Cover image courtesy of Sportpix
G3 Canonbury Stakes - the juvenile boys
A race which has a history going back to the 1930's, the G3 Canonbury Stakes has some very nice horses on its honour roll, won by the likes of Tulloch (NZ), Fine And Dandy (Star Kingdom {Ire}), Time And Tide (Star Kingdom), Shogun Lodge (Grand Lodge {USA}) and Sebring.
The most recent G1 Golden Slipper winner to claim this way on his way through was Vancouver in 2015.
Three of the seven acceptors for this year's edition have already raced. Blitzburg (Snitzel) won at his Newcastle debut in November and has proven competitive since. The $500,000 Magic Millions buy is out of a daughter of the Group 1 winner Golden Doc A (USA) (Unusual Heat {USA}).
Gallery: High-priced contenders set to compete in the G3 Canonbury Stakes, images courtesy of Magic Millions and Inglis
The race's most expensive purchase, the $1.9 million Inglis Easter Yearling Sale graduate Fermoy (Zoustar) ran on well behind The Playwright (Written By) when debuting at Rosehill in late November.
The son of Listed Dequetteville Stakes winner Fundamentalist (whose sire Not A Single Doubt won this race in 2003) was sold by Segenhoe Stud to Tom Magnier and races in the Coolmore navy silks.
The favourite Burma Star (Exceed And Excel) stretched the subsequent G3 B.J McLachlan Stakes winner Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}) when second at her first start at Warwick Farm in mid-October. The Godolphin home-bred out of the G2 Silver Slipper Stakes placegetter Gongs (Dawn Approach {Ire}) is resuming off a Hawkesbury trial win.
Burma Star | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Also being kept safe is Tropic (Zoustar), the only trial winner amongst those facing the starter for the first time, winning a Rosehill heat last October whilst second at the same track on January 23.
The $440,000 Easter colt is a full brother to last weekend's Listed W.J Adams Stakes winner Philosopher.
The only first-season sire represented in the race is Widden Stud Victoria's Dirty Work whose son Melanite, a $140,000 Magic Millions yearling trained by John Thompson, was second in a Canterbury trial. He hails from the same family as Home Affairs.
G3 Widden Stakes - the juvenile girls
The race which provided last year's G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) has been hotly contested since the 1940's and has also been won by such talented fillies as Denise's Joy (Seventh Hussar {Fr}), Triscay (Marscay), Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and Mossfun (Mossman).
Five of the nine 2025 runners have already raced including the Godolphin Street Boss (USA) pair Tempted and Daphnes who were first and second in a Warwick Farm maiden in mid-December. The former is a half-sister to the triple Group-winning sprinter Kallos (Medaglia d'Oro {USA}) and the latter a daughter of the dual Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro).
Also showing talent is the Group 3 placed Rosehill winner The Playwright (Written By), daughter of the stakes-placed Sugarparma (Snitzel) and the Gold Coast Debut placegetter In Limbo (Hellbent), a three-quarter sister to the stakes placed multiple city winner Joviality (I Am Invincible).
The Playwright | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Snitzel Miss (Snitzel) is the only trial winner amongst the unraced gallopers and she is being kept safe on the back of that success over the RL Inglis Nursery winner Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}).
The granddaughter of the RL Magic Millions 2Y0 Classic winner Military Rose (General Nediym) from the prolific Summoned (Crowned Prince {USA}) family is the race's most expensive purchase, sold by Baramul Stud to Waller Racing/Mulcaster Bloodstock for $450,000 at the Magic Millions.
Newhaven Park Stud's Cool Aza Beel (NZ) is the only first-season sire with a runner, his daughter Sequel not disgraced at her first two outings.
G3 Colin Jillings 2YO Classic - the New Zealand juveniles
The odds-on favourite Return To Conquer (Snitzel) has been in winning form at the trials since his impressively easy victory in the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes at Pukekohe Park in late November.
Wiremu Pinn was aboard on that occasion and again takes the ride on the very exciting Te Akau Stallion Breeding Syndicate colt.
The race's most expensive purchase, the grandson of the dual Group 2-winning mare Portillo (Red Ransom {USA}) from the family of Snowland and Snippetson was sold by Blue Gum Farm to David Ellis CNZM (BANZ) for $1.3 million at the Magic Millions.
Return To Conquer | Image courtesy of Race Images
Two of his rivals have also raced including Dare To Proisir (NZ) (Proisir) who finished strongly for a recent Ellerslie third.
