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Via Sistina delivers “Winx-like” performance in the Cox Plate

There was a lot of breaths being held since Tuesday morning, where Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) and James McDonald parted ways in front of the Breakfast With The Best crowd at the Valley, and all of them became a collective sigh of relief on Saturday when the 7-year-old mare stormed clear in the same home straight to secure a 8l victory over a quality G1 Cox Plate field.

Japanese raider Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) overtook a tiring Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) on the turn, but could not make any ground on Chris Waller’s star mare, with Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) battling gamely into third place a further 2l behind.

Rising out of the saddle with 50 metres still to go, James McDonald held his whip aloft as the mare, now a five-time Group 1 winner, sailed across the line to deliver him his third Cox Plate in a row.

“I just wanted to keep it smooth, and she loved it,” he said. “She won like Winx, she blended, and, gee, it’s just a phenomenal performance. It’s pretty surreal.”

He had thought that Tuesday’s incident had snuffed his chances for the weekend, “I think there was a fantastic picture there when I popped myself up and looked and watched her gallop away, and I think if looks could tell a story, we were stuffed.”

But Via Sistina showed they were far from “stuffed”, bolting home to hand the Kiwi jockey his 100th career Group 1 win in the process.

Waller was understandably quite emotional following the performance. It was his fifth win in the event, following his former star Winx’s (Street Cry {Ire}) four successive victories. Via Sistina’s time of 2:01.07 carves nearly two seconds off the great mare’s 2017 record of 2:02.94.

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“It was a big week, but I’ve just had full support from the owners, my staff, all the team, Moonee Valley,” he said. “It’s just been overwhelming. There’s not been any negativity, only positive vibes. I’m proud of her, so proud of her. There’s probably ten key factors, and it’s not anything else except common sense, simple as that.

“We never lost faith and just just followed our instincts. We’ve had to do these things before. You just had to forget what happened on Tuesday, she’s a good horse and it was my job to prove it.”

Vin Cox, general manager of the Yulong operation, was effusive with his praise for the mare.

“You don't ever expect to win a race the stature of a Cox Plate in that fashion,” he said. “Course-record time and she blew it apart. It was stunning. So happy for the boss (Mr Zhang) and his family, who put a lot into the game.

“Chris (Waller) was always very confident and horses that get to this level are pretty tough by definition, so they are going to cop setbacks. Not that it was a setback as such, but it was not the plan.”

Via Sistina’s unraced dam Nigh (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) is a half-sister to GB Champion 3YO Sprinter Kingsgate Native (Ire) (Mujadil {USA}) and Listed-placed Vanishing Grey (Ire) (Verglas {Ire}), dam of Listed Prix Millkom winner First Contact (Ire) (Dark Angel {Ire}), who also ran third in the G1 Jebel Hatta S.. Her sire Fastnet Rock was pensioned from stud duties at Coolmore Stud earlier this year, having finished the 2023/24 season as Australia’s leading broodmare sire.

Bred by Laundry Cottage Stud Farm, she was originally a 5000gns (AU$10,300) purchase for Stephen Hillen Bloodstock at the 2016 Tattersalls December Yearling Sale. Four years and a win in the G1 Pretty Polly S. later, she was offered at the Tattersalls December Mares Sale, where Evergreen Equine purchased her on behalf of Yulong Investments for 2,700,000gns (AU$5.5 million). Connections of Lucky Vega (Ire), who shuttles to Yulong's Victorian stud farm, acquired her dam at the same sale for 200,000gns ($412,000).

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Third time's the charm for Belclare in The Invitation

The front-running Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) was too strong in the $2,000,000 The Invitation at Randwick on Saturday, fending off favourite Magic Time (Hellbent) to score by 1.17l for Bjorn Baker. The 7-year-old mare was having her third start for Baker, having won the last two editions of the G1 Breeders’ S. in Ellerslie when trained by Lisa Latta, and in doing so, extends her record to 12 wins.

“Third time lucky,” said Baker, who guided the mare to unplaced, but meritorious, runs in the G2 Sheraco S. and $1,500,000 Alan Brown S. “This mare is a dual Group 1 winner in New Zealand and we are very lucky to have received a ready made racehorse earlier in the year.

“It's been a bit of a learning curve with her, but today was the day we wanted to have her right for and it all went to plan.”

“The owners were here last start, and I couldn’t get the job done, but it’s great to bounce back,” said Tyler Schiller, who won the Listed Crowley S. earlier in the day. “She’s awfully tough.

“I thought I was beaten three times (in the straight) when I saw one come up to me, but she just kept kicking. Bjorn has done a terrific job to turn her around start to start. She’s a lovely mare.”

