Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Snitzel's third Slipper winner solidifies his position at the top

Snitzel’s domination this season continued with his third G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner as filly Marhoona won a dramatic race. Snitzel is currently leading the Australian Sires’ Table by stakes winners and leading the Australian Broodmare Sires’ Table by stakes winners with 14 individuals in each table.

Early in the race, Bjorn Baker filly Within The Law (Lucky Vega {Ire}) went through the running rail, and fortunately both her and jockey Jason Collett were uninjured. Marhoona was well placed by jockey Damian Lane, sitting in behind the leaders until half-way down the straight, when she found space and shot to the lead with the rest of the field all attacking the line. She clung on and won by 0.14l from Chris Waller trained-colt Wodeton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) with Godolphin’s filly Tempted (Street Boss {USA}) in third, 0.65l from the winner.

“A huge thrill. You know, we've been through the ups and downs with the family over a lot of years with these sort of good results, bad results. But, yeah, it's a huge thrill for my team. I mean, I've got a lot of young, up-and-coming stars in the industry, I think, and they've had such a big part to play in this, probably a lot more than me,” said trainer Michael Freedman.

“For Sophie, who you know well, and Ben Duckworth, who's sort of been in the team for about a year now, I'm as happy for them as I am anything else because they just put so much work in.”

Lightly raced, Marhoona won on debut, then was second in the G2 Reisling Stakes last start, and this was only her third start. She now has earnings of over $3 million for owner-breeders Emirates Park.

“If I'm being honest, I said to a few people, earlier today, I thought maybe it would have been nice to have had one more run under our belt, but she's a special filly. When she won at Canterbury at first start, she ripped half a foot off winning that race, and I thought you're tough. And she bounced back from it, went to the Reisling a month later, and it's a bit of an unusual preparation, I guess, going into a Slipper at your third start. But, yeah, she's a special filly.”

She becomes the 23rd Group 1 winner for Snitzel and his 155th stakes winner. He recently surpassed his own sire Redoute’s Choice and grandsire Danehill (USA) with his 83rd individual 3-year-old stakes winner. His other two Slipper winners are Shinzo and Estijaab, who is also owned by Emirates Park.

Emirates Park have nurtured this family for several generations and their broodmare Salma (Encosta De Lago) is something special as Marhoona is her fourth stakes winner from five foals to races. The unraced mare’s first foal is Listed Greyville Gatecrasher Stakes winner Trojan Harbour (Harbour Watch {Ire}), her second live foal is Listed Nudgee Stakes winner Salateen (I Am Invincible), and her third foal is G2 Stan Fox Stakes winner and G1 Sires' Produce Stakes-placed and G1 Champagne Stakes-placed Hilal who stood his first season at New Zealand’s Grangewilliam Stud in 2024.

Salma’s 3-year-old filly Silaaleh (Tassort) is unraced, and Marhoona is, obviously, her current juvenile and now a Group 1 winner from only three starts. Unfortunately Salma has missed for the last three seasons.

Salma is a half-sister to Listed Dulcify Stakes winner Big Time (Danewin) and is a daughter of G3 Fernhill Stakes winner Salameh (Secret Savings {USA}), who in turn is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Al Maher. This is the family of Group 1 winners Umatilla, Hurricane Sky, Redoute’s Choice, Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}), and so many others.

The future for Godolphin is Broadsiding

Champion 2YO Colt Broadsiding (Too Darn Hot {GB}) showed his class in winning his fourth Group 1 in Saturday’s G1 Rosehill Guineas. “He's a really important horse for our business. He's got a lot of his father in him, and Too Darn Hot would be an incredibly popular sire if he was coming back,” summed up trainer James Cummings.

“So, there's a lot to be said for having a colt as classy as Broadsiding ready to take his place on the roster one day. But today was something of an audition for Broadsiding, and it gives us a good guide as to exactly where we want to go with him in the future.

“But there's plenty of desire there to be still here on the track, fighting out these finishes. I thought he was good in the Randwick Guineas last time, and he showed that he's been brought on by that run in being able to do so much work and hold on to that victory today.”

