Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Attica flies home late to win on debut
In a field studded with blue-blooded 3-year-olds in the opening race at Warwick Farm, it was Godolphin’s colt Attica (Lonhro) who flew home late from mid-field to take victory by 0.62l for trainer Joseph Pride. Attica holds a nomination for the G1 Cox Plate.
Decorum (Snitzel), the full brother to Group 1 winner and young sire Switzerland, finished second for trainer Michael Freedman on his debut, while Chris Waller trained filly Enviable (Frankel {GB}) was third. Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old colt Tuscany (Zoustar), a full brother to Group 1 winner Schwarz, was fourth.
Video: Watch race replay of Attica, video courtesy of Racing NSW
“It’s his first start in a race and you've got to come here and do it under race pressure as much as he's shown us at home,” said Pride.
“He's just a very laid-back casual type, so he needed to wake up today, and he did that under race pressure, which is good. He's only just turned three, I think it was yesterday actually, the 2nd of September, so he's officially just turned three.
“He's (Attica) just a very laid-back casual type, so he needed to wake up today, and he did that under race pressure, which is good.” - Joe Pride
“He’s a big baby and a horse who's got to get his handle on it all, but for the spring, I'd love to think we can get him into a stakes race and see how he handles that next level of pressure. There is plenty to like about him and there's plenty of him. He's a big, strong, strapping boy, and I'm sure his future's very bright.”
Attica winning the Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree information: From Lonhro’s second-to-last crop, Attica is the first foal of Godolphin’s brilliant race mare Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}) who won 12 races including five at Group 2 level and was three-times Group 1 placed. She earned over $2.3 million on track, and has a 2-year-old colt Sabates (Palace Pier {GB}) and a yearling colt by I Am Invincible. She is empty this season.
Savatiano is a half-sister to G2 Moreton Cup winner Vilana (Hallowed Crown) who won eight races and dual Listed winner Athiri (Lonhro) as well as stakes placed Rakomelo (Lonhro) and Aleppo Pine (Blue Point {Ire}). Savatiano’s dam, Retsina (Redoute’s Choice) is a winning daughter of Group 1 winner Star Shiraz (Sequalo).
Cantiamo goes two from two at three
Featured in TTR’s Looking Ahead yesterday, Kris Lees-trained 3-year-old filly Cantiamo (Too Darn Hot {GB}) remained unbeaten this time in when carrying a whopping 60kg to a long neck victory over 1200 metres in the second at Warwick Farm. Fifth on debut at two in the R.Listed Inglis Nursery, Cantiamo was spelled after that and resumed at three recently with a win. Now the winner of two of her three starts, she will likely head into black type company next.
Video: Watch race replay of Cantiamo, video courtesy of Racing NSW
“She had a lovely run in transit,” said Lees. “She was caught up, you could see she was going to let down well, and she's got more to come. As you can see, she's got a bit of cleaning up to still to come. So, these nice days will certainly be to her liking. She's going the right way.
“Carried 60 kilos, and you could see she's not a big filly, but she's a strong filly. there's a fair bit of upside to come. Look, she's ticking all the boxes so far. We'll just see how she comes through today. Still a bit open, just whether we test her now at the better level, but she'll get there at some stage.”
Cantiamo winning the Bm64 at Warwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree information: Cantiamo is the fourth foal out of Valencay (Rothesay}), who was placed on the track. She is very well-related on her damline, she is a descendant of the famed matriarch Eight Carat (GB) (Pieces Of Eight {Ire}). There are so many successful Group winners within her pedigree including Don Eduardo (NZ), Kaapstad (NZ), Forever Loved (NZ) (High Chaparral {Ire}), Tristalove (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}), Viscount, Feroce (NZ) (Super Seth), Shower Of Roses (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), and Viking Ruler.
Valencay has since produced a 2-year-old colt by Harry Angel (Ire), and is due to foal to Bivouac later this spring.
Sales: Cantiamo was purchased by Lees Racing and Bahen Bloodstock for $220,000 from the draft of Sledmere Stud at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale.
