Saturday Summary: Hit and run affair for Private Harry in $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Private Harry leaves Doyle speechless with smashing Sunlight victory

Trainer Nathan Doyle was vindicated for his decision to bring prominent NSW country jockey Ashley Morgan to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday, when the jockey steered an uncatchable Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) to a breathtaking victory in the inaugural running of the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight slot race. The 3-year-old colt extended his unbeaten record to four, having debuted only two months ago in a Newcastle maiden, and left G1 Golden Slipper S. winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) in the dust, 2.43l behind him at the line.

“I don’t know what to say,” Doyle was emotional post-race. “Someone pinch me!

“It means so much. When we first went out training, I had three horses that we owned ourselves. You have to prove yourself and it takes time. It has been so hard to get here, taking our time, proving ourselves, getting the staff and the horses.

“He is such a beautiful horse, and what about Ash (Morgan)? They ask, why do you stick with him? He is a mate; he rides the work, and he hasn’t done anything wrong. I met him in Scone when he was first starting out in Australia, he had to go to the non-TABs to get a ride — now look at him.”

It seems the sky is the limit for Doyle’s colt.

“I was thinking at the 500 metres that if he extends like the horse I know he is, it is over. He has the most beautiful action, he is such a nice animal, I don’t know what more to say about him.

“It is all in his first racing preparation, where do you go from here?”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

Kurrinda Bloodstock and Doyle Racing combined to purchase the son of Darley’s Harry Angel (Ire) for $115,000 out of breeder Rheinwood Pastoral Co’s draft at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale. A 2.5 per cent share in the colt was sold for $25,250 to B2B Thoroughbreds in a November Inglis Digital auction, just four days after his debut win.

Private Harry is the fourth foal from three-time winner Happy Pilgrim (Congrats {USA}), half-sister to stakes-placed Snipzu (Snippetson), whose G1 Blue Diamond S. runner-up son Don Corleone (Extreme Choice) joined Eureka Stud’s roster this spring. Her dam Pilgrim (Danehill {USA}) is a half-sister to G1 Ranvet S.-winner Arkady (Myocard {NZ}).

Kurrinda Bloodstock and Doyle purchased the half-brother to Private Harry at last year’s Inglis Classic sale for $100,000, now named Lance Corporal (Anders), and will no doubt return to the Riverside complex next month to view his half-sister by Captivant, catalogued as Lot 274. Next week, Silverdale Farm will offer Lot 764, an Extreme Choice colt out of Paredo (Better Than Ready), a half-sister to Private Harry's dam, that is sure to attract attention.

Grail Seeker storms home in knockout Telegraph victory

Grail Seeker (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) collected her second top-flight win on Saturday with a swooping 2.5l win in the G1 Telegraph H. at Trentham. Trained by Lance O'Sullivan and Andrew Scott, the 4-year-old mare was last seen taking out the G1 Tarzino Trophy in September, where she pounced in the last 100 metres to score a 1.3l victory. O’Sullivan and Scott have plotted a 17-week course through two modest trials and exhibition gallops to Saturday’s performance.

“She’s a very good galloper, there’s no doubt about that, and she really goes well fresh,” co-trainer Scott said. “We had a big plan to get her here fresh today.

“She’s been to a racecourse every week for the last month, whether it’s trialling, galloping between races, or walking around the birdcages. It was all about having her ready for this one day today.

“When she arrived on course today, we thought she was bang on. To get this result is massive. I’m very proud of all of our team and of the horse’s performance.”

“After she won the Tarzino in the spring, it was Andrew (Scott)’s idea to give her a quiet time and set her up to try to win one of the big sprints over the summer,” O’Sullivan added. “It’s always good when a plan comes off. I’m delighted for the team and delighted for the horse.”

