Quartet for Marsh led by Ardalio
While the boss is away, the team comes out to play. Trainer Stephen Marsh is in Hong Kong with stable star El Vencedor (NZ) (Shocking) who runs in Sunday’s Champions meeting, and back home, his team dominated the Te Rapa meeting, winning four races in success, including the win by 3-year-old filly Ardalio (NZ) (Ardrossan) in the G3 Cambridge Breeders’ Stakes. “We did expect she could do that as she has been pretty impressive in all her race wins,” Bloodstock agent Bruce Perry said.
“When she won the Almanzor Trophy at Ellerslie she was quite explosive and her run in the NZB Kiwi was as good as anything in the race as she was wide all the way. She was entitled to give it away that day but she just kept fighting right to the line. I think it is her attitude that really stands out as she is tough and very determined, enjoys being in a scrap and will do anything you ask of her.”
Winner of three of her six starts, this was her second Group 3 victory and she’s one of six stakes winners for her young sire. Raced by her breeder Lib Petagna, Ardalio is the second foal of Bridgewater (Written Tycoon) whose first foal is a winner.
Marsh also won with 2-year-old filly Lubeck (Hanseatic), 3-year-old colt Super Photon (NZ) (Super Seth), and Queen Zou (Zoustar).
Watchme Win heads to Goodwood
Aptly named 4-year-old gelding Watchme Win (Harry Angel {Ire}) added his first stakes victory when winning Saturday’s G3 John Hawkes Stakes at Morphettville for trainer Andrew Gluyas, and he’ll run in the G1 Goodwood next start. Ridden by Jason Holder, he won by 1.3l from Volcanic Express (Hualalai) with Press Down (Press Statement) in third.
“We dreamt of (a run in the G1 Goodwood) at the start of this preparation, and today he’s booked himself a start,” said Gluyas.
“He got a bumping from a rogue horse (as a young horse). We had three horses involved in the incident and he copped the worst of it. Everyone was okay, the riders were alright, but he had a significant injury which took time, then a long rehab to get him back and now he's racing well, and he has a thirst for racing and he’s a strong sprinter who is heading in the right direction.”
A $160,000 purchase by Macdonald and Gluyas Racing from Noorilim Park’s Inglis Premier Yearling Sale draft, the consistent galloper has won five of 10 starts with earnings over $220,000. He becomes stakes winner number 19 for Harry Angel (Ire) whose two Group 1 winners are 3-year-old colt Private Harry and 4-year-old gelding Tom Kitten.
Watchme Win as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
The first live foal for city winner Watchmespin (Sepoy) whose 3-year-old gelding Point And Shoot (Blue Point {Ire}) has won three times this season, this is the family of Group 1 winner Serious Speed (Royal Academy {USA}).
Two in a row for Val Di Zoldo
Despite a horror trip and jockey Wiremu Pinn losing a stirrup, 5-year-old mare Val Di Zoldo (NZ) (War Decree {USA}) made it two group races in succession in winning Saturday’s G2 Travis Stakes at Te Rapa after she won the G3 Manawatu Breeders’ Stakes last start. “I think Wiremu will really enjoy that,” trainer Tony Pike said.
“He’s ridden her a few times with absolutely no luck. She should have won this race last year. To get the win today is a little bit of payback.” Val Di Zoldo took her record to four wins and eight placings from 31 starts and earnings over NZ$325,000. One of two winners for winning mare Civetta (NZ) (Thorn Park), this is the family of Group 1 winners Tall Poppy (NZ) (Kaapstad {NZ}) and Fun On The Run (NZ) (Racing Is Fun {USA}).
Double for All Too Hard
All Too Hard sired a double at Eagle Farm led by Listed Princess Stakes winning 3-year-old filly Philia, who won by 2.05l for trainer David Vandyke and jockey Kerrin McEvoy. James Cummings-trained Pinito (Trapeze Artist) picked up valuable black type with a second while John Sargent-trained Meridiana (NZ) (Preferment {NZ}) rounded out the placings in the event for 3-year-old fillies. Philia has won three in succession, having placed in her first two starts, and has earnings over $175,000 for owners Irwin Racing and Harris Family Racing.
