Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Torture too good in the Debutant
As is often the case, it was Team Hayes dominating 2-year-old racing in Melbourne at Caulfield on Wednesday. After winning the Listed Maribyrnong Trial Stakes with Eurocanto (Per Incanto {USA}) earlier this month, they produced the quinella in the Listed Debutant Stakes with Torture (NZ) (Sword Of State), defeating Free Flying (Snitzel) by half a length.
Torture enjoyed a lovely run just behind the speed under Ethan Brown, with her stablemate Free Flying (Snitzel) setting the tempo and Senza Nome (Yes Yes Yes) and Sound System (Exceedance) in close attendance. Torture loomed strongly at the 200 metre mark and never looked like losing, with Free Flying battling on gamely for second and the Ciaron Maher-trained Tornado Valley (Too Darn Hot {GB}) solid in third, a further half-length away.
It wasn’t only a big result for Ben, Will and JD Hayes, and her owners Lindsay Park Bloodstock, Mr J A O'Neill, A K Racing, Go Bloodstock Australia, Australian Chinese Jockey Club Racing 10, Friends of the Dame, and Malivale.
But also a significant milestone for Cambridge Stud-based stallion Sword Of State, a 2-year-old Group 1 winning son of Snitzel - who notched his first winner and, fittingly at the same time, his first stakes winner in an early 2-year-old race in Australia.
Torture (NZ) winning the Listed Debutant Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“It's nice to run one-two in the race and get some black type with fillies, which is important, co-trainer Ben Hayes said. “I thought Torture won really well. She loomed into it, hit the front and did everything right today.
“Coming out and winning the first two 2-year-old races of the season is a big thrill,” said Hayes.
“Coming out and winning the first two 2-year-old races of the season is a big thrill.” - Ben Hayes
When asked about future plans, Hayes suggested that the G1 Blue Diamond could be a likely target.
“For her to come out and win The Debutant, probably wasn’t what we were thinking when we bought her,” Hayes said.
“But she just kept improving and kept showing us that she could get there. Her trial leading up was good and we thought why not.
Ben Hayes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“She’s a stakes winner now, so maybe the Blue Diamond or something like that would be right up her alley.”
When asked where the filly was sourced from, Hayes commented, “We purchased her at Karaka. We just loved her as a type and we thought she was a horse that would be able to improve,” Hayes explained. "She has kept ticking all the boxes and basically put herself in this race.”
Winning rider Ethan Brown said that the Sword Of State filly had improved from when he rode her at a Caulfield trial on October 2.
“My feedback after that trial here at Caulfield was that she probably lacked a bit of substance, but she is very professional and that will take her a long way,” Brown commented.
Connections of Torture (NZ) after winning the Listed Debutant Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Funnily enough, she feels like she has strengthened again from that trial, they put the winkers on, which proved to be the winning move. The boys are such terrific trainers in general but are especially good with a young horse."
Sales info: Lindsay Park Racing and Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock (BAFNZ) purchased Torture from the Curraghmore draft at this year’s New Zealand Bloodstock Karaka National Yearling Sale for NZ$250,000.
Pedigree info: Torture is beautifully related. She is out of Ruthless Lady (NZ) (Keeper), who was a winner as a juvenile and placed as a 3-year-old filly in the Listed Soliloquy Stakes. She has gone on to leave five winners, and Torture becomes her second stakes winner, after Ruthless Dame (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}), who was successful in the G1 Robert Sangster Stakes.
Torture (NZ) after winning the Listed Debutant Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Ruthless Lady is out of the Group 2 winning juvenile Lady Dehere (NZ) (Dehere {USA}) and is also a half-sister to three individual stakes winners - Oracy (NZ), Lady Maroal (NZ) (Power {GB}) and The Lady (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). This is also the extended family of the three-time Group 1 winner Sea Siren (Fastnet Rock).
Recently, Ruthless Lady has left a yearling filly by Proisir, and is due to foal to Paddington (GB) next month.
Wootton Verni claims the Coongy
The imported son of Wootton Bassett (GB), Wootton Verni (Fr), picked up his first Australian win in style in the G3 Coongy Cup for trainer Chris Waller and jockey Damian Lane.
