Prebble gains first stakes winner
Apprentice jockey Tom Prebble earned his first stakes winner in Saturday’s Listed Straight Six aboard Clayton Douglas-trained $61 outsider 4-year-old gelding Title Fighter (Lean Mean Machine) who won by 0.15l from Anthony Chibnall-trained 5-year-old gelding Deekay (Hellbent) with Dan Meagher-trained Singapore Horse Of The Year Lim’s Kosciuszko (Kermadec {NZ}) achieving a strong third in his first Australian start.
Prebble first rode in 2022 and is a son of champion jockey Brett Prebble and jockey Maree Payne. “This means a lot,” Prebble said.
“It was my first time on the horse. I thought the win was mine, but I didn't want to go too soon and be smiling and cheering when I didn't get the winner, so it's pretty awesome now that I do realise I've won.”
Title Fighter won on debut at two and now has six wins, with this his first at black type level, from 18 starts with earnings over $550,000. Sold by now-owner Ponderosa Park for $24,000 at the Inglis Great Southern Weanling Sale to Bendigo Bloodstock, he went through the Inglis Ready To Race Sale where Reid Racing sold him back to Ponderosa Park for $20,000.
Tom Prebble and Title Fighter after winning the Listed Straight Six | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
He becomes the second stakes winner for his Queensland based sire, and is out of If Not Now When (Artie Schiller {USA}) who won the Bendigo Gold Rush at two, but sadly died in 2021 without another foal after Title Fighter. If Not Now When is a half-sister to Golden Child (I Am Invincible), the dam of Royal Ascot star Asfoora (Flying Artie).
Basilinna gains ballot exemption into Melbourne Cup
Trainers Emma-Lee and David Browne gained a ballot exemption for November’s G1 Melbourne Cup with 4-year-old mare Basilinna (NZ) (Staphanos {Jpn}) after she won Saturday’s Listed Andrew Ramsden Stakes by 1.25l for jockey Dean Yendall. She led down the straight and was a little bit wobbly with a furlong to go, but stayed on well over the 2800 metre journey to hold on from Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Glentaneous (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Fernao (Ire) (Frankel {GB}) in third.
“We've had a great season, but this has really topped it off,” Emma-Lee Browne said.
“We bred her and she's done a pretty good job. Right from the start today, she was handling the track great and I think I will be the only one hoping for rain in November. We were going to go to the Sandown Cup (3200m on June 1), but now we’ll put her out and focus on the angles on getting her to the Cup in the right shape. Pick the right path and make sure she gets to the day in the best-possible condition.”
Third in the VRC Oaks at three, Basilinna now has three wins from her 19 starts and earnings over $500,000. She becomes the second stakes winner for Staphanos (Jpn), following G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes winner Pignan (NZ), and she is the second-last foal of G3 Nicolas Feuillatte Stakes-placed So Royal (NZ) (Shinko King {Ire}) whose last foal is Basilinna’s winning full sister 3-year-old Shangri La Impact (NZ). This is the family of G2 Roman Consul Stakes winner Montana Flyer (Flying Spur).
Melody Again wins G3 Dark Jewel Stakes
Scone trainer Scott Singleton won the G3 Dark Jewel Stakes with 5-year-old mare Melody Again (Your Song), ridden by Christian Reith, who coincidentally rode Singleton’s first winner “twenty years ago”. She won by 0.46l from favourite Written In Code (I Am Invincible), trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, with Mike Van Gestel-trained Dark Glitter (Spieth {NZ}) in third.
“That’s like our Melbourne Cup. Any chance you can win a race like this, it’d be at home, and we had her at the top of her game. She just looked the winner in the yard,” said Singleton.
A winner on debut at three, Melody Again becomes stakes winner number eight for Your Song, and is the first foal of Jay ‘n’ Ava (Authorized {Ire}) whose second foal is unraced 2-year-old filly Avay (Tassort).
Flying Artie adds new stakes winner in Listed Bright Shadow
The Listed Bright Shadow Stakes was won by Joseph Pride-trained 4-year-old mare In Flight (Flying Artie) and became the tenth stakes winner for her sire. Sent out as favourite, the consistent mare bolted home for jockey Jason Collett to win by 1.87l from James Cummings-trained Kin (Impending) with Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Midnight In Tokyo (Kobayashi) a further length back in third.
Flying Artie’s 10 stakes winners are led by Group 1 winners Artorius and Asfoora. In Flight was coming off a last start Listed second, now has won six of her 16 starts and over $550,000. She was purchased by Pride Racing and Proven Thoroughbreds for $220,000 from Goodwood Farm’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale draft.
