Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Debut Delight as Express Class flies home
In what shaped as a strong midweek 2-year-old race, one that could easily have passed for a Saturday quality field. It was the Gerard Moloney-trained Express Class (Exceedance) who upset the more fancied runners with a booming finish down the outside to score stylishly by half a length.
The son of Exceedance was making his debut after showing plenty of ability at the jump outs and was ridden quietly by Patrick Moloney. No Limitation (Exceedance) took up the lead, with Street Artist (NZ) (Super Seth) sitting outside the leader. Two of the well-supported runners, Ferivia (Flying Artie) and Conscience (Snitzel), settled just behind, with Conscience caught a little wide in fourth.
No Limitation gave a strong kick turning for home, and it looked as though Street Artist had the race in his keeping. Ferivia darted back to the inside and surged, but it was Express Class who exploded late down the outside from worse of midfield at the turn, powering over the top to win impressively from the favourite Ferivia, with the game Street Artist in third.
Jockey Patrick Moloney was understandably thrilled to notch the win on a horse trained by his father, Gerard.
Patrick Moloney with Express Class winning the Handicap at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Dad's been around the game for a long, long time, and he's a real horseman and he's pretty reserved most of the time,” said Moloney. “But you can't beat winning when you're riding a winner for Dad.
“We came here with very low expectations, if you heard my Dad's pre-video at the stables of this horse.
“He pretty much put a massive wet blanket on the horse, because the race came up so strong and he's a pretty raw canvas at the moment. Geez he shocked me the way he let rip and did it with authority too, a lot of arrogance and soft wins, so Dad might have found one.
“You know, there was no races in the calendar. I was around at Dad's Saturday night for a feed, and he said, well, you pick out a race for this horse. I said, no, not Sandown, midweek.
Gerard Moloney | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“There was no other options for him for this one, and then we'd probably go out for a break. He might have to stay in the stable for a little bit longer. I don't ride horses fast enough like this one. So, yeah, it's really, really, really rewarding for Dad especially.”
Express Class is the third foal out of Miss Belief (Snitzel), a 1350 metre winner in her own right. Since producing Express Class, she has delivered a weanling colt by Shalaa (Ire) and is due to foal to Bivouac in early September.
He hails from a strong family. His grandam Divine Rebel (NZ) (Don Eduardo {NZ}) was a six-time winner, including the G2 Chairman’s Handicap and the Listed Epona Stakes; she was also twice placed in the G1 Sydney Cup. His third dam, It’s My Sin (Success Express {USA}), was a Group 1 winner of the Otaki-Maori WFA Stakes and as a broodmare produced twelve winners, including Divine Rebel and four other stakes-placed performers.
Express Class as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Express Class was purchased by Moloney Racing for $60,000 at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale from the Bucklee Farm draft. Based on his debut performance, he already looks to be a sharp investment with a promising future.
Tambeloa, a promising son of Tagaloa, ticks off his maiden
The Kristen Buchanan-trained Tambeloa (Tagaloa) proved too tough in gloomy conditions at Warwick Farm on Wednesday, showing grit and maturity to outstay his older rivals and break through for his maiden win over the mile.
Rach (Written Tycoon) led the field and had to work early to cross and find the rail, with So Precise (Nicconi) charging up to sit outside the leader. Tambeloa (Tagaloa) enjoyed a soft run on the inside, while the well-backed Victorian favourite Rasp (Street Boss {USA}) settled well back in the field.
Rach kept the pressure on, stringing the field out mid-race, but when Tambeloa peeled off heels behind the leading pair, he let down strongly. It was a well-judged ride by Jay Ford, and the gelding had enough in reserve to hold off the fast-finishing Rasp by three-quarters of a length. Dollars (Written Tycoon) boxed on gamely to finish third.
Tambeloa had shown solid form at his two previous starts, running third at both Newcastle and Hawkesbury, and he looked to relish both the rise to 1600 metres and the give in the ground. Being already proven over a strong mile should stand him in good stead heading into his 3-year-old season.
Jay Ford was taken by the gelding’s performance and believes he has the potential to develop into a serious horse.
“I really like him. I had my first go on him the other day and said to Kristen ‘he doesn’t know what he's doing, but he's gonna make a horse’ and he'll stay that's an obvious,” said Ford.
