Juvenile Summary: A big day for first season sires

Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography

Cool Archie is headed to Group 1 glory

Trainers Chris and Corey Munce will target the G1 JJ Atkins Plate with Saturday’s Listed Dalrello Stakes winner Cool Archie (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}), who was coming off a last start victory but was made to work for the 0.23l win from gritty second placed Matthew Dunn-trained colt Torque To Be Sure (Shamus Award) who has run second in all of his three starts now. In third, 2l in arrears, was Tony Gollan-trained colt Midnight Spirit (Spirit Of Boom).

“He's the quietest horse,” Chris Munce said. “You could put a child on him and he wouldn't turn a hair. I was a bit surprised to see him in the parade ring bouncing like he was. I'll tell you what, he's a tough little horse. He was always going to go on that Sires' and JJ (Atkins) path, so he'll go to the Spirit Of Boom Classic in two weeks' time.”

Second in the G3 BJ McLachlin Stakes before Christmas, Cool Archie becomes the first stakes winner for Newhaven Park’s first season sire and juvenile Group 1 winner Cool Aza Beel (NZ), a son of Savabeel. With earnings over $220,000 from his two wins and six starts, Cool Archie was a $100,000 purchase by Mick Malone Bloodstock from Newhaven Park’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.

One of five winners for his dam Aware (Tale Of The Cat {USA}), who was a solid race mare winning three times and running fourth in the Listed Oakbank Stakes, Cool Archie’s second dam is G2 Magic Night Stakes winner and multiple times Group 1-placed Media (Gilded Time {}) who in turn is a daughter of Listed winner Valourina (Snippets).

Listed Waikato Stakes won by Towering Vision

Mark Walker and Sam Bergson-prepared 2-year-old gelding Towering Vision (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) had to survive a protest after a head-bobbing victory in Saturday’s Listed Waikato Equine Veterinary Centre Stakes at Te Rapa. He hit the line with Barry Donoghue-trained colt Navy Dreams (NZ) (Merchant Navy), sticking his nose in front despite the pair bumping each other. A steward’s inquiry was dismissed. In third was Toretto (NZ) (Ardrossan) for trainer Hollie Wynyard.

“We always liked the step up to 1400 metres, we thought he would also handle the track and he has just gone the right way of late,” Bergerson said.

“He is a horse we think has plenty of upside and looks like a really nice 3-year-old for next season. He has the ability to do it now and that is a fantastic result for his owners, for Windsor Park and Circus Maximus. We think he can go to the mile next time so the Champagne Stakes at Ellerslie is a possibility once we get him home and see how he pulls up.

“Fair play to him as well as he looked beaten when the other one went past him. He got a bit green and got lost but he kicked again which is a credit to him.”

He is the first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner for triple Group 1 winner Circus Maximus who has also sired Queensland stakes placed Ha’Penny Hatch (NZ). Purchased by Te Akau Racing’s David Ellis for NZ$105,000 from Windsor Park Stud at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale, he is the second foal of Qiji Vision (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}). She is a nicely related unraced mare, being a full sister to G3 Canterbury Gold Cup winner Who Dares Wins (NZ) whose ten wins included three at stakes level and a half-sister to Group 3 placed Mae West (NZ) (Sir Percy {GB}), dam of dual Listed winner in WA My Bella Mae (Deep Field).

Cambridge Stud celebrate history in Listed Champagne Stakes

Bred and raced by Cambridge Stud owners Brendan and Jo Lindsay, who also stand first season sire Hello Youmzain (Fr), the historic victory by 2-year-old filly Lucy In The Sky (NZ) in Saturday’s Listed Champagne Stakes gave the farm a day to remember. Not only is she the first Southern Hemisphere stakes winner for Hello Youmzain, but she’s also the first horse in New Zealand to win a stakes race on an all-weather surface.

“We came down here to try to get a stakes win on the board, so it’s mission accomplished in that sense,” trainer Tony Pike said.

“She’ll also go down in history as the first horse to win a black-type race on the synthetic in New Zealand. She’s a really nice filly who ran in a Group 1 race up north. She still has a bit to learn, so it’s all positive heading into her three-year-old season. I think the best two fillies ran the quinella today and have the makings of good 3-year-olds. Our filly had to work a bit to get across and lead, but she’s done it well. I told Jasmine (Fawcett) to just allow her to get into rhythm, which she did.”

