Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Race-day recap
Super Seth's super season continues as his gelded son Maison Louis (NZ) proved too strong in the G1 Queensland Derby at Eagle Farm, making that four Group 1 winners for Waikato Stud's young sire.
You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) overcame a marathon trip north to capture the G1 Queensland Oaks to make the journey well worth it for Kris Lees and deliver another classic for her elite sire.
Joliestar (Zoustar) notched up her third Group 1 in the G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup, landing Chris Waller a record 19th top flight win for the season and launching dreams of a second tilt at the G1 Everest when unleashing a dazzling finish.
Front Page (Magnus) has connections tempted by a golden ticket into the G1 Stradbroke Handicap next week after victory in the G2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm.
Cosmic Fire delivered a fourth stakeswinner for Newgate Farm's Cosmic Force when rocketing home in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes.
Maison Louis’s Derby is a super fourth Group 1 win for Super Seth
Super Seth’s super season continued on Saturday at Eagle Farm, where first crop son Maison Louis (NZ) led home a quinella for John O’Shea and Tom Charlton in the G1 Queensland Derby. The gelding found himself trapped into the centre of the pack as they straightened, but jockey Ryan Maloney was able to weave him into the clear and send him forward in the last furlong for victory over stablemate King Of Thunder (NZ) (Tivaci) by a length.
“I'm a proud Queenslander, so it's a big thrill today,” O'Shea said. “He's just a tough, resilient little horse and he's come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we're very excited.
“He's (Maison Louis) come from obscurity to win a Queensland Derby so we're very excited.” - John O'Shea
“He's just been a progressive horse by a top young stallion in Super Seth. I think the key was that he was able to cope with the workload.”
After the Derby was pushed back one week due to the rain, Maloney serendipitously filled in for original jockey Ben Melham, and was pleased with the result.
John O'Shea | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“It was a very dawdling run Derby, and when J-Mac made his move at the half-mile, he increased the tempo, but not by a hell of a lot,” he said. “When he (Maison Louis) got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails.
“When he (Maison Louis) got the gap, he pinned his ears back and was just tough as nails.” - Ryan Maloney
“Last week, my (Derby) emergency got a run. But this week, I didn't have a Derby ride initially and luckily I picked it up. It is amazing what a week can do.”
Go Racing purchased Maison Louis for NZ$250,000 from Pencarrow Stud out of the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale. He is the first stakeswinner from Listed Matamata Cup winner Cote d'Or (NZ) (Makfi {GB}), a half-sister to G2 Travis Cup winner Dolmabache (NZ) (Redoute’s Choice). Cote d'Or has a Proisir weanling to follow.
Maison Louis delivers a fourth Group 1 winner for Waikato Stud’s Super Seth this season, and seventh stakes winner to date. Waikato Stud lifted the son of Dundeel’s (NZ) fee to NZ$75,000 plus GST for the 2025 breeding season in recognition of his progeny’s success, with bookings for outside mares closing last week.
You Wahng answers the call in close Queensland Oaks finish
She may have not won a stakes race before, but You Wahng (So You Think {NZ}) has been lurking in the background of the 3-year-old fillies’ races all autumn, waiting for the right time to pounce. Saturday’s delayed G1 Queensland Oaks provided the right stage for the Kris Lees-trained filly, who had notched up third placings in the G3 Adrian Knox Stakes and G1 Australian Oaks earlier in the year.
The filly strode forward upon straightening, with Pinito (Trapeze Artist) as her biggest threat as they headed home. You Wahng found her every stride matched to the line, but she got her head in front to snatch victory for Lees and Tommy Berry, with Benagil (Manhattan Rain) in third.
Lees shared that it took a marathon 16 hours, split into two eight-hour trips, to get the filly to Queensland due to heavy flooding through north east New South Wales, but it was more than worth it to secure an Oaks.
“It was a lovely ride from Tommy,” Lees praised. “He was able to get us straight across from the gate and got into a lovely position in running.
“He had a lot of horse coming to the corner, but I was always just a little guarded that last furlong when she presented, but she was able to find under pressure.
Kris Lees | Image courtesy of Ashlea Brennan
“She probably got to it a bit early in The Roses, so Tommy was adamant we just needed to hold her up for a furlong sprint and he produced her at the right time today.
“She looked the winner a long way from home. She was on her last legs late, but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.”
“She (You Wahng) was on her last legs late, but she found something extra under pressure so that was very pleasing.” - Kris Lees
Remarkably, it was the filly’s first metropolitan win. Lees indicated that the paddock called for her now.
“She'll have a well-deserved rest because she's had a good prep. She's been up all throughout and we thought, after the Oaks in Sydney, we were a chance and she's delivered.”
A 12th Group 1 winner for her sire So You Think (NZ), You Wahng was a $150,000 purchase from Riversdale for Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale. She is the second stakeswinner for five-time winner Wahng Wah (Casino Prince) after her Listed Princess Stakes-winning full sister Street Gossip. They are related to Group 1-winning Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) through the influential Twyla (Danehill {USA}). Wahng Wah has a weanling full sister on the ground, and is currently empty.