A half-sister to stakes placed Waimea Bay (All Too Hard), In Flight is out of Listed Hollywood Park B Thoughtful Stakes winner Waveline (USA) (Stravinsky {USA}) who has been a lovely broodmare with five winners from as many to race. She has a yearling colt by Rebel Dane who was purchased by Luke Koumi and Kennewell Racing for $14,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale. Waveline is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Eddie Haskell (USA) (Square Eddie {USA}).
First stakes winner for Spieth
The victory of 5-year-old gelding Brookhaven in the Listed Bernborough Handicap at Doomben for trainers Chris and Corey Munce gave Spieth (NZ) his first stakes winner. He took advantage of the low weight in handicap conditions and was given a lovely ride by Tyler Schiller to win by 0.97l from Tony Gollan-trained Tenzig (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) with Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Osmose (Fr) (Zoffany {Ire}) in third.
“(The low weight) was a big asset. He was well ridden by Tyler … He's such a lovely horse, really clean-winded,” said Chris Munce.
Brookhaven is from the first crop of Spieth, who died in 2022 and had only four crops. Spieth, a son of Thorn Park, was a Listed winning sprinter who was twice Group 1 placed. Brookhaven was sold via Inglis Digital August as a just-turned yearling for $4750 and taken the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale only a few months later by Tallarook where he sold to Munce Racing and Blue Sky Bloodstock (FBAA) for $37,500. He took his earnings over $420,00 with five wins from 29 starts.
The second-last foal for Lightens (Viscount) who was fourth in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes, he is one of three winners from her five runners. This is the family of G1 Stradbroke Handicap winner Crawl (Dr Grace) and four-time Group 1 winner and sire Trapeze Artist.
First NZ stakes winner for jockey Queiroz
The Listed Rangitikei Cup, run at Trentham on Saturday, gave Brazilian hoop Bruno Queiroz his first New Zealand stakes winner aboard 5-year-old mare Francee (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}), trained by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson. “She tries really hard and it is just great for Haunui Farm, the Chitty family and everyone involved in her,” Walker said.
“It was a tremendous ride from Bruno as he had her in the right place and was strong on her in the closing stages. We are lucky to have these experienced international riders coming to New Zealand and you can see just what they bring to the saddle in everything they do.”
Francee won by 0.1l from Knights Realm (NZ) (Castledale {Ire}) with Khanshe (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) in third. It was her first stakes win, with a career record of four wins from 22 starts with earnings over NZ$215,000 for owner-breeders Haunui Farm. She becomes stakes winner 103 for Iffraaj (GB), and is the first stakes winner for Group 1 winner Calveen (NZ) (Canny Lad) who also produced Group 3-placed Miss Delveen (Encosta De Lago).
Around the nation: Saturday’s other moments
With 17 meetings across Australia, with all eyes on Queensland and it was Capitalist who sired a double at the Gold Coast with Capital Diva and Capital Boss. Jockey Raul Silvera Olivera won three of the five races at Emerald, while Graham Kliese rode a treble at Burdekin including the Burdekin Cup on Nine Carats (Hellbent). Chloe Lowe rode a treble at Nanango. Sizzling sired a double at Hughenden with Summer Sizzling and Scorched Land. Star Witness sired a double at Tennant Creek with Tintern Power and Venting.
Toowoomba’s meeting saw 2-year-old gelding Bluish Hue (Flying Artie) win on debut for trainer Jake Capewell. The $1000 weanling purchase from the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale is out of winning mare Cavalry Gold (Charge Forward).
At Kembla Grange, Robbie Downey rode a treble on Pick Up The Tab (NZ) (Savabeel), Winner Of Kowtoon (Shamus Award) and Twilight Elegance (Dundeel {NZ}). Trainer Nikki Pollock won four of the six races at Brewarrina including with 4-year-old mare Joanneski (Russian Revolution) who has won two in succession.
At Flemington, 3-year-old filly Madame Maserati (I Am Invincible) made it three wins in succession. Over in WA, jockey Brad Parnham rode a treble at Belmont.
Kyprios pulls up slightly sore after third Levmoss win
As he likes to do in his Royal Ascot warm-ups, Ballydoyle's undisputed champion Kyprios (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}) gave the long odds-on backers enough of a scare to shorten their lifespan prior to just doing what he does and winning. Taking part in Friday's G3 Saval Beg Levmoss Stakes to keep his eye in more than anything, the 7-year-old sauntered around Leopardstown under Ryan Moore, made it look hard work for a few strides heading to the last furlong before extending sufficiently to wrap up a third renewal.
At the line, the 1-14 shot had a 1.5l margin to spare over Dallas Star (Fr) (Cloth Of Stars {Ire}) which in any other instance would be enough to cast doubt on his prospects of adding another Gold Cup to his impressive portfolio. But this is Kyprios, who has done this before. What was of genuine concern was the fact that he appeared unsound after the race.
