3-year-old Summary: Jimmy shows tenacity and toughness in the Vain

Cover image courtesy of Racing Photos

Jimmy Recard claims Group glory in the Vain

Jimmy Recard (I Am Invincible) kicked off his spring campaign in style with a professional and polished victory in the G3 Vain Stakes at Caulfield on Saturday, putting himself firmly on the path to higher honours.

Already a dual winner as a juvenile, the Ciaron Maher-trained colt now adds Group success to his record - a valuable step towards a future at stud as a Group-winning son of I Am Invincible, boasting both pedigree and presence.

In the early stages, Shaggy (Sandbar) set the tempo with Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom) pressing forward on his outside. Both Tycoon Star (Written Tycoon) and Jimmy Recard enjoyed ideal runs just off the speed.

Drama unfolded in the home straight as Shaggy shifted out, causing interference. Seizing the moment, Tycoon Star sprinted to the front and looked to have the race in his keeping. But Jamie Melham, aboard Jimmy Recard, sliced through a gap on the inside and the pair engaged in a spirited duel to the line.

In the end, Jimmy Recard proved too strong, prevailing by a narrow 0.25l win over Tycoon Star, with Express Class (Exceedance) catching the eye late out wide to grab third.

“I know this horse has got talent and he's really impressed me in his work and his trials, but I was concerned the penny had not really dropped with him yet,” Melham said.

“When he got that bump at the 200 (metres), I thought he would put the white flag up, but he didn't and dug deep. He's really grown and matured, and the penny has dropped with him now.

“He's got some big wins in store.”

Trainer Ciaron Maher said Jimmy Recard continues to raise the bar every time he is asked.

“I think he's improving every time he runs,” Maher said.

“We had notions of taking him to a Stakes race in Adelaide and then resetting for the spring, but we squashed that idea and he's started the spring the right way.

“He's a very well-bred colt, a great type, and he's got a bright future.”

Sales Information: Jimmy Recard was a $350,000 purchase by Bennett Racing and Ciaron Maher Bloodstock, from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree Information: He is the fourth foal out of the handy filly Aquamosa (NZ) (Alamosa {NZ}), a dual winner over 1100 and 1400 metres, who also placed in the G3 Taranaki 2-year-old Classic as a juvenile.

There is further depth in the pedigree. His third dam Ajfan (USA) (Woodman {USA}) was Group 1-placed in both the Ascot Fillies’ Mile and the Thousand Guineas in Great Britain, and went on to produce ten winners at stud.

Since foaling Jimmy Recard, Aquamosa has produced an I Am Invincible 2-year-old filly, she continued the ‘Vinny’ theme, producing a Hellbent yearling filly, and she is due to foal again to Hellbent in October

Skyhook soars in 'The Rosebud'

Group form is always good form - and that’s exactly what Skyhook (Written Tycoon) brought to the Listed Rosebud. Resuming in style, the Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou-trained colt was dominant, winning with authority and showing that the sky could be the limit, and that he can become a serious spring contender.

A high-class 2-year-old, Skyhook won the G3 Pago Pago Stakes and placed in the G2 Skyline Stakes. Returning to racing with 60.5kg on his back, he was tasked with giving away a significant weight advantage to his rivals - 7kg and 6.5kg more than the placegetters, but he still proved too good.

Jockey Kerrin McEvoy allowed the field to roll early, settling last of the six runners. Nashville Jack (Farnan) and Blitzburg (Snitzel) made the running at a genuine tempo, while race favourite Pallaton (Wootton Bassett {GB}) settled in the trail, albeit a little keenly.

At the top of the straight, the field fanned across the track and presented their runs - but it was Skyhook who travelled best. Let loose down the outside, he bounded home to win by just over half a length from Grand Prairie (Written Tycoon), who made it a quinella for their sire. Pallaton boxed on fairly for third along the rail which may have been slightly inferior going.

It was a performance that impressed co-trainer Gerald Ryan.

“He worked here on Wednesday a week ago on the course proper, and Jason, who has ridden work for me for ten or twelve years, he said this is the best horse we've had since Menari,” Ryan said.

“I went through all the Written Tycoon's (performances) on wet tracks and he hadn't got many wet trackers. But he's had a great prep. He's a horse that doesn't take heaps of work. He doesn't get gross and he's got the right attitude.

“He's a horse that needs his races spaced. We'll now go four weeks into The Run To The Rose and then two weeks into the Golden Rose. He's a good horse.

“We've been going to the sales looking at Written Tycoons ever since Written Tycoon went to stud, and this is the only Written Tycoon we've bought. We loved him at the sales.”

Sales Information: Skyhook was purchased for $575,000 by Ryan and Alexiou Racing from the Arrowfield Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree Information: Skyhook is the second foal from Madame Pauline (Redoute’s Choice), a two-time winner and a three-quarter-sister to G3 San Domenico Stakes winner Anders, a speed machine now standing at Widden Stud. Ostraka (Snitzel) is another three-quarter-sibling, and he was a Listed winner in the Queensland Day Stakes.

Since producing Skyhook, Madame Pauline foaled a colt by Dundeel (NZ) last spring and is due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) later this month.

Ferivia slices through the field to collect the Quezette

The Phillip Stokes-trained Ferivia (Astern) caused a minor upset in the G3 Quezette Stakes at Caulfield, with the promising Astern filly claiming her second win from just three starts in impressive fashion.

After an eye-catching debut win at Murray Bridge, Ferivia backed it up with a strong second to Express Class (Exceedance) at Sandown - a form line that was further franked earlier in the day when Express Class ran third in the G3 Vain Stakes.

