Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Race-Day Recap
Buccleuch (Peltzer) showed his class as he was a dominant winner of the juvenile event at Flemington, as he played his part in opening an outstanding four winners for trainers Patrick and Michelle Payne.
Mister Bianco (Zousain) was an impressive winner of the T L Cooney for in-form trainer Paul Shailer and jockey Andrew Mallyon.
Brave One (Exceedance) lived up to his name as he handled a wide trip throughout to still gain success at Randwick in the hands of Dylan Gibbons.
Honey Badger (El Roca) confirmed herself as a very promising filly in wet ground, as she picked up her third win at Tauranga for trainer Tony Pike and jockey Sam Collett.
Buccleuch blitzes rivals in impressive style
Buccleuch (Peltzer) bounded away to claim victory in the 2-year-old 1420 metre event at Flemington on Saturday. The Patrick and Michelle Payne-trained gelding looks a promising type by young sire Peltzer, and shapes as a potential staying 3-year-old star once he steps up in distance.
He was well-backed to upset the warm favourite Observer (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), and jumped as the second elect following an imposing win at Echuca on June 3, where he started a dominant $1.14 favourite.
The dynamics of the race changed early, as the expected leader and favourite Observer missed the start, then worked hard from a wide gate to take up the lead. Eton Affair (Peltzer) also worked to sit outside the leader, and the strong early tempo proved too taxing for the juveniles.
The swoopers came into play late, with Buccleuch surging clear under Billy Egan to win dominantly by just over two lengths. Arcora (Justify {USA}) ran second, with Millennium Blade (Too Darn Hot {GB}) and Impending War (Impending) finishing third and fourth respectively.
“He’s always been a lovely type, right from when we’ve had him. Patrick’s always had a really nice opinion of him,” co-trainer Michelle Payne said post-race.
“He’s (Buccleuch) always been a lovely type, right from when we’ve had him. Patrick’s always had a really nice opinion of him.” - Michelle Payne
“It’s great for (owners) Sandy and Kathy (Tait). Patrick’s had such a great association with them, from when he was riding to now, training for them.
“Hopefully we’ve got a smart one here, just a lovely, progressive horse.”
Buccleuch winning the 2-year-old Handicap at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Billy Egan, who has developed a strong connection with the gelding, added:
“He won really well today,” Egan said.
“I've ridden him all the way through in all his trials and races and he's always been improving, but he's never shown me the turn of foot like that.
“He's always been a little leggy, a little unbalanced and I thought he might be a horse that maintains a gallop.
“That's why I went for him quite firmly at the top of the straight. I thought he might have to struggle to get past Observer, but he went past it like it was nailed to the fence.
“That surprised me a bit. It was a really good win.”
Billy Egan after winning the 2-year-old Handicap at Flemington | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Later on the card, the Payne stable brought up four winners for the day at Flemington when Stop The Rock (NZ) (El Roca) put in a strong staying effort to win the second event over 2000 metres, again with Billy Egan aboard and then the tough stayer Bold Soul (NZ) (Embellish {NZ}) and Jimmy The Bear (Jimmy Creed {USA}) saluting the judge with Tom Preblle aboard.
Buccleuch is the first metropolitan winner for his sire Peltzer, a dual Group winner by So You Think (NZ). He hails from a quality family as the fourth foal from Golden Fastnet (Fr) (Fastnet Rock), a dual winner in France and Listed placed. She is a half-sister to Wind Chimes (GB) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a Group 3 and Listed winner in France, who also placed in the G1 Prix du Moulin de Longchamp and the Poule d’Essai des Pouliches.
Peltzer | Standing at Twin Hills Stud
Wind Chimes was recently in the spotlight, having been sold to Ben Kwok for $305,000 via the Inglis Digital June Sale. It was reported she may be served by either Profondo or Shamexpress (NZ) this breeding season - she may get another more pedigree updates if Buccleuch continues to progress as a 3-year-old.
Since foaling Buccleuch, Golden Fastnet has produced a yearling colt by Hallowed Crown, and a weanling filly by Prized Icon, before sadly passing away in November last year.