Broadsiding dug deep for jockey James McDonald to win by 0.03l from the fast-finishing and tough filly Aeliana (NZ) (Castelvecchio), trained by Chris Waller, while Team Hawkes-trained gelding Swiftfalcon (Exceedance) was close by in third, only 0.73l away. The win was part of a stakes treble for McDonald on the card, who also enjoyed success in the G1 Ranvet Stakes and the Listed Darby Munro Stakes.

“He's a class colt, and class carries a long way. I suppose, from the draw, he's had to do a fair bit of work, and James just rode him with confidence and stuck to his plan, which was essentially to keep an open mind and not give away too much ground today on a track like this.

“But that filly, who's been so good, and James knows well, Aeliana, has just laid away and done no work. They can launch at you, and it takes a very good horse to hold them off.”

A dual Group 1 winner at two, Broadsiding is now a dual Group 1 winner at three, with the G1 Golden Rose in the spring, as well as a last start second in the G1 Randwick Guineas. He also ran third over this distance in the G1 WS Cox Plate over the spring behind Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock), who continued to prove her outstanding ability with a win in the G1 Ranvet Stakes on the same card.

Broadsiding has won seven of his 14 starts, with earnings over $3.9 million, and is one of three Group 1 winners from the first crop of Too Darn Hot (GB), who is now too expensive to shuttle and remains in the Northern Hemisphere. Broadsiding’s dam, Speedway (Street Cry {Ire}), won at Wyong and Newcastle and unfortunately died after in 2022 when Broadsiding was only three weeks old.

Gallery: Images courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Speedway is a half-sister to G1 MRC Thousand Guineas winner Flit (Medgalia D’Oro {USA}) and a full sister to Group 3-placed winner Flow, out of G3 Blue Diamond Prelude (fillies) placegetter Glissade (Redoute’s Choice). This is the family of Group 1 winner Tropical Squall (Prized Icon).

Via Sistina continues to bless connections

Champion trainer Chris Waller said Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock) “lit up our lives 12 months ago”, and her amazing career continued with her eighth Group 1 win in the G1 Ranvet Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday.

She was simply too strong inside the final furlong of the 2000-metre feature, powering home to win by 1.53l, with Lindermann (Lonhro) rounding out a quinella for the Waller stable, and star hoop James McDonald aboard.

Fastnet Rock was one of the most celebrated stallions of modern times, twice Champion Sire in Australia, before he was retired from stud duties by Coolmore last year.

And now 7-year-old mare Via Sistina - who won last year's Ranvet Stakes - is the best horse in the nation for Yulong Investments.

“She's a lovely, big, unassuming horse. But come race day, she really turns it on. We don't dare light her up in the mornings because what she's capable of, like she's a real powerhouse,” Waller said.

“Her track rider, Chris Harwood, said, ‘oh, if we get her flying like one day she might just keep going’ as we saw. So, yeah, she's a gentle giant that graces the turf.”

Triumphant champion jockey McDonald said Via Sistina deserved to be known as the queen of Australian racing.

“She's well up there, that’s for sure. She’s definitely good,” he said.

“She turns up each and every time which I'm so proud of her because if she was going to get beat it could have been easily a race like this.”

McDonald also reserved praised for Harwood, ahead of Via Sistina’s next target which is likely to be the G1 Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick on April 12.

Gallery: Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

“Chris Harwood does a really good job, because as it was well documented, she was supposed to gallop here last Saturday, I wouldn't have the strength to hold her because she just tanks around so Chris does a good job,” McDonald said.

“Same with all the other guys there. He's got a fantastic team there, and they work the horses brilliantly, so they don't need my help, but it's nice to be partnering them on race day, and it's a really good feeling.”

This was Waller’s 15th Group 1 victory this season, six of those coming with the all-conquering Via Sistina.

Schwarz 'best-ever performed colt' of Zoustar

Delighted Rosemont Stud Principal Anthony Mithen said Schwarz’s commanding 1l win in the G1 William Reid Stakes at The Valley confirmed he was the best-ever performed colt son of Zoustar.

That is quite the compliment, given Widden Stud’s Zoustar has now sired 10 Group 1 winners, and 64 at stakes level.

But finally, Rosemont Stud has now sired 10 Group 1 winners, and one with a very bright future at stud.

