Juvenile summary: Return To Conquer considering trans-Tasman assault after G3 victory

12 min read
Te Akau Racing colt Return To Conquer has his team considering crossing the Tasman after a stylish victory in the G3 Collin Jillings 2YO Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday. Champion Sire Snitzel achieved a trans-Tasman juvenile stakes double with Blitzburg's G3 Canonbury Stakes win, and Kia Ora Stud-owned Inkaruna swoops home to nab the G3 Chairman's Stakes on debut.

Cover image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)

Raceday recap:

Unbeaten colt Return To Conquer (Snitzel) lands his sire a juvenile stakes double with victory in the G3 Collin Jillings 2YO Classic, and has the Te Akau Racing team considering a cross-Tasman campaign.

Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou's Blitzburg (Snitzel) bounced back after a mixed Queensland raid to win the G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill Gardens.

The Playwright (Written By) justified Tulloch Lodge's confidence in her with a gritty win in the G3 Widden Stakes, and turns her attention to a possible G1 Blue Diamond Stakes tilt.

Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) continued a stellar day out for Kia Ora Stud, who have shares in both of Saturday's Group 3-winning colts, with victory in the shadows of the post in Sandown's G3 Chairman's Stakes.

Oaklands Stud stallion Prince Fawaz celebrated his first winner on Saturday when his daughter Idyllic Affair stormed home in the $85,000 opener at Doomben, with trainer Lee Freedman considering Group 1 assaults later in the season.

Neville Parnham's Alabama Express filly Strideaway picked up her second win in four starts when resuming at Ascot in the $80,000 MCA Polytrack Plate.

Unbeaten Return To Conquer dominates Classic at Ellerslie

Te Akau Racing’s smart Return To Conquer (Snitzel) kept his perfect blacktype record when taking out the G3 Collin Jillings 2YO Classic at Ellerslie on Saturday. The winner of the Listed Counties Challenge Stakes on debut in November, the colt had to swing wide early to get in the clear, but after Wiremu Pinn coaxed him forward, he cruised home, hardly threatened by second-placed finisher Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), who crossed the line 0.5l behind him.

“It didn’t all go his way today,” co-trainer Sam Bergerson said. “He went back, then had to go forward again. It looked like he loafed around a little bit when he got to the front in the straight.

“He’s a lovely horse going forward. Fair play to David (Ellis), going out and buying these types of colts on spec. It’s not cheap. But he’s a beautiful animal who has it all in front of him. He’ll take plenty of improvement from this and will strip a lot fitter next time.

“There’s options (for him) like the colts’ race at Matamata and then the (G1) Sistema, or he could even head across to Australia. We’ll see how he pulls up from this and then have a good team talk with (co-trainer) Mark (Walker) and David, and take it from there.”

Sam Bergerson | Image courtesy of Trish Dunell

David Ellis CNZM outlaid $1.3 million to secure the only son of the late Vaujany (Lonhro), an unraced full sister to G2 Surround Stakes winner Ghisoni and a close relation to G3 Hong Kong Jockey Club Stakes winner Larkspur Run (Shamardal). He was offered at the Gold Coast by Blue Gum Farm on behalf of breeder M Howard.

This year marked the first year that the Classic was run at Ellerslie in the name of Hall Of Fame horseman Colin Jillings, who passed in 2022.

“It’s such an honour to win the first running of an event which has been named after a true legend,” David Ellis said. “Colin was one of my very best, life-long friends. I greatly treasured his advice, loyalty, wisdom, and friendship over many decades from the time he met me as a young man. In fact, he actually introduced Karyn (Fenton-Ellis) and me at the Trentham races.

“It’s such an honour to win the first running of an event which has been named after a true legend.” - David Ellis

“Mark also looked up to Colin, who always freely shared his training expertise and experience with him.”

Blitzburg blitzes home in Canonbury

It was an all the way win for flashy Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt Blitzburg (Snitzel) in the G3 Canonbury Stakes at Rosehill Gardens on Saturday.

The most experienced member of the field, who was having his fourth start in a preparation that began with a comfortable win at Newcastle in November, kept a level head and an unwavering path under the steering of Tyler Schiller to win by 1.18l. Debutant Hillier (Zoustar), who clashed with some of Sydney’s most promising 2-year-olds in his pre-Christmas trials, strode forward in the closing stages of the race to finish second for Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald.