Philia is stakes winner number 30 for Vinery Stud’s All Too Hard, and is out of Meerlust (Johannesburg {USA}), making her a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Duais (Shamus Award) and a three-quarter-sister to Group 3 winner Baccarat Baby (Casino Prince). Meerlust has an unraced 2-year-old colt Waerea (Bivouac) and a colt foal by Hellbent.
All Too Hard’s other Eagle Farm winner was 4-year-old gelding Tuff Tu Mus who took his record to four wins in succession, and he was second in both his other two starts.
Spicy Martini wins Listed Mick Dittman Plate
In the Listed Mick Dittman Plate for 3-year-olds at Eagle Farm, it was Toby Edmonds and Stephen McLean-trained filly Spicy Martini (Justify {USA}) who took the victory by 0.34l from filly Zoubaby (Zoustar) and gelding Belegato (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}).
A Listed winner in the spring, Spicy Martini was resuming here, and now has three wins from four starts with earnings over $341,000. Sold by Coolmore for just $8000 at the 2023 Inglis March Digital Sale as a weanling to Edmonds Racing, Spicy Martini is the fourth foal of Group 3 placed winner of four races Extra Olives (Redoute’s Choice) whose four foals to race are all winners. Extra Olives’ second dam is Champion 3YO Filly and four-time Group 1 winner Alinghi (Encosta De Lago).
Listed Brisbane Mile won by Tenzing
Tony Gollan-trained 6-year-old gelding Tenzing (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) has been consistent this campaign and capped it off with victory in Saturday’s Listed Brisbane Mile at Eagle Farm. Ridden by Regan Bayliss, he won by 0.39l from Kelly Schweida-trained 4-year-old mare Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) with Lee Freedman-trained Encoder (Encryption) in third.
Tenzing becomes the 12th stakes winner for Contributer (Ire) who died at the start of the 2024 serving season. Passed in as a yearling, he was sold by Raffles Farm via a Gavelhouse online auction in 2020 for $4400 to Kevin Myers. After winning two of his first six starts, he was exported to Brisbane. He is the first foal of unplaced Fastnet Rock mare Mizen Peak who is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Francaletta (High Chaparral {Ire}) and Listed winner Asset (Ire) (Marju {Ire}).
First black type win for trainer Kincaid
Trainer Brooke Kincaid, who began a partnership with Riverton trainer Graham Eade at the beginning of this season, enjoyed her first stakes winner when 4-year-old gelding Riviera Rebel (NZ) (Pure Champion {Ire}) won Saturday’s G3 Canterbury Gold Cup in the South Island of New Zealand. He is the also the first stakes winner for his sire. “It’s amazing,” Kincaid said.
“This horse gave me my very first winner as a trainer, and now he’s given me my first Group win too. It’s very special.” Bred by Philip Jeffreys, who races the gelding alongside Eade and his wife Pat, Riviera Rebel has won six of his 23 starts and over NZ$210,000. Pure Champion (Ire) stands at Willow Glen Stud in New Zealand, and was a Group 3 winner at three in Ireland, then twice a Listed winner in Hong Kong before heading to New Zealand where he won the G1 Windsor Park Plate at seven. He has six small crops of racing age, with only 37 runners and Riviera Rebel is his first stakes winner.
Riviera Rebel is the first foal of two-race winner Chambon (NZ) (Jimmy Choux {NZ}), whose only other foal is a yearling full sister to Riviera Rebel. Chambon is a half-sister to Listed Macau Gold Cup winner River Control (NZ) (Choisir), and descends from G1 NZ Oaks winner Sawatdee (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}).
Great Easter leads treble for Furlong
Riccarton trainer Anna Furlong grabbed a treble at home on Saturday led by Listed Great Easter Stakes winner Betty Spaghetti (Stratum Star). She becames the first stakes winner for Stratum Star who was exported to New Zealand in April 2025 but is yet to be announced as standing anywhere for the upcoming season. “It’s been a great day for the stable, which is a big thrill and really rewarding for all of our team,” Furlong said whose other two winners were Canasta (NZ) (Ace High) and Penvose Lad (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
“It was so good to see Betty Spaghetti pick up that black type win today. She’s been a fantastic mare all the way through her career and really deserved to pick up a win at that level. It meant a lot to see her do it with such an outstanding performance today.”
