Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) was brilliant, winning her ninth consecutive race in the G1 Memsie Stakes in scintillating fashion.
Magic Time (Hellbent) was the class runner in the G3 Cockram Stakes, and so it proved as she was dominant, claiming success in the hands of Michael Dee.
Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) added to her record for trainer Dan O'Sullivan as she picked up the Listed Heatherlie Handicap.
Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) was sharp winning the G3 Heath resuming, as he formed the second leg of a Caulfield stakes double for his in-form sire.
Treasurethe Moment outstanding in the Memsie
In what shaped as a vintage edition of the G1 Memsie Stakes, the Matt Laurie-trained 4-year-old mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express) made an elite field look second-rate as she bounded away for a dominant 2.5l win.
Drama struck before the start when Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) became fractious in the barriers and was subsequently scratched. When the field eventually jumped, Treasurethe Moment began cleanly from her inside draw. Here To Shock (NZ) (Shocking) and Mr Brightside (NZ) (Bullbars) were both prominent early, while Pinstriped (Street Boss {USA}) surged forward from a wide gate to set a strong tempo.
As the field approached the turn, it was clear Damian Lane had a lapful of horse beneath him. Although briefly pocketed, Treasurethe Moment was quickly extracted into clear running. Once she saw daylight, the Yu Long Investments-owned mare exploded through the gap, putting the race to bed in a matter of strides to claim her fourth Group 1 – and crucially, her first at weight-for-age level.
Mr Brightside again showed his trademark consistency to finish second, with Buckaroo (GB) (Fastnet Rock) flying home for third after settling well back. Fangirl (Sebring) was sound in fourth.
Trainer Matt Laurie was surprised by the margin, considering the strength of the race:
Matt Laurie | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“One of the best Memsie fields we’ve seen in some time. I wasn’t expecting to be coming here and winning, but she had come up very well, and to win in such fashion, is pretty incredible.”
On his thoughts mid-race, Laurie continued:
“I wasn’t expecting to be coming here and winning, but she (Treasurethe Moment) had come up very well, and to win in such fashion, is pretty incredible.” - Matt Laurie
“I was very happy. There was good pace. She was able to ease across the speed. You just knew coming to the turn, if she got the breaks, that she would burst through. I have never seen a horse travel that well around the bend and quicken up like she did. It was fantastic to watch, I look forward to hearing what Damian has to say. To come back from winning two Oaks, and come back against a field like this over seven furlongs, it’s mind blowing.”
When asked about her path going forward:
“The plan has always been to go to the Makybe Diva second-up into the Turnbull, and then it’s a matter of deciding which way – the Cox Plate or the Caulfield Cup. That’s a discussion to have with the connections. They’ve obviously got a lot of high-class horses and obviously don’t want to meet. On that run, 2000 metres at The Valley, she’d have to be some chance.”
Winning jockey Damian Lane was full of praise after the brilliant performance:
“She was. She was great. She’s come back in really good order. You’re never really sure. Trackwork, jump-outs, they’re a different kind of pressure, but she’s jumping up to the big boys and girls now.
Damian Lane | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales Information: Treasurethe Moment was bred and is raced by Yu Long Investments
Pedigree Information: Treasurethe Moment is the third and sadly the last foal out of Draconic Treasure (USA) (Street Cry {Ire}). She was a winner in America, and her two foals to race have both been winners.
Treasurethe Moment’s grandam Hazy Glow (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}), was a winner as a juvenile in Ireland and is very well-related being a half-sister to Rich Tapestry (Ire) (Holy Roman Emperor {Ire}), who was an eight-time winner including at Group 1 level in America.
Further back in the family is the G1 Melbourne Cup winner Media Puzzle (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}) and the four-time Group 1 winner and successful sire Refuse To Bend (Ire).
Magic Time shows her class in ‘The Cockram’
It was a case of class rising to the top in the G3 Cockram Stakes, as Magic Time (Hellbent) picked up her third Group 3 victory to go with her two Group 1 wins, a Group 2 and Listed success. She was the clear highest-rated mare in the field and delivered a strong, authoritative performance under jockey Michael Dee.