Aidan O'Brien gave the instant feedback. “Everything went perfectly in the race, but he looked to be walking gingerly in front going out of the winner's enclosure after the pictures had been taken,” he revealed. “He might have been feeling something and it could be a sprung shoe, but there'll be no chances taken with him and we'll investigate and see what it is.”
Rebel’s Romance adds Yorkshire Cup
Friday's G2 Boodles Yorkshire Cup was run at little more than a crawl and played directly into the lap of Godolphin's seven-time elite-level winner Rebel's Romance (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}), who fared best in a five-runner battle of wits.
The globetrotting 7-year-old, who had notched victories at the highest grade in four different countries, won from Epic Poet (Ire) (Lope De Vega {Ire}) by a head. John and Thady Gosden trainee Sweet William (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}) was third. “He's a real favourite with his own little fan base and rightly so for what he's achieved through his career,” said Charlie Appleby.
“We didn't want to go travelling just yet, we've got a bit of a career-end programme for him that will hopefully involve staying in Europe for the summer and then our American trips towards the second half of the season. He'll probably go to Germany and he's in the G1 Coronation Cup. We'll see how he comes out of this race, but he has plenty of options. I'd imagine he'll go to Canada and then back to the Breeders' Cup.”
Another Night Of Thunder filly succeeds
York's Listed Michael Seely Memorial Fillies' Stakes looked a strong contest full of exciting 3-year-old fillies on Friday and it was Peter Harris's unbeaten Kon Tiki (GB) who came through. Coming off all-weather wins at Wolverhampton and Kempton, the Jane Chapple-Hyam-trained daughter of Night Of Thunder (Ire) swept by some smart peers approaching the final furlong and had half a length to spare over Bermuda Longtail (Fr) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) at the line. Troia (GB) (Kingman {GB}) was third.
Connections of the 11-2 winner are looking to avoid Royal Ascot this year. “She's trained well all winter–I had her in the Guineas, but we decided to come here instead,” the trainer said. “It was her first time on turf and I just thought this was a nice start for her and allowed her more time to come in her coat. Mr Harris likes them to go gradually up the staircase, so there's no rush. We'll go for the G2 Sandringham at Chantilly and, for me, the race then would be the G1 Falmouth.”
Upset winner of G3 Pimlico Special
Now a winner from six furlongs to 1 3/16 miles, Awesome Aaron (USA) continued his positive trend for trainer Norm Casse with an off-the-pace upset in the GIII Pimlico Special Stakes. After a career spent at nearly every level of racing, the 6-year-old gelding becomes the 49th stakes winner for Practical Joke (USA).
“Just from Day One since we got him, he acted like a really good horse,” said Casse. “It was pretty obvious to me, basically right away, at some point we were going to stretch him out. That was working; he was running really well stretching out, but there was just something missing. So last time we just took the blinkers off, and that allowed him to settle just a little bit more, let him finish a little bit better. And he beat a quality field of horses at Oaklawn that day. I knew he was going to run really well today, especially stretching out even a little more. So, we expected to go over there and run really well. And we did. Johnny rode him perfect. It's truly a gratifying win. That's a big-time race that anybody would like to win, so we're very proud of that.”
Black-Eyed Susan Stakes won by Margie’s Intention
At approximately the time that the G2 George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes was scheduled to run, a severe storm was rolling through the Baltimore area, blackening the sky and kicking up wind and rain that gave those running for cover the impression of an approaching apocalypse. With a steady stream of people dutifully filing out of the infield tents and into the safety of Pimlico's main structure, the rapidly-moving storm made enough of a fuss to have spectators wondering if racing would go on with two races remaining on Friday's card.
The sun came out and it was Margie's Intention (USA) (Honor A.P. {USA}), making her first start for trainer Brad Cox, who won. “We liked her a good bit,” Cox said. “Elliott's (Walden, President and CEO of WinStar Farm) team bought into her and it all paid off today. Obviously, a big win being a Grade II and we thought she would like the mile and an eighth and she pretty much needed all of it to get there.”
Walden spoke of the purchase, saying, “Jerry Brown from Thoro-Graph really liked her. We'd seen her at the 2-year-old sale; we'd looked at her then. So, I knew quite a bit about her when he mentioned her, knew she was a really pretty filly.
“So, it made sense to us. We bought her privately, then turned her over to Brad. Brendan (Walsh) had done a great job with her. We have plenty of horses with Brad, and that was the only reason for the change. We looked at her race record, running every three weeks down there in all those Louisiana-bred stakes. You want to take opportunity when it's there, if you're a Louisiana-bred.”