Betty Spaghetti has won six of her 21 starts and over NZ$230,000. She was sold by Beaufort Downs at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$20,000 to Robert Dennis Racing. She is the first foal of winning mare Swiss Beauty (NZ) (Swiss Ace) whose second foal is dual winning 4-year-old gelding Mogul (NZ) (Rubick) who was fourth in the G3 Barneswood Stakes. Swiss Beauty has a yearling colt by Proisir and a filly foal by the same sire. This is the family of Horse Of The Year Bonneval (NZ) (Makfi {GB}).
Listed Warstep Stakes to Sally
Touted as a ‘good stayer in the making’ 3-year-old filly Loose Sally (NZ) (Turn Me Loose {NZ}) won Saturday’s Listed Warstep Stakes, ridden by Ruvanesh Muniandy, brother to her trainer. In second was Sight To See (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) with The Boss Lady (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) third, who shouldn’t be confused with Perth stakes winner The Boss Lady (Street Boss {USA}). “She is a big filly and the 2000 metres today was exactly what she needed,” trainer Shankar Muniandy said.
“That was her last run for this prep as she will go to the paddock and we will look after her. She has come such a long way in her six starts, winning three of them and picking up some valuable black type in nice races like the one today.”
Winner of three of her six starts, Loose Sally has earnings over NZ$169,000 for owner Ray Chalklin who purchased her privately from her breeders. It was her second Listed win after winning the Listed Dunedin Guineas two starts ago. She is the only winner from five foals of racing age for Sally’s Mustang (Nicconi) who was a juvenile winner in New Zealand.
Too slick: Lubeck dominates on debut
The Stephen Marsh stable has been unstoppable in New Zealand this year, and they continued their hot run of form with four winners at Te Rapa on Saturday. Among them was slick 2-year-old filly Lubeck (Hanseatic), who dominated her rivals from the front on debut, winning by an impressive 2.5l over Panther (NZ) (Ace High) and The Espy (NZ) (U S Navy Flag {USA}).
The filly by Rosemont Stud's speedster and former talented juvenile Hanseatic, jumped well from a midfield barrier under apprentice Rihaan Goyaram, who allowed her to settle before setting up a steady tempo. When asked to quicken rounding the home bend, Lubeck responded immediately, and had the race well in hand at the top of the straight.
“She’s quite a classy little two-year-old who had two very nice trials, so we expected quite a lot of her,” said stable representative Ashley Tompkinson.
“She is quite a sweet filly with a big heart and she is a favourite of the stable.”
Out of the four-time winner and Listed-placed mare What A Smasher (NZ) (Swiss Ace), Lubeck was a $60,000 purchase by Jim Bruford under his Brewers Bloodstock banner from the Kilgravin Lodge draft at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka Yearling Sale.
Since delivering Lubeck, What A Smasher has produced a weanling colt by Grunt (NZ), and was most recently served last spring by Proisir.
Around the nation: Saturday’s mentionable moments
With 16 meetings across Australia, it was all eyes on South Australia. Away from there, 2-year-old colt Cat Call (Jungle Cat) won at the Gold Coast at his fifth start. Randwick was the scene of another demolition by exciting 3-year-old filly Sunrise (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who made it two in a row.
New York Lustre (Manhattan Rain) added to her sire’s big day winning his fifth in succession at Moonee Valley, to go with Benagil’s G1 Australasian Oaks. New York Lustre will head to the G3 Proud Miss Stakes next. At Newcastle, 3-year-old filly Éclair Awesome (Pierata) won her third in succession. At Longreach, Daicos (Capitalist) made it three in a row. Trainer Tanya Parry won four of the five races at Mount Isa.