The $230,000 New Zealand Bloodstock Yearling Sale graduate is out of a full sister to the G2 Avondale Cup winner Polzeath (NZ) (Pentire {GB}) from the family of the dual Group 1-winning stayer Second Coming (NZ) (Oak Ridge {Fr}).
Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) is the only trial winner amongst the first starters. One of the 28 members of the penultimate crop of her high-achieving sire, The Oaks Stud home-bred is out of the five time winner Sleek Secret (NZ) (Sakhee's Secret {GB}).
Also making their debuts are Cashla Bay (NZ) (US Navy Flag {USA}), half-sister to the G3 Waikato Cup and G3 Launceston Cup winner Home By Midnight (NZ) (Domesday). She is another home-bred for The Oaks whilst Vittoria (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) is a NZ$100,000 Karaka graduate, a half-sister to the Group 3 placed No Filter (NZ) (Toronado {Ire}).
Dare To Proisir (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of New Zealand Bloodstock
G3 Chairman's Stakes - the Melbourne juveniles
Last year's G1 Golden Slipper Stakes runner-up Coleman (Pierata) won this race at his second start. Whilst it is not an old race, it does have a nice honour roll having been won by such talented speedsters as Wrap Around (Bletchingly), Yell (Anabaa {USA}), Crystal Lily (Stratum), and Loving Gaby (I Am Invincible).
A couple of outstanding stallions also have this race on their resume; Redoute's Choice and his grandson Extreme Choice and it was also won by a horse who went on to star on the international stage; it being the first win recorded by Subscribe (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}) who went on to multiple Group 1 wins in Hong Kong and Dubai under the name of Vengeance Of Rain.
Two of this year's contestants have already raced. The Hesket Bloodstock home-bred Sword Of Legacy (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was a game second at her Flemington debut on January 18. She is a half-sister to the stakes placed Nodachi (No Nay Never {US}) from a family that has produced a number of David Moodie's best sprinters including the triple Group 1 winner Flamberge (Exceed And Excel).
Sword Of Legacy as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
A $34,000 Inglis May Yearling Sale purchase for well known owners Barry & Midge Griffiths, No Limitation (Exceedance) raced keenly and greenly when unplaced in that same Flemington race behind Cavalry Girl (Bivouac). Her city-winning dam Pierro Belle (Pierro) is a daughter of the G3 Silver Shadow Stakes winner Pane In The Glass (Testa Rossa).
The race's most expensive purchase is the debutant Boa Vista (Snitzel) who was bred by Ian Smith and sold by his Edinburgh Park to Jim Carey for $480,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
A highly successful pin hook, he was on sold to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.25 million at last year's Magic Millions. Second in a recent Cranbourne jump-out, he is a three-quarter brother to the last start RL Magic Millions Cup winner West Of Africa (Not A Single Doubt).
Boa Vista as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
There is plenty of winning jump-out form in this race with Forceofone (NZ) (Super Seth), Hot Sea (Too Darn Hot {GB}), Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) and Jenni Moo Moo (Toronado {Ire}) all winning heats.
Lindsay Park's Forceofone is a NZ$150,000 Karaka graduate out of a daughter of the Listed winner Metropolitan (NZ) (Elusive City {USA}) and the two time Cranbourne jump-out winner Hot Sea trained by Gavin Bedggood for his breeders Cape Falls Thoroughbreds is out of the Listed winner Seannie (Sebring).
Kia Ora's home-bred Inkaruna is out of the G3 Sheraco Stakes winner Ravi (Redoute's Choice) whilst the Cape Schanck Stud home-bred Jenni Moo Moo is out of a full sister to the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Japonisme (Choisir).
The sprinters - the Southern Cross and the Geoffrey Bellmaine
The need for speed is being felt in Sydney and Melbourne on Saturday with the running of the G3 Southern Cross Stakes at Rosehill and the G3 Geoffrey Bellmaine Stakes at Sandown.
James McDonald was aboard the subsequent G1 Canterbury Stakes winner Lady Laguna (Overshare) when she took out last year's running of the Southern Cross, a race in which Hard To Say (Exceed And Excel) was a game second.
This time around he partners with the horse he conquered, Hard To Say attempting to go one better, and with similar lead-up form.
He has only eight rivals but they are well credentialled ones with the favourite Accredited (All Too Hard) looking hard to beat on the back of his three smart wins; rising in grade each time as he does again.
