Golden Slipper order updated
The latest order for the G1 Golden Slipper was updated on Saturday by the Australian Turf Club following racing at Rosehill with Saturday’s winners Skyhook (Written Tycoon) and Memo (Capitalist) both gaining ballot exemptions with their wins.
G2 Japan Trophy goes to Waitak
A clever rails ride from Ryan Elliot gave in form 5-year-old gelding Waitak (NZ) (Proisir) his fifth career victory in Saturday’s G1 Japan Trophy at Tauranga. His trainers Lance O’Sullivan and Andrew Scott have always thought highly of the Group 1 winner with 10 of his 30 starts being in the highest class. “He’s the sort of horse where a lot of his performances say ‘next time, next time’, but he’s done a great job today,” said Elliot.
“It’s good to get a Group winner in these Wexford colours. I’ve hardly ever ridden for them before, but I’ve been doing a bit of work for them here and there and it’s starting to pay off.”
Winner of the 2024 G1 Railway Stakes at Ellerslie, Waitak now has earnings over NZ$700,000. Bred by the late Colin Devine and raced by his widow Jill, he is one of six Group 1 winners for his Champion sire and is the first foal of Repo Bay (NZ) (Shocking), who won twice and is a daughter of Star (Danehill {USA}), who is a half-sister to G2 Champion Fillies Stakes winner Entrancing (Bright Finish {USA}) and Listed winner Gilded Lily (Bletchingly). Waitak’s fourth dam is Australian Champion 2YO Filly and triple Group 1 winner Desirable (Without Fear {Fr}).
I Am Me gets The Quokka slot
Ciaron Maher-trained I Am Me (I Am Invincible) has been selected by Sportsbet for their slot in The Quokka. “Sportsbet values and supports innovation and entertainment in all sports and racing. After finishing fourth in the first two years, we’re hoping to break through this year,” Nathan Arundell, Sportsbet’s Chief Commercial Officer, told racingwa.com.au.
The Quokka is set to run at Ascot Racecourse on Saturday, April 26.
Generosity wins Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic
Simon Miller-trained 4-year-old mare Generosity (Divine Prophet) became her sire’s third stakes winner when adding a victory in Saturday’s Listed Sheila Gwynne Classic at Ascot. Ridden by Lucy Fiore, she won by 0.38l from Jason Miller-trained 5-year-old mare Bonjoy (Maschino) with the winner’s stablemate 6-year-old mare Zephyra (Demerit) in third.
A bargain $9,000 purchase by her trainer from Glastonbury Farms at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale, Generosity took her record to four wins from 19 starts with earnings over $350,000.
Video: Watch Generosity race replay, video courtesy of Racing WA
A half-sister to Group 3 placed winner Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi), she is out of winning mare Orabelle (Casino Prince) a daughter of Group 1 winner Bel Mer (Bel Esprit), the dam of this season’s good juvenile Bel Merci (Extreme Choice) and Listed winner All Too Royal (All Too Hard). Orabelle’s yearling filly by Russian Revolution was sold for $170,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale purchased by William and Dianne Ouston.
Hearts Are Better aimed at winter after Jewel win
Trainer Matthew Hoysted will spell consistent 3-year-old filly Hearts Are Better (Better Than Ready) after her win in Saturday’s QTIS Jewel 3YO at the Gold Coast. Now the winner of three of her six starts, she will be aimed at the Brisbane winter carnival next. “We weren't expecting to lead, but she was so brilliant out of the gates and when Nikita (Beriman) was able to lead and control the race, she was going to take a fair bit of running down,” Hoysted said.
“There was the query over the 1200 metres, but she got into such a lovely rhythm and she was able to do it with an easy time in the mid stages. She'll be put away and hopefully build her a winter program from there.”
With earnings over $388,000, she is the second foal of Heartaches (Snitzel) whose first foal is also a winner, and Heartaches has no other foals recorded for her. Heartaches is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Magicool (Fastnet Rock).
Rehabilitation victory for Lindsay Park veterinary team
The win of Tatsumaki (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}) at Caulfield on Saturday for Lindsay Park after a long injury recovery period is one for the veterinary team. “Credit to our vet department back at Euroa. They've managed him very closely. We've built him up, tipped him out, pulled him back in, and been very patient with him, and we've reaped the benefits of that,” said co-trainer Will Hayes.
The 6-year-old gelding hadn’t raced since winning in October 2021 and is now unbeaten in four starts.
Treble for Capitalist at Gosford
Capitalist dominated Saturday’s Gosford meeting with three winners, led by Annabel Neasham and Rob Archibald-trained 2-year-old colt Missile Magnate who was having his second start, having run second on debut. Sold by Yarraman Park Stud for $120,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, he was purchased by Triple Crown Syndications. He is the first foal of G3 Summoned Stakes winner Missile Mantra (Smart Missile), who is a half-sister to Group 2 winner Makarena (Snitzel).
Capitalist’s other two winners were 3-year-old filly Mercantilist who was on debut for trainer Sara Ryan, and 3-year-old filly Mamushka who took her unbeaten record to two for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Sun City gains juvenile winner
Donna Stanbridge-trained juvenile filly Mishani Breeze (Sun City) won at Toowoomba’s Saturday night meeting. She was having her fourth start and becomes the second winner from Sun City’s second crop, following stakes-placed Sierra Leone (NZ).
A homebred for Mishani Enterprises, Mishani Breeze is the first foal of Mishani Unspoken (Jet Spur).
Second winner for Time To Reign
First season sire Time To Reign gained his second winner in three days when 2-year-old rig Kings Court won at Ascot on Saturday, following Thursday’s winner Timeless Grace. Kings Court, trained by Luke Fernie, was having his third start.