“That's an unbelievable performance from a horse that has got an unbelievable pedigree. He's the best performed colt son of Zoustar there's been,” Mithen told Racing.com when asked about his 4-year-old.

“To win a weight-for-age Group 1, he's become the winningest son of Zoustar that’s still a colt. He'll go to stud a very attractive prospect.”

Schwarz – now with six wins from 12 starts and over $1.3 million in career prizemoney – was bought by the Rosemont Stud-Victorian Alliance and Suman Hedge Bloodstock (FBAA) from Widden Stud for $1.25 million at the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

“The fact we paid yearling sale price, not the silly money these stallion syndicates put together means everyone can enjoy that,” Mithen said.

“That’s what this Victorian Alliance was about – giving back to breeders and the breeding scene. It's emotional for a lot of reasons.”

Mithen paid credit to his brother-in-law Nigel Austen, who has been “unbelievable support”.

“For him to keep stumping up and saying ‘yeah, go again' and his reaction being, ‘oh, you’re not doing it again this year’. He’s such an enthusiastic part of what we do and a motivator for us all,” he said.

“The other investors, we thought we would get a stitch eventually, so we thought we would lay a bit of faith in those horses and one of them was Schwartz and he's delivered for us today.”

Doyle's boyhood dream reaches stratospheric levels in The Galaxy

Newcastle trainer Nathan Doyle achieved something he’s dreamed of ever since he was a kid after Private Harry (Harry Angel {Ire}) saluted by 0.79l in the $1 million G1 The Galaxy over 1100 metres at Rosehill. It was Doyle’s first victory at Group 1 level.

“I dreamt of this as a kid, all I wanted to do was train horses. The Group 1, Ash (Morgan), the staff, Kurrinda (Bloodstock). Thanks so much. I can't stop shaking,” he said.

Private Harry showed great endurance to run down a game runner-up Front Page (Magnus), who kept fighting until the end.

He now has five wins from five starts, including the $3 million Magic Millions Sunlight 3YO Plate by 2.43l last start at the Sunshine Coast on January 4.

Doyle thinks his 3-year-old colt still has plenty of potential for improvement.

“He just can eyeball up in front on a hot speed and just boot off it, and they just can't chase him,” he said.

“They've got to run exceptional sectionals. Even (fourth-placed) Briasa (Smart Missile), they went a quick tempo and loomed into it, but he just keeps fighting. He's just got that will to want to win races. It's amazing.”

Private Harry was a $115,000 purchase by Kurrinda Bloodstock and Doyle Racing from Rheinwood Pastoral Co at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

His sire, Harry Angel (Ire), now has 18 stakes winners, and and Private Harry gives him his second Group 1 winner. Harry Angel stands at Darley for $38,500 (inc. GST).

It was the first stakes winner for Private Harry’s dam, Happy Pilgrim (Congrats).

Gringotts came ready for G1 glory

Little Avondale stallion Per Incanto (USA) notched up his ninth Group 1 win as a sire when Gringotts (NZ) edged out star mare Fangirl (Sebring) by 0.02l on the line in the $1 million G1 George Ryder Stakes over 1500 metres.

It was a courageous effort from the 5-year-old, which was his first at the elite level, with Ceolwulf (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) third.

The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding progressed from handicap grade to winning million-dollar races – the Big Dance and The Gong – this season before his maiden weight-for-age success on Saturday.

Winning jockey Tommy Berry praised Gringotts for the way he came back after Royal Patronage (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) led at the 750-metre mark.

“I was smiling for a different reason – it wasn't for winning, but it was just good to see him come back the way he did,” Berry said.

“You pay the believers, and we’re guys that are part of the ownership team, and Ciaron and Joh (Johann Gerard-Dubord) and all the team at home there.”

The G1 Doncaster Mile is Gringotts’ main aim at Randwick on April 5, but Maher knew he was ready for a massive fight on the straight on Saturday.

Gallery: Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

“He (Maher) came to me in the middle of the mounting yard today and he said 'I know the Doncaster is our main aim but I couldn't have him any better for today',” Berry said.