There was plenty of early speed, with Geringong (Blue Point {Ire}) taking up the lead alongside the Group 1-performed Stretan Angel (Harry Angel {Ire}). As the race unfolded and the field peeled wide into the straight, it was Magic Time who charged down the middle of the track, asserting her class to beat Miss Roumbini (Zoustar) by three-quarters of a length. Abounding (Rich Enuf) ran on strongly through the pack to claim third, while Damask Rose (NZ) (Savabeel) impressed with a fast-finishing fifth after coming from last in her Australian debut.
Trainer Grahame Begg was understandably pleased with the performance but noted there’s still more to come.
“This mare still has a good deal of improvement to come. Her coat is still nowhere near right yet. She’s still holding on to a good deal of her winter coat. That will come in the next few weeks, but the stimulation of a race day will bring her on greatly. That was a great result, and Mick rode her really well,” Begg said.
Grahame Begg | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
When asked about what could be next, he suggested there are plenty of options on the table.
“There are options in Sydney as well. We’ll work it out. She might be outweighed in the Rupert Clarke. She was a 112-rater going into today’s race, so we’ll have to work that out in the next few weeks. There’s no hurry to run her. She’s had a tough day at the office, but presented, but she also likes her races spaced too.”
Michael Dee, who resumed his association with the mare this preparation, echoed the sentiment about how well she is going.
“I’ve had good success aboard her and I was lucky enough to get back aboard her this prep. She’d been trialling up super, she’d probably more or less been flying under the radar a little bit and her trackwork’s been super,” Dee said.
“She’d (Magic Time) been trialling up super, she’d probably more or less been flying under the radar a little bit and her trackwork’s been super.” - Michael Dee
“It played out a little bit differently than we’d anticipated today. They went a bit quick for her and she was struggling a little bit early. Lucky enough, I was able to get to the outside in that three-wide line, which she more or less prefers, and we saw that good turn of foot that she’s always got.”
Magic Time winning the G3 Cockram Stakes | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales Information: Magic Time was passed in short of her $150,000 reserve at the 2021 Magic Millions Gold Coast yearling Sale
Pedigree Information: Magic Time is the first foal out of Time Awaits (Nicconi), a talented three-time winner as a juvenile, which included success in the G3 Sires’ Produce Stakes and the Listed Cinderella Stakes.
Time Awaits has had three foals to race for three winners, she has also left the talented gelding Henlein (Dundeel {NZ}) who has placed in the G1 Spring Champion Stakes and the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes.
In recent years, Time Awaits has produced a yearling colt by I Am Invincible, and is due to foal to Snitzel in early October.
Magic Time as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Too Darn Discreet dashes through to win 'The Heatherlie'
David Peacock’s prolific Discreet family delivered again, with multiple Group winner Too Darn Discreet (Too Darn Hot {GB}) adding a Listed win to her record at Caulfield, proving too strong late under Declan Bates in the Listed Heatherlie Handicap.
Trained by Dan O’Sullivan, the talented mare won the G2 Edward Manifold Stakes and the G3 Ethereal Stakes as a 3-year-old filly, and after a close second behind the talented El Rocko (Fastnet Rock) last start in B100 grade, she was able to turn the tables and reverse the quinella this time around.
It was an engaging race from the outset. El Rocko, with Jett Stanley aboard, rolled forward to take up the running at a solid tempo, while Statuario (D’Argento) sat outside the leader. Brayden Star (GB) (Twilight Son {GB}) tracked in behind, and Bates settled Too Darn Discreet beautifully in the one-one, albeit a fair way off the front-runner.
As El Rocko kicked at the 300-metre mark, it became clear that the race would be won by those handy to the speed. Just when El Rocko looked to have done enough, Too Darn Discreet darted back to the inside and surged home, proving too strong late to win by three-quarters of a length. Statuario stuck on bravely for third after being under pressure from well before the turn.