Joliestar planning Everest climb after Kingsford-Smith victory
Joliestar (Zoustar) justified her favouritism for the delayed G1 Kingsford-Smith Cup with a dashing victory by a head over Zarastro (I Am Invincible) in the 1200-metre contest at Eagle Farm on Saturday. The 4-year-old mare was last out running second in the G1 All Aged Stakes, beaten half a length, but she turned the tables on Saturday to notch a third career Group 1 victory.
Sent wide and back on the home turn, Joliestar had an extraordinary amount of ground to make up on the leaders, Zarastro and eventually third placegetter Golden Mile (Astern), but, under James McDonald’s calm steerage, she devoured the ground upon straightening to swoop in at the last moment. It went to a photo finish, but she managed to nab the win within the shadows of the post.
The victory propelled Waller to an unprecedented height, setting a new record for Group 1s captured in one season with win number 19.
“It's been hard to run the leaders down today, but we discussed things pre-race and we couldn't change our racing pattern,” Waller said. “James went straight across from the barriers and got in front of Giga Kick and one or two others, and that was what probably won him the race.
“Joliestar was off the bridle at the 500 (metres), but her class got her home. We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.”
“We missed out on (winning) The Everest last year, so we would like to have another crack this year.” - Chris Waller
“She wasn't entitled to win, but that's how good she is,” McDonald said. “I was lucky I was on a proper horse, even though she didn't like the ground at Eagle Farm today.”
Joliestar’s sire Zoustar currently leads the general sires’ premiership, and is on track for his first Champion Sire title - with his lead nicely extended by the $600,000 of Joliestar’s first place.
Front Page in the Stradbroke picture with Moreton Cup win
Dual $2 million Kosciusko winner Front Page (Magnus) proved he’s more than bounced back from his trip to West Australia for the $5 million The Quokka, with a dashing one-length win in the G2 Moreton Cup at Eagle Farm on Saturday.
The 8-year-old gelding, who has been in the hands of leading Goulburn trainer Matthew Dale since his second Kosciusko win, looked like he might not catch the runaway Hidden Wealth (Better Than Ready) in the home straight, but he rallied magnificently to dart past the Tony Gollan-trained gelding, with Warnie (Ire) (Highland Reel {Ire}) in third.
With a golden ticket into the G1 Stradbroke Handicap now - over 1400 metres, a distance unprecedented for the 8-year-old - Dale made it clear that “the discussion has to be had” now.
“We will certainly give some thought to it,” he said. “A decision will be made on Tuesday, he will either be racing in the Stradbroke or going out for a month in the paddock here in Queensland. It's a good problem to have.
“He is a tough old horse who is rock solid fit and he ran right through the line today. We will enjoy this win and then dissect everything.
“He's just an absolute beauty. We came up here today rapt with how the horse was.
“The track has dried out all week, but the track is still a bit choppy, and at the top of the straight, I thought we were in a little bit of trouble. But he was prepared to get down and dirty and tough it out.”
“At the top of the straight, I thought we were in a little bit of trouble. But he (Front Page) was prepared to get down and dirty and tough it out.” - Matthew Dale
Dale currently also trains Front Page’s juvenile full sister Corningstone (Magnus) and 4-year-old half-sister Group Chat (Rubick). At the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale earlier this year, Cannon Hayes Stud sold a colt by Zoustar out of his full sister News Girl for $500,000 to Mick Price.
Cosmic Fire blazes home to capture Queensland Day Stakes
A new stakeswinner for Newgate Farm’s Cosmic Force fired home in the Listed Queensland Day Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday; Billy Healey-trained gelding Cosmic Fire proved too good for his opposition to also claim the first stakes win for his trainer. Leading the field into the home straight, the 3-year-old revved his engine upon straightening and motored home under Jamie Mott to claim a half length victory over Gerringong (Blue Point {Ire}), with Coleman (Pierata) in third).
“It’s a good feeling, it doesn’t happen that often, especially not for me,” Healey said post-race. “He was really good, he’s a really tough horse. He’s really helped me in my career in the last 12 months and he continues to do that, so I owe a lot to him.
"He’s (Cosmic Fire) really helped me in my career in the last 12 months and he continues to do that, so I owe a lot to him." - Billy Healey
“(Going forward) we’ll just see where we end up. No major ambitions, today he’s ticked the 1200(-metre box) and he does it the tough way too. It’s good to see, we’ll just take it race by race.”
Healey paid thanks to part-owners On Fire Racing for their loyalty; “they’ve been terrific to me, they’ve backed me since the early days of my career, and he’s (Cosmic Fire) the flagbearer out of the lot of them. They’ve stuck by me and been a really good group of people.”
The victory brings up four stakeswinners for Cosmic Force, who stands this season for $16,500 inc GST.
Offered by Sullivan Bloodstock at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Cosmic Fire was a $80,000 purchase for his trainer, Furlong Bloodstock, and On Fire Racing. He is one of two winners from two to race for four-time winning mare Exellas (Helmet), from the family of Northern Hemisphere sire Territories (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}). Exellas is currently in foal to Finance Tycoon.