Tambeloa winning the Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Trainer Kristen Buchanan was equally pleased with the result and is already daring to dream. It's really exciting. He's a big baby. He's only two, just about to turn three,” said Buchanan.
“He’s been showing a lot of promise. It's a big deal to come here and win. I'm very happy with him. My partner selected him, and my owners have supported me in buying these better horses, so I'm super grateful, and it's great to deliver.
“Dreams are free so maybe there is a Derby in his picture down the track.”
“Dreams are free so maybe there is a Derby in his (Tambeloa) picture down the track.” - Kristen Buchanan
The beautifully bred Tambeloa is the tenth foal, and seventh winner, for Gamble Me (Rock Of Gibraltar {Ire}). A talented and speedy filly during her racing days, Gamble Me won six races including the G3 Birthday Card Stakes, G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes, Listed Red Roses Stakes, and the Listed Moomba Plate.
Connections of Tambeloa after winning the Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Among her seven winners are the stakes-placed duo Major Conquest (More Than Ready {USA}) and Kinagat (Street Cry {Ire}), while another daughter, Sent From Above (Lonhro), is the dam of the smart juvenile Shangri La Express (Alabama Express), who was placed in the G2 Todman Stakes.
Unfortunately, Gamble Me has not produced a live foal since Tambeloa, having missed the last three breeding seasons.
Tambeloa was purchased by Tiverton Bloodstock for $60,000 from the Yulong draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Tambeloa as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Anders’ Style lives up to his name, delivering a seventh winner for his sire
The Peter Robl-trained Anders’ Style (Anders) made a statement on debut at Doomben on Wednesday, cruising to a dominant win by just over one and a half lengths. The result came as no surprise, with the gelding, by Widden Stud’s first season sire Anders, having impressed in both his lead-up trials at Beaudesert and the Gold Coast.
Showing natural speed, Anders’ Style was ridden positively by Jag Guthmann-Chester from barrier one to take up the early lead. He then settled in the box seat behind race favourite Quickzou (Zoustar). At the 600-metre mark, he angled off the fence and took the race to the favourite. After a strong duel, he asserted his class late. Quickzou was brave in defeat also on debut, while Pearls In June (Jungle Cat {Ire}) caught the eye with a fast-finishing third at long odds.
“He’s above average that horse, he basically won on raw ability today. He has always been unassuming at home.
“He’s never worked like a good horse, he never really gets out of second gear to do anything at home,” said Robl.
“He’s (Anders' Style) above average that horse, he basically won on raw ability today. He has always been unassuming at home.” - Peter Robl
“He’s pretty laid back. His first trial was a little bit better than what I anticipated from him. I thought he would take a couple of trials before he worked out what he was doing. His second trial, we took a sit on him and educated him, and he went well.
“The only real query I had today was his race sense, he’s a big dumb sort of bugger. Barrier one, if he was in the gates for a bit, he might step slowly and we may have been in a bit of trouble.
“I told Jag to make sure he was positive that first 50 metres out of the gate, but he pinged the lids and raced professionally, even though he was very new down the straight. But there is a lot of upside to him.”
Peter Robl | Image courtesy of Inglis
When asked about what’s next, Robl hinted at a potential career overseas:
“I haven’t spoken to the owners yet, but I suspect he may head to Hong Kong. I think he would get to Class 3 in Hong Kong, no dramas at all.”
Anders’ Style became the seventh winner for his sire Anders, and is the eighth live foal from the talented Femina Fashion (Shamardal {USA}). A six-time winner on the track, Femina Fashion claimed victory in the Listed Gold Coast Bracelet and has since become a consistent producer at stud, leaving seven winners including the Group-placed Amica (Rubick).
Since producing Anders’ Style, Femina Fashion has delivered a yearling filly named Fashion Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}), a weanling colt by Admire Mars (Jpn), and she has now been retired from breeding.
Anders' Style as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
The family is steeped in black-type performers. Femina Fashion is a half-sister to Happy Archer (Dubawi {Ire}), a dual Group 1 winner in South Africa. Further back in the pedigree are the Group winner and Group 1 placed Lolita Star (Jeune {GB}), and Berezny (Bellotto {USA}), the winner of the G3 Adelaide Guineas.
Anders’ Style was initially purchased by Paul Willetts Bloodstock for $60,000 at the Magic Millions National Weanling Sale. He was later re-offered at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Rory Willock secured him for $80,000 from the draft of Goodwood Farm.
