Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Race-day Recap
Charm Stone dominated in her G1 Manikato Stakes victory for Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr) to add her second Group 1 to her impressive resume. A 10% share in her sold earlier in the week for $310,000.
Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) won her second successive G2 John F Feehan Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher in fine style.
Wootton Bassett’s loss was hard felt when West Of Swindon became his first Southern Hemisphere born stakes winner in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes. Trainer Ciaron Maher will set him for the G1 Caulfield Guineas.
The G3 Scarborough Stakes was won by Phillip Stokes-trained Snow Mercy (Toronado {Ire}) who overcame a protest from second-placed Memo (Capitalist) to retain her title.
Charm Stone adds her second Group 1
Only a few days after a 10% share in Charm Stone (I Am Invincible) sold on Inglis Digital to Walnut Farm for $310,000, the Mick Price and Michael Kent (Jnr)-trained 4-year-old mare dominated the G1 Manikato Stakes field.
It was a strong training effort with Charm Stone having not raced since trailing off last in the G1 Goodwood Handicap back in May. She won the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes the start prior to that, and now has five wins from 13 starts and earnings over $2.5 million.
Last start G1 AJ Moir Stakes winner Baraqiel (Snitzel) ran second for trainers Leon and Troy Corstens and Will Larkin, and Grahame Begg-trained Magic Time (Hellbent) was third. The favourite, Chris Waller-trained Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) was fourth, creating interest ahead of the G1 The Everest.
Charm Stone winning the G1 Manikato Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Pretty special day to be able to celebrate a Group 1. Wow, time-honored race the Manikato. It's wonderful to be able to win it. Just seeing Gary Willetts there brings back a lot of memories. So, it's great to be able to win it,” jockey Blake Shinn said, who celebrated his birthday with the victory.
“She was dominant. She pinged the lids, got a great trail, and got out at the turn. She put the race to bed, it was a phenomenal win.”
“She (Charm Stone) was dominant. She pinged the lids, got a great trail, and got out at the turn. She put the race to bed, it was a phenomenal win.” - Blake Shinn
Mick Price was also jubilant. “It was good. It worked out perfectly. There was a bit of speed in front of her and Blake got off the fence at the right time. She’s a beautiful mare and just really happy to see her win another Group 1,” Price said.
“She’s a mare that needs the edge on her. I thought she was pretty right when we ran her in The Goodwood last preparation, but she said ‘no I’m not very right’ and got out the back. She’s not a mare that I would back up.
Mike Price and Blake Shinn after Charm Stone won the G1 Manikato Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She never put a foot wrong. We didn’t have her in pre-training and I had to do her myself. We had the data, and my data friend Michael Kent Jnr, he’s a great help. I’ve got to thank all the staff, we’ve got the East farm, the West farm. They’re all fantastic people.”
Sales: Emirates Park took Charm Stone to the 2022 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale where she attracted much attention, selling to Sheamus Mills Bloodstock (FBAA) for $1.55 million. The recent sale of a 10% share via Inglis Digital values her at $3.1 million.
Pedigree information: Dual Group 3 winner Najoom (Northern Meteor) produced dual Listed winner Najmaty (I Am Invincible) with her first foal, and Charm Stone with her second. Her next, 4-year-old mare Manaajem (Tassort) is a winner, while 3-year-old filly Nazwah (Capitalist) was a winner at two last season. Najoom has a yearling filly by I Am Invincible and foaled a colt to Tassort this spring.
Connections of Charm Stone after winning the G1 Manikato Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Najoom is out of unraced Charlety Star (Arena), a half-sister to stakes winners Bhutane Dane (Danehill Dancer {Ire}), Gaze On (Intergaze), and Upon The Rock (Fastnet Rock) who is the granddam of stakes placed Tardelli (I Am Invincible). This is the family of Group 1 winners Criterion and Comin Through (Fastnet Rock).
She’s still got it: Pride Of Jenni wins again
What a marvellous mare she is. Much has been written about former Horse Of The Year Pride Of Jenni (Pride Of Dubai) and her apparently imminent retirement, but she once again showed her true class and quality in the G2 John F Feehan Stakes for trainer Ciaron Maher. It was her second successive win in the race, having also won it last season.
Sent out to lead by jockey Declan Bates in a tactic that has been so successful for her, she strode down the Moonee Valley straight to win by 1.75 lengths from 4-year-old mare Treasurethe Moment (Alabama Express). Mitchell Freedman-trained Attrition (Churchill {Ire}) was four length in arrears in third.
“I said to Tony (Ottobre), she just amazes me. To do what she can do. They’re special moments. She’s an elite horse and she can test the best of them. I was a little bit reserved coming into tonight. I can’t thank the team enough. Sammy, Tom, Jack, Tony, all his team,” Maher said.
“She (Pride Of Jenni) just amazes me. To do what she can do. They’re special moments. She’s an elite horse and she can test the best of them.” - Ciaron Maher
“I was a little bit reserved. That’s what I mean, she’s just an amazing horse. Dec Bates knows her so well. I was rapt to have him back on. Full credit to Tony to have the courage to race her on. She’s 100 per cent sound and really enjoying her racing. I can’t thank him, my team and Dec enough.
Pride Of Jenni winning the G2 John F Feehan Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“I remember standing here last year when Jenni raced Mr Brightside, the crowd starting roaring 1000 metres from home, there’s no better feeling.”
The 8-year-old mare took her record to 11 wins from 40 starts with earnings over $10.7 million. She hadn’t raced since running almost last in the G1 Doomben Cup back in the winter.
Sales: Sold by Segenhoe Stud at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale to Cape Schnack Stud for $100,000.