Wootton Bassett has another Classic contender
Ballydoyle's standard had been hoisted just once in Sandown's G3 Classic Trial during the Aidan O'Brien era and last term's G3 Tyros Stakes runner-up Swagman (Ger) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) doubled that tally with a determined effort in this year's renewal of the 10-furlong feature.
Despite the lack of a Derby nomination, Swagman retains entries for both G1 Prix du Jockey Club and G1 Grand Prix de Paris. He also holds tickets for the G1 Irish 2000 Guineas and G1 Irish Derby. However, the June 1 Chantilly Classic remains on the radar, according to O'Brien. “He's run well there and the [G1] French Derby is a definite possible,” the trainer said. “At this stage, we are just trying to get them all started and see where they all fit in. It's nice to have options. We're delighted with him and he's a horse that has done well since last year. We always thought a mile-and-a-quarter would suit him well and we thought he would come forward plenty from the run too. He started growing on us last year and that was why he hadn't run since July. He just kept on growing and he's turned out a much bigger horse this year.”
Dancing Gemini wins Group 2 Mile
He may not be Charyn, but Dancing Gemini (Ire) (Camelot {GB}) is doing a passable impression of last year's miling sensation as he completed the same Doncaster Mile-Sandown Mile double on Friday. Always travelling comfortably in the Group 2 feature under Rossa Ryan, the Roger Teal-trained 5-2 favourite took off passing the two pole and hit the line with 1.75l to spare over Tamfana (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}), who was returning under a five-pound penalty.
“Today shows why we were pitching him into all the top Group races last year, but unfortunately we got a soft summer and I've always said he's not a soft-ground horse,” Teal said. “I was a little worried about the ground here today, as although he goes on it when you see him point his toe like he did at Doncaster it's something else. The d'Ispahan could be an opportunity–we want to get a Group 1 with him–and we have to do best by the horse. I'd love to go to Newbury but we will have to see.”
Normandy Coast tops Horses In Training Sale
Normandy Coast (USA) (Omaha Beach {USA}), winner of a rained-off renewal of the Listed Palisades Stakes at Keeneland on April 6, was hammered down to owner Steven Judy for a final bid of US$355,000 (AU$556,000) to top Friday's single-session Keeneland April Selected Horses of Racing Age Sale. The auction took place following the conclusion of the final day of racing at the adjacent racetrack.
Normandy Coast (USA) | Image courtesy of Keeneland
A total of 44 horses were reported as sold for gross receipts of US$3,884,000 (AU$6 million). The average was US$88,273 (AU$138,000), while the median settled at US$65,000 (AU$102,000). “This sale was a lovely complement to the race meet,” Keeneland Vice President of Sales Tony Lacy said. “Everyone here tonight was having fun, and there was a buzz around the grounds. The energy from the race day rolled down the hill from the race track to the Sales Pavilion, and we look forward to even more excitement when we open our new venues.”
Magnolia Cup riders announced
The likely lineup of riders for the 2025 Markel Magnolia Cup in support of The King's Trust International's Project Lehar, was announced by Goodwood on Friday.
RIXO will design the racing silks carried by 12 women, who will ride on Thursday, July 31, during the Qatar Goodwood Festival. The race will support The King's Trust International's Project Lehar. The initiative operates in the Indian states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh, with a focus on empowering adolescent girls through vocational training, skills development and promoting gender equality within their communities.
Goodwood Racecourse director, James Crespi, said, “Every year the inspirational women who take part in the Markel Magnolia Cup become part of our incredible story and it's something we're immensely proud of.”
Strong nominations for Canada’s Triple Crown
The nominations for the 2025 Canadian Triple Crown, consisting of The King's Plate, Prince of Wales and Breeders' Stakes, were released by Woodbine Entertainment on Friday. A total of 88 3-year-olds, all foaled in Canada, have been nominated to this year's Canadian Triple Crown.
The 166th running of The King's Plate will launch the Canadian Triple Crown on Saturday, August 16 at Woodbine Racetrack. The Prince of Wales, scheduled for Tuesday, September 9 at Fort Erie Race Track, and the Breeders' Stakes, scheduled for Sunday, September 28 at Woodbine, complete the Triple Crown.