Video: Watch Kings Court race replay, video courtesy of Racing WA
Sold by Kingstar Farm for $15,000 at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, he was purchased by his trainer and is the first foal of Writ Large (Written Tycoon), who has a full sister on the ground this season. This is the family of Group 1 winner Tempest Morn (Thunder Gulch {USA}).
Juvenile quinella for U S Navy Flag
She looked the one to beat and she didn’t disappoint, the Peter Didham-trained 2-year-old filly War Princess (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) was simply too quick for her opposition as she led throughout to score by a dominant 2.5l over Cashla Bay (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}) and Our Sniper (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) ran on late to finish in third spot for the fourth consecutive time in his short career.
Being the only race winner in the field and still only carrying 55kg, she looked beautifully placed after winning in impressive fashion at Tauherenikau on February 6, where she also showed an abundance of speed and led all of the way.
“We were keen to see her go well today as we have been thinking about the Group 1 at Trentham in a fortnight for her,” Didham told Loveracing.nz.
War Princess is the fourth foal from the unraced Keeper mare, Royal Appellant (NZ) who has already left another sharp 2-year-old in Appellant (NZ) (Showcasing {GB}). She was a winner as a juvenile, and also showed enough class to place in the R. Listed Karaka 2YO Million and the Listed Wellesley Stakes.
First winner for Tzaferis
Dual licence holder Jessica Tzaferis gained her first winner as a trainer on Saturday with Royal Fox (Foxwedge) at Morphettville on Saturday. “A lot of hard work goes into these things and I'm just thrilled for everyone involved,” Tzaferis said.
“To get this win today with everyone involved and even some owners over from Melbourne is very special.” He was having his second start for her stable having been bought at the 2023 Inglis Digital November Sale for $8,000.
Around the nation: Saturday’s other notable moments
Caulfield hosted several VOBIS races with Royal Zeus (Zoustar) taking out the Gold Sprint and giving jockey Daniel Stackhouse a treble with his other two wins coming on Banker’s Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan), and Tatsumaki (GB) (Charming Thought {GB}). The VOBIS Gold Dash was won by Winnasedge (Cliff’s Edge). At Geelong, 3-year-old gelding Harrumph Harrumph (Written By) won on debut.
Apprentice jockey Liv O'Donnell rode four winners at Rockhampton including on 3-year-old gelding Kai Mondo (Heroic Valour). Apprentice jockey Cody Collis rode a city treble at Eagle Farm aboard Lost In Transit (Spieth {NZ}), Steady Ready (Better Than Ready), and Heyoka (Spirit Of Boom), while jockey Damon Budler rode a treble at the Sapphire Coast meeting.
Jockey Chris Parnham rode three of the first four at Ascot including on 3-year-old gelding Shmoov Moova (Territories {Ire}) who took his record to four wins from six starts. He also won on 2-year-old Kings Court (Time To Reign).
Yulong purchase two European stallions
The Dullingham Park stallions Shaquille (GB) and Soldier's Call (GB) have been bought by Yulong Investments from Steve Parkin's Clipper Logistics and will remain in situ in Newmarket.
Yulong Investments' European representative Paul Curran said, “We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Shaquille and Soldier's Call into the Yulong fold. Yulong Investments is deeply passionate about breeding elite racehorses and spares no effort in ensuring its stallions are positioned for greatness. These two exceptional sires will be supported by an elite broodmare band, giving them every opportunity to succeed and leave an enduring mark on future bloodlines. This is not just about adding stallions to our roster; it is about securing a legacy—one that will be felt for generations.”
Gallery: Stallions purchased by Yulong Investment, standing at Dullingham Park
When asked by TDN if Yulong had also purchased Dullingham Park Stud, Curran declined to comment.
Update on tariff situation
Amid the fluid nature of the threatened 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods (those subject to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement) entering the USA set to be enacted on April 2, one confusing aspect has surrounded just how long a horse entering the USA from Canada can reside in the country before a tariff will be imposed.
As per the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, “We believe that horses from Canada can enter the United States for extended periods without paying duties under certain conditions,” said Tom Rooney, president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the National Thoroughbred Racing Association (NTRA), on Friday.
South African yearlings day 2
Jonathan Snaith shelled out R525,000 (AU$46,000) for Lot 228 to top the second day of the Cape Racing Sales Premier Yearling Sale Day 2 on Friday.
The son of Pomodoro (SAf) and the stakes-placed Captain Al (SAf) mare War Path (SAf) was offered by Klawervlei Stud. A half-brother to stakes winner Bella Chica (SAf) (Rafeef {Aus}) and the Grade 3-placed Fearless Warrior (SAf) (Vercingetorix {SAf}), the colt is a grandson of Listed Goldfields Sprint winner Uber Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}), who was second in the G3 Pretty Polly Stakes.
Lot 228 - Pomodoro (SAf) x War Path (SAf) | Image courtesy of Cape Racing Sales
Leading the fillies was a daughter of What A Winter (SAf) already named Frosty Sovereign (SAf) who sold to Dee Zurnamer for R500,000 (AU$44,000). Consigned by Narrow Creek Stud, the filly is out of Blue Duchess (SAf) (Duke Of Marmalade {Ire}), herself a half-sister to G3 Champagne Stakes winner State Blue (SAf) (National Assembly).
During the second day's trade, 87 yearlings visited the ring, resulting in a strong clearance rate of 92 per cent with 80 sold. The gross was R17,475,000 (AU$1.5 million). The average was R218,438 (AU$19,000) and the median was R200,000 (AU$17,450).