Bred by Jamieson Park, Grail Seeker was a NZ$130,000 purchase for Kakapo Lodge from her breeder’s draft at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2022. She is the second stakes winner for Starwish (Redoute’s Choice) after Deep Image (Testa Rossa), who counts the Listed Lough Neagh S. among his eight wins.

A daughter of G1 Australia S. winner Stella Cadente (Centaine), Starwish is a half-sister to Listed Gimcrack S. winner Brilliant Bisc (Elvstroem) and Listed St Albans S. runner-up Moon Fever (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), dam of G3 National Day Cup-winning Dashing Fellow (Duporth) and dual Listed winner Aeronautical (Encosta De Lago). Starwish passed away in 2022.

Ace High's My Lips Are Sealed wins G3 Phar Lap

Saturday delivered a new stakes winner for Rich Hill Stud’s Ace High when his daughter My Lips Are Sealed (NZ) carried the Te Akau Racing colours to victory in the G3 Phar Lap Trophy at Trentham. The 4-year-old mare defeated recent Listed Matamata Cup winner Khafre (American Pharaoh {USA}) by 2l, with Te Akau teammate Talisker (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) hot on the gelding’s heels to finish third.

“It’s great to get that black type win today after being beaten by a lip in the Eulogy,” said Sam Bergerson, who trains in partnership with Mark Walker. The mare was beaten 0.1l by Still Bangon (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) in the G2 Eulogy S. just over a year ago.

“She seems to love it here at Trentham. Sam (Spratt) gave her a great ride. and it was a really good effort. She relaxed beautifully in the running.

“Having the sting out of the track is ideal for her. The firmer ground just slows her down a little bit and she’s not able to fully let down on it. She was perfectly placed in the handicap today and got the result.

“We’ll see how she pulls up and go from here. She’s had a bit of racing recently, so we’ll work out whether or not we give her a little break.”

David Ellis CNZM paid NZ$160,000 for the filly, bred by Bloodstock Resources and Rich Hill Thoroughbreds, when Rich Hill Stud presented her at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale in 2022. She is the second foal from unraced Tavistock mare (NZ) Tellmeaboutit (NZ), a half-sister to three-time Group 2-winning mare Only Words (End Sweep {USA}), herself the dam of G2 Theo Marks S. Chat (Deep Field) and G2 Autumn S. Holy Snow (Fastnet Rock). Another half-sister is You Can't Say That (Fusaichi Pegasus {USA}), dam of Babylon Berlin (All Too Hard) who won her second G3 Concorde S. last month. Second dam What Can I Say (NZ) (Khozaam {USA}) claimed the G2 Warwick S. amongst six stakes victories.

Tellmeaboutit was covered by Satono Aladdin (Jpn) this spring, and Only Words has a colt by Maurice (Jpn) entered into the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year. My Lips Are Sealed becomes the third stakes winner for Ace High, most notably the sire of G1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas winner Molly Bloom (NZ).

Romantic Choice snaps up black type in Geelong Pearl

Romantic Choice (Toronado {Ire}) made the leap into black type on Saturday, where the 4-year-old mare downed hot favourite She’s Bulletproof (Shooting To Win) by 0.2l on her way to victory in the Listed Black Pearl S. at Geelong. The Tom Dabernig trainee collected up her sixth win in 17 starts, having finished a close up fifth in the Listed Christmas S. a week ago, 1.41l behind Ashford Street (Moshe).

“Full credit to John Cordina, he bred this mare and she’s had a great preparation,” Dabernig told 7HorseRacing after the win. “I thought her two wins at Caulfield were excellent. She previously has been a winner here at Geelong and her run at Caulfield last start, she only got beaten a length and a half.

“I knew she was very fit coming into today. She was able to find the lead and they couldn’t get past her. So thank you to (jockey) Jarrod (Fry), it was a good, strong, front-running ride and she’s gotten the blacktype.”

Dabernig hinted at a Tasmanian raid in the near future. “When you’ve got these mares in form, it’s tricky to stop. At the moment, she’s thriving, so hopefully she pulls up well and we can consider something like that.”