Accredited | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Also boasting a form picket fence, Disneck (Trapeze Artist) is another vying for four straight wins whilst Iowna Merc (Winning Rupert) and Willaidow (Shamus Award) are also in great form. Wategos (Capitalist) is another who really knows how to find the line and his trial form against the likes of last weekend's G2 Australia Stakes winner Schwarz (Zoustar) is good.
A number of Group 1 performers have this race, which was until 2008 run as the Frederick Clissold Stakes, on their resume. Such as San Domenico (Hua), Evening Peal (Delville Wood {GB}), Roman Consul (NZ) (Agricola {GB}), Gunsynd, Hartshill (My Heart {Ire}), Scomeld (Scotian), Wong (NZ) (Rojipath {Fr}) and Terravista (Captain Rio {GB}).
A contest for mares, the Geoffrey Bellmaine is a younger stakes race; run at Listed level from 2001 and 2006 and as a Group 3 race since. Two classy mares; Prussian Vixen (King Of Prussia) and Probabeel (NZ) (Savabeel) have won it twice and that is a feat being chased by Wrote To Arataki (NZ) (Wrote {Ire}).
Wrote To Arataki (NZ) | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
This race was run at Caulfield last year and she was a solid fourth, the year before it was at Sandown and she was at her best leading throughout. She resumes on Saturday and off a Camperdown jump-out victory is capable of running a bold race at nice odds.
More strongly favoured is the consistent She's Bulletproof (Shooting To Win), a member of the in-form Charlotte Littlefield stable. Quintessa (NZ) (Shamus Award) boasts an excellent fresh record, at the start of her latest campaign taking out the G3 Cockram Stakes.
Fancify (NZ) (Niagara) was in great form before a spell and is another who can find form quickly whilst Miraval Rose (Grunt {NZ}) has the fitness edge. Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) is the up-and-comer of the field, showing plenty of talent in her first seven starts.
She's Bulletproof | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Stakes racing In New Zealand - the Listed Oaks Prelude, the G3 Taranaki Cup and the Listed Fulton Family Stakes
Aside from the Colin Jillings 2YO Classic there is New Zealand black-type action for the three-year-old fillies (the Listed Oaks Prelude), the middle distance gallopers (the G3 Taranaki Cup) and the sprinter/milers (the Listed Fulton Family Stakes).
The Oaks Prelude contested over 1800 metres at New Plymouth is still a young race, yet to provide a winner of the G1 New Zealand Oaks with last year's winner Spine Tingle (NZ) (Super Easy {NZ}) doing her best work late when fifth in that Classic.
The scratching of Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) leaves Hinekaha (NZ) (Savabeel) favourite as she also is for the Oaks.
The lightly raced and promising member of the Andrew Forsman stable looks nicely primed for a step up in distance having found the line well at her most recent outing (just her third start) over 1500 metres.
Hinekaha (NZ) current favourite for the Oaks Prelude | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
Crown Princess (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and Wounder (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) are also displaying talent.
The following race, the G3 Taranaki Cup, also over 1800 metres, has some interesting differing form lines including the 2022 G2 Perth Cup winner Midnight Blue (So You Think {NZ}). Last spring's Listed Kilmore Cup winner ran on strongly at his latest outing in the G2 Taupo Cup.
Mali Storm (NZ) (El Roca) and Pearl Of Alsace (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) are both suited down in class having respectively contested the G1 Thorndon Mile whilst Bella Waters (NZ) (Sacred Falls {NZ}) took her place in the G1 Zabeel Classic.
Two horses are vying for favouritism in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes, a 1500-metre event at Ellerslie. Meaningful Star (Ire) (Pivotal {GB}) found trouble in the Zabeel Classic having previously come with a well timed run to win the G3 Great Northern Stakes whilst Kelly Coe (NZ) (Proisir) is also down in class having blundered shortly after the start in the Thorndon Mile, also previously winning a Group 3 race.
Gallery: Two horses are vying for favouritism in the Listed Fulton Family Stakes, images courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
G1 Melbourne Cup runner Trust In You (NZ) (Sweynesse) has a better gate than he did when drifting back in the G2 Rich Hill Mile fresh. Son Of Sun (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) is back in trip but is in flying form whilst Little Bit Of Love (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) is building a good record having won five of his 12 starts.
Two sons of Vadamos (Fr) also have strong claims, winning two in a row whilst Uderzo (NZ) was finishing off nicely in the Rich Hill Mile.