First season sires provided the trifecta. Sent out as a $1.30 favourite, Lucy In The Sky won by 1.75l from Te Akau Racing’s filly Queen’s Evidence (NZ) (King’s Legacy) who finished another 4l clear of the third-placed Alottago (Tagaloa). A winner on debut, Lucy In The Sky ran sixth in the G1 Sistema Stakes at her second start, and this win was her third start. She has earnings over NZ$77,000 and is the third stakes winner for Hello Youmzain, and his first in the Southern Hemisphere.

“There’s a lot of water to go under the bridge yet, but it would be great to see her back here in November for the 1000 Guineas.”

Lucy In The Sky is a half-sister to G2 Rich Hill Mile winner Ruud Not Too (NZ) (Bernardini {USA}), who is the dam of Queensland’s Listed Tattersall's Mile winner Cottee (Merchant Navy). Their unraced dam, Too Many Diamonds (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), is a half-sister to G3 Red Anchor Stakes winner Royal Asscher (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}), out of Group 3 winner Diamond Cashel (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}).

Clarendon winner Aerodrome heads north

Hawkesbury’s Clarendon Stakes for 2-year-olds might not have black type status, but Saturday’s victory by unbeaten colt Aerodrome added to the exciting first season record of Ole Kirk, with the colt being touted as a potential runner in the upcoming G1 JJ Atkins Plate. Famous winners of the Clarendon include 2023 winner Zardozi (Kingman {GB}) and sire Zoustar while this year’s G3 Hawkesbury Guineas winner Media World (Written Tycoon) won the race last year.

Trainer Michael Freedman joined forces with jockey Regan Bayliss who rode Aerodrome to a 0.74l win over David Payne-trained gelding Hereward (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) with James Cummings-trained colt Zebra Finch (Exceed And Excel) in third. “I will see how he pulls up but all going well we will look at Brisbane now for Aerodrome,” Freedman said.

“There's a month to the Sires' but he won't need to race again although if he needs it I might give him a barrier trial. Then we can look at the JJ Atkins as well because I don't think 1600 metres will be any issue. The best part about both of Aerodrome's wins have been his last 200 metres – he has been very strong through the line.”

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

One of eleven first crop winners for Ole Kirk, Aerodrome was sold by Gilgai Farm at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $190,000 to Nine9park. He is the first foal of She Shao Fly (Epaulette) who won the G3 SAJC Sires' Produce Stakes at two. Her yearling filly full sister to Aerodrome was sold by Gilgai Farm to K Oka for $70,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale this year. She Shao Fly is a half-sister to dual Group 1-placed Samurai Blade (Where’s That Tiger {USA}).

Capitola book ends season

Luke Fernie unveiled 2-year-old gelding Capitola (Capitalist) early in the season, winning on debut in October, but since then he’s had some bad luck, tailing off in the R.Listed Magic Millions Perth 2YO Classic, and being buffeted around last start in the Listed Perth Stakes. He bounced back on Saturday with a strong 0.8l victory for jockey Clint Johnston-Porter.

“He was very unlucky, he got knocked over a couple of times (last start), and pulled up not as good as we would’ve liked to get him into the Karrakatta Plate. And it’s been a blessing that we’ve waited a week and that’s reflected (here),” said Fernie.

“It hasn’t been smooth sailing and is a credit to the owners. We did toss up whether we put him in the paddock, or keep him going. He’s done all the right things and been professional to get over his hiccups and he’s got the result today.”

Winner of two of his six starts with earnings over $119,000, Capitola was sold by Amelia Park to Peter and Luke Fernie for $110,000 at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale. By consistent winner getter Capitalist, whose Group 1 winner Captivant is the best of his 24 stakes winners, Capitola is the first live foal of Rio Del Mar (Magnus) who had a Playing God colt foal this season.

Rio Del Mar was a brilliant juvenile winning the G3 WA Gimcrack Stakes at two, and is out of unraced Encosta De Lago mare Castanera, who is a half-sister to G2 Alister Clark Stakes winner Chill Party (Nicconi).