Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Growing Empire chasing Group 1 goals in autumn
The Ciaron Maher-trained Growing Empire (Zoustar), who narrowly missed out on a top flight win three times in the spring, had a strong hit-out at the Cranbourne Training Complex on Monday morning, crossing the line 0.1l in front of Group 3 winner Tobeornottobe (Pierata), with G2 Caulfield Sprint winner Estriella (I Am Invincible) close behind in third.
After the 3-year-old colt’s soft jump-out two weeks ago, Maher's assistant trainer Jack Turnbull confirmed that he will be aimed at the G1 Lightning Stakes first up, with a possible tilt at the G1 Oakleigh Plate a week later.
"His number one aim is to win a Group 1," Turnbull said. "He's placed in one by a nose but we need to get that victory, so we will be going where we think it is most suitable for him to perform to be a stallion.”
Growing Empire was a $700,000 purchase for Yulong from Vinery Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale two years ago, and a full sister will be offered at the same sale this year as Lot 58 in Vinery’s draft. Dam Miles Of Krishan (Snitzel) was covered again by Zoustar in the spring, as was Growing Empire’s older half-sister, G3 Begonia Belle Stakes-placed Dancing Alone (I Am Invincible).
Speaking to racing.com about fifth-placed Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}), trainer Enver Jusufovic confirmed that the 6-year-old gelding will resume in the G1 CF Orr Stakes this coming Saturday.
North England decimates Slipper rivals at Rosehill
$1 million Golden Gift winner North England (Farnan) ramped up his autumn preparations with a 3.5l trial win at Rosehill Gardens on Monday morning. Tulloch Lodge’s smart colt led most of the trip and started to pull away on the home straight, teasing G3 Gimcrack Stakes victress Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) into thinking she could keep up with him, before extending away down the last furlong.
The Michael Freedman-trained Pallaton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) revved his engine in the closing stages to catch up to Bel Merci and finish third. The trial was the fastest of 14 900-metre heats of the morning, and 0.87s faster than the next best time. Speaking to the Sydney Morning Herald on Thursday, Freedman indicated the trial would be a decision-maker as to whether Pallaton heads to the $150,000 Pierro Plate or G2 Silver Slipper Stakes first up.
Shortly following his trial, North England’s odds shortened from $26 to $17 on TAB for the G1 Golden Slipper Stakes. He will bypass the R. Listed Inglis Millennium this Saturday, where he sat top of the ballot order prior to nominations.
Bred by Zhongli Thoroughbreds, North England was a rare Inglis Classic Yearling Sale purchase for China Horse Club, Newgate Bloodstock, Go Bloodstock, and Trilogy last year. His dam Our Belisa (Lope De Vega {Ire}) was offered by Newgate on the Inglis Digital platform in November, where she was purchased in foal to Stay Inside for $225,000 by Bruce Edwards’ Durham Park.
Boom filly dances to trial win over Lady Of Camelot
Bjorn Baker’s unbeaten 3-year-old Dance To The Boom (Exceedance) let down impressively in a Rosehill Gardens trial on Monday morning, fending off a looming Lady Of Camelot (Written Tycoon) to win the 900-metre heat by 0.08l. Both fillies were returning from assignments around the New Year, when Dance To The Boom took her winning streak to three with victory in the Listed Gosford Guineas and Lady Of Camelot finished second to Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) in the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight.
The rest of the pack was headed by G1 Champions Sprint winner Sunshine In Paris (Invader), with G2 Expressway Stakes-bound Olentia (Zoustar) and Militarize (NZ) (Dundeel {NZ}), in his first outing as a gelding, on her heels.
Cambridge Stud’s Jo Lindsay purchased the Rosemont Stud-bred Dance To The Boom for $250,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the first foal from Bim Bam Boom (I Am Invincible), a half-sister to G1 Easter Handicap winner Albany Reunion (Fastnet Rock).
Joliestar nears Expressway turnoff
Joliestar (Zoustar) closed off a 900-metre strongly at Rosehill Gardens on Monday, sweeping around the outside from near last to finish third by 0.52l to Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) and fellow Chris Waller trainee Lindermann (Lonhro). Royal Patronage was having his first hit-out since finishing seventh in the G1 Cox Plate, where Lindermann finished third to Joliestar in a late January trial.