The enigmatic galloper may not have won since saluting in the G3 Saint-Cloud Prix Greffulhe back in May last year, but his Australian form had been solid recently. He scored nicely by just under half a length, even though he raced a bit keenly and erratically at times while sitting in the trail.
“He's an interesting fella and he's probably not the easiest horse in the stable, but it was very pleasing to get the win,” said stable representative Lizzie Collett. “He got a good bit of clear-running and he just used it to his ability.
“I admit, the first 500 metres, I was thinking, 'Please stop, please relax', but he still had enough fuel at the end. It shows that he's a quality horse. Even though he did things a little bit backwards at the start, he still had enough gas there at the end to do that, he's got a lot of potential.
“You don't bring a horse over (to Australia) with smaller goals, you want to have them in those big races and winning. It's a really good day for him and a good day for the owners.”
Wootton Verni (Fr) winning the G3 Coongy Cup | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
He wasn't an easy ride for jockey Damian Lane, and Collett went on to comment that his other ride for the Waller team wasn't either. “The first horse we had for Damian also gave him a little bit of grief, so it was good we could get the win for him today,” Collett said.
Wootton Verni is owned by Mr C J Waller, Go Bloodstock Australia, Mr N A Greenhalgh, Mrs M T Greenhalgh, Grand Parkview Stud, Mr I Bruce, Mr T A Corkhill, Mr G D Pease, Mrs A P Pease, Mr M R Smith, and Mr G E Ardill.
Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince) ran a very good second, while Future History (GB) (Showcasing {GB}) stuck on well after sitting outside the leader with no cover throughout. The well-backed Quietness (GB) (Bated Breath {GB}) was sound in fourth and should improve, being only second-up for trainers John O’Shea and Tom Charlton.
Wootton Verni (Fr) after winning the G3 Coongy Cup | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Sales info: Wootton Verni was purchased for €175,000 (AU$312,200) by FR Bloodstock from the 2022 Arqana Deauville October Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Wootton Verni is out of Vernie (Fr) (Kendargent {Fr}), who was a winner over 1300 metres at Deauville. She is very well bred, being a half-sister to the Group 2 winner and multiple Group 1-placed Volta (Fr) (Siyouni {Fr}), and Calvados Blues (Fr) (Lando {Ger}), a multiple Group 3 winner who was Group 1-placed in Dubai.
Regal Award bolts in at Caulfield
The Phillip Stokes-trained Regal Award (Ole Kirk) may have been a touch unlucky to be balloted out of the G1 Caulfield Guineas last weekend, but he picked up a pretty lucrative consolation prize when winning a 3-year-old Bm70 Handicap worth $150,000 by seven and a half lengths at Caulfield on Wednesday under jockey Lachlan Neindorf.
In the early stages, Mahers Landing (NZ) (Proisir) led with Materazzi (I Am Immortal) sitting outside the leader and racing a touch keenly. Neindorf was caught a little wide on Regal Award but soon made an assertive move to zip around the leaders and take up the running - and that he did, taking control of the race just before the turn. Blake Shinn, aboard the second favourite Centu Cavaddi (Ghaiyyath {Ire}), attempted to join in but couldn’t get near the leader and quickly faded.
Regal Award kept up a strong gallop and absolutely bolted in by seven and a half lengths. Obvious (Toronado {Ire}), ran on strongly late for second, narrowly pipping Tagline (Tagaloa), who made a long, sustained run but just peaked on his effort near the finish.
“We've always known he's had serious ability, he's a very raw horse and he still has a lot of furnishing to do. Physically and mentally there is a lot to come. He is a Group horse in the making,” Stokes said.
“We've always known he's (Regal Award) had serious ability, he's a very raw horse and he still has a lot of furnishing to do.” - Phillip Stokes
“I think those gear (swaps) changed things for him a bit today, put the D-bit on and the earmuffs. He stepped slow, but Lachie was able to get across and control it. He gave a huge kick and won by a big margin.”
When asked whether he would have been competitive in the Guineas, Stokes answered diplomatically, “We won't think about that.”
