Cover image courtesy of Trackside Photography
Race-day Recap
The G1 Tatt’s Tiara was won by Peter Snowden-trained Tashi who becomes the ninth Group 1 winner for Sebring for owners Corumbene Stud who also bred her sire.
Peters Investment’s Opportunistic (So You Think {NZ}) remained unbeaten in winning the Listed Belmont Guineas for trainer Michael Grantham, and was one of five wins on the card for jockey Clint Johnston-Porter.
The G3 WJ Healy Stakes was won by Metalart (Better Than Ready) to give trainer Kelly Schweida a double for the day at Eagle Farm. He became the 15th stakes winner for his sire.
It was a treble for jockey Angela Jones at Eagle Farm including the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown on Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) who became stakes winner number 13 for her sire.
Manzoice returned to the winner’s circle for the first time in over two years in the G3 Tattersall’s Cup for trainer Chris Waller. He’ll be aimed at the G1 Melbourne Cup.
A treble for jockey Josh Parr was topped with winning the Listed WJ McKell Cup victory on Elamaz (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}).
The final Group 1 of the season won by Tashi
It is perhaps fitting that the final Group 1 race of the 2024/25 racing season went to a member of the final crop of G1 Golden Slipper winner Sebring. Trained by Peter Snowden, 5-year-old mare Tashi was bred by Corumbene Stud, who race her with partners, and it was, surprisingly, her first stakes win. Corumbene Stud also bred Sebring. It was also the first Group 1 win for jockey Tom Sherry.
Second in her last three starts, including the G2 Dane Ripper Stakes to Floozie (Zoustar), the pair again clashed with Floozie looking the winner half-way down the straight but she was caught by the fast-finishing Tashi who strode to a 1.9l victory for Sherry. Floozie was swamped at the end, finishing in fifth, with Rob Heathcote-trained Abounding (Rich Enuff) in second and Chris Waller-trained Olentia (Zoustar) in third.
“She's been tremendous all prep, so nobody could begrudge her the win. She kept putting her hand up every start, so I'm really proud of her. Tom rode her an absolute peach today, I think it's his first Group 1 so I'm so pleased for him and the mare. I'm thrilled for Tom, he came up here yesterday to get ready for this race so I knew he wouldn't be late today. I asked him when he was going home, and he said he wasn't sure!” said Peter Snowden.
“There were no half measures today, she won dominantly. She kept getting beaten short half heads, it was a tremendous run last week in the Dane Ripper, I think this is her 11th run this campaign so huge credit to her.”
“There were no half measures today, she (Tashi) won dominantly.” - Peter Snowden
With five wins and 14 placings from 26 starts, Tashi took her earnings over $1 million. She becomes the ninth Group 1 winner for Sebring, and his 83rd stakes winner, and is a member of his final crop.
Tashi is the second foal for Ghenwaa (Street Cry {Ire}) who has unraced 3-year-old filly Brilliant (The Autumn Sun), a yearling colt by Capitalist who was purchased by Ricky Yiu for $80,000 at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, and a weanling colt by Russian Revolution.
Ghenwaa won twice and is a half-sister to stakes winners Taraayef (Lonhro) and Haybah (More Than Ready {USA}) and to Group 3-placed Maraahib (Reset). This is the family of Group 1 winner Rebel Raider (Reset).
So You Think’s Opportunistic wins Belmont Guineas
Last start Listed winner Opportunistic (So You Think {NZ}) was slow out of the gates for the Listed Belmont Guineas over a mile, but jockey Clint Johnston-Porter gathered him together and threaded through the pack to fly home and win by a length for trainer Michael Grantham and owners Peters Investments. In second was Grant and Alana Williams-trained filly Storyville (Overshare) with Steven Miller-trained Elite Missile (Smart Missile) 1.5l away in third.
Jockey Clint Johnston-Porter won five of the eight races at Pinjarra on Saturday.
Opportunistic flew home to win the Listed Belmont Guineas at Pinjarra on Saturday | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
“I was a bit worried when he was stuck on the inside and I thought he might not get a run through, but he came through and he was very good today,” said Bob Peters.
“He really looked the part today. I said to Michael that it won’t be fitness that stops us today. We’ll wait a few days to make up our mind on (the next step). He looks like a 2000-metre horse to me.”
“He (Opportunistic) really looked the part today... We’ll wait a few days to make up our mind on (the next step). He looks like a 2000-metre horse to me.” - Bob Peters
Unbeaten in three starts, with two Listed wins, Opportunistic is certainly one to watch for the future. One of 63 stakes winners for So You Think (NZ), Opportunistic was sold by Lynward Park Stud at the Magic Millions Perth Yearling Sale for $200,000 to John Chalmers Bloodstock (FBAA).