The 4-year-old mare is expected to resume in the G2 Expressway Stakes, unless connections target the G1 Newmarket Handicap next month, in which case she will have a jump-out down the Flemington straight. Joliestar has an exceptional first up record, winning three out of four runs fresh, and placing second in the other.
Dam G2 Roman Consul Stakes winner Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock) has a yearling full sister to Joliestar who has not appeared in a sales catalogue and delivered a filly by Anamoe in the spring, before being served again by Zoustar.
Magic Time blows off cobwebs at Cranbourne
Dual Group 1-winning mare Magic Time (Hellbent) put in her final preparations for an autumn campaign with a 1l trial victory at the Cranbourne Training Complex on Monday. She was followed home by Just Folk (Magnus) and Odinson (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) another 2l behind. The 5-year-old mare, who is trained by Grahame Begg, had a soft jump-out at Cranbourne a fortnight ago where she finished fourth.
Magic Time was bred and originally retained to race by Milburn Creek Stud, before Yulong Investments purchased the mare in November for an undisclosed sum ahead of her second-placed finish in the G2 Hot Danish Stakes.
G1 VRC Oaks winner Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) was fifth across the line in her first hit-out of the year. Trainer Matt Laurie confirmed to racing.com that the 3-year-old filly will jump out next Wednesday at Balnarring, before starting in the G2 Angus Armanasco Stakes on her way to the G1 Australian Oaks in April.
Perle De Chocolat powers home at Rosehill
Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou’s Perle De Chocolat (Astern) revved up a big engine in her juvenile trial at Rosehill Gardens on Monday, coming from mid field at the top of the straight to close the gap on Sassy Abbey (Zousain) and overtake her by 0.47l at the line. The 2-year-old filly was fifth in the G3 Gimcrack Stakes in the spring by 2.5l, before being tipped out, and made her return to the trials in style.
A $120,000 purchase Inglis Classic purchase for R Unicorn Stable and Satomi Oka Bloodstock (FBAA) from Alma Vale Thoroughbreds, Perle De Chocolat is the third runner from Listed performer Chocolatier (Fr) (Lawman {Fr}).
Rosie Rouge flashes pedigree in Rosehill win
Another strong trial came from the well bred juvenile Rosie Rouge (I Am Invincible), who zoomed past You’re The Choice (Farnan) for a 0.6l victory on Monday at Rosehill Gardens. The Tulloch Lodge-trained filly trialled once in September behind O’ Ole (Ole Kirk) and Bel Merci (Extreme Choice), and returned in January with a comfortable third.
Bred by Widden Stud and partners, Rosie Rouge was purchased by Jes Sikura, Hill 'N' Dale Farm, Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA), and Kestrel Thoroughbreds for $1,700,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the first foal from G2 Tristarc Stakes and G3 The Nivision winner Madam Rouge (Zoustar).
Well related debutant rockets home in first trial
Debutante Skyhook (Written Tycoon) stamped himself a colt to follow at Rosehill Gardens on Monday morning, extending under Tyler Schiller’s asking to pass Coolmore-owned Congressman (Snitzel) and untapped Farnan colt Farcited to win by a widening 1.43l margin.
Trained by Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou, who paid $575,000 to secure him from Arrowfield Stud’s Magic Millions draft last January, Skyhook is the second foal from Madame Pauline (Redoute’s Choice), a three-quarter-sister to Widden Stud’s Anders and $1 million Silver Eagle winner Ostraka (Pariah).
Ammo gunning for big debut after Cranbourne win
Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained Ammo (Capitalist) will be shooting for lofty goals after a 2.25l trial win at the Cranbourne Training Complex track on Monday morning. The 2-year-old colt has jumped out twice previously for midfield finishes, before flying home in Monday’s heat.
Ammo as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Bred by Gerry Harvey, Ammo was purchased at the Gold Coast for $360,000 by his trainers. He is the second foal from six-time winner Stella Sea Sun (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to G3 Concord Stakes winner Felines (Conatus).