Phillip Stokes | Image courtesy of Phillip Stokes Racing
Sales info: Regal Award was withdrawn from the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Regal Award is the first foal out of Sovereign Award (Shamus Award). She was a very talented mare, winning nine times from 1200 metres up to 1600 metres, including the G3 Matron Stakes, G3 Ladies Day Vase and G3 Tesio Stakes.
She is also a full sister to Noname Lane (Shamus Award), a nine-time winner whose best successes came in the Listed Seymour Cup and the Balaklava Cup.
Regal Award winning the Bm70 at Caulfield | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
There’s plenty in the pedigree to suggest Regal Award will make a handy miler - that strength runs deep on the dam’s side, and sire Ole Kirk was himself a G1 Caulfield Guineas winner.
Sovereign Award, in recent times, has produced an Anamoe yearling colt, and is due to foal to Anamoe again this spring.
Chicama collects the cash
The beautifully bred Chicama (Written Tycoon) broke through for his maiden win at start number five at Warwick Farm on Wednesday. It was a deserved victory, with his only unplaced run coming on debut behind North England (Farnan) in a strong Golden Gift back in November last year.
This was only his second start for new trainer Joseph Pride, and the colt delivered in determined fashion, winning narrowly over Augusta National (Zoustar), who was brave and gave a strong kick when challenged by the winner at the 200 metre mark, while Aladdin’s Girl (NZ) (Satono Aladdin {Jpn}) ran an honest third, just under two lengths behind, after sitting in the trail throughout.
Chicama has tested the patience of his large ownership group - Newgate Bloodstock, China Horse Club Racing Pty Ltd, Newgate S F, Trilogy, Go Bloodstock Australia, Horse Ventures, Carpe Diem, Grant Bloodstock Pty Ltd, G1G Colts & Breeding Pty Ltd, Ridgmont, GW Holdings, Nick Vass Bloodstock, Aston Bloodstock, Aristia Park Bloodstock Pty Ltd, Corumbene Stud Pty Ltd and Pinecliff Racing.
But with his good looks, growing confidence and pedigree, there’s every chance he’ll be tested again in black-type company as a 3-year-old.
Chicama winning a Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
“Yeah, that was good,” said trainer Joseph Pride after the race. “And he needed to do that here today.
“He's been a colt who's obviously very well bred; he was an expensive horse and he's come to the stable as a new acquisition for us.
“He came in good order, but we had a little bit to work on in terms of his temperament, and I think he's getting there. Nice win from him today. I'd be interested to hear what Nash says about him.
“He's a pretty laid-back customer, but I think eventually that's going to play into his hands. But he's just got to learn a little bit about race craft, and when he does, he's going to keep improving.”
Joseph Pride | Image courtesy of Inglis
Jockey Nash Rawiller was very complimentary towards the colt and believes there’s more to come from the youngster.
“He's a nice horse, big, huge striding horse who's still learning what to do with himself. But you know, Joe's got him on the right track now, and I'm sure he can go on with it.”
“He's (Chicama) a nice horse, big, huge striding horse who's still learning what to do with himself. But you know, Joe's got him on the right track now, and I'm sure he can go on with it.” - Nash Rawiller
Sales info: China Horse Club, Newgate, Go Bloodstock and Trilogy purchased Chicama for $1.35 million from the draft of Arrowfield Stud at the 2024 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.
Pedigree info: Chicama is the seventh live foal from the Hussonet (USA) mare The Broken Shore. She was a metropolitan winner at 1100 metres on the track but has left a considerable mark as a broodmare, producing the three-time Group 1 winner Shoals (Fastnet Rock), the Listed-winning gelding Groundswell (Fastnet Rock).
Connections of Chicama after winning a Maiden Handicap at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Chicama’s second dam is the great mare Shantha’s Choice (Canny Lad), who will forever have a lasting influence on the breed in Australasia as the dam of Champion Sire Redoute’s Choice.
The Broken Shore, since producing Chicama, has left a 2-year-old colt named Intrepid (Maurice {Jpn}), and she was exported to Great Britain in January this year.