“I’ve been very confident with him since he came home from Queensland,” co-trainer Gerald Ryan said. “He wasn’t right up there, I wasn’t happy with him. I spoke to the stewards about him. They couldn’t scratch him (from the Magic Millions 2YO Classic) because he was second emergency, and he ended up not getting a run so I treated him.

“So when they changed it to Friday night, I couldn’t run him anyway as it was within seven days. So they let me scratch him and we brought him home, and since he’s been home, he hasn’t missed a beat.

“He’s only two once and we’ll just see where he ends up, but the Black Opal might be his go. We’ll just pick our races with him and if he’s flying at Slipper time, yeah, we would perhaps go there, but at the moment I don’t think he’s a Slipper horse.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Bred by race sponsors Arrowfield Stud who remain in his ownership, Blitzburg is the second foal from juvenile-placed Sierra (Jpn) (Orfevre {Jpn}), a daughter of G2 Las Virgines Stakes winner Golden Doc A (USA) (Unusual Heat {USA}) who is a full sister to globetrotting G1 Hollywood Turf Cup winner Unusual Suspect (USA). Blitzburg was a $500,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchase for TFI and Ryan and Alexiou Racing from his breeder. A full brother will be offered at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale as Lot 161 in Arrowfield’s draft.

Blitzburg gives multiple Champion Sire Snitzel his 59th individual juvenile stakeswinner, and a juvenile blacktype double across the Tasman. Of the last four editions of the Canonbury Stakes, Snitzel has provided three of the winners, with Blitzburg joining Prost and Best Of Bordeaux on the honour roll.

Gritty showing from The Playwright captures Widden Stakes

Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott had had great confidence in The Playwright (Written By) going in to the G3 Widden Stakes at Rosehill Gardens, and the filly delivered on Saturday with a wire to wire run in the 1100-metre event. Her only challengers, the favourite Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) and Snitzel Miss (Snitzel), came in the last furlong, but she still found enough kick to evade them, getting her head 0.1l in front of Godolphin’s Tempted. The trio left a gap of almost 7l back to the rest of the field.

“Even though she began brilliantly and showed that customary speed, you could just see in those first few furlongs of the race, just coming back from the 1200 metres, that she needed assistance,” co-trainer Adrian Bott said. “It took Regan (Bayliss) a bit of urging to get her to the front, and obviously (he) had to use her a bit and have her at her top for a long way in the race.

“But in fairness, going into it, that’s the style of the race we wanted to run, using that fitness advantage and the race experience that she had.

“She’s got some blacktype now for her residual value, so if this happens to be the last run of her campaign, she’s done a great job. But (with) the way she is, the constitution that she’s got, I don’t know. I do feel she could keep going.

“She’s (The Playwright) got some blacktype now for her residual value, so if this happens to be the last run of her campaign, she’s done a great job.” - Adrian Bott

“We won this race last year with Lady Camelot and she pushed onto the Blue Diamond. She’s (The Playwright) amongst the acceptances, whether we look to do that or whether there’s something still in Sydney for her. But everything will be determined by how she pulls up.”

The Playwright was a $60,000 purchase on the Gold Coast for Tricolours Racing and Syndications, where she was offered by breeder Newhaven Park Stud. She is the fourth winner for Listed-placed Sugarparma (Snitzel), who ran fourth in the G3 BJ McLachlan Stakes, a race that The Playwright finished third in. Sugarparma’s Xtravagant (NZ) filly was a $60,000 purchase earlier this month at Magic Millions for Angela Davies Racing, and she has another to follow.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

The Playwright’s victory brings Written By, who fittingly stands at race sponsor Widden Stud, to five stakes winners across his first three crops.

Inkaruna’s Chairman’s victory continues stellar day for Kia Ora

Kia Ora Stud-bred and owned Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) debuted in style at Sandown where she pipped the hot favourite Sword Of Legacy (Too Darn Hot {GB}) by 0.02l in the G3 Chairman’s Stakes on Saturday. Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the filly is the fifth debutant since 2011 to claim the race. It continued a bumper day for Kia Ora, who also have shares in fresh Group 3-winning colts Blitzburg and Return To Conquer.

Co-trainer Sam Freedman said that continuing on a path to the G1 Blue Diamond Stakes was unlikely at this stage.