Mister Bianco prevails in a brutally run T L Cooney
It was a take-no-prisoners affair in the $150,000 T L Cooney for 3-year-olds at Ipswich on Saturday, as race favourite Stay Focused (Cosmic Force) pushed forward aggressively from a wide draw to lead under Kyle Wilson-Taylor.
Tuned (Zoustar) applied constant pressure outside the leader, while the in-form and well-fancied Mister Bianco (Zousain) enjoyed a perfect trail in transit. At the turn, jockey Andrew Mallyon peeled off the back of Stay Focused and the pair sprinted clear, with Mister Bianco finishing too strongly in the closing stages. The favourite was brave in second, while Bollinger Miss (Zousain) made up good ground to run fourth.
Trainer Paul Shailer was full of praise for his gelding post-race, noting the maturity the horse had developed in recent months.
“It is a credit to the horse. The penny is starting to drop and he is racing with confidence. Three months ago he wouldn’t have won that race, he would have found a way to get himself beaten, so it is good that he’s got that killer instinct about him and he was really good off what was a strong tempo today,” Shailer said.
“It is a credit to the horse (Mister Bianco). The penny is starting to drop and he is racing with confidence. He’s got that killer instinct about him and he was really good off what was a strong tempo today.” - Paul Shailer
He continued, “I know the track is playing quite leaderish, but they looked like the two best horses in the race – him and the second horse.
“He’s a really good doing horse. He eats a lot of food and it is just a good opportunity to get on the grass as well. We don’t always get the opportunity to get grass gallops, and I do love working horses on the grass to keep his confidence up and have a really easy time.
“I feel for Michael Rodd who was on him this morning. Shout out to you, mate. He’ll be out of play for a little bit, but Andrew was a great replacement. He is familiar with the horse and has done a wonderful job.”
Mister Bianco winning the T L Cooney at Ipswich | Image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Jockey Andrew Mallyon, who picked up the ride due to Michael Rodd being sidelined after injuring his wrist at trackwork, echoed Shailer’s sentiments and praised the gelding’s effort.
“First and foremost, thoughts are with Roddy. Terrible way to pick up a ride, but he doesn’t need the money – I do,” Mallyon quipped.
“It was a pretty straightforward plan. Drew well and got in a nice spot. Had the right horse to track into the race. He let go nicely, then half had a bit of a look and was waiting for his mate inside him.
“He’s a nice horse and is a work in progress. It’ll be interesting to see where he gets to when the penny drops.”
“He’s (Mister Bianco) a nice horse and is a work in progress. It’ll be interesting to see where he gets to when the penny drops.” - Andrew Mallyon
Mister Bianco was purchased for $70,000 by Shailer Racing at the 2023 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, and is the sixth foal from Orutan (NZ) (Pins), a three-time winner and stakes-placed in both the Listed Dunedin Guineas and G2 Wakefield Challenge Stakes.
Orutan is a half-sister to O’Naturelle (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), who was also stakes-placed, and La Vitesse (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}), dam of Pier (NZ) (Proisir), winner of the G1 NZ 2000 Guineas, and Maria Farina (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}), a multiple stakes winner.
Mister Bianco as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Mister Bianco, Orutan has delivered a 2-year-old filly by Showtime, a weanling filly by Zousain, and is due to foal to Brutal (NZ) in October this year.
Brave One lived up to his name – the tough trip didn’t matter
It always looked a tricky setup for Brave One (Exceedance) from a wide draw over 1300 metres at Randwick, but in the end, it didn’t matter. The Michael, John and Wayne Hawkes-trained gelding overcame a tough run to win the 3-year-old Benchmark 72 over 1300 metres.
Dylan Gibbons had to take his medicine early, caught wide on the well-supported gelding, Secure (Snitzel) led with Lunaite (Deep Field) outside him, while Brave One travelled wide before improving approaching the turn. He loomed up in the straight and quickly put the race to bed, winning comfortably by just over one and a half lengths. The placings stayed very similar in the on-pace contest, with Secure and Lunaite filling the minors, while Maori Chief (I Am Invincible) caught the eye running on strongly for fourth.
