Cover Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Siriusly Hot storms home from last
Siriusly Hot (Too Darn Hot {GB}) may have been well exposed as a juvenile, having five starts for just one placing, but that record doesn’t tell the full story. The Ciaron Maher-trained gelding has raced exclusively in strong company throughout his career to date.
On debut, he finished a solid sixth at Caulfield behind Shining Smile (Spirit Of Boom), he followed that with a fast-finishing third behind Vinrock (I Am Invincible), who has since gone on to become a Group 1 winner. His final three starts of that campaign, though unplaced, all came in stakes company.
Resuming from a nice break, with two nice under his belt and now a gelding, the Chad Schofield-ridden runner left no excuses for the rest of the field. He charged home late through the middle of the field in heavy track conditions to score impressively.
The race was run at a steady clip, with the well-backed Maccbi (Sooboog) leading from Lady Pankhurst (Capitalist), while Maquisa (Extreme Choice) settled in the trail.
At the 300-metre mark, Lady Pankhurst looked likely, although showing signs of tiredness, but the wide runners began to charge. Officiate (Justify {USA}), in the Yulong colours, loomed large and appeared the winner - until Schofield had other ideas. Launching between runners, the Too Darn Hot (GB) gelding surged through a narrow gap and proved too strong late, winning by three-quarters of a length.
Siriusly Hot winning the Maiden Handicap at Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Officiate was a clear eye-catcher in second, while The Pearls (NZ) (Proisir) resumed in lovely fashion to finish third.
“It was a 10 out of 10 ride from Chad, very cool and executed perfectly,” said stable representative Amy Burke.
“We expected him to run well. His first two trials, obviously, this time around have been sharp, and he's come back a lot sharper.
“We expected him (Siriusly Hot) to run well. His first two trials, obviously, this time around have been sharp, and he's come back a lot sharper.” - Amy Burke
“He had the ultimate gear change since last preparation, and it's really switched him on and we've got a racehorse now!”
Jockey Chad Schofield was equally impressed with the gelding’s performance.
“He really impressed me. I spoke to Ciaron this morning, and he told me the horse had improved and got sharper this preparation since being gelded,” said Schofield.
Chad Schofield and Siriusly Hot after winning the Maiden Handicap at Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“We planned to run quietly from our bad draw, but I had to sort of relinquish a couple of lengths just to get cover, but he travelled well and showed a very, very good turn of foot.
“He took two very small gaps, burst through them and was far too good.”
Pedigree information: Siriusly Hot is the first foal out of Etoile Brillante (Zoustar), who was a winner over 2000 metres. She is a half-sister to Hangin’ Tough (Exceed And Excel), who is the dam of three winners, including the nine-time winner Tuvalu (Kermadec {NZ}), who was successful in the G1 Toorak Handicap.
This is the extended family of the outstanding Group 1 winners and sires Epaulette and Helmet, and also their Group-winning siblings Bullbars, Pericles (Street Boss {USA}), and Pearls (Exceed And Excel).
Siriusly Hot as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Since producing Siriusly Hot, Etoile Brillante has produced a Kermedec (NZ) 2-year-old colt, a Brazen Beau yearling filly, and is due to foal to Maurice (Jpn) in late October.
Sales information: Siriusly Hot was purchased by Ciaron Maher Bloodstock for $120,000 from the Yabby Dam Farms draft at the 2024 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale
Prestar too good on the Kensington
It was a small but select field in the Benchmark 64 3-year-old Handicap at Kensington, featuring its fair share of talent, but it was the Tony and Calvin McEvoy-trained Prestar (Zoustar) who proved too strong.
Gobi Desert (Too Darn Hot {GB}) led at what seemed a reasonable pace, with Ashley Morgan content to sit outside the leader on Prestar. The warm favourite Johnny (Farnan) ended up trailing the speed, with Stormland (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) taking the one-one position.
Soon after straightening, the leader rolled off the rail, giving a perfect opening for Johnny. But at that point, around the 400-metre mark, Prestar was travelling best of all and showed the sharpest turn of foot. The race was effectively over in a few strides.
In fairness to Johnny, he was taking ground off Prestar late, closing to within just over half a length on the line. A gap of nearly six lengths separated them from the third placegetter Stormland, who raced a little keenly throughout and is likely to take improvement from the run.
The promising colt had already shown good ability as a 2-year-old, winning and placing at the Sunshine Coast, and racing honestly when tested at stakes level. Now, with added maturity and a break, he’s returned a better horse - taking his record to two wins and a placing from just five starts, with just over $56,000 in prizemoney.
Prestar winning the Bm64 at Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“That was really nice, he’s a really impressive young horse. A horse we've got a lot of time for, and he's still working it all out, so I thought he was fantastic today,” said co-trainer Tony McEvoy.
