Timing is everything with anniversary victory
Trainer John Thompson celebrated a victory at Rosehill on Saturday on the 10th anniversary of the passing of legendary trainer, and his former boss, Bart Cummings. There was an additional celebration for the connections of 4-year-old mare Starphistocated (Churchill {Ire}) as Saturday was the birthday of winning rider Andrew Adkins, and part-owner Steve Johansson. “It's great to win on this day,” Thompson said.
Video: Watch race reply of Starphistocated, video courtesy of Racing NSW
“Bart taught me almost all I know about training and there is a lot of Bart in this horse, Starphistocated – the way she settles, the way we feed her. … I feel she has a few more wins in store and I think she can get over further, too. Something like the Matriarch Stakes down the track, I think she could get to that level.”
Starphistocated is out of Starspangled (Ire) who is the last living daughter of Danehill (USA) in Australia and is currently in foal of Ghaiyyath (Ire). Winner of three races, Starphistocated is a half-sister to Group 1 winners Funstar (Adelaide {Ire}) and Youngstar (High Chaparral {Ire}), and to top class broodmare Baggy Green (Galileo {Ire}) who is the dam of four stakes winners, Group 1 winners Tofane (NZ) (Ocean Park {NZ}), and No Compromise (NZ) (Pins) and Listed winners Bradman (NZ) (Pins), and Benaud (NZ) (Reliable Man {GB}).
Listed winner On Display returns in fine form
Last season’s Listed Adelaide Guineas winner On Display (Fastnet Rock) returned in perfect order on Saturday to win her 4-year-old debut at Caulfield for trainers Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr). “She's a good mare and she is in for a good campaign. I was happy to kick-off there and I think from here we will go to the Let’s Elope (in) two weeks,” Price said.
“There’s a big circle around the Empire Rose. The obligation is to get the black type all the time, but this was just a nice kick-off point here. She’s a very smart mare; I've never underestimated her. She should have won the G2 in Adelaide and (if she did) I would not have run her again. But I just felt the owners were a bit short on what she should have achieved, so hence the Listed race over there.”
Sold by Lime Country Thoroughbreds to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.1 million, On Display took her record to three wins from nine starts. Her dam Different To (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire})’s 2025 foal was featured in our Foal Focus.
Revelare shortens in Cups markets after strong win
After winning at Caulfield on Saturday over 2000 metres, Rob Hickmott-trained Revelare (So You Think {NZ}) has shortened into $17 for the G1 Melbourne Cup. “Obviously, the Foundation Cup in three weeks’ time is on the agenda,” Hickmott said.
“(But) it’s been in the back of my mind, and a couple of the owners, that The Archer is probably going to be the weaker of that and The Bart Cummings. (The Archer) gives you that mile-and-a-half run going into the Cummings if you do happen to miss out there in Flemington, and you have two cracks in it. We'll just see how he pulls up and where we go from here, but very happy with today.”
Revelare took his record to seven wins from 10 starts with earnings over $340,000. Sold by Daisy Hill at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale for $130,000 to his trainer, Revelare is out of Reveal The Goddess (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}).
Kembla Grange hosts spring 3-year-old winners
Four early spring 3-year-olds won races at Kembla Grange on Saturday. John Sargent-trained filly Autumn Blonde (The Autumn Sun) opened the card with a 0.8l victory, and she was placed at two behind Marhoona (Snitzel) who went on to win the G1 Golden Slipper winner. Sold by Arrowfield Stud for $80,000 to Tricolours Racing at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, Autumn Blonde is the first foal of Tall Blonde (Shalaa {Ire}), an unraced half-sister to young sire Doubtland and Listed winner Pretty Fast (Not A Single Doubt).
Tricolours’ stakes placed filly Artistic Venture (Trapeze Artist), trained by John O'Shea & Tom Charlton, came off a last start second to win at Kembla Grange in the last, bookending the day for the syndicators. They purchased her from Widden Stud’s Inglis Classic Yearling Sale draft for $50,000 and she has earnings over $250,000. O’Shea and Charlton also won with 3-year-old gelding Jagerbomb (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}).
Michael Freedman-trained colt Ruination (Wootton Bassett {GB}) won on debut by 1.3l and he was a $500,000 purchase by his trainer and Michael Wallace Bloodstock from Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft. He became the second winner for Group 1 winner Daysee Doom (Domesday).
Winner number 10 for Bivouac
Second season sire Bivouac added his 10th winner when 3-year-old filly Tesoro Mio won at Warracknabeal on Saturday. Unplaced in three starts at two, Tesoro Mio was having her seasonal debut for trainer Tim Fitzsimmons.
Purchased by Wattle Bloodstock (FBAA) and her trainer from Sledmere Stud for $200,000 at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Tesoro Mio is a half-sister to Group 3 winner Zoustyle (Zoustar). Her dam, Fashion (Ger) (Anabaa {USA}) is in foal to Zousain.
Andrew Forsman-trained 3-year-old gelding Super Paradise (Street Boss {USA}) won at the same meeting and was having his third start. Sold by Vinery Stud to his trainer for $80,000 at the Inglis Premier Yearling Sale, Super Paradise is the first foal of Whelk (Fastnet Rock).
Intellectual wins on debut at Morphettville
Richard and Chantelle Jolly-trained 3-year-old gelding Intellectual (Written By) won on debut at Morphettville on Saturday. Sold by Middlebrook Valley Lodge at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $260,000 to John Foote Bloodstock (FBAA) and M Staunton, Intellectual is a half-brother to Group 1-placed Reo (Rubick) and is one of four winners from as many to race for Elliptical Orbit (USA) (Scat Daddy {USA}).