Steve Thompson the Hawkes Stable representative, commented “He has always shown a lot at home, he has always pleased John and Michael, he is a lovely son of Exceedance.
“The barrier did us no favours today but it was a great ten out of ten ride by Dylan, he just took his time, sat behind and the horse did the rest in the straight.”
“The barrier did us no favours today but it was a great ten out of ten ride by Dylan, he just took his time, sat behind and the horse (Brave One) did the rest in the straight.” - Steve Thompson
When asked about future plans, Thompson said:
“We will just go through the grades, but he is above average, so we will just try and get his rating points up and probably look at getting him to a Listed or black-type type race into him a bit later.”
Brave One winning the Bm72 at Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Gibbons reflected on the challenging run:
“It was, it was actually funny the way it worked out, me and Kerrin drew beside each other and I was probably glad I was the one out and not the one in as you probably couldn’t tell but the first half of the race I had cover, and it was only about the 700 metres when Kerrin dropped in, from then the pace slackened and it allowed us to pinch some ground and trust his ability late.”
And on his potential Gibbons answered:
“I think he will (improve), I really liked him when I rode him the other day. He was a bit keen and still travelled up well and probably got beat by a handy one, but today he was just beautiful right in my hands, and like you said he was tough — lots of ability there and exciting to see where he goes from here.”
Dylan Gibbons after winning the Bm72 at Randwick | Image courtesy of Sportpix
Brave One was purchased by Hawkes Racing for $300,000 from the 2023 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, out of the Vinery Stud draft.
He is the third live foal from Runway Star (Northern Meteor), a talented mare who won the G3 Proud Miss Stakes and the Listed Matrice Stakes (twice). His third dam, Wrap Around (Bletchingly), was a nine-time winner, including victory in the G1 William Reid Stakes.
Since producing Brave One, Runway Star has left a 2-year-old named Galtier (Exceedance) who placed fifth on debut, a weanling colt by Russian Revolution, and is due to foal to Ole Kirk in September this year.
Brave One as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Honey Badger scores another big win - she loves the wet tracks
It was another dominant performance from Honey Badger (NZ) (El Roca), who claimed her third win of the season with a powerful three and a half length victory at Tauranga, once again excelling on a heavy track.
Ridden positively by Michael McNab, she jumped well and secured a prominent position from a good draw in the small field, never looking in danger.
Trainer Tony Pike was pleased and believes there’s more to come:
“It was a good, positive ride today and she got track conditions to suit,” Pike said.
“She is holding her condition really well, and she loves these tracks, so we will definitely give her another couple of runs. She looks like a mare for next season who could pick up a nice black-type race.”
“She (Honey Badger) is holding her condition really well, and she loves these tracks. She looks like a mare for next season who could pick up a nice black-type race.” - Tony Pike
Winning jockey Michael McNab added:
“She jumped and put herself there (on the pace) while Pleasing was a touch slow and may have just overdone it to get to the lead.
She (Honey Badger) got track conditions to her liking today. It is hard work out there, so happy to be on the board in the first two races.”
Honey Badger was purchased for $30,000 by Hope Racing from the Westbury Stud draft at the 2023 NZB Ready to Run Sale at Karaka.
Honey Badger (NZ) winning the Aongatete Avo-Ject 3-year-old | Image courtesy of Kenton Wright (Race Images)
She is the seventh live foal out of Sacred Vow (More Than Ready), a winner over 900 metres. Sacred Vow has produced four winners, including five-time winner and Listed placegetter Miss Cartier (NZ) from the Stephen Marsh stable.
Other stakes winners in the extended family include Swissta (NZ) (Swiss Ace), The Cloisters (Godswalk {USA}), My Middi (Belong To Me {USA}), and Bianca Jewel (Lion Heart {USA}).
Since producing Honey Badger, Sacred Vow has left a 2-year-old filly and a weanling colt, both by Swiss Ace, before she sadly died later that year.