Bred and retained to race by Summertime Thoroughbreds, Romantic Choice is out of Choice Sunday (Duporth), a half-sister to John Cordina’s G1 Victoria Derby-winning stallion Ace High, who is now ensconced at Rich Hill Stud in New Zealand. Second dam Come Sunday (Redoute’s Choice) is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Kneeling (Encosta De Lago), dam of Listed-winning brothers Dashing Legend (Snitzel) and Bend The Knee (Snitzel), and nine-time winner That’s A Good Idea (Flying Spur), who holds the track record for 1100 metres at Scone from his performance in the Listed Ortensia S.. Choice Sunday has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB), who has yet to appear in a sales catalogue.

Miss Joelene surfs to victory in Magic Millions The Wave

A pre-Christmas 2-year-old win seems a long way from the $500,000 Magic Millions The Wave at the Sunshine Coast track, but Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) was also fourth in the G1 JJ Atkins S. and third in the G1 Queensland Oaks last winter. The Kelly Schweida-trained 4-year-old continued a string of good runs this preparation, placing in all four outings this spring, with a 0.18l victory on Saturday over Encoder (Encryption) under Damien Lane, who took the reins when original jockey Tommy Berry fell ill.

“Well done to this mare,” said Schweida. “She ran good the other day (at Eagle Farm). She nearly fell over on the corner and lost a plate.

“When we were three deep, I thought, ‘uh oh, we’re in a spot of bother here,’ because Damian (Lane)’s never ridden here before. He (had) wanted to go forward. He said, ‘oh, I’m not gonna make much ground here.’ And I said, ‘Damien, it’ll be my fault, (but) you gotta go back.’

“But, look, it’s good to get a win, you know. They’re good owners, they’ve been longtime clients.”

Miss Joelene is the first foal from Listed Bill Carter S.-winning Cellargirl (More Than Ready {USA}), half-sister to G3 Doncaster Prelude H. winner Cellarman (Mossman). Second dam Vintage Blend (Cape Cross {Ire}) is a half-sister to Listed Maybe Mahal Plate victress Vintner (Hennessy {USA}), dam of Listed Mona Lisa S.-winning Fitou (Street Cry {Ire}).

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

Bred by Wilrace, who remain in the ownership, Miss Joelene was a $20,000 purchase for her trainer from Kenmore Lodge at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale. Cellargirl’s only other foal is the 3-year-old Autumngirl (The Autumn Sun), a winner for Schweida and her breeder in December at her second start.

'Unbelievable' Payline earns massive payday in the Syndicate

Damien Lane delivered a race-to-race double on Saturday at the Sunshine Coast when he backed up his Wave win on Miss Joelene with victory in the $1 million Magic Millions The Syndicate on Chris and Corey Munce’s Payline (Shooting To Win). The 4-year-old gelding was taking a hefty leap in class to claim his fifth win, having last been first past the post in a BM78 at Doomben in November.

“Unbelievable,” is how co-trainer Corey Munce described the victory. “What a thrill. We won this race two years ago with Centrefire, and it’s really unbelievable, the similarities these two horses possess.

“(Father, Chris Munce) and I see eye to eye on a lot of things. This is a great win for us. Dad loves Damian (Lane) and it was great to have him on today.

“I didn’t know where he was going to get to from the big draw and the sticky start. I just said, 'This horse has a wicked turn of foot’, and he certainly showed that today.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Magic Millions

The second foal from Listed Just Now H. winner Slots (Casino Prince), Payline was offered by breeder Torryburn Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where he was purchased for $120,000 by Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau. Close by in the family is G2 William Hill S. winner Nicoscene (Nicconi) and Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir), winner of the G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude. Slots delivered a filly by Ole Kirk this past spring and her colt by Home Affairs was originally entered for the Magic Millions sale next week, but has since been withdrawn.