Dan O’Sullivan | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Trainer Dan O’Sullivan was very happy with his mares effort and was happy with where she landed in running
“She was a bit closer than what I thought she'd be, but she landed there naturally and he knows her pretty well.” O’Sullivan said
“The tempo was on and she was a bit flat-footed around the turn and I thought, again, a bit like last week, we're going to run a nice second or third.
“She (Too Darn Discreet) was a bit closer than what I thought she'd be, but she landed there naturally and he knows her pretty well.” - Dan O'Sullivan
“But, again, like two weeks ago, we got in the line, she really knuckled down and hit the line strong. Got to see her get back in there for a most deserved win at Listed level.”
Sales Information: Too Darn Discreet was bred, and is part-owned alongside his fellow owners by David Peacock.
Pedigree Information: Too Darn Discreet further bolsters her dam's pedigree, G1 Schweppes Oaks victress Maybe Discreet (Sharmardal {USA}). Some other classy Group winners that feature are Just Discreet (Exceed And Excel), Be Discreet (Euclase), She’s Discreet (Euclase), and Serenely Discreet (Exceed And Excel).
Maybe Discreet has produced a 2-year-old full brother to Too Darn Discreet named Sly (Too Darn Hot {GB}), slipped to Godolphin’s Ghaiyyath (Ire), and is due to foal to Anamoe any day now.
Tropicus torches the turf
The talented Tropicus (Too Darn Hot {GB}) brought up a Caulfield stakes double for his outstanding sire Too Darn Hot {GB}, after Too Darn Discreet landed the Listed Heatherlie Handicap earlier in the day.
Trained by Anthony and Sam Freedman, the 4-year-old returned in style first-up, continuing his love affair with Caulfield, where he previously claimed the G3 Zeditave Stakes over 1200 metres.
In another event where the speed was genuine, Tropicus jumped well and took up the lead on the rail under Mark Zahra, but was quickly joined by Zarastro (I Am Invincible), Mazu (Maurice {Jpn}) and Arkansaw Kid (Harry Angel {Ire}) in a pressure-filled race.
Despite the heat up front, Tropicus never wavered. Arkansaw Kid was brave after facing the breeze and loomed strongly, but Tropicus was too sharp, surging away late to win by over two lengths. See You In Heaven (Divine Prophet) stormed home for third, just ahead of the favourite Zarastro, who finished fourth.
Sam Freedman was thrilled with the horse’s return to racing:
Sam Freedman after Tropicus won the G3 Henley Homes Heath | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“That was super. He’s been trialling really well, the horse. His last jumpout was with Treasurethe Moment and he was cruising along next to her.
“So he's come back in great form. Credit to Kia Ora, they’ve been great to train for, they really allow you to plot a path and Luke (Wilkinson) and I had a chat about this race going back four or five weeks and it's been a real team effort for all the crew at all the staff.
“He’s come back much better, he’s still an entire, so we’ll have to try and win it the highest level.”
“He’s (Tropicus) come back much better, he’s still an entire, so we’ll have to try and win it the highest level.” - Sam Freedman
When asked about plans going forward, Freedman added “Maybe the Manikato might be the right target for him. He's got very good gate speed, he wasn't stopping there, so he would keep running at 1200, and I think what's been the key is tactical speed now the blinkers have gone on.
“We’ve been able to put him up on the pace. In Sydney in his three-year old season, behind Broadsiding and all that, he was working home, and he was a bit unlucky and tactical speed in Australia is so important, so that’s been very key for him.”
Tropicus winning the G3 Henley Homes Heath | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales Information: Tropicus is a home-bred for Kia Ora Stud and they co-bred the colt alongside Mr D and Mrs J Kelly.
Pedigree Information: Tropicus is the third foal out of Extensible (Exceed And Excel), who was a four-time winner and placed in the G3 Summoned Stakes.
She is a full sister to Cathay Lady (Exceed And Excel), who was a seven-time winner, including in the Listed Belle Of The Turf Stakes.
Since producing Tropicus, Extensible has produced a 3-year-old filly named Fashion Diva (Wootton Bassett {GB}), a 2-year-old colt by Wootton Bassett (GB), a yearling filly by Justify (USA), and is due to foal to Home Affairs in early November.