Given a perfect ride by Lachlan Neindorf, Ferivia settled near the tail of the field in a genuinely run race. Signature Scent (Written Tycoon) rolled along in front and gave a strong kick into the straight, but began to feel the pinch with 200 metres to go.

As the field fanned, Ferivia sliced through the pack with a sharp turn of foot to hit the front, holding off a late surge from the flashy grey My Gladiola (I Am Invincible), who stormed down the outside to grab second. Thanks Gorgeous (Peltzer) was solid in third, while Signature Scent boxed on bravely for fourth.

Trainer Phillip Stokes was very happy with the effort his filly put in, and he described it as a team effort.

“Very satisfying and a great team effort. We thought she would take good improvement as this is a pretty good race. It's great for the Brook’s family, who are great supporters of the stable.”

When asked about the ride, Stokes said:

“He just got her out in the right part of the track, and was strong late and knuckled down. I’m not sure what distance she is going to be. Is she a sprinter, or is she going to get further in trip, we are going to have to assess all that.”

Sale Information: Ferivia was bred by Mr D Brook, and is raced by Saddlers Knife.

Pedigree Information: Ferivia is the third foal out Streetcar Express (Not A Single Doubt), who placed on the track. The pedigree is lacking a bit of black-type substance up close, but Ferivia has now introduced Group 3 success to the page. Further back in the page she is related to classy stakes winners Streetcar Magic (Blevic), Streetcar Stranger (Stratum), and Streetcar Isabelle (Danerich).

Tajana shows her class in the Northland Breeders’

She may not have been favoured by the punters, but Tajana (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) proved herself the class act in the G3 Northland Breeders’ Stakes, building on her impressive 2-year-old form, which included a placing in the G1 Manawatu Sires’ Produce Stakes.

The Shaune Ritchie and Colm Murray-trained filly settled well back in what became a very messy race. Eliza James (NZ) (War Decree {NZ}) set a blistering pace early, pressured by Miss Moet All (Russian Revolution) on the inside, who made her work hard to get to the front.

Race favourite Geneva (NZ) (Time Test {GB}) found a good spot in fifth, but things quickly unravelled in the home straight. Eliza James veered off course, and the real action unfolded on the inside. First, Yokozuna (Fierce Impact {JPN}) burst through, before Tajana, expertly guided by Wiremu Pinn, snuck up the rail to claim victory by just under a length from Yokozuna, with Nocturne (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) finishing third.

“What a classy filly, I really wasn't expecting her to put up a performance like that,” co-trainer Shaune Ritchie said, as Tajana secured a stable double following Tuxedo’s earlier win.

When asked about future plans for the promising filly, Ritchie said:

“We will concentrate on the Thousand Guineas now. The plan was to come up here and give her a nice space from this one to the next one. I think we will go to the Sunline Vase now, a 3-year-old fillies race over 1400 metres, and then into the Soliloquy.”

“You don’t have to win it, but you generally have to be in it. Nine of the last 10 winners have come through the Soliloquy.”

Sales Information: Tajana was bred and is raced by The Oaks Stud, which also stood the now pensioned Darci Brahma (NZ).

Pedigree Information: Tajana is the third foal out of Sleek Secret (NZ) (Sakhee’s Secret {GB}), who was a five-time winner on the track. Tajana’s grandam Miss Smugg (NZ) (Volksraad {GB}) was a winner, but is notably a half-sister to Spin ‘N Grin (Spinning World {USA}), who was successful in the G2 Eight Carat Classic, and was Group 1 placed.

Ninja puts his opposition to the sword - just!

Following a dominant maiden victory at Kembla Grange, where he won by over 11 lengths, it was no surprise to see the Michael Freedman-trained Ninja (Farnan) start as favourite in the Bm72 3-year-old Handicap at Rosehill.

The promising colt didn’t have it all his own way this time, but backed up his last-start demolition with a gutsy win, thanks to a confident and aggressive ride from Andrew Adkins, who rode him like the best horse in the race.

Crown The King (Time To Reign) made Ninja work early to find the front, before easing into a stalking position. Without Peer (Pierata) enjoyed a perfect run in the one-one, while the well-backed Fermoy (Zoustar) tracked nicely in sixth, travelling wide with cover.

Turning for home, Ninja kicked strongly and established a clear lead at the 200-metre mark. But the challengers came quickly. Crown The King dug in bravely to run third and Without Peer surged late to just miss - as the Farnan gelding held on gamely to secure a narrow victory.

Fermoy closed well from back in the field to finish fourth in an encouraging performance, beaten less than a length in a blanket finish.

“While the margin wasn't great and we certainly wouldn't want it over again, I thought there was a lot of merit in it and he's a horse with a future,” trainer Michael Freedman said.

“I don't care what anybody says, even though the margin was big the other day, it's not easy going from a maiden to a Benchmark 72 in town.'”

Pedigree Information: Ninja is the fourth foal out of Impulsive (So You Think {NZ}), who was a three-time winner on the track. She is very well bred, being a half-sister to Laisserfaire (Danehill {USA}), who was a five-time Group 1 winner in South Africa.

Other top class stakes winners in the family include A Time For Julia (Redoute’s Choice), Procrastinate (Jade Hunter {USA}), As Time Goes By (Deep Impact {Jpn}), Personal (Fastnet Rock), and Almighty Girl (Beneteau).

Gallery: Images courtesy of Georgia Young Photography

Impulsive has produced a yearling colt by Siyouni (Fr) since leaving Ninja, and is due to foal to Anamoe in early October.

Sales Information: Ninja was purchased for $380,000 by MyRacehorse, Michael Freedman Racing, Gandharvi Pty Ltd and Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from the Segenhoe Stud draft at the 2024 Magic Million Gold Coast Yearling Sale.