“He turned up and he's just a war horse, he knows where the line is and he fought hard to win today.”

Gringotts's victory was the first at stakes level for his Savabeel dam, Miss Bluebell (NZ).

A win Sunline would be proud of

In true Sunline (Desert Sun {GB}) style, Grinzinger Belle (NZ) (Shamexpress {NZ}) was simply unstoppable in the G2 Sunline Stakes, powering home to win by 2.75l.

It was all over at the 400-metre mark in the G2 feature over a mile and worth $300,000, where the 4-year-old mare led by 4l.

Residing at Windsor Park Stud in Cambridge in New Zealand, it was Shamexpress’s (NZ) 14th stakes victory.

Victorious trainer Danny O’Brien was confident Grinzinger Belle would be very hard to stop from the turn for home, before going on to notch up her fifth win from 17 starts.

“She’s a mare that when conditions suit and she gets rolling, she’s very hard to get on the back of, let alone get past,” he told Racing.com.

“She’s headed for the Queen of the Turf in three weeks in Sydney. If she got a Heavy track up there, we’d give her that opportunity then.”

Winning jockey Declan Bates said Grinzinger Belle was a genetically-gifted mare.

“She’s such a lovely big mare to ride. She has a nice, high cruising speed, and it’s just a matter of letting her use that in the right way,” he said.

“She was just better than them today.”

It was the first stake winner for Grinzinger Belle’s dam, Ripsomemore (NZ) (Rip Van Winkle {Ire}).

Mare Of Mt Buller reigns in Epona Stakes

Dundeel’s (NZ) impressive 2024/25 season continued in the G3 Epona Stakes, with Mare Of Mt Buller’s 0.92l victory in the $250,000 feature over 1900 metres.

Under the urgings of a great ride from Zac Lloyd, the 4-year-old mare powered home inside the final 200 metres to win comfortably for top Sydney trainer Chris Waller.

Arrowfield stallion Dundeel opened the 2024/25 season with three new Group winners in Melbourne, all from his 2021 crop – colts Red Aces and Kingofwallstreet, and the filly Jasmin Rouge.

He now has a total of 36 stakes victors. It was Mare Of Mt Buller’s fourth victory from 15 starts to now register $447,825 in career prizemoney.

Waller said he might look at spelling his mare after her second-up start.

“We said we might just try and keep her as fresh as we can. That’s how she seems to race best at her second and third starts. So yeah, we'll see what's left after today,” he said.

“Otherwise, she might just have a few weeks off or easier training and then be ready to go again.”

Lloyd said Saturday’s victory was Mare Of Mt Buller’s ideal distance in what was her first salute in 11 starts.

“Today was none and a half furlongs, about 10 furlongs and she travels really well,” he said.

“I think anything further might take away that turn of speed, but there’s plenty of good races in her keeping for sure, especially if she can show that turn of foot.”

Saturday's win was the first stakes victory for Mare Of Mt Buller's Redoute's Choice dam, Aliberani.

Mare Of Mt Buller was a $250,000 purchase by Yes Bloodstock from Torryburn Stud at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Leica Lucy is the best filly in New Zealand

Going into a classic race as a short favourite carries a weight of expectation, and 3-year-old filly Leica Lucy (NZ) (Derryn) had to work for the win in the G1 New Zealand Oaks, digging deep for jockey Craig Grylls to secure the victory by 0.4l from the tough challenger Pam Gerard-trained Dubai Gold (NZ) (Pride Of Dubai), with consistent Ben and Ryan Foote-trained Myakkabelle (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) in third. It was the 100th win by Grylls this season.

“This is my biggest win by a mile, to tell you the truth,” trainer Robbie Patterson said.

“The Oaks is a great race. The owners, Peter and Heather, are close friends of mine, and my parents are here today as well, so it’s very special. I’ve been saying this filly is the best I’ve trained, and she’s totally that. She’s just a beautiful animal. I’ve trained a lot of horses and seen a lot of horses, but she is one out of the box.

“I was a bit nervous in the straight today, but she’s just such a good horse. She’s had a big season, and she was in the worst part of the track, but she got the job done. I just love the horse so much and love the owners. I don’t really know Ozzie (Kheir), who joined the ownership recently, but I’ve spoken to him on the phone, and he’s a great bloke. He’s all about the horse and is just a lovely man.