Pride Of Jenni with Tony Ottobre and Ciaron Maher after winning the G2 John F Feehan Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Pedigree Information: The first foal of four-race winner Sancerre (NZ) (O’Reilly {NZ}) who has been spectacularly unlucky at stud with three dead foals from six seasons at stud. Her only other runner is a winner, Awaterre (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}), and she has unraced 3-year-old filly Pouilly Fume (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) and is in foal to Hello Youmzain (Fr).
Sancerre is a daughter of G1 Queensland Oaks winner Vouvray (NZ) (Zabeel {NZ}), granddam of Listed winner Champ Elect (Choisir).
Emotional win for West Of Swindon
One of eight stakes placed runners from the first Australian-bred crop of Wootton Bassett (GB), West Of Swindon was sent out at $4.20 second favourite in the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes. Coming off a last start second in the Listed Exford Plate, the 3-year-old colt led into the straight on the tight Moonee Valley circuit. He clung on with a strong effort to become the first Southern Hemisphere born group winner for the recently deceased Wootton Bassett.
West Of Swindon won by 0.4 lengths from the fast finishing Lindsay Park-trained colt Romantic Encounter (NZ) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) with another couple of lengths back to third-placed Annabel & Rob Archibald-trained colt Hillier (Zoustar).
“I was very confident. He’s a high-quality colt. He's beautifully bred, he was a maiden going into tonight. I can't think of a better way to break his maiden,” Maher said.
“He’s (West Of Swindon) a high-quality colt. He's beautifully bred, he was a maiden going into tonight. I can't think of a better way to break his maiden.” - Ciaron Maher
“Onwards to the Guineas now. I can't thank my team enough. They've done a great job with him. And Ben Melham, beautiful ride, took the race by the horns, made every post a winner and backed the horse so fair play to him.
West Of Swindom winning the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Barriers can be a big advantage here around The Valley, and when Vinrock was drawn out there, I thought, if we go forward and control the race, it'll be massive. But he had to do it from barrier to post, so he's a good colt, and I think he'll come on again from that.
“He's certainly on the right path, first crack at a mile, and he's still improving.”
Placed in the G2 Silver Slipper at two, West of Swindon is now a winner from six starts with earnings over $460,000.
Connections of West Of Swindom after winning the G2 Bill Stutt Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Sold by Widden Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, it was Hawkes Racing who put up their hand for West Of Swindon at $350,000.
Pedigree Information: West Of Swindon is the first winner from three named foals for winning mare Fife (Starcraft {NZ}), who is in foal to Wootton Bassett (GB).
Fife is a daughter of G3 Auraria Stakes winner and superior producer Dane Belltar (Danewin) who placed in the G1 Victoria Oaks, G1 South Australian Oaks and G1 Australasian Oaks. Fife is a half-sister to triple Group 1 winner Fawkner (Reset), triple Group 2 winner Tanby (Galileo {Ire}) who placed in the G1 Australian Cup, and stakes placed Viking Star (Red Ransom {USA}).
West Of Swindom as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Snow Mercy surprises in G3 Scarborough Stakes
With the track upgraded to a Good 3, Phillip Stokes unearthed lightly raced 3-year-old filly Snow Mercy (Toronado {Ire}) in the G3 Scarborough Stakes. Coming off a last start win at Morphettville, jockey Lachlan Neindorf sat in behind the leaders and once she found a bit of clear air, Snow Mercy bolted clear to win by 0.75 lengths.
There was a protest between Snow Mercy and Peter Snowden-trained Memo (Capitalist) who crossed the line in second. After some deliberation, the protest was dismissed. Anthony and Sam Freedman-trained Point Barrow (Blue Point {Ire}) was third.
“She's shown a lot of promise with her data at home back in Adelaide, it's been super. To be honest, she couldn't have really done much more than she has in her two starts today. She probably should have won on debut, arguably, and second up she was super,” stable representative Tommy Stokes said.
“She's been underdone for both of those runs too, and to come here third up on a big night. She's been prepped up really well by the team in Adelaide. Full credit to them, they do a great job, and I suppose the Adelaide form is always a bit discounted.
Snow Mercy winning the G3 Scarborough Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She was super, she paraded really well, and aided by a really good ride by Lachie, summed up the race pre-race for us, and that's how it eventuated.
“She (Snow Mercy) was super, she paraded really well, and aided by a really good ride by Lachie, summed up the race pre-race for us, and that's how it eventuated.” - Tommy Stokes
“So we're really rapt, and we might have to change our plans, although we were quietly confident going into the race, to win it is another thing, so we might have to choose a different way of getting to a better race now.”
Snow Mercy has won two of her three starts with earnings over $194,000.
“We just wanted to get a bit of black type this preparation, and we know that she's going to be a better autumn horse. So, world's her oyster, and very good to kick off a Group 3 winner, especially in these colours too. Instant Celebrity won in these colours, she won a G1 (Robert) Sangster. Really rapt for (owners) Trevor and Beth Robinson, they're great family friends of ours and just a great supporter, so it's a great night.”
Connections of Snow Mercy after winning the G3 Scarborough Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales: Passed in by Mill Park Stud at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Pedigree Information: Snow Mercy is one of four winners for Snow Surrender (Sepoy), who only placed as a racehorse, and is in foal to Native Trail (GB). Snow Surrender is a half-sister to Listed Bob Charley AO Stakes winner Adelong (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), from the family of Group 1 winners Snowland (Snippets) and Return To Conquer (Snitzel). Sire Snippetson features in this family as does the good juvenile Portello (Red Ransom {USA}), dam of G2 Surround Stakes winner Ghisoni (Lonhro), dam of Listed winner Benosu (Exceed And Excel).
