Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos
Duke Atreides dominant at Sandown
The calculated move of sending talented gallopers south to Melbourne to dodge Sydney’s wet winter tracks paid off again on Wednesday, with the well-bred Duke Atreides (Written Tycoon) delivering a dominant, all-the-way win at Sandown.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald who enjoyed a country-wide treble, the 3-year-old colt was making his second race appearance after finishing a solid fourth on debut at Newcastle on July 12. Showing natural improvement and appreciating the roomy track, Duke Atreides controlled proceedings under jockey Ethan Brown, leading from the outset and kicking away down the Sandown straight to score by one and three-quarter lengths.
He proved too strong for two well-fancied runners in the closing stages, Algorithmic (Zoustar), the three-quarter-brother to star filly Zougotcha (Zoustar), and Fastoso (Shamus Award).
Co-trainer Annabel Archibald was delighted with the performance.
“He's always been a horse that's shown plenty, but we were trying to dodge the wet tracks up in Sydney,” she said.
“I said to Ethan (Ethan Brown), he was a bit green when he hit the front and wobbled about at Newcastle, but there wasn't much speed today so I left it up to Ethan.
Annabel Archibald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“The horse has his ears pricked all the way, and it looked pretty soft to me.
“His half-brother is Best Of Bordeaux, who was second in a Golden Slipper, so there's plenty of sharpness in the family as well,” Archibald added.
“We'll see what Ethan thinks, he might well stretch out over a bit further. But it was good to just do that today, he's always shown plenty at home and in his trials. It's good to just knock off his maiden, and it's the right time of year to be winning your maiden and looking for something nicer.”
Sales information: Duke Atreides was a $575,000 purchase at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for TFI and Annabel Archibald from Baramul Stud.
Duke Atreides winning the Maiden Plate at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Pedigree information: A half-brother to Coolmore Stud stallion Best Of Bordeaux, Duke Atreides is the third foal from city winner Chateau Cheval (High Chaparral {Ire}), a half-sister to four stakes winners, including the recently pensioned Casino Prince. She is due to foal to Snitzel this spring.
Censori debuts in style for Russian Camelot
Censori was brave and professional on debut, becoming the second winner for her sire Russian Camelot (Ire). Trained by Danny O’Brien, who also prepared her dual Group 1-winning sire, the filly was well educated ahead of her first start with quiet jump outs at Werribee and Flemington.
With Jamie Melham in the saddle, Censori enjoyed a lovely run in the trail behind the pacemaker Washington Lilac (Snitzel), with Highaboveme (Alabama Express) travelling outside the leader.
Washington Lilac raced a touch greenly under pressure in the straight, and Censori didn’t hesitate to take a narrow inside gap, bursting through to hit the lead at the 200 metre mark. From there, the race was all hers.
Washington Lilac stuck on gamely to finish second on debut, three-quarters of a length behind the winner, while Supergrace (Capitalist) caught the eye flashing home from last to run third. In what appeared to be a moderately run race, her effort was particularly encouraging. By Capitalist and out of a Group 2-winning Savabeel mare, she boasts a lovely blend of speed and stamina, and it will be interesting to see where she heads next.
Winning jockey Jamie Melham was impressed with the Censori's performance, which was the first leg of a treble for her.
Censori winning the Maiden Plate at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“She surprised me and she probably surprised the team as well with how much of a turn of foot she has. They were thinking she probably needed a little further just the way she was bred, but she was sharp today, she was really dominant.
“She still is a bit raw and green and has a lot to learn, but I was very impressed with the turn of foot today.
“She (Censori) still is a bit raw and green and has a lot to learn, but I was very impressed with the turn of foot today.” - Jamie Melham
“She will definitely be a better horse over a bit further, because she had a good turn of foot and then kept that pace right to the line. She will improve a lot off that today.”
Sales information: Lenny Cole purchased Censori from her owners as a yearling for $3500 in an Inglis Digital online auction in March 2024.
Censori as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree information: From the first crop of dual Group 1 winner Russian Camelot (Ire), Censori is the third foal from Listed Tasmanian Oaks runner-up Berkshire Lady (Star Witness), who is related to Group 1 winners I Wish I Win (NZ) (Savabeel) and Savy Yong Blonk (NZ) (Savabeel), Diademe (NZ) (Pins), and Embellish (NZ). She is carrying a full sibling to Censori this year.
Tyreek reels them in at Canterbury
After lighting up the trials with two very impressive wins at Hawkesbury and Randwick in recent months, the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained Tyreek (Snitzel) translated that form to raceday with a strong debut performance in what looked a quality field at Canterbury.
The Chris Waller-trained Writego (Zoustar) set the tempo, with Cobra Club (Cool Aza Beel {NZ}) sitting outside the lead. Recent Godolphin transfer Burma Star (Exceed And Excel), now also in the Waller yard, enjoyed a lovely run in third and looked the winner in the straight. However, Tyreek peeled off her heels and, after a determined battle down the straight, prevailed by just under a quarter of a length.
Burma Star ran a brave race for second, while the luckless Miss Jones (Deep Field) again produced her usual honest effort, running into third. A breakthrough win surely isn’t far off once she enjoys a more economical run in transit.
Co-Trainer John O’Shea was pleased with what he saw from the promising gelding.
“Good horses are usually defined by what they do at their first start. And albeit he had a lot of improvement, whatever he did today, he was still good enough to win,” stated O’Shea.
Connections of Tyreek after winning the Maiden Handicap at Canterbury | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“It was very rewarding for his ownership group and Champion Thoroughbreds and our team at home. Very unassuming little fellow as a yearling but had plenty of athleticism, as you saw today.
“It's great. It's a lovely day. It's the start of spring, not too far away, and we've got ourselves a nice horse to play with.”
“It's great. It's a lovely day. It's the start of spring, not too far away, and we've got ourselves a nice horse (Tyreek) to play with.” - John O'Shea
Jockey Dylan Gibbons was also impressed with Tyreek’s debut, despite an awkward beginning.
“He just stood a bit awkward in the gates, and you see it's not like he missed it, but he just took an awkward step and we were in all sorts, but I think it was a blessing in disguise because he's quite casual,” Gibbons said.
“I think being out the back giving him more to chase was the reason why I was able to get the revs up and win. But look, he's a little ripper. He's like his namesake, he's fast. So he's done a good job.”
Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Tyreek formed part of a winning double on the day for Snitzel at Canterbury, with the Michael Freedman-trained Southern Heiress later remaining unbeaten in another stylish performance.
Sales information: Champion Thoroughbreds paid $160,000 for Tyreek when presented at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Yulong.
Tyreek as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree information: Tyreek is the first foal from G2 Hot Danish Stakes winner Reelem In Ruby (Pierro), whose dam is a half-sister to USA Champion Turf Filly and six-time Group 1 winner Possibly Perfect (USA) (Northern Baby {USA}). Reelem In Ruby has an Alabama Express yearling and is due to foal to the Champion sire Zoustar this spring.