“Having my champion mate riding her today makes it even more special. Craig and I are a great team on and off the pitch. We love our golf, our fishing and having a beer and whatnot, and that goes a long way.”

Leica Lucy’s owner-breeders, Peter and Heather Crofskey, sold a share to Ozzie Kheir in February, and she will transfer to trainer Chris Waller. The Oaks win was her fifth in succession – all in Group company – and took her record to six wins from seven starts, with earnings over NZ$1 million. Her win also gave her trainer Robbie Patterson a second stakes win for the day after Our Jumala (NZ) (Zed {NZ}) won the G3 Cuddle Stakes earlier on the card.

Leica Lucy becomes the first Group 1 winner for Hinchinbrook son Derryn, who has four stakes winners from 123 named foals. She is the only named foal for her dam, winning mare Dynamite Lucy (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}), who died when Leica Lucy was a yearling. Dynamite Lucy is a half-sister to two stakes-placed winners and is from the family of dual Group 1 winner Elevenses (NZ) (Star Way {GB}).

Group double for Too Darn Hot with Shanwah

The loss of Too Darn Hot (GB) from the shuttle ranks was further underscored when 3-year-old gelding Shanwah (NZ) won the G2 Alister Clark Stakes at Moonee Valley for trainer Ciaron Maher, to give his sire a double for the day with Broadsiding’s Rosehill Guineas victory. Shanwah was coming off a win in the G2 Autumn Classic and has won his last four in succession.

Ridden by Ethan Brown, Shanwah led into the tight bend and scooted away to win by 2l from Chris Waller-trained gelding Imperialist (NZ) (Churchill {Ire}) with Emma-Lee and David Browne-trained gelding Statuario (D’Argento) in third.

Shanwah has been sold to Hong Kong owners by his original owners, Kevin and Vicki Payne, but he will run in the G1 Australian Derby before heading over. “It was a deal that was done privately with Kevin, but we’ve got him to train for the Derby,” assistant trainer Jack Turnbull said.

“I am sure he got a good return, otherwise he wouldn’t have let the horse go. Thankfully, the clients that bought into him have allowed us to stay in Australia to run in these two races, but I believe they take over ownership before the Derby, so you might see the horse in different colours next time.”

Shanwah took his record to four wins from eight starts, with earnings over $550,000, and he was a NZ$750,000 purchase by Cameron Cooke Bloodstock from Trelawney Stud’s NZB National Yearling Sale draft in 2023. He is one of 23 stakes winners for Too Darn Hot, whose Northern Hemisphere first crop has just turned four, and his Southern Hemisphere first crop are 3-year-olds.

A half-brother to G2 Rose of Kingston Stakes winner Excelida (Exceed And Excel), he is the fifth foal of three-time winning mare Lady Sayyida (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), who is a half-sister to G1 Cox Plate winner and successful sire Ocean Park (NZ), and to Ruqqaya (NZ) (Van Nistelrooy {USA}), the dam of Group 1 winner and sire Grunt (NZ).

Drama in the Wellington Guineas

It was a desperate finish in the G2 Wellington Guineas, and even after Kenny Rae-trained 3-year-old filly Vegas Queen (NZ) (Proisir) stuck her nose in front for jockey Wiremu Pinn to win by 0.5l from filly Archaic Smile (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), it wasn’t immediately enough and she had to survive a protest from the second-placed horse before finally being given the victory. The first four across the line squeezed together with filly Dramatic Miss (NZ) (El Roca) finishing third, only 0.1l from second, but stewards eventually decided the original placings would stand.

“She is a very, very tough horse with a lot of ability and a good turn of foot. To be honest, I had no idea if she would handle the track (Soft 6) today, but luckily, Mandy (Brown, co-owner) said could we have a chance of winning the Guineas, as I wanted to go to Pukekohe (yesterday) for something easier,” said Rae.

“She is going out for a break now, as this is her first time going past the Pukekohe racetrack, and I don’t think she will handle the wet tracks (coming up).” Owned by Dirk and Nicki Oberholster, and The Magpies & Mandy and Matt Brown’s Ngapuke Racing, Vegas Queen was not offered at auction. She took her record to two wins from nine starts with earnings over NZ$230,000.