“It’s tricky,” he said. “She was actually due to jump out a couple of weeks ago in her second trial, but it got called off due to weather at Caulfield on the Heath track. That would have put her on the right leg to try her in the Preview last week.

“She’s a nice filly that has progressed all the way through and that is a great result to get a stakes win on debut.”

“She’s (Inkaruna) a nice filly that has progressed all the way through and that is a great result to get a stakes win on debut.” - Sam Freedman

A daughter of G3 Sheraco Stakes winner Ravi (Redoute’s Choice), Inkaruna passed in when offered at the Gold Coast last January. The father and son Freedman team had taken a liking to the filly when they saw her at the sale, but “didn’t quite have the budget” to take her home on the day.

Ravi is a full sister to Northern Hemisphere-raced stakeswinning stallion Elzaam (Redoute’s Choice), who sired his first Group 1 winner in 2020 with Champers Elysees (Ire). Ravi has a filly at foot by Zoustar, and was served by Kia Ora resident Captivant in November.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Prince Fawaz celebrates first winner at Doomben

Oaklands Stud’s G1 JJ Atkins Plate winner Prince Fawaz got his first winner on the board on Saturday, when his daughter Idyllic Affair ran down short-priced favourite Boomshanka (Spirit Of Boom) by 0.25l in the $85,000 QTIS 2-Year-Old Handicap at Doomben. The Lee Freedman-trained filly was having her second start, having run second on debut at Eagle Farm last month, finishing 2.28l behind Dushenka (Doubtland).

“She is a big strong filly and she has shown us nice ability,” Freedman said. “She is so relaxed in the stalls, she only wakes up a little bit when the jockey gets on her.

“I don't even think this is her right trip, she will be better over longer. Michael (Rodd) knew what he had underneath him, he didn't try to win the race until he had to win the race.

“We will give her a break now. It would be a short break if we go to Sydney for the (G1) Sires' or the (G1) Champagne, or alternatively we will just keep her for some good races in Queensland.”

Lee Freedman | Image courtesy of Lee Freedman Racing

Idyllic Affair passed in when offered by Alma Vale Thoroughbreds at the Gold Coast last year, and has been retained to race by breeders JW, RPM, PJM Kelly & Co. She is the first foal from Sunday Drive (Sebring), from the family of Prized Icon and G1 Champagne Stakes-placed Whispered Secret (High Chaparral {Ire}). Sunday Drive has a yearling full brother to follow.

Prince Fawaz stands for $6600 (inc GST).

Alabama Express filly strides away with second Ascot win

Strideaway (Alabama Express) takes her record to two wins and a second placing in four starts when resuming at Ascot on Saturday. The Neville Parnham-trained filly pulled away from Do I Feel Lucky (Dirty Work) by 0.76l to win the $80,000 MCA Polytrack Plate, justifying her favouritism leading into the event.

“She’s quite a nice filly, she’s quite tall for a baby and still has a fair bit of filling out to do,” Parnham said. “I think the best is yet to come from her. Natural ability-wise, she certainly looks like she is on track for the Magic Millions in a couple of weeks time.

“She’ll have an easy week - she’s pretty easy to train. We just need a gallop between now and then, and she’ll be ready. I don’t tend to do a lot with them (2-year-olds), they just need to clean the windpipes out and they can go again.

“I think the best is yet to come from her. Natural ability-wise, she certainly looks like she is on track for the Magic Millions in a couple of weeks time.” - Neville Parnham

“She’s still learning her trade, like all young horses. I just think there’s a lot of natural talent in her. Laqdar (Ramoly) has done most of the work on her all the way through, and he won’t let anyone else get on her.”

Sunset Reef Pty Ltd paid $25,000 for the Yulong-bred filly at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale last year, and she has since accumulated over $105,000 in prize money. Dam Rowsthorn (Written Tycoon) is a juvenile winner and close relation to G3 Typhoon Tracy Stakes winner Written Dash (Written Tycoon). She delivered a colt by Lucky Vega (Ire) in the spring, and returned to him in late September.

Neville Parnham | Image courtesy of Racing WA

Yulong will offer a full brother to Strideaway as Lot 595 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale this month.

Juvenile summary
Rosehill Gardens
Ellerslie
Doomben
Ascot
Blitzburg
Return To Conquer
The Playwright
Idyllic Affair
Inkaruna
Sandown
Strideaway
Snitzel
Prince Fawaz