Wannabe Brutal continues consistent run of form
With a win and two placings heading into Eagle Farm on Saturday, Kelly Schweida-trained 3-year-old gelding Wannabe Brutal (Brutal {NZ}) ran out a 1.3 length victory to take his record to two wins and four placings from eight starts. Purchased by his trainer for $36,000 at the Magic Millions March Yearling Sale from Kenmore Lodge, Wannabe Brutal took his earnings over $110,000. He’s the third winner from as many to race for Wannabe Loved (Sebring).
Hellbent gelding scores at Belmont
Trainer Mitchell Pateman’s 3-year-old gelding Who’s Bent (Hellbent) broke through for his first win at his fourth start on Saturday at Belmont in the opening race on the card. Sold the Inglis May 2024 Inglis Digital Sale by Lynward Stud for $9500 to Western Reliance, the win took his earnings over $47,000.
The first winner, from five to race, for Who’s Gorgeous (Northern Meteor) who is a winning half-sister to stakes placed Devil’s Arcade (Snowland).
Splendid winner for Chau on Gold Coast
Trainer Allan Chau enjoyed a win with 3-year-old gelding Solidude (Merchant Navy) at the Gold Coast on Saturday. Placed at his first two starts at two, Solidude was having his first start at three. Sold by Kenmore Lodge at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale for $24,000 to Byerley Turk Equine and his trainer, Solidude is the second foal of Splendid (Snitzel).
Zoustar pair win in New Zealand
Reigning Champion Sire Zoustar enjoyed a pair of winners at New Zealand’s Riccarton meeting led by Mark Walker and Sam Bergerson-trained 3-year-old filly Belle Du Monde who was having her first start this season, having placed twice at two. “We think she’s improved a lot from her two-year-old season. We’ve always known that she’s talented, and she’s shown us plenty at home. But she has a really big frame,” Bergerson said.
“This is really exciting for the ownership group. She’s a lovely filly. She still has a few quirks and things to learn, so we think we’ve got a lot to look forward to. Hopefully she’ll come through this well and we can crack on to some black type, where increasing distances should suit her.”
Originally sold by Tyreel Stud at the Inglis Sydney Weanling Sale for $220,000 to Kaha Nui Farm, she was on-sold at the New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$400,000 to David Ellis. Zoustar’s other winner at the meeting was Ka Ying Lucky who took his record to five wins.
Platinum Diamond adds another Listed win
Lisa Latta-trained 3-year-old filly Platinum Diamond (NZ) (Hello Youmzain {Fr}) became the first horse to win the Castletown Stakes, Ryder Stakes, and Wanganui Guineas, all at Listed level. “She’s a special filly,” Latta said.
“She paraded a little bit fresher today. We’d given her a couple of weeks in the paddock to freshen her up slightly. She showed that she’s very smart. We were hoping for a better track today to give us a nice line on her, but it was a stronger field and she just keeps stepping up. She does everything so effortlessly and easily. She’s a very easy filly. It’s great for Neville McAlister, Kevin Dixon and Trevor Tomlins. They’re fantastic owners and they’re all here today, so we’re very happy.”
Death of Guineas winner Ruling Court announced
Ruling Court (Justify), the brilliant 2,000 Guineas winner, has been euthanised following complications due to laminitis, according to a statement released on the Godolphin website.
Charlie Appleby commented, “Everyone at Godolphin is deeply saddened by the loss of Ruling Court. He gave everyone a fantastic day at Newmarket in May and he will be sorely missed. I would like to thank all of the team, who did everything they could to save him.”
A €2.3 million (AU$4.1 million) purchase at the Arqana Breeze-Up Sale, Ruling Court produced a memorable performance to land the Guineas from Field Of Gold.
Tattersalls Pop-Up Digital to sell trial horses
A total of five horses who took part in the ITM Irish EBF Barrier Trials at Leopardstown earlier this week will go under the hammer in a Tattersalls Online Barrier Trials Pop-Up Sale from September 3-4.
Three of the lots will be consigned by Diego Dias on behalf of Star Bloodstock: juvenile gelding Kenough (Kendargent) (lot 3), a smart trial winner and a full-brother to listed winner and Group 2-placed Strassia and to stakes winner Strako; as well as Noelan Star (Starspangledbanner) (lot 4), another trial winner, who cost 45,000gns (AU$97,000) as a Tattersalls October Yearling Sale Book 2 graduate.
Porta Fortuna heads to broodmare sales
Champion three-year-old filly Porta Fortuna (Caravaggio) will miss the remainder of the season, according to a press release from the ownership group of Taylor Made's Medallion Racing, Steve Weston, Barry Fowler, and Dean Reeves. She will instead be prepared to be sold this fall at an as-yet-to-be-determined bloodstock sale.
“The partners had a call and decided that we would back off,” said trainer Donnacha O'Brien. “She has been a superstar for us, and when you have a champion, you don't rush them back. Trying to force her to fit our timeline is not an option. If we felt like we weren't going to be ready to win a Group 1, then the plan with the owners was to get her ready for a sale this fall.”
Nicely bred mare headlines Inglis Digital USA
A slate of 65 offerings were catalogued for the Inglis Digital USA September Sale, led by a number of runners coming off of successful racetrack performances and the broodmare Earth Shaking (War Front), a half-sister to the dam of Grade 1 winner Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro), the organization announced via press release.
“We're pleased with the group for the September Sale,” said Inglis Digital USA CEO Kyle Wilson. “It's a good cross section of horses and provides some great opportunities leading into the breeding season.”