Vegas Queen, previously placed in the G3 Almanzor Trophy, becomes the 22nd stakes winner for Proisir, and his ninth stakes winner this season. She is the first foal of unraced mare Miss Vegas (NZ) (Carlton House {USA}), whose 2-year-old gelding and yearling colt are unnamed full siblings to Vegas Queen. Her 2-year-old sold at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale for NZ$650,000 to Andrew Williams Bloodstock and Hong Kong Bloodstock, from Riversley Park who pinhooked him as a yearling from Totara Park Stud for NZ$160,000.

Miss Vegas is a daughter of Operavegas (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), a half-sister to Listed winner Vegas Showgirl (NZ) (Al Akbar), the dam of Champion mare Winx (Street Cry {Ire}), and Listed winner El Divino (Snitzel). Miss Vegas’ unraced half-sister Miss Bluebell (NZ) (Savabeel), is the dam of Gringotts (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), who won the G1 George Ryder Stakes at Rosehill.

Jockey Wiremu Pinn enjoyed a stakes double for the day when he won the Listed Lightning Handicap on Glamour Tycoon (Written Tycoon).

Consistent Cilacap heads to the Oaks

Coming off her worst career performance when sixth in the G2 AV Kewney Stakes last-start, 3-year-old filly Cilacap (Written Tycoon) more than redeemed herself with a stunning 2.25l victory for jockey Jordan Childs and trainer Grahame Begg in the G3 Alexandra Stakes over a mile at Moonee Valley. Too Darn Hot’s great day continued with second-placed Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained filly Too Darn Lizzie, whose stablemate Phenom (Zoustar) finished third.

“It has been a sad time over the last few weeks. She's brought a bit of happiness to the family. It's onwards and upwards with this girl. It was a great ride today, and she made a lie of her last run at Flemington, where she got far too far out of her ground. She's really only doing this on her first preparation because she only had a couple of weeks off in that gap between runs. She's done a bloody good job,” said Begg.

She will follow the same pathway as last year’s winner, Vibrant Sun (The Autumn Sun), who won the G1 SAJC Australasian Oaks at her next start. A Listed winner two starts ago in the Desirable Stakes, Cilacap now has four wins from six starts and earnings over $330,000. Purchased by Bruce Elkington Bloodstock from Corumbene Stud for $300,000 at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, she is one of 74 stakes winners for Written Tycoon.

Cilacap is the second live foal out of sub-fertile Falkenberg (More Than Ready {USA}), who has missed for the last three seasons. Beautifully bred, Falkenberg is a full sister to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner and successful sire Sebring, and was a good racemare herself, winning twice and running third in the G1 Queensland Oaks. As well as Sebring, their dam, Purespeed (Flying Spur) also produced G2 Ajax Stakes winner Pureness (Tale Of The Cat {USA}).

Gallery: Images courtesy of Inglis

Clean Energy adds to Zoustar’s big day

There’s a certain amount of expectation that comes with being a full sister to Champion 3YO Filly and triple Group 1 winner Sunlight (Zoustar), but Clean Energy appears to be living up to that and her $2.6 million yearling price with her second stakes win in Moonee Valley’s G3 Don Casboult Classic for 3-year-old fillies.

“It's an honour to win a race in honour of an absolute gentleman and one of the people that has got Moonee Valley and the Cox Plate to where it is. It's great to see Don here. In regards to my horse, Gai and the team have done a great job,” said jockey Craig Williams.

“I worked her here on Tuesday morning and loved the way she went for me. I spoke to Blake Shinn who rode her first-up and he gave me a bit of insight into as well. We did have a plan, but she had a different plan than we did and we found ourselves a lot further back. We just trusted her and she picked up and showed versatility, not that that is the way to ride her, but it show she can be quite versatile.”

Unbeaten in two starts at two including the Listed Bill Carter Stakes, Clean Energy resumed at three with a third placing. Trained by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, she won by 0.75l for jockey Craig Williams from Chris Waller-trained Amelita (Zousain), with Robbie Griffiths-trained McKeyla (Shamus Award) in third.

