Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The Melbourne Cup and Everest carnivals are done and dusted for another year, so it's time to review the horses that are worth following through the autumn. TTR AusNZ has hand-picked for you five eye-catching Australian runners, plus a Kiwi-trained filly that's flying under the radar, that have hinted they are on the upswing.
1 - West Of Swindon
2-year-old colt, Wootton Bassett (GB) x Fife (Starcraft {NZ})
Trainer: Michael, John & Wayne Hawkes
Owners: Qatar Bloodstock Ltd, A R E Investments, R & C Legh Racing Pty Ltd, Mr G G L Taylor, Mrs K R B Taylor, Mr A V Viggiano, Mr G P Carmody, Mr G E Kahan, Mr P Filipovic, Mr S C Loewe, Mr D P Sinn, Mr C Taylor, Mr W Taylor, Mr B J Thynne, Mr A J Willoughby, Mr P J Prendergast
Breeder: Qatar Bloodstock Ltd
Latest result: 2/9 $1,001,000 Inglis Golden Gift - Rosehill Gardens (November 9)
North England (Farnan) may have stolen the show in the $1,001,000 Inglis Golden Gift with a brave front-running performance, but West Of Swindon’s (Wootton Bassett {GB}) ability to make up ground, after trailing second last by several lengths into the home straight, is arguably more impressive.
The Hawkes Racing-trained colt demonstrated an elite turn of foot down the home straight to close on the leader and only be beaten 0.53l, with Extractor (Spirit Of Boom) a whisker behind in third. A bob of the head worth $54,000.
Despite having to fan out wide in the straight, West Of Swindon was able to produce a sustained sprint against the track’s pattern, and ran the entire meeting's fastest final 600 metres in 33.05s, a full 0.9s faster than the winner. Should he jump better in future, his rivals might not be so lucky next time.
West Of Swindon (maroon cap) chases North England (red cap) in the Inglis Golden Gift | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Connections will no doubt hope that West of Swindon can continue the success that Wootton Bassett (GB) has enjoyed since transferring to Coolmore Stud; his first crop of Northern Hemisphere juveniles born off of Coolmore covers debuted this year to dazzling results, with 40 winners to date collecting 62 wins, 13 of which were at stakes level.
Last month, he sired a juvenile Group 1 double in France when Twain (Ire) won the G1 Criterium International and Tennessee Stud (Ire) took out the G1 Criterium de Saint Cloud on the same day. Earlier in October, Camille Pissarro (Ire) won the G1 Longchamp Prix Jean-Luc Lagardere, and Henri Matisse (Ire) handed him a fourth juvenile Group 1 win for the year when travelling to Del Mar this month and winning the G1 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf. An exceptional result from his largest crop to date, and a resounding confirmation of Coolmore’s faith in him.
Wootton Bassett (GB) | Standing at Coolmore
A $350,000 purchase from Widden’s draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for his trainers, West Of Swindon is the first foal to race out of Fife (Starcraft {NZ}), a winning half-sister to three-time Group 1 winner Fawkner (Reset) and triple Group 2 winner Tanby (Galileo {Ire}). Her dam Dane Belltar (Danewin) won the G3 Auraria S. and was placed in three Oaks races. Stonehouse Thoroughbreds bought Fife in foal to So You Think (NZ) in 2023, at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Broodmare sale for $60,000 and she produced a filly that year, followed by a colt by Toronado (Ire) this spring.
2 - Amelita
3-year-old filly, Zousain x Miss Amelia (More Than Ready {USA})
Trainer: Chris Waller
Owners: Magic Bloodstock Racing, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, Bangaloe Stud, Mr K H Warriner, Werrett Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Mr C H Madden, Mrs J G Madden, Mr J T C Lake
Breeder: Mr R Pegum
Latest result: 1/14 G3 Red Roses - Flemington (November 7)
While most eyes will be on Chris Waller's Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio) in the near future, her stablemate Amelita (Zousain) is another rising star that has walked a similar path. The 3-year-old daughter of Widden Stud’s Zousain has found her feet this campaign, rising from victory in a Canterbury maiden race in September to demolishing a large field on her way to a 0.75l victory in the G3 Red Roses on Oaks Day. Her only start in between was a second-placed finish behind Zoubaby (Zoustar) in a Warwick Farm BM68 race.
While the margin may sound small, her run time was electric, running 3l faster than the class benchmark and delivering the fourth fastest last 800 metres on a day of quality racing. She outran G3 Thoroughbred Breeders S. winner Tobeornottobe (Pierata), who started her spring campaign with two placings at stakes level, by 1.07l and old rival Zoubaby finished another 0.3l further back. It’s a remarkable leap in three starts this preparation and indicative of more to come.
Amelita delivered Zousain his second stakes victory as a sire, following in her sire’s - and grandsire's - footsteps through the barns of Chris Waller Racing. Tipped out now for a spell, she will certainly be worth following in the autumn.
“We see her as a nice filly going forward by Zousain,” Waller said after the Oaks Day performance. “It’s a bit of a family affair.”