He’s (Prestar) a really impressive young horse. A horse we've got a lot of time for, and he's still working it all out, so I thought he was fantastic today.” - Tony McEvoy
“I think he is a black-type horse. After his maiden win, I went straight to the black type, and I asked him to do something that he couldn't quite do. He just got it all wrong and didn't have the experience, and you get exposed pretty quickly at Listed level.
“So we went back in grade, and he ran super on Caloundra Cup day in a very strong race, and then he's come here today.
“So I'll talk to Ash to see where he thinks he'll fit, whether we stay here and run in another race like a Run to the Rose (G2) or whether we should be running a bit lower than that.”
Tony McEvoy with Prestar after winning the Bm64 at Kensington | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree information: Prestar is the fifth foal out of Precautions (Lonhro), who was a two-time winner on the track. She has been a handy producer leaving four winners from her four to race.
Prestar has a very solid page, she is a half sister to Knoydart (More Than Ready {USA}), who was a winner at Listed level and placed in the G1 BTC Cup, G1 Newmarket Handicap, and the G1 Oakleigh Plate. The grandam of Prestar is Regal Cheer (Arena), a six-time winner, her career highlight was winning the G1 Coolmore Classic.
Since producing Prestar, Precautions has left a 2-year-old filly by Aclaim (Ire), a yearling filly by Jacquinot, and slipped to Pierata last season.
Prestar as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Sales information: Prestar was purchased by McEvoy Mitchell Racing, Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) for $150,000 from the draft of Lucas Bloodstock at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Yearling Sale.
Yamashita’s Gold is a maiden no more
Yamashita’s Gold (Wootton Bassett {GB}) has always shown promise since finishing second in the Listed Blue Diamond Preview (c&g) on debut, early in his 2-year-old season. While he hadn't broken through in his previous five starts, he had often been unlucky or brave in defeat.
At Sandown on Wednesday, the talented Wootton Bassett (GB) colt finally put it all together. Settling well back on the inside, he bided his time while long-term leaders Covert Mission (NZ) (Strasbourg) and Gunz (I Am Immortal) appeared to have the race under control.
But Jamie Mott, aboard the Gavin Bedggood-trained colt, had other ideas. Weaving a path through the field from near last, he drove the colt up the inside. As soon as they levelled up at around the 100-metre mark, the race was never in doubt - Yamashita’s Gold surged clear to score a comfortable one-length victory.
The trainer of Yamashita’s Gold, Gavin Bedggood, was pleased that his talented colt had now become a winner.
“He's always shown us plenty and obviously ran very well here at his first start, but he just needed to go and be a winner, you know,” Bedggood said
“He's (Yamashita’s Gold) always shown us plenty and obviously ran very well here at his first start, but he just needed to go and be a winner, you know.” - Gavin Bedggood
“He's been running in good races, and I just thought we just need to lower the sights and just teach him to be a winner, I guess."
When asked about plans from here, Bedgood commented
Gavin Bedggood | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“Hopefully he can take a bit from today as he's learning with every start. He's really starting to find the line now, and he can keep stepping up.”
Jamie Mott was happy that the colt has now put it all together for connections, and thinks that he could be the type that goes on with the job.
“He’s a horse that has shown great ability, been a bit immature, and things haven’t gone his way in races.” Mott said
“I'm sure that the connections, and definitely Gav has been frustrated with the way things have gone, so very pleasing to get the win on him today.
“He is a horse that has a bright future, and hopefully now that he has got a win, it will boost his confidence. He felt like a little bit further may be more suitable also.”
Yamashita's Gold winning the Maiden Plate at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Pedigree information: Yamashita’s Gold is the ninth foal out of Fortune Of War (General Nediym). She was a winner at 1200 metres and was Listed placed on the track. She has been a handy broodmare, leaving three winners, including Patch Of Theta (Zoustar), who has been a Group winner in Hong Kong, and Spoils (Snitzel) who was three times stakes placed as a juvenile.
Fortune Of War is very well-bred, she is a half-sister to an incredible five individual Group winners all by different sires, including Pretty Brazen (Braen Beau), Sertorius (Galileo {Ire}), Dollar For Dollar (High Chaparral {Ire}), Pretty Amazing (American Pharoah {USA}), and Clifton Red (Sebring).
Fortune Of War has since produced a 2-year-old by Lonhro, a yearling filly by Splintex, and is due to foal to Playing God in October this year.
Sales information: Yamashita’s Gold was purchased by Bahen Bloodstock for $105,000 from the draft of Edinburgh Park at the 2023 Magic Millions National Weanling Sale.