Clean Energy is one of 64 stakes winners for Zoustar, and one of five stakes horses for her dam, dual Group 3 winner Solar Charged (Charge Forward), led by triple Group 1 winner Sunlight, G3 Red Roses Stakes winner Sisstar (Zoustar), Clean Energy, and stakes-placed pair of Sheikha (Sebring) and Dio (Zoustar). Solar Charged's 2-year-old colt Lyon (Zoustar) is unraced and her 2024 colt is also by Zoustar. Solar Charged is a half-sister to Listed Tasmanian Oaks winner Causeway Queen (Giant’s Causeway {USA}).

Autumn Glow makes it four from four in Darby Munro

With a $1.8 million price tag as a yearling, there’s been a buzz around 3-year-old filly Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) for a long time. She was unbeaten in three starts over the spring including two group races, and now she’s resumed with a win in the Listed Darby Munro Stakes over 1200 metres. Ridden by James McDonald for trainer Chris Waller, Autumn Glow won by 1.93l from Michael Freedman-trained 3-year-old colt Enriched (I Am Invincible) with Team Hawkes-trained 3-year-old filly Gangsta Granny (Written Tycoon) 2l arrears in third.

“We're still learning about what her best distance is. Her dad was a champion, The Autumn Sun. He got out to 2000 metres. But she's got that same speed. She's out of the champion there from South Africa who had speed. So we're going to find a happy spot in between and James will obviously tell us about today. There's a little bit of pressure on, so we asked her to perform. And she duly did,” Waller said.

“I think I'll need a little bit of help to (be) persuade(d) not to run in the Arrowfield, because obviously of the Arrowfield connection. But logically, it does look a nice race in three weeks' time.” The G2 Arrowfield 3YO Sprint is on April 12.

Autumn Glow is owned by Arrowfield Stud and Hermitage Thoroughbreds, who splashed $1.8 million to purchase her from Silverdale Farm’s 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. They pinhooked her, having bought her with Shrone Bloodstock as a weanling from Newhaven Park Stud for $600,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale. In her four wins, she’s recouped $500,000 of her purchase price.

Gallery: Images courtesy of Sportpix

Autumn Glow is the fourth foal of Champion Sprinter in South Africa in 2013-14 Via Africa (Saf) (Var {USA}), who was a triple Group 1 winner in South Africa. Her second foal is G1 Golden Rose winner In The Congo, who now stands at Newgate Farm, while her first foal, Pleasant Endeavour (Redoute’s Choice) has won six races in Hong Kong and over HK$7 million (AU$1.4 million). Sadly Via Africa’s two most recent foals were still born and she is in foal to I Am Invincible.

Cover image courtesy of Inglis

Race-day Recap:

Ole Kirk colt's Valley Pearl is a first for co-trainer Matt Jenkins

Matt Jenkins recently joined boss David Brideoake in a training partnership, and on Saturday at Moonee Valley, he achieved his first stakes win as a trainer when exciting 2-year-old colt Prestige Forever (Ole Kirk) won the Listed Valley Pearl Stakes. Ridden by Jamie Mott, he dashed clear at the turn to win by 3.75l from Godolphin’s colt Chergui (Frosted {USA}) with Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained filly Pure Passion (Snitzel) in third.

“That was my first one. Super excited, rapt for the stable and even more rapt for the owner Eric Yeung the owner. It was a soft watch,” said Jenkins.

“We were a little concerned about him over doing it and when he found the spot that he did, that probably took a few nerves away and seeing him let down the way he did, he looks like he's got a bright future.

“To see him win a stakes race at his second start is a massive thrill. To think that he may get to Group 1 level, we won't get ahead of ourselves, but he's got plenty of improvement to come. Post his last run, through to today, he's made really good improvement and I'm sure he'll be an even better 3-year-old.”

This race was won last year by Growing Empire (Zoustar), who ran in the G1 Galaxy on Saturday. And other notable graduates include All American and Bel Esprit. Prestige Forever is the third first crop stakes winner for Vinery Stud’s Ole Kirk, who already sired O’ Ole and King Kirk earlier this season. The dual Group 1 winning son of Written Tycoon has seven winners to date.