Zousain | Standing at Widden Stud
“I don’t think we’ll go any further for now, we’ll give her a holiday and she can keep growing and developing. I think she has a nice future.”
Purchased by Magic Bloodstock, Noel and Maria Greenhalgh, Julia Ritchie, and Neil Werrett for $280,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Amelita is the first foal of Miss Amelia (More Than Ready {USA}), a daughter of G2 Silver Slipper S. victress Amelia’s Dream (Redoute’s Choice). Miss Amelia’s second foal, a full brother named Buckeye, ran second in his debut trial at Warwick Farm on Friday and a yearling full sister is entered in next year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale catalogue, where she will be presented by Cressfield. Miss Amelia was covered by Zousain again before being exported to New Zealand.
3 - King Kirk
2-year-old colt, Ole Kirk x Oxford Angel (Nicconi)
Trainer: Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott
Owners: MyRacehorse No. 1, Megabucks Racing , Ms S J Stevenson, Mrs K L Moxon, Mr D Fodor, Mr D T Moxon, Mr J Carmichael, Mr L Driscoll, Mr J Botheras, Mr M G Quarrell
Breeder: Mr GP Nolan
Latest result: 1/8 G3 Breeders Plate - Royal Randwick (October 5)
King Kirk handed Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk the perfect start to his stud career: a first winner and a first stakes winner all in one fell swoop, and in superbly quick time as well. His 57.48s was a spectacular 2l faster than the benchmark for the G3 Breeders Plate, with his last 800 metres being run in 43.96s making it the fastest on the day just the cherry on top. He looks likely to be a formidable contender in the Slipper, alongside stablemate North England (Farnan).
To compare him to Bel Merci (Extreme Choice), winner of the G3 Gimcrack S. on the same day, King Kirk would have been on the back foot at the 400-metre mark, with the filly’s early sectionals indicating she would have been 4l in front of him. However his late burst of speed catapulted him ahead to finish 2l quicker than Bel Merci.
“He’s a lovely horse,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said post-race. “Everything that he’s done to date has just been very professional.
“He got a bit further back than expected (in the Breeders’ Plate) in the run, and it was a great effort to pick them up there in the final strides. Exciting horse going forward and rightly so, they (the owners) should all be excited.”
Bott indicated that the lucrative Magic Millions 2YO races lie in the exciting colt’s future, en route to the Slipper.
King Kirk | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Bred by GP Nolan out of two-winner Oxford Angel (Nicconi), King Kirk was initially sold to Redwall Bloodstock for $200,000 out of the Rosari Farm draft at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling sale. Widden Stud presented him the following January at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $300,000 by My Racehorse Pty Ltd, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA).
Oxford Angel is a half-sister to Listed ATC Winter S. winner Oxford Poet (Dylan Thomas {Ire}) and 10-time winner Prince Monashee (Monashee Mountain {USA}). King Kirk’s win is a boon to the pedigree page of his full brother born last month, should he also go through the sales ring.
4 - Double Market
3-year-old filly, Castelvecchio x First Tier (Redoute’s Choice)
Trainer: Ben, Will & JD Hayes
Owners: Lindsay Park Bloodstock, Rotuma, Mr S Mabb, Coopato Racing, P T T Syndicate, Mr J Presti, Mr B E Douthie, Mr B S Wilson
Breeder: GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Latest results: 1/9 G2 Fillies Classic - Moonee Valley (October 26); 10/13 G1 1000 Guineas - Caulfield (November 26)
It takes a special kind of filly to win a stakes race at her second start, particularly when her first start was a maiden victory at Ballarat. Lindsay Park’s Double Market (Castelvecchio) is such a filly, and won the G2 Fillies Classic in October in style, beating the class benchmark by 1.32l. She came from 4l off the pace at the 600 metres, and her 400-200-metre split was the only one under 12s. That final push allowed her to down Cavity Bay (Cable Bay {Ire}) by 0.75l.
Castelvecchio's offspring have exploded in the spring carnival, giving him three individual stakes winners by the end of October.
Double Market returned on Saturday in the G1 Thousand Guineas, and was trapped wide for much of the trip, finishing 5.49l behind the winner, Another Prophet (Brazen Beau), without being fully tested. She has made a tremendous start to her racing career, and surely the best is yet to come.
Presented by Bhima Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Double Market was knocked down to her trainers for $100,000. She is the second foal from First Tier (Redoute’s Choice), also bred by Johnathan Munz and a direct descendant of Show Lady (USA) (Sir Ivor {USA}), the progenitor of several powerful families in the studbook. Show Lady appears twice on Double Market’s dam’s side, as both her maternal fourth dam and again as the grandam of Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad).
Castelvecchio | Standing at Arrowfield Stud
A full brother to Double Market was purchased for $10,000 by Paul Willetts Bloodstock Consultancy at last year’s Inglis Australian Weanling Sale and subsequently exported to New Zealand. The now 2-year-old is yet to be named but is sure to attract a bit of attention following his sister’s spring performance. First Tier produced a filly by Pierro last year, who sold at this year’s edition of the same sale for $70,000 to Gm Bloodstock.