Connections of Cantiamo after winning the Bm64 at Warwick | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Vivid Sun stays unbeaten in season debut
A winner on debut at two in April, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 3-year-old filly Vivid Sun (The Autumn Sun) came home strongly over the top of the field in race three at Sandown to win by 2.25 lengths from Shane Nichols & Hayden Black-trained filly Torsheen (Toronado {Ire}) and Matt Laurie-trained colt Diamond Gust (Toronado {Ire}).
“She’s an impressive horse. She showed us nice ability as a 2-year-old, we went to Ballarat and she was dominant on that day,” said jockey Blake Shinn.
“He tipped her out with the spring in mind, and she’s come to hand nicely. You’re always a little bit apprehensive to see how they go, until they come here and do it, but she couldn’t have been more impressive and it’s good to see her back like that.
“She’s versatile. Her last jump out we purposely rode her with a trail just to educate her, and I think she’s adaptable. She’s got a great mind on her and she’s going to be a complete racehorse and those good fillies you can ride them any particular way. They went quick there and set it up for a run on, she was the one conserving her energy and she’s got a great turn of foot. Peter said she’ll come back for the Prelude in three weeks.”
“She’s (Vivid Sun) versatile, I think she’s adaptable. She’s got a great mind on her and she’s going to be a complete racehorse.” - Blake Shinn
Pedigree information: Vivid Sun’s dam Rainbow Song (Jpn) (Zenno Rob Roy {Jpn}) won three races in Japan and had two foals there before heading to Australia where Vivid Sun is her second locally born foal. All four of her foals to race are winners, including Vivid Sun’s 4-year-old full brother Call Me Magnifique. Rainbow Song has a 2-year-old full sister to Vivid Sun and foaled a Castelvecchio colt recently.
A half-sister to G1 Kyoto Tenno Sho (Spring) winner Rainbow Line (Jpn) (Stay Gold {Jpn}), Rainbow Song is a full sister to Group 2 winner Animate Bio (Jpn) the dam of Group 3 winner Excite Bio (Jpn) (Rey De Oro {Jpn}).
Vivid Sun as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Sales: Sold by Arrowfield Stud for $200,000 at the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale, Vivid Sun was purchased by Moody Racing and Dalziel Bloodstock.
New Derby favourite emerges at Sandown
Purchased by MyRacehorse with the G1 Victoria Derby in mind after he ran third on debut back in April in New Zealand, 3-year-old gelding Engine Of War (NZ) (Circus Maximus {Ire}) showed why the stamina contest is front of mind for his new owners with a fast-finishing victory at Sandown on Wednesday over 1500 metres. The Mick Price and Michael Kent Jnr trained galloper won by 0.02l from filly There Were Roses (NZ) (Darci Brahma {NZ}) for trainers Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young with Greg Eurell-trained gelding King Maywin (King’s Legacy) sticking on for third one length back.
“It was a good effort by the horse. He raced fairly tractably, he's a very big, raw product,” co-trainer Michael Kent Jnr said.
“The second horse was very good behind him. He's only got upside, he's very big - 16'2-and-a-half-hand 3-year-old, all leg and I hope he stays, he looks like he should.
“My Racehorse through Andy Williams purchased him, but we were chasing him at the same time through our avenues. They bought him and we joined together after that. He was purchased and given a five-week spell and then had a full preparation to this point.
Michael Kent Jnr | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“I'm rapt for the owners, we've got some good clients on our side and of course MyRacehorse, they're so good for this game. They'd be more than half the crowd here. He's got to do everything right. I think every horse in this field was probably touted as a Derby type, so we'll be aiming that way.”
Pedigree Information: Engine Of War is the fourth Southern Hemisphere winner for second season sire Circus Maximus (Ire) and he is the second foal and first winner for unraced mare Prove Your Worth (Lonhro) who is in foal to Paddington (Ire).
Prove Your Worth is a daughter of Listed Triscay Stakes winner Kiss From A Rose (Encosta De Lago) who also produced unraced mare Touch Of Red (Fastnet Rock), dam of G1 Tattersall's Tiara winner Palaisipan (So You Think {NZ}). Kiss From A Rose is a half-sister to Group 2 winner and successful sire Smart Missile.
Engine Of War winning the Maiden Plate at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sales: Passed in by Windsor Park Stud as a yearling, Engine Of War went to the New Zealand Bloodstock Ready To Run Sale with Ohukia Lodge where he was purchased by Andrew Forsman for NZ$50,000.