Prestige Forever is the third foal of triple Group 3-winning mare Cool Passion (Not A Single Doubt), who won 11 races and over $800,000, and was placed in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes. Her first foal was seven figure yearling Sledding (Lonhro) who was a winner at Bendigo at her second start, her second foal is $550,000 yearling and currently unraced 3-year-old filly Angel Watch (Zoustar), while Prestige Forever cost Eric Yeung $400,000 from Widden Stud’s 2024 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. Cool Passion doesn’t have a yearling or a foal, and is a half-sister to Listed winner Havana Wind (Spinning World {USA}).

Zelia lives up to early promise

Winner of a trial in New Zealand in early September by 12.5l, Zelia (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) has always shown a lot of promise, and the 2-year-old filly trained by David Walsh continued her march towards brilliance with her second race day win on Saturday at Riccarton. Ridden by Rohan Mudhoo, she won by 5.5l from Te Akau Racing’s Best Rose (Maurice {Jpn}) with gelding Alottago (Tagaloa) 1.75l back in third.

She struggled on debut on a heavy track, then won her second start on a better surface in January before adding a second placing to her record. Zelia now has two wins from four starts with earnings over NZ$51,000. Purchased for $11,000 at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale from Fairview Park Stud by J Corcoran, Zelia is out of Shooting To Win mare Kakariko Village (NZ).

Zelia is the first winner for Group 1 winning first season sire Fierce Impact (Jpn) and the sixth winner for Shooting To Win as a damsire. Kakariko Village’s first foal is an unraced 3-year-old colt by Bellevue Hill, and she has a yearling full sister to Zelia and a Bruckner colt on the ground. Kakariko Village is an unplaced half-sister to G1 Levin Classic winner Bonham (Per Incanto {USA}) from the family of Faint Perfume (Shamardal {USA}), and her third dam is Group 1 winner Danendri (Danehill {USA}).

Beautifully bred Frothy Macaw wins at Morphettville

John Singleton-owned 2-year-old filly Frothy Macaw (Anders) debuted in the Magic Millions SA 2YO Classic, running fifth, and on Saturday at Morphettville she won her second start to become the third winner for first season sire Anders.

Trained by Matthew Seyers and ridden by Jacob Opperman, she had to dig deep to hold off the fast finishing outsider gelding Safe Bet (Valentia), trained by Mick Huxtable, to win by 0.54l. Almost 2l back in third was Richard and Chantelle Jolly trained filly Kisses Forever (I Am Immortal).

A $100,000 purchase by Singleton at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale from Glenn Lee Thoroughbreds, Frothy Macaw is the first city winner for Not A Single Doubt son Anders. She is the fourth foal and third winner for Bucasia (Mossman), a half-sister to G3 Vanity Stakes winner Tallow (Street Cry {Ire}), the dam of G1 Golden Slipper winner and young sire Farnan, and dual Listed winner and emerging sire Sandbar.

Nosey Neo repeats his last start for another win

One of only nine foals in the third crop of Neorealism (Jpn), 2-year-old gelding Nosey Neo took his record to three wins, and four second placings, from nine starts with a strong win at Townsville on Saturday for young trainer Joshua Manzelmann. Ridden by apprentice jockey Nikki Olzard, who won on Nosey Neo at the same track last start, Nosey Neo won by 0.78l from Peter Cullen-trained gelding Carohvic (Dubious) with Georgie Holt-trained filly Girls Got Attitude (Kobayashi) in third.

Neorealism stood at Oaklands Stud in Queensland until March last year when he was exported to China after siring less than 100 foals in five crops. He has sired only four winners, and Nosey Neo is by far the best of them to date. Neorealism won the G1 HKJC Queen Elizabeth II Cup at six and didn’t even race at two.

Bred and raced by Burg Racing, Nosey Neo is bred to get better with time on his dam’s side too; he’s the fifth winner from Sydney winner Meddler (Elvstroem) who is from the family of Group 2 winner and Group 1-placed Vormista (Testa Rossa). Meddler has a yearling colt by Brave Smash (Jpn).