Belclare is a daughter of winning O’Reilly (NZ) mare Miss Rhythmic (NZ), half-sister to Listed Oaks Prelude-placed Luxe (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), and descended from Joint NZ Filly of the Year Olga’s Pal (NZ) (Straight Strike {USA}). She is one of 31 stakes winners for her Little Avondale Stud-based sire Per Incanto (USA), who is offered at $50,000 (plus GST) this season.

Plenty Of Ammo on track for Empire Rose with Moonee Valley mile win

Plenty Of Ammo (Rebel Raider) relished a return to the mile at Moonee Valley, delivering Symon Wilde a 0.75l victory in the G2 Crystal Mile over Royal Champion (Ire) (Sharmardal {USA}) on Saturday. The 7-year-old mare was having just her seventh career start for her fifth victory, having run second in the Listed Paris Lane S. last start. She hasn’t been further back than second after her maiden win at Warrnambool in September last year. Jockey Jordan Childs was thrilled with the run.

“Once she balanced up in the straight, she was really good through the line,” Childs said. “She’s got a lot of ability for a lightly raced mare and Symon Wilde’s team has done a good job to get her through a few issues. She's come back in really good nick and it’s great to get a good win for the team on a special day like this.”

Earlier in the week, Symon Wilde indicated that the mare would head to the G1 Empire Rose S. next based on Saturday’s performance.

The second foal of Millie’s Reef (Floral Pegasus), Plenty Of Ammo was bred by Danny and Hanna Rose’s Cherokee Rose Stud and has now accumulated $375,350 in prizemoney. She is the seventh stakes winner for her sire, dual Group 1-winning Rebel Raider. Millie’s Reef foaled a colt by G2 Schillaci S. winner Dirty Work this spring.

Pillar to post win for Future History to deliver a Maher Cup trifecta

Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) justified his favouritism going into the G3 JRA Cup at Moonee Valley on Saturday by heading up a Ciaron Maher trifecta in the race, ahead of Promises Kept (Cluster) and Kettle Hill (GB) (Gleneagles {Ire}). Maher also trained fourth placed Smokin’ Romans (NZ) (Ghibellines). The 7-year-old gelding, carrying a top weight of 58kg, led from the kick and was able to hold on to win by 1.5l in the 2040-metre event.

“It was a good, positive ride by Mark,” said Maher. “The team has done a good job to come back off a poor run (13th in The Metropolitan) to pick him up again.”

Last year, the gelding finished third in the G2 Moonee Valley Cup, run at Friday’s night meeting, ahead of an unsuccessful tilt of the G1 Melbourne Cup. He currently sits just outside the top twenty in the order of entry for the first Tuesday in November.

“It was like two laps on the big sand at Flemington, I just put my hands on the neck (at the 700 metres) and let the horse go as fast as he wants, and he was doing just enough to hold off (the rest),” said jockey Mark Zahra. “I didn't have time to look at the big screen, but I thought, if anything catches me now, it must be a bloody good horse.”

Now a dual Group 3 winner, Future History is the best performed son of juvenile winner Likelihood (USA) (Mizzen Mast {USA}), a half-sister to G1 Hollywood Derby victor Seek Again (USA) (Speightstown {USA}) and G3 Ali Mile S.-winning stallion Treble Jig (USA). Nick Bell, Peter Trainor, and Huworth teamed up to purchase him for 140,000gns ($288,400) at the 2022 Tattersalls Autumn Horses In Training Sale, where he was offered by Juddmonte Farms. Future History is the fourth of 72 stakes winners for Whitsbury Manor Stud-based Showcasing (GB) to strike black type in Australia.

Lindermann bounces back to his best in the Craven Plate

It was a performance full of heart from Lindermann (Lonhro) as he carried the Woppit Bloodstock colours to victory in the G3 Craven Plate at Randwick on Saturday. Trained by Chris Waller, the 5-year-old gelding bravely fought past Spirit Ridge (GB) (Nathaniel {Ire}) in the last 100 metres to win by 0.14l, with stablemate Democracy Manifest (Flying Artist) fighting hard to the line for third.

“I was actually amazed that they held Lindermann in for such a long time,” Waller’s assistant trainer Charlie Duckworth said. “He's such a big boy, I thought he'd bullock his way out a bit easier than he did. But they rode obviously nice, true, competitive lines and he was fortunate to get out.

“The Kepitis family has had a rough trot with Riff Rocket so it's good to get an old boy like him (Lindermann) back to his best and winning on a big day,” he added. Lindermann was sidelined with injury in April and Duckworth praised the team effort involved in getting the gelding back to his best.

