Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Magic Millions sale topper wins at Canterbury
Having his second start this time in, 3-year-old colt Officiate (Justify {USA}) won at Canterbury on Wednesday in a tough victory. The Chris Waller-trained colt was nicely positioned in the centre of the track by James McDonald, but second placed Gai Waterhouse & Adrian Bott-trained 3-year-old filly Koibito (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) made him work for it and in the end he stuck his nose in front to win. Officiate's stablemate 4-year-old gelding Benrodt (Exceed And Excel) was a length back in third.
“He didn’t quite know how to put them away, but he was the fit horse today and had to dig deep, but got the job done,” stable representative Charlie Duckworth said.
“He’ll take good confidence going forward.”
Sale Information: The sale topper at the 2024 Magic Millions Horses In Training Sale when purchased by Yulong for $700,000. Officiate was unplaced in one start at two.
KO Racing pinhooked him from Coolmore Stud’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale draft along with Munce Racing and Arthur Hoyeau for $300,000.
Officiate as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree Information: Officiate is a half-brother to Listed Adelaide Guineas-placed Lady Young (Fastnet Rock) and is one of four winners for Port Augusta (Encosta De Lago), who was unplaced on the track.
She is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and sire Holy Roman Emperor (Ire) as well as stakes winners Milanova (Danehill {USA}), dam of Group 3 winner Pretty Perfect (Ire) (Galileo {Ire}), Heart Of Oak (USA) (Woodman {USA}) and Big Viking (USA) (Theatrical {Ire}).
Justify sired a double at Canterbury with 4-year-old mare Mergeila winning race six to take her record to two wins from four starts.
Regal Award adds another feather in Ole Kirk’s cap
Phillip Stokes-trained 3-year-old colt Regal Award (Ole Kirk) became winner number 20 for Champion First Season Sire Ole Kirk when he dominated the first at Sandown, winning by just over two lengths for jockey Blake Shinn. Placed at two, Regal Award was fifth at Moonee Valley at his first start at three.
“It didn't work out the other day at The Valley, I'm not sure he's a Valley horse either, it just got a bit messy,” Stokes said.
“Today, I just said, 'Let him free flow' and he was tough, he ran quick sectionals and was tough at the end. He's a really nice horse going forward. He's not there yet, I don't know how deep we'll go with him into the spring, but he's going to be a nice horse in the autumn … I think 1400m, maybe a mile (should suit).”
“'Let him (Regal Award) free flow'” - Phillip Stokes
He immediately shifted in the G1 Caulfield Guineas market from $51 to $17, a race won by Ole Kirk. Ole Kirk has four stakes winners in his first crop and a share in him sold for $600,000 on Inglis Digital on Wednesday.
Pedigree Information: Withdrawn as a yearling from the Inglis Easter Yearling Sale by Vinery, Regal Award is the first foal of tough race mare Sovereign Award (Shamus Award) who won nine races including three at Group 3 level and over $580,000. She has an Anamoe yearling colt and is currently in foal to him.
Regal Award winning the Maiden Plate at Sandown | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
Sovereign Award is a full sister to Noname Lane who was a dual Listed winner, who also won nine races, and their dam Sovereign Charm (Show A Heart) won six times.
Stakes placed Point Barrow makes it two
Black type awaits 3-year-old filly Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) who made it two wins in succession at Sandown for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman. In winning by 1.75l for jockey Daniel Stackhouse, Point Barrow took her record to two wins from three starts, having placed in the Listed Merson Cooper Stakes on debut back in November last year.
“She did a great job. She doesn't have a lot of tactical speed, which is probably her biggest flaw at the moment, but she's got a very good turn of foot, which she showed there,” Sam Freedman said.
“Today was a bit of a litmus test for her to see if she could obviously race onto some Stakes races, we've got good ambitions for her through the spring and there's plenty of options. She's capable of stretching out over a bit further and a daughter of Blue Point ridden off the speed, she's got a bright future for sure.”
Sale Information: Yarraman Park Stud offered her at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, where Anthony Freedman put his hand up at $400,000.
Pedigree Information: With black type at her first start, it looks like there is more to come for the daughter of Take Pride (Reward For Effort) whose first foal is also a winner. Take Pride has a Home Affairs yearling colt and was covered by both Shinzo and Hellbent last spring.
Point Barrow as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Take Pride won the G3 Champagne Stakes at two, and is a daughter of winning mare Shabtis (Elusive Quality {USA}), a half-sister to the five-time Group 1 winner Mummify (Jeune {GB}).
Listed Balaklava Cup won by Sav On Ice
Sav On Ice (Puissance De Lune {Ire}) gave Swettenham Stud something to smile about after a tough week with their star stallion Toronado (Ire) set to miss this season as he recovers from an infection.
Their resident stallion Puissance De Lune (Ire) added his sixth stakes winner when the Darryl Carrison-trained 4-year-old entire won the Listed Balaklava Cup by a length from Richard & Chantelle Jolly-trained Pudding (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}) with a half-head to Phillip Stokes-trained Watadeel (Dundeel {NZ}).
“He’s been lovely and consistent. Obviously, I was very happy with how he went a couple of starts ago, but because he went so good, I think that’s why he got beaten last start. With a little let up, I was going into today very confident. He had a gun ride by Rochelle (Milnes) and all the work was done through our staff,” Carrison told TTR.
Carrison was driving the owners home on a bus when TTR called! “The owners backed him and they were beside themselves and they are having so much fun on the bus on the way home. If all goes right with him, there are some nice races in Melbourne for him, maybe the Sandown Stakes in 17 days.”
Sav On Ice has been consistent this time in, winning three in succession over winter, with a last start second in Benchmark 72 grade at Morphettville coming into the Listed Balaklava Cup. He took his record to five wins from 11 starts and earnings over $184,000.
Sales Information: Sav On Ice was purchased by his trainer for $90,000 from Brooklyn Park Stud’s Magic Millions Tasmania Yearling Sale draft.
Pedigree Information: Sav On Ice is the fourth live foal and fourth winner for unraced Shemakhan (NZ) (Mastercraftsman {Ire}). Her 3-year-old filly Gee Tee (Grunt {NZ}) has had one start for the Tony and Calvin McEvoy stable and her last foal is a 2-year-old colt by Royal Meeting (Ire).
Shemakhan is a half-sister to Listed HKJC Ladies' Purse winner Top Act (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}), and she is out of an unraced daughter of G1 Chantilly Prix de Diane winner Shemaka (Ire) (Nishapour {Fr}).
