Lady Shenandoah set on sprint pathway this spring
Chris Waller holds a strong hand for Saturday’s G1 Winx Stakes but 4-year-old mare and triple Group 1 winner Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) is unlikely to take part. “We haven't made the final decision, but I think we are going to go down a sprinting path because we are so top-heavy (in middle-distance races),” Waller told racingandsports.com.au. Lady Shenandoah was part of a group of Waller stars to gallop between races at Rosehill on Saturday.
“We've gone through her races, arguably her best win in the Autumn was the Light Fingers (1200 metres), she beat Lady Of Camelot easily. The next couple of races were tighter finishes. She has won Group 1s over a mile, 1500 metres and 1400 metres, so she is pretty versatile.
Lady Shenandoah | Image courtesy of Sportpix
“I think we will start her off shorter. We might even look at like a 1000-metre race in a few weeks' time, the Concorde Stakes. (It's) a million-dollar race and that might just give us a chance to put her on that sprinting path where we're top-heavy with our mile/2000 metre horses and Joliestar in the sprinting ranks. But I think Lady Shenandoah could join her.
“I think it is safer to run the same day as the Moir in Sydney in that Concorde, then she can go to wherever we want. We can go to a Manikato, back for an Everest and we can still plot a path towards the Golden Eagle or step her up at any stage because we know she wins over a mile.”
Trans-tasman treble for Snitzel
Recently deceased Champion Sire Snitzel sired a trio of 3-year-old winners on Sunday, headlined by seven-figure filly Shinjina who won at her second start at Sale. Trained by Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman, the 3-year-old filly ran third on debut as a 2-year-old. Sold by Coolmore Stud for $1.1 million to TFI and Kia Ora Stud, Shinjina is a half-sister to Fastnet Rock-sired stakes winning trio of Ennis Hill, Lake Geneva, and Acrobat. Ennis Hill is the dam of Group 2 winner Learning To Fly (Justify {USA}).
Snitzel’s other two 3-year-old winners were at Taupo’s Sunday meeting with recently gelded To Bravery Born (NZ) now headed to the Listed Wanganui Guineas on August 30. “The winning of the race was when Opie (Bosson) made his move going up the rise nearing the home turn and got him out into the slightly better ground,” Mark Walker, who trains in partnership with Sam Bergerson, told Loveracing.nz.
“Opie is always hard to beat in a tight finish, and once again he was able to get the nose in front where it mattered. It was great to see the horse extend his unbeaten fresh-up record to three. Safely through the race he’ll head to the Wanganui Guineas, on the same course where he won on debut.” To Bravery Born won his first two starts at two and was placed in the G3 Matamata Slipper Stakes. He was sold by Curraghmore at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$200,000 to David Ellis, and is the first live foal of Milunka (All Too Hard) who is a city winning half-sister to Group 1 winner Kahma Lass (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and three Listed winners being Kuro (NZ) (Denman), Distinctive Darci (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) and Southern Lad (Ocean Park {NZ}).
The same sire, trainer and jockey partnership combined in the next race to win with 3-year-old filly In Haste. “It was a really good resuming win by In Haste, after she’d trialled up nicely at Taupo, and another good ride by Opie,” co-trainer Mark Walker said. “He got out to the better ground, got a break on the field and put that winning margin on them. She’ll improve out of today’s run and we look forward to taking on Group company next time out in the Gold Trail Stakes. This is really good for Newgate Farm and the TAB Racing Club, so we can all be very happy.”
In Haste has won two of her three starts and was a $400,000 purchase by Ladbrokes Racing Club and Newgate Farm from Newgate Farm’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling draft. She is a half-sister to Group 1 winner Prompt Response (Beneteau) and her full brother is Group 3 winner Prompt Return.
Rivendell wins on debut for Ole Kirk
Second season sire and last season’s Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk added a debutant winner when 3-year-old gelding Rivendell won at Wyong on Sunday for trainer Peter Snowden. Sold by North Bloodstock at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale for $350,000 to Vinery Stud, Rivendell is winner number 16 for Ole Kirk.
He is the first foal of Wayupinthesky (Snitzel), who won the Listed Cap d’Antibes Stakes. She missed to Ole Kirk for this spring, and has Zoustar yearling filly and an All Too Hard 2-year-old colt.
At the same meeting, John Sargent-trained 3-year-old gelding Flying Orchid (Flying Artie) took his record to two wins from as many starts. Raced by Rheinwood Pastoral after passing in at the sales, Flying Orchid is the third winner for Orchid Beach (Hinchinbrook) who is an unraced half-sister to Listed winner Insistence (Black Hawk {GB}).
Bivouac adds winner number nine
At Taupo, the Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson stable made it three wins for the day with the maiden victory of 3-year-old colt Carsolio (Bivouac) who was resuming for the season. He had two starts at two, placing on debut and running fifth in the Listed Wellesley Stakes in January.
The colt becomes winner number nine for second season sire Bivouac, and was purchased by David Ellis for $350,000 from Segenhoe Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft. He is the second foal for Whitehaven (Pierro) whose dam Pattini (High Chaparral {Ire}) is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Vancouver.
New winner for Hello Youmzain
Trainers Bill Thurlow and Sam O’Malley enjoyed a winner on Sunday with 3-year-old gelding Landman (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}), only a day after losing one in a steward’s decision. It was the first winner for O’Malley as a trainer, who joined Thurlow in partnership recently. “We thought we had one yesterday but it was taken off us, so it’s nice to get one on the board this time around,” O’Malley told Loveracing.nz.
Landman (NZ) | Image courtesy of Race Images
“Winning a race as a trainer is a bit of a different feeling to doing it as a jockey, in two quite different stages of my career, but both of them feel good in their own way. Hopefully we’ve got a few more of them to look forward to.