“Full credit to the whole rehab team to get him to this point and to get him to win today.”

The G1 Rosehill Guineas-winning son of Australian Horse of the Year Lonhro is a homebred for Debbie Kepitis’s Woppitt Bloodstock and is the second foal from Listed Gold Coast Bracelet runner-up Self Esteem (Stratum), who was also fourth in the G1 Vinery Stud S. The family extends to Champion 2YO Assertive Lad (Zedative) and dual Group 1-winning sire Reset. Self Esteem foaled a colt by Widden Stud’s Written By last year and awaits a foal by Pierro this spring.

“Mr Consistent” puts on star performance in Five Diamonds Prelude

Iknowastar (Star Witness) lived up to his name in the $1,000,000 Five Diamonds Prelude at Randwick on Saturday, where the 5-year-old gelding put on a dazzling performance to claim his 10th victory in 25 starts, fending off a late challenge from Territory Express (Territories {Ire}). He also delivered a race-to-race double for Bjorn Baker, having won the $2,000,000 The Invitation just before with classy kiwi Belclare (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}).

Regular jockey Rachel King gave the quirky gelding his credit, “I don’t have much choice, he just does what he wants. That’s him.

“Again, he didn’t jump that well today. He’s just being a bit of a pest in the gates, he’s actually feeling so well, he’s probably almost too well. I nearly went to Plan B but he had other ideas. One good head shake and a pull of the reins, so I said, ‘Okay mate, you do you’. I let him be in control, but that’s when he’s happiest.

“He’s just tough. I thought I was beaten, to be honest. I thought the other horse got its head down on the line, but he deserves it because he’s Mr Consistent. He doesn’t know how to run a bad race and he’s a pleasure to ride.”

Despite his record, the son of Widden Stud’s Star Witness nearly left Baker’s stable before breaking his maiden in February last year. He quickly followed that performance with three more wins and proved he was worth the effort.

“He's been a revelation,” Baker said. “He had three hooves and his tail out of the door. We were about to sack him. Since then he's just turned it around completely.

“He's been a great horse, he's an exciting horse. He puts the punch into races.”

The fifth foal of five-time winner Hidden Message (NZ) (Pentire {GB}), Iknowastar was a $80,000 purchase for his trainer and Clarke Bloodstock (FBAA) at the Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale and has now pushed his earnings over the million-dollar mark. Hidden Message has a 2-year-old three-quarter sister to him by Vinery Stud’s Star Turn and has since produced two colts by Peltzer. The sire of 25 stakes winners, Star Witness is also the sire of rising star filly Bellatrix Star, who added another stakes win to her record two weeks ago in the G2 Schillaci S.

Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

El Castello on song, records fourth straight in Spring Champion S.

Castelvecchio's reputation keeps climbing as his son, El Castello, remained undefeated by winning the G1 Spring Champion S. at Randwick, marking a first Group 1 triumph for his sire, who has now produced three Group winners in under three weeks.

It was his fourth consecutive victory, holding off a late surge from Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) for Anthony Cummings and Josh Parr.

Cummings turned his focus to next Saturday’s G1 Victoria Derby at Flemington.

“Standing here today, the decision is yes,” he told 7Horseracing after the race.

“But we have to get him home, make sure he is okay and tick a fair few boxes before we do that.

“He’s just a very good horse, the preparation went perfectly.”

Castelvecchio, who stands at Arrowfield Stud for $22,000 (inc GST), celebrated another victory as his filly Double Market took out the G2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley earlier in the day.

Cummings purchased the Cambridge Stud-bred El Castello for $220,000 from their draft at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and he now has $1,625,975 from seven starts.

El Castello is the second foal and first winner for his dam Word Games (Fastnet Rock), a metropolitan winning half-sister to the dual Group 1 winner Fiveandahalfstar (Hotel Grand), who was bred and trained by Cummings to win the Victoria Derby and the G1 BMW S.

Parr has been on El Castello in three of his four wins this preparation.

“Wow. That was thrilling, I tell you. The two went down the side, they took off and I just said, 'No, not just yet my man, let's just wait'. I was able to wait. We topped the hill, and I just briefly started to let him go and his ears just slightly went different directions, he was waiting for some company,” he said.

Word Games foaled an Almanzor (Fr) filly in early September and a filly by that same stallion last year.

Red Aces leads betting for Victoria Derby after gutsy win in G2 Vase

Part of a massive day for the Dundeel (NZ) sire line, Red Aces is ready to back up and be a force to be reckoned with in the G1 Victoria Derby next Saturday, after his courageous 0.25l victory in the G2 Vase at Moonee Valley.

