-ideal wet tracks since then.
“About a year ago he was a bit stiff in the Gloaming, and then just lost his way,” Charlton said.
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“From there, wet tracks always hindered him. He’s always been a talented horse and has had some continuity to his preparation with two strong trials and a lovely run in transit there.
“He’s always shaped like a horse who can get a mile or maybe 2000 metres in time. Whether he’s better fresh and slightly shorter, we’ll see in time.”
‘Quirky’ Ivy Dexstress a standout at Doomben
At Doomben, Maragical (Better Than Ready), Out Of Aces (Dundeel {NZ}), Ivy Dexstress (Sidestep) and Hell Follows (Hellbent) were all impressive, convincing winners.
The trainer of Ivy Dexstress, Tony Gollan, said his 4-year-old mare had a unique nature with plenty of upside after she saluted in the Race 3 Maiden Handicap over 1200 metres.
“She’s pretty adaptable and you can put her wherever you want her,” he said after apprentice Emily Lang guided her to victory from barrier seven.
“She’s got above-average ability. It’s really difficult to get a saddle on her – you have to keep her walking. You can’t saddle her when she’s standing still.
“Everything else about her is perfect. She’s beautiful to ride in work. She’s taken a while to furnish, but she’s a lovely-looking mare now.
“There’s a lot more to come, and she’s going to be a lot better.”
“She’s (Ivy Dexstress) got above-average ability. There’s a lot more to come, and she’s going to be a lot better.” - Tony Gollan
Gollan Racing and John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) bought Ivy Dexstress for $130,000 from Kenmore Lodge at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast March Yearling Sale.
Donna Chiara has stakes assignments after strong win
In New Zealand, Donna Chiara (NZ) (Bellardo {Ire}) could be one to watch after producing a strong 1.5l win in 1:11.08s over 1200 metres in a 3-year-old maiden at Timaru. It was the fifth start for the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained filly.
Donna Chiara (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images South
“She (Donna Chiara) took a lot of improvement from her first-up run and I think the addition of blinkers by Mark and Sam was the key,” said stable foreman Hunter Durrant. “It was good to see her get the job done quite easily in the end. We’ll see how she pulls up before deciding what we aim her for in the future.”
She will head to the G3 Barnswood S. on October 12 next. “It was a really good win by Donna Chiara and a good ride by Wiremu to put her in the race,” co-trainer Mark Walker said.
“He was positive from the gates and that was the winning of the race. She’s getting stronger and more mature, as time goes on, and the win should give her a lot of confidence. She’ll go on to bigger things now and hopefully head towards the Barneswood Stakes at Ashburton.
“She’ll (Donna Chiara) go on to bigger things now and hopefully head towards the Barneswood Stakes at Ashburton.” - Hunter Durrant
“It’s great to get another win for Lib Petagna, in his colours, and we always appreciate the support of breeders like him. He’s got the breeding operation in full swing at Elsdon Park and has an outstanding stud manager in Kerrie Cox.”
Bred by Little Avondale Trust out of Zabeel (NZ) mare Bellabaci (NZ), Donna Chiara was purchased by Bruce Perry for $90,000 at the 2023 NZB Karaka Yearling Sales, and is raced by Petagna’s JML Bloodstock.