“He goes pretty well and got the job done nicely today. I think we can look at something like the Wanganui Guineas with him now.” Second season sire Hello Youmzain (Fr) has nine Southern Hemisphere winners from his first crop.
Landman is a homebred for Thurlow and is the second winner for Midnight Delight (NZ) (Captain Rio {GB}) who is a winning half-sister to Group 2 winner Underthemoonlight (NZ) (El Hermano {NZ}) and Group 3 winner Storming The Tower (NZ) (Storm Creek {USA}).
Dracarys adds 3-year-old winner
Sunday’s Sunshine Coast meeting saw 3-year-old filly Hannabana (Dracarys) win over 1000 metres for trainer Taylah Mackinnon. Resuming at three for just her third start, Hannabana was placed on debut at two and ran in the Listed Calaway Gal Stakes at her second start.
She is the second foal of Teagz (Mossman) who is a winning half-sister to stakes-placed Fast Arrow (Lion Heart {USA}).
Freedman inquiry to be determined
Racing Victoria’s stewards advised on Sunday that they will hold an inquiry into the Anthony and Sam Freedman stable over the race day treatment of both Moonhaven (Shalaa {Ire}) and Kira (Lonhro) who were scratched from Caulfield when the error was discovered. The stable issued a statement on Saturday. The date of the inquiry is yet to be advised.
G2 Hungerford Stakes won by More Thunder
So obviously a stakes horse operating in handicaps, 4-year-old entire More Thunder (Ire) (Night Of Thunder {Ire}) shed his thinly-veiled disguise once and for all on Saturday to dominate Newbury's G2 Hungerford Stakes. Narrowly denied in the Wokingham at Royal Ascot before narrowly on top in the Bunbury Cup at Newmarket's July Festival, the 6-4 favourite had ideal fast fractions to run at throughout the seven-furlong feature and delivered his customary powerful finale to beat the penalised Lennox winner Witness Stand (Expert Eye) by 2.25l.
“I would say all options are open for him. We're in everything from six furlongs to a mile and he's won a Group 2 now, so we've got to go for another Group 2 or a Group 1 and it will just depend on how many more races we're going to give him this season,” said trainer William Haggas who inherited him from Sir Michael Stoute. “He has been on the go for a while, so we will have to see. We've got lots to think about, but it's nice thinking.”
Japanese Arc runner wins G3 Prix Guillaume d’Ornano
Well-beaten in the G1 Satsuki Sho (Japanese 2000 Guineas) when last seen in April, Tsuyoshi Suzuki's Alohi Alii (Jpn) (Duramente {Jpn}) proved a class apart on his European bow in Saturday's G2 Prix Guillaume d'Ornano at Deauville. Allowed to bowl along in front by Christophe Lemaire, the Hiroyasu Tanaka-trained 5-1 shot took off in early straight to dominate the 10-furlong test and was eased late to beat the solid yardsticks Rashabar (Holy Roman Emperor) and Cualificar (Lope De Vega) by 3.5l and a head.
Tanaka, who rode in France during his first career, gave the lowdown on the winner afterwards. “We first planned to come to France for the Grand Prix de Paris in July, but the horse was not quite ready,” he explained. “With a view to giving him a race before the Arc, we looked at the program and decided to come here. The race had been won in the past by horses that went on to excel in the Arc, so we felt it was right to run here.
“I have a lengthy working relation with Christophe Lemaire, Deauville is like home for him, so it was an obvious choice to have him ride the horse. The race today is over 2000 metres and that is what we wanted for his prep,” he added. “The further the better with this horse, so I have no doubt that he will stay the Arc trip. The timing is just perfect between the two races.”
Juvenile filly added to Nunthorpe
Smart juvenile Lady Iman (Ire) (Starman {GB}) was supplemented for the G1 Nunthorpe Stakes on August 22. She is the first 2-year-old to be supplemented for the York sprint since Kingsgate Native (Mujadil) in 2007.
Supplemented by her connections at a cost of £40,000 (AU$83,300), the G3 Molecomb Stakes heroine is one of 19 set to take part as of Saturday. Trained by Ger Lyons, the bay will be ridden by noted lightweight rider Joe Fanning. Joining the daughter of Starman is the fellow 2-year-old filly and supplement Spicy Marg (Starspanglebanner), who won a conditions stakes at Goodwood on July 30 for trainer Michael Bell. Rounding out the late additions is Jonathan Portman trainee Rumstar (Havana Grey), a multiple Group 3 winner this term.
The trio are facing Australian heavyweight Asfoora (Flying Artie), who won the 2024 G1 King Charles II Stakes at Royal Ascot, and was fourth in this race last term for trainer Henry Dwyer, as well as G3 Summer Stakes hero Sayidah Dariyan (Dariyan) from the yard of Richard Hughes, who rode a brace of Nunthorpe winners during his riding days. John and Sean Quinn's Jm Jungle (Bungle Inthejungle) claimed the G2 King George Stakes ahead of stakes winner and multiple Group-placed She's Quality (Acclamation) for Jack Davison and fourth-place finisher and Group scorer Frost At Dawn (Frosted) at Goodwood in August.
Sapporo Kinen won by Top Knife
Sunday’s G2 Sapporo Kinen was won by 5-year-old entire Top Knife (Jpn) (Declaration Of War {USA}) who was coming off two unplaced runs. He hadn’t won since winning a Listed race at two, but had achieved five stakes placings since then.
Ridden by Norihiro Yokoyama for trainer Mitsugu Kon, Top Knife has three wins from 18 starts. It was his third attempt at the race having run second to Prognosis (Jpn) (Deep Impact {Jpn}) in 2023. Prognosis ran second in the 2024 G1 WS Cox Plate to Via Sistina (Ire) (Fastnet Rock).