With Jamie Mott in the saddle, the colt edged out Opening Address (So You Think {NZ}) and King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) on the line, making it an all High Chaparral (Ire)-line finish.

The gutsy finish was enough for trainer Nick Ryan to declare that a week would be enough time to get ready for the $2 million Derby over 2500 metres at Flemington, with Red Aces now leading the line of betting to win at $6.

“Today is the perfect gallop for next week. He’s tough, he’s a good colt,” he said.

Ryan said his colt had been a joy to train since being scratched from the barriers at Caulfield last weekend.

“He had a really good gallop here on Tuesday. I had to do a bit more with him on Thursday. He came through that so well, and I actually rode him myself this morning and gave him a whizz around because he’s so well,” he said.

One of his Arrowfield Stud based in-form sire’s 32 stakes winners, Red Aces is out of the two-time winner Cardiac (Encosta de Lago). He was bred by Musk Creek and purchased from their draft by Nick Ryan Racing for $380,000 at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale.

All five runners out of Cardiac (who died two years ago) are winners and Red Aces is her second stakes winner, her first being the G3 Chairman’s S. winner Declarationofheart (Declaration Of War {USA}).

By Champion Sire Encosta de Lago (providing him with his 168th stakes winner as a broodmare sire), Cardiac was picked up for $130,000 by Jamieson Park from Coolmore Stud at the 2015 Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.

She is a half-sister to the G1 Victoria Oaks heroine Arapaho Miss (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), dam of another Victoria Oaks winner in Miami Bound (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}) and the Listed winning stayer De Little Engine (Encosta de Lago). This is also the family of Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai).

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Prost turns around form in fine style to salute in G2 Callander-Presnell

Prost (Snitzel) has turned around his form in fine style, with Adam Hyeronimus piloting him to a 0.03l victory on the line, defeating the Justify (USA) colt Just Party in the $1 million G2 Callander-Presnell at Randwick.

It was his first win since saluting in the G3 Canonbury S. over 1100 metres at Rosehill on February 3.

Bred by Gerry Harvey out of the Sandown winner Samarmeteors (Northern Meteor), Prost was a $650,000 buy for Kia Ora Stud Pty Ltd/TFI/Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott Racing from Baramul Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

The dam of another two winners, the half-sister to Shinzo’s (Snitzel) dual Group 1-winning dam Samaready (More Than Ready {USA}) was not served last spring after foaling a colt by Extreme Choice.

Castelvecchio continues brilliant run of winners in Fillies Classic

Castelvecchio’s brilliant run as a sire continued in the G2 Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley, with Double Market saluting by 0.75l for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, with Michael Dee in the saddle.

The good-looking 3-year-old produced a classy turn of foot inside the final 200 metres to add to her maiden win at Ballarat on October 3.

Castelvecchio also sired Saturday’s G1 Spring Champion S. winner El Castello and last weekend’s G3 Reginald Allen S. winner Aeliana.

A $100,000 Magic Millions purchase from Bhima Thoroughbreds for Lindsay Park Racing, Double Market was bred by GSA Bloodstock and is the second foal and second winner for the city-placed winner First Tier (Redoute’s Choice).

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Will Hayes has been delighted with the progress and maturity of his filly, and believes she can step up and compete in the G1 Thousand Guineas over a mile at Caulfield on November 16.

“For her to come out and win a Group 2 at her second start makes her very valuable and it is a terrific result for the ownership group,” he said.

“Definitely (aiming her for the Thousand Guineas). We’ll be guided by how she pulls up, but that’s the logical line and length.”

Not returned to the Stud Book last season, First Tier foaled a Pierro filly last spring and her two-year-old is a New Zealand-based full brother to Double Market. She is bred on a 4 X 3 cross of her own third dam Show Lady (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}), the third dam of Redoute’s Choice from the same branch of this prolific family as the ill-fated dual Group 1 winner He’s No Pie Eater (Canny Lad).

A full brother to Double Market will be offered at the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale on November 21. Purchased by Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy for $10,000 at the Inglis Australian Weanling Sale in 2023, he is presented next month by Kilgravin Lodge as Lot 369. The 2-year-old gelding breezed up at Te Rapa Racecourse on October 21, running his 200 metres in 10.38s. He is the only progeny of Castelvecchio on offer at the sale.

Bittercreek to back it up in Coolmore Stud Stakes

Malua Racing trainer Troy Corstens said that he will be backing up Bittercreek (Snitzel) in the G1 Coolmore Stud S. next Saturday after his 0.75l victory in the G3 Red Anchor S. at Moonee Valley.