The second live foal and second winner for G3 La Trice Classic winner I’m Feeling Lucky (Bletchley Park {Ire}), whose 2-year-old gelding Wynn Las Vegas (Yes Yes Yes) is unraced, and she also has a yearling filly by Wootton Bassett (GB) and a weanling colt by Pierro. I’m Feeling Lucky won 11 races and is a half-sister to three stakes winners being Utgard Loki (Frost Giant {USA}), Baronova (Fiorente {Ire}), and Petrouchka (More Than Ready {USA}).
Stakes double for Schweida at Eagle Farm
Trainer Kelly Schweida enjoyed a double at Eagle Farm with Miss Joelene (Russian Revolution) winning the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown and 4-year-old gelding Metalart (Better Than Ready) winning the G3 WJ Healy Stakes. Metalart was ridden by Jason Collett who snuck along the rail to take the shortest way home to win by 0.79l from Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained 4-year-old mare Austmarr (Exosphere) with Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained 4-year-old gelding General Salute (Russian Revolution) in third. Metalart becomes stakes winner number 15 for Better Than Ready.
“I don't know where his ceiling is, he just keeps winning. It's quite incredible really. He's a very unassuming horse, but he got a gun ride today. He goes to sleep in the tie-ups, he's so quiet and lovely and he doesn't look like a racehorse, but he's a pretty good one,” Schweida said.
“He probably should have won a stakes race by now, he went close on a Heavy 11 track when he was only beaten a neck, and he almost came from behind the other day. We got the saloon passage from the good gate today.”
Winner of his first four starts in succession at three, Metalart was third at Listed level last start and this was his first black type victory. He has eight wins from 14 starts and earnings over $420,000.
Withdrawn from sale as a yearling by Raheen Stud, Metalart is one of six winners, and the first stakes winner for Exquisite Art (Redoute’s Choice) who won twice and is a daughter of Champion 2YO Filly in Australia and G1 Sires’ Produce Stakes and G1 Champagne Stakes winner Victory Vein (Mr Henrysee {USA}) who is also the granddam of Group 3 winner Sookie (Casino Prince), dam of dual Group 1 winner Shadow Hero (Pierro).
Jones’ treble topped by Miss Joelene
Kelly Schweida’s other stakes winner for the day, 4-year-old mare Miss Joelene, who won the Listed Tattersall’s Gold Crown over 2100 metres was a key part of a treble for jockey Angela Jones. Jones also won the first on the card on Rob Heathcote-trained 3-year-old filly Amuseantes (Rothesay), a half-sister to Group 1 winner Startantes (Star Turn), and the Battle Of The Bush Final on Lindsay Hatch-trained Peshwa (Tapit {USA}).
Miss Joelene scooted along the rail to win by a length from John O'Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Quietness (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) with another 0.7l to third-placed Kris Lees-trained Kind Words (Written Tycoon).
The treble took Jones to 103 wins for the season, but unfortunately she was given a 10 day suspension for her ride on Floozie in the G1 Tatt's Tiara.
“I feel for Cejay (Graham) who is out suspended at the minute. She's on holiday in New Zealand but well done to Ange, I think that puts her one ahead in the jockeys' premiership. It's great for the horse and her owners, who are off on holiday themselves. We did think about the Caloundra Cup with this horse, but without knowing what weather was around, we didn't want to have to run 2400 metres on heavy ground with 60 kilos on our back. So we came here today and it's paid off,” said Schweida.
“She ran well in the Ipswich Cup last week. From a tricky gate, Cejay had to go forward and there wasn't a lot of speed in the race. From the inside alley today, Ange was able to put her to sleep and she got the gun ride. We saw the last winner came down the fence so we decided to do the same thing, and it worked out perfectly. She's starting to get her rating up so we might consider a trip to Melbourne or Sydney in the spring.”
“She's (Miss Joelene) starting to get her rating up so we might consider a trip to Melbourne or Sydney in the spring.” - Kelly Schweida
This was Miss Joelene’s first black type win and she becomes stakes winner number 13 for Russian Revolution. She was placed in the G1 Queensland Oaks this time last year. Purchased by her trainer for $20,000 from Kenmore Lodge’s Magic Millions National Yearling Sale draft, she took her earnings over $990,000 with six wins from 29 starts.
