Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Napoleonic does it for Wootton Bassett
A day after the sad announcement that proven Group 1 sire Wootton Bassett (GB) had died from pneumonia, his 3-year-old colt Napoleonic made it two wins in succession with a storming win down the centre of the track at Warwick Farm to best Ohope (I Am Invincible) by half-a-length for trainers John O'Shea and Tom Charlton and jockey James McDonald.
Video: Watch race replay of Napoleonic, video courtesy of Racing NSW
“He's a horse that is learning, and I think we're also learning about his trip and where he might get to this campaign, but obviously, he’s a horse that we hope will make stakes level in time,” said Tom Charlton.
“He’s a lovely, kind animal and a son of Wootton Bassett and while he is a long way off the breeding barn, he is a chance and he's a beautiful colt.
“He’s (Napoleonic) a lovely kind animal and a son of Wootton Bassett and while he is a long way off the breeding barn, he is a chance and he's a beautiful colt.” - Tom Charlton
“We've been keen to build his confidence, so we'll just chat with James and probably see what sort of distance he might appreciate. There's a nice 1400 metre option in a couple of weeks or 1200, and we'll just build from there, but he’s definitely a horse that we hope will participate in the carnival.”
Tom Charlton | Image courtesy of Australian Turf Club
While Charlton might be circumspect, McDonald was enthusiastic about the young colt’s future. “He's a gorgeous horse. He keeps impressing even in his work. You only have to look at him to be pretty enthusiastic about him and he's got a big pedigree, being sadly by Wootton Bassett,” McDonald said.
“He's going to have a bright future for sure.
“He's (Napoleonic) going to have a bright future for sure.” - James McDonald
“I think John and Tom have got a good handle on him and I could see him freshening up for a Coolmore because he's quite sharp and the more he learns, the faster he'll get. I think he'll reach the top level.”
Owned by Pinecliff Racing, Napoleonic now has two wins and a second from four starts, and his potential value could sky rocket if he adds valuable black type.
Sale: Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock found him in Widden Stud’s Inglis Easter Yearling Sale draft, where he paid $360,000 for him.
Napoleonic as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree information: Napoleonic is out of four-time winner Jolie Brise (Fastnet Rock) who was fourth in the G1 MRC Thousand Guineas. She’s translated that race ability at stud, producing seven winners from seven to race, with only an unraced 2-year-old filly by Zousain to come. Jolie Brise is back in foal to Zousain for this spring.
Headlining those seven winners is G3 Thoroughbred Breeders Stakes winner Ready Set Sail (More Than Ready {USA}), dam of G3 Red Roses Stakes-placed Vestas (Toronado {Ire}). Another sibling to Napoleonic is Ready Set Sail’s full brother Listed Morphettville Guineas-placed Set The Sails. Jolie Brise is closely related to Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), dam of Group 1 winner and sire Merchant Navy.
Obucci is an exciting new winner for Hanseatic
The Phillip Stokes stable obviously thought a lot of 3-year-old filly Obucci (Hanseatic) from an early stage, debuting her at two in the G3 SAJC Breeders’ Stakes back in April. It wasn’t to be that day, but a nice placing when resuming set her up for a strong victory at Sandown on Wednesday by three-quarters of a length.
“It's fantastic,” jockey Lachlan Neindorf said.
The form around Obucci was strong with her last start second being behind Chateau Eze (GB) (Frankel {GB}) who placed in the Listed Jim Moloney Stakes next start. Obucci becomes the ninth winner for second season sire Hanseatic, who has three stakes placed runners to boot.
“Obviously, it's well known me and Phil had great association with the stable back in Adelaide, and to be able to get the opportunity first and foremost, but to be able to continue that relationship over here is an absolute privilege.
“Look, I remember when I rode her at first start over in Adelaide and we sort of got thrown in the deep end a little bit, and she probably wasn't ready for that.
“But to her credit, she's gone to the paddock, she's come back and Phil does a magnificent job with them at Pakenham and all the team in that regard to get the pony on some of these hotter horses. She's one that's adapted to it really well, and she's relaxed.
Obucci in action | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“We've just really been trying to drill into her mannerisms, just to sort of come back and travel nice and kindly underneath her, and it's proven today and she’s won the race.
“But even last start, she relaxed so well that I was confident going up and trip today that she'd be able to do the same.”
Sale: Passed in with a $100,000 reserve at the Magic Millions Adelaide Yearling Sale by Bhima Thoroughbreds, she is part owned by her breeder, P. Campbell.
Obucci as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree information: Obucci is the third foal of winning mare Vivacity (Bel Esprit), who is due to Wild Ruler this spring. Her first two foals are also winners and she has a Saxon Warrior (Jpn) 2-year-old colt and a yearling filly by Kermadec (NZ). Vivacity is a half-sister to stakes placed O’Malley (Street Boss {USA}) and this is the family of R.Listed Inglis 2YO Premier Stakes winner Kinky Boom (Spirit Of Boom).
Consistent Flying Artie filly breaks through for a city win
Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old filly Surf’s Up (Flying Artie) is owned by Ingham Racing and won at Warwick Farm on Wednesday in the opening event of the day. Ridden by Zac Lloyd, she won by almost two lengths and her connections enjoyed the proceeds of the $100,000 super maiden.
Video: Watch race replay of Napoleonic, video courtesy of Racing NSW
Surf’s Up had placed in all her first three starts. “She was very good first up and had a beautiful ride from Zac today. He put her in a beautiful spot from a really tricky draw, and that I think that was the winning move,” said Waller.
“It's never easy to run Nash (Rawiller on runner-up Mrs Maree) down, he's always a good judge of pace and he got a good break on the field, but she pinned her ears back, as we say, and she reeled in the leader and it was a good win.”
Surf's Up | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Pedigree information: Bred by the Ingham family and foaled and raised at Coolmore, she is the second live foal for three-time city winner Palmateer (Fastnet Rock), whose first foal is G2 Reisling Stakes-placed winner of five races Cigar Flick (Churchill {Ire}).
Palmateer is due to Zoustar this spring, and has a Justify (USA) yearling filly and a Street Boss (USA) 2-year-old filly named Palm Tree. This is a family familiar to racing fans, as Palmateer is a half-sister to last weekend’s 7 Stakes winner and four-time Group 1 winner Fangirl (Sebring). Both are out of triple Listed winner Little Surfer Girl (Encosta De Lago), a daughter of triple-Group 1 winner Special Harmony (Spinning World {USA}).
It was a winning double for Fastnet Rock as a damsire with Napoleonic winning at the same meeting.