5 - Goldrush Guru
3-year-old colt, American Pharaoh (USA) x Glam Guru (Medaglia D'Oro {USA})
Trainer: Andrew Gluyas
Owners: Mr B H Perks, Ms A M Clough, Mr G F Marriott, Mrs J A Marriott, Mr B V White, Mrs K L White
Breeder: Guru Breeding Syndicate
Latest result: 1/16 G1 Victoria Derby - Flemington (November 2)
Goldrush Guru’s (American Pharaoh {USA}) rapid rise this preparation has been nothing short of impressive. After two runs as an immature 2-year-old where he finished down the track in the G3 Breeders’ S. at Morphettville, the colt returned as a 3-year-old to win his first two runs at 1250 metres and followed them up with two second place finishes up to a mile at BM68 grade.
Up again in distance in the Listed Hill Smith S. is where the son of Triple Crown winner American Pharaoh (USA) began to really shine, dashing past the leader in the home straight and proving too quick to catch when winning by 2.2l. Trainer Andrew Gluyas had already strongly considered a trip across the border to the G1 Victoria Derby and this victory more than threw him into contention.
His Victoria Derby win might have been 1.3l slower than benchmark time, but his dash to the lead at the 300-metre mark made him too difficult to catch, aided by running the third fastest last 200 metres of the race. His additional kick once attacked by Scary (NZ) (Shocking) indicates the sort of fighting spirit that wins these kinds of races. El Castello (Castelvecchio) worked the hardest at the same stage to close off in fifth place, but could get no closer than 2.77l from the winner.
Gluyas was “speechless” with the result, having dared to dream of being the first South Australian winner of the Derby at Flemington since Rebel Raider's victory 19 years ago. It would be well worth marking Goldrush Guru down now for an assault on the G1 South Australia Derby on home turf in May.
Retained to race by members of the long-running Guru Breeding Syndicate, Goldrush Guru is the first runner from G2 Wakeful S. runner-up Glam Guru (Medaglia D'Oro {USA}), a half-sister to G3 Chairman’s S. winner Gamblin’ Guru (New Approach {Ire}) and G3 Lord Reims S. placegetter Gossip Guru (Reset), dam of G3 South Australia Fillies Classic-placed Gotta Go Guru (Fiorente {Ire}). Their dam Glory Guru (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}) is a half-sister to Champion 3YO Gold Guru (Geiger Counter {USA}) and G2 Sandown Classic winner Gallant Guru, who has had a fruitful stud career in New Zealand, with his six stakes winners led by G1 Metropolitan H. winner Patrick Erin.
6 - Love Poem
3-year-old filly, Snitzel x Madrigals (Lonhro)
Trainer: Stephen Marsh
Owners: JML Bloodstock Ltd (Mgr: L Petagna)
Breeder: Arrowfield Pastoral Pty Ltd, GSA Bloodstock Pty Ltd
Latest results: 2/8 G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas - Riccarton Park (November 9); 4/11 G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas - Riccarton Park (November 16)
Always the bridesmaid and never the black-type bride, Love Poem (Snitzel) has been placed at all five of her attempts at stakes level before Saturday's run in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. The classy Captured By Love (Written Tycoon) had her beaten in both the G3 Taranaki 2YO Classic and G2 Matamata Breeders’ S. earlier in the year, with Alabama Lass (Alabama Express) also ahead of her in the latter. In April, she was again relegated to second place in the Listed Star Way S. behind Domain Ace (NZ) (Swiss Ace) and was put away for the winter.
After a convincing 3.5l maiden victory in September, Love Poem made another bid in the G3 Soliloquy S., finishing third behind Alabama Lass and Kitty Flash (NZ) (Ace High) after having to shift wider in the home straight. At her last start in the G1 New Zealand 2000 Guineas, the field was dominated by Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel), but she reversed the finish on Domain Ace to come second.
Love Poem | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Her speed out of the barriers has improved when stepping up to the mile, posting a faster first 400 metres than her previous two starts, and a fraction faster than Savaglee pulled off. While she closed off her last 200 metres slower than the first, third, and fourth place finishers, she was the only one to have only a single previous run beyond 1200 metres.
“She was obviously stakes-placed a few times at two, so it was really good to see her come back and put away a pretty talented field of maidens the way she did first-up,” trainer Stephen Marsh said after her maiden victory in September.
Love Poem ran a game race on Saturday at Riccarton Park, finishing in fourth place 2.5l behind the high quality Captured By Love in the G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas. It was her first finish outside of the placings for a tough filly who has more to give.
Bruce Perry Bloodstock purchased Love Poem at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $280,000 from the draft of breeder Arrowfield Stud. She is a half-sister to G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Estriella (I Am Invincible), out of Madrigals (Lonhro), a full sister to Pierro and Smooth, dam of Listed Gothic S. winner Sandpaper (Snitzel), and half-sister to G2 Wakeful S. victress Ambience (Street Cry {Ire}). Madrigals is also a three-quarter-sister in blood to G2 The Ingham winner Loch Eagle (Lonhro). Madrigals has a yearling colt by The Autumn Sun and a filly foal at foot by Maurice (Jpn).