The first foal of Listed Bill Carter Stakes winner Cellargirl (More Than Ready {USA}), who placed in the G1 Flight Stakes, whose second foal is winning 3-year-old filly Autumngirl (The Autumn Sun) and who has a yearling colt by Snitzel. She sadly died after foaling this colt.
Cellargirl is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Cellarman (Mossman) and a half-sister to Group 2-placed Cellarmaid (Husson {Arg}). Further back this is the family of Group 1 winners Triscay (Marscay), La Baraka (Euclase), Alizee (Sepoy), Astern, and Demerger (Saithor {USA}).
He’s back. Manzoice returns to the winner’s circle with smashing victory
It’s been a long time between drinks for the connections of 5-year-old gelding Manzoice (Almanzor {Fr}) who hasn’t won since the G1 Victoria Derby as a spring 3-year-old. Ridden by Andrew Mallyon, Manzoice enjoyed the 2400-metre trip of the G3 Tattersalls Cup, winning by 4.45l from Lindsay Park-trained 7-year-old gelding Bankers Choice (NZ) (Mongolian Khan) with Darryn and Briar Weatherley-trained 6-year-old gelding Dark Destroyer (NZ) (Proisir).
“He was very good today. We thought he might be able to roll into the race and make it a staying test, but Andrew cut the corner and saved all the ground, and the horse was good late. It's been a long time between drinks, but I'm sure his owners will be delighted,” said stable representative Charlie Duckworth.
“The last time he won, Chris stayed in Sydney and I went to Melbourne. It looks like he pulled the wrong rein again today! He's a legend to have a stable, he's such a lovely horse and it was great to see him have plenty of zip at the end of the race.
“He deserves a spell now, then we'll have a think about what we do with him in the spring. He's proven over two miles and there's a pretty big two mile race in Melbourne in early November, so we might have to have a crack at that.”
“He's (Manzoice) proven over two miles and there's a pretty big two mile race in Melbourne in early November, so we might have to have a crack at that.” - Charlie Duckworth
Manzoice ran second on debut as a July 2-year-old, winning his second start as an early 3-year-old. He won the G1 Victoria Derby at his sixth start, and since then has fashioned six more placings from 31 starts prior to Saturday’s victory. He has earnings over $1.8 million and was purchased by Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock for $340,000 from Bhima Thoroughbreds 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft.
One of three Group 1 winners for Almanzor (Fr), Manzoice is out of G3 Eulogy Stakes winner Choice (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}), who has five winners from as many to race including 3-year-old filly Hot Mama (NZ) (Too Darn Hot {GB}). She also has an unraced 2-year-old full sister to Manzoice named Laura (NZ), and a weanling filly by Satono Aladdin (Jpn).
Parr’s treble at Rosehill led by Listed victory
Jockey Josh Parr had a day to remember at Rosehill on Saturday, with a treble on Richard and Will Freedman-trained Rolling Magic (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), Bjorn Baker-trainer Thunderlips (Zoustar), and then in race nine, the Listed WJ McKell Cup over 2000 metres, Parr took Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Elamaz (Ire) (Gleneagles {Ire}) to the front and stayed there. The 5-year-old gelding clung on from the fast finishing Matthew Dunn-trained Belvedere Boys (Maurice {Jpn}) to win by 0.1l. Ciaron Maher-trained Glory Daze (Ire) (Cotai Glory {GB}) was 1.5l back in third.
“Our plan wasn't to lead the race. We were looking for cover to make it as soft as possible but that cover just wasn't going to eventuate. I had to make a decision so I pressed to the front and trusted the stable and how well they had him and he did the rest,” Parr said.
“There was a period down the side where he had no clue where he was, leading the race here at Rosehill, and he's done well to fight off every challenger and the one very late (Belvedere Boys), he held it to the line.”
Winner of four of his seven starts in Europe including the Listed Jacques De Bremond Stakes, Elamaz was purchased by Astute Bloodstock and EQUOS Racing at the 2024 Arqana Saint-Cloud Vente de l’Arc Sale for €480,000 (AU$861,000). This was his first start in Australia, and he picked up a cheque for $110,000 for the win.
“What do you say? Gai and Adrian do it all the time, especially with these horses from overseas. We seem to have luck with them first-up. We love them,” stable representative Neil Paine said. Elamaz will now be set for the spring.
A half-brother to stakes placed pair of Embiran (Ire) (Shamardal {USA}) and Emaniya (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}), Emanaz is a son of G3 Athasi Stakes winner Emiyna (USA) (Maria’s Mon {USA}).