The 3-year-old colt’s strong finish under the urgings of Ben Allen in the 1200-metre feature worth $200,000 signalled a strong comeback from his disappointing seventh last start in the G2 Danehill S. at Flemington on October 5.

“He’s such a classy animal,” Corstens told Racing.com. “He probably just needed that last run.

“The timing might not be ideal, but he’s a 3-year-old colt, he’s a strong boy and he’s really tough so he is going to take his place in the Coolmore.”

Bred by Belinda Bateman, Bittercreek is the 151st stakes winner for his Arrowfield Stud-based Champion Sire.

And he is the third stakes winner for the excellent producer Rose Of Cimmaron (Bite The Bullet {USA}), also dam of the G3 Bill Ritchie H. winner Siege Of Quebec (Fastnet Rock) and the G3 Manfred S. winner Bull Point.

The dual city-winning Rose Of Cimmaron is one of the 11 winners (from as many foals) for Gainesville (Can) (Afleet {Can}), also dam of the Listed winner Amah Rock (Fastnet Rock) and the Group 3-winning, high-class broodmare Mica’s Pride (Bite The Bullet {USA}) whose 12 winners include the Group 1 gallopers Criterion and Comin’ Through (Fastnet Rock).

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Rose Of Cimmaron was served last spring by Capitalist having lost a filly by that G1 Golden Slipper S. winner last spring.

Amazing Eagle breaks maiden in thrilling style to win Listed Brian Crowley S.

Amazing Eagle (Capitalist) broke his maiden status in thrilling fashion, saluting by 0.07l in the Listed Brian Crowley S. at Randwick.

Out of Taliqua (Charge Forward), Amazing Eagle went forward to lead under Tyler Schiller for Gerald Ryan and Stirling Alexiou.

The colt then displayed a good turn of foot turning for home, edging out the $1.1 million Snitzel colt Manos.

Bred by V Lourigan and Highgrove Stud, Amazing Eagle was a $400,000 purchase for George Moore Bloodstock from Highgrove Stud at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

He was the third winner from three foals for his winning dam, a daughter of the Listed winner Anacarde (Anabaa {USA}) who is also grandam of the Group 3-winning stayer Allergic (Street Cry {Ire}).

Taliqua slipped last spring with her 2023 foal being a colt by Yes Yes Yes.

Certain Rise makes in two in a row

Certain Rise (Written Tycoon) made it two wins in a row with a classy 0.75l triumph in the Listed Crockett S. at Moonee Valley.

Having 1.5l on her rivals at the turn, the filly maintained her lead inside the last 100 metres in the 1200-metre sprint.

Winning co-trainer Glen Thompson knew his filly would perform well in her third start, stepping up in company after saluting in a maiden over the same distance at Mornington on October 10.

“We’ve always had a really high opinion of her. Every time we’ve raised the bar she’s met it,” he said.

“She’s only been beaten one time and that was by a really smart colt. Hopefully it’s onwards and upwards from now.

“There was no real plan after today. It’s been race-by-race with her. The old cliché we’ll let the dust settle on today and we’ll work it out afterwards.”

The 66th stakes winner for her Yulong-based Champion Sire Written Tycoon, Certain Rise is the second foal for the city-placed, three-time winner Concubine (Redoute’s Choice) whose dam, the G3 Winter S. winner Charmview (Royal Academy {USA}), is also grandam of this year’s G3 Rough Habit Plate winner Tannhauser (Dundeel {NZ}).

Concubine foaled a Dundeel colt in mid-September and a Street Boss (USA) filly last year. Her 2-year-old filly by Capitalist was passed in at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Comedy shows serious talent to win 2-year-old Kirkham Plate

Godolphin produced a stable trifecta in the Kirkham Plate at Randwick, with Comedy (Snitzel), Gaeilge (Exceed And Excel) and Lapis Lazuli (Microphone) finishing top three for top trainer James Cummings.

It was a promising start to Comedy’s racing career, the colt (part of an all Danehill {USA}-line finish) triumphing by 0.55l for jockey Kerrin McEvoy.

Comedy stormed home inside the final 200 metres to run down stablemate Gaeilge, after being three wide without cover.

Godolphin stable representative Darren Beadman said pure determination to prevail got Comedy first over the line.

“Due to his professionalism and his will-to-win, he was able to get the job done,” he said.

“He is very mature in the mind and has a lot of scope about him. I really liked the way he knuckled down and attacked the line. He was very strong late and ran up to his trials.”

Comedy, a Godolphin homebred, is out of the Group 3-placed Thalia (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), also dam of the Exceed And Excel stakes winners Aquitaine and Bacchanalia.