Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
The roar hit before she even crossed the line. On Everest Day at Randwick, Panova (Trapeze Artist) burst through late to claim the G3 Reg Allen Stakes - and for Ricky Surace Jnr, it felt like proof that B2B Thoroughbreds’ pivot to quality over quantity is working.
Over the past year, the Surace team has downsized, sharpened its focus and started stacking black type. Panova’s breakthrough was the exclamation point.
Panova brings Group 3 glory on Everest Day
Panova, trained by Chris Waller for B2B Thoroughbreds, broke through at Group level in the day’s opener. She was a $325,000 purchase from the Kenmore Lodge draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Panova as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
When asked about the experience and the thrill it brought the team, Surace Jnr said:
“It was great, it didn’t feel like the first race, the noise was deafening and the crowd was packed, it nearly felt like an out-of-body experience. It was a great result and very rewarding.”
“It was great, it didn’t feel like the first race, the noise was deafening and the crowd was packed, it nearly felt like an out-of-body experience.” - Ricky Surace Jnr
A late 2-year-old placing at Wyong, a fast finish at Warwick Farm, then a luckless second at Kensington set her up. From a wide draw on Saturday, she finally got tempo and splits - and took her chance.
Ricky Surace Jnr
“We did think she would get better with time and distance. She needed things to go right on Saturday for her to win and it did. She had a bad barrier, so we needed pace on, we needed to get the right splits, and lucky for us it all went to plan.
“A Group victory was very important for us as we paid a bit of money for her and we do think she will probably never win over 1400 metres again. We feel she wants 2000 metres and maybe even further.”
Panova winning the G3 Reginald Allen | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
She’s pulled up well and is likely to head to Melbourne for the Carbine Club Stakes over 1600 metres - a race Waller has won with Fangirl (Sebring) and Aeliana (Castelvecchio) in recent years.
“Chris has a great record in the race and he has used it as a springboard for bigger things, hopefully that is the case with this filly.”
Reflecting on what drew him to Panova at the Magic Millions Sale, he added:
“She wasn’t initially on our list, but when I saw her I thought she was a big, strong, quality filly that had the physique of a sprinter, so she was soon on the list.
“It was a lot of money to pay for a Trapeze Artist, but I knew they could be a bit inconsistent type-wise, and she had a walk second to none.
“She probably hasn’t been the sprinting type I thought, and shapes more a staying type, but she looks good buying now. Her pedigree is good and it is riddled with black type, but she was a risk at the price so it is very rewarding.”
Lazzura continues to step up
Lazzura (Snitzel) was purchased by B2B Thoroughbreds for $500,000 at the 2023 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale from the Arrowfield Stud draft.
She has banked a G2 Phar Lap, G2 Let’s Elope, G3 Show County and the LR Woodlands, plus a Group 1 placing in the Surround. After a brave fifth in the G1 Toorak, she heads to Derby Day’s G1 Empire Rose as a key chance.
Lazzura winning the G2 Let’s Elope Stakes | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“Lazzura has been a great horse to us that we also picked up from Magic Millions. We loved her on type and while we thought she may need a bit of time, she was an undefeated 2-year-old and has always stepped up.
“Hopefully she can bounce back to her best next time in the Empire Rose at Flemington”
A recent addition to the B2B racing team has been the Divine Prophet mare Generosity, a Listed winner and Group performer in Western Australia. She was purchased privately after finishing a brave fifth in the G1 Goodwood Handicap at Morphettville.
“Generosity is a mare we bought off Simon Miller in Perth. We bought her with the aim of getting Sydney black type and we got that when third in the G2 The Shorts.
“She ran on the weekend in the Sydney Stakes but we probably got it a bit wrong, she needs a smother in her races. She may also head to Derby Day.”
Generosity | Image courtesy of Western Racepix
The promising Snitzel filly Jellicious has now taken her record to three wins and two placings from only seven starts, having strung together three consecutive victories for trainer Chris Waller.
The well-bred filly, a half-sister to Group 3 winner Felines (Conatus), and related to Singapore Champion Better Than Ever (French Deputy {USA}), was a $600,000 Magic Millions yearling purchase for B2B Thoroughbreds, the same sale that that they purchased Lazzura.
“She could be heading to a race on Golden Eagle day.”
Jellicious winning the Bm72 at Warwick Farm | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
A business model built on quality
Around a year ago, B2B Thoroughbreds underwent a significant shift in direction as Surace Jnr and his father, Ricky Snr, reassessed their long-term goals.
It wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision - the strategy had been under consideration for some time. The focus turned towards quality over quantity, moving their broodmare band off-farm and reducing numbers to around ten, all now based at Segenhoe Stud.
“We’ve cut down a fair bit and I think it is the best decision we could have made. We offloaded mares that don’t fit our A-grade category and we took a big step away from the breeding, and we now have all of our B2B Thoroughbreds’ top broodmares in the hands of Segenhoe Stud.
“We’ve cut down a fair bit and I think it is the best decision we could have made.” - Ricky Surace Jnr
“We had done our research and felt that the landscape of breeding was changing, so we made a call to focus on quality, whether that is buying as broodmares or buying as yearlings and trying to make them through racing.
“We’re trying to find A-class types with very good pedigrees. Hopefully, they do it on the track and then in the breeding barn,” he explained.
“It is a challenge to be able to build our own broodmares, and obviously it can be lucrative and very rewarding if they are good on the track.
“It is a challenge to be able to build our own broodmares, and obviously it can be lucrative and very rewarding if they are good on the track.” - Ricky Surace Jnr
“We have a racing system that is working well for us, nothing is sparred. We have Therese Andersson from Segenhoe spelling our horses, Tim Boland educating every horse and the masterful Chris Waller training, no one there needs an introduction.”
A busy year in the sale ring
It has been a busy year for the B2B team, purchasing four colts and three fillies. They’ve diversified their approach, targeting both colts and fillies, and forming partnerships on several purchases.
A standout was a grey colt by Extreme Choice out of Shadow (Medaglia D’Oro), secured for $1.7 million from the Coolmore Stud draft in conjunction with Chris Waller Racing and Mulcaster Bloodstock.
The colt’s pedigree has since received a major boost - his full sister, Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice), is now a three-time Group winner, including tasting success in the G1 Flight Stakes.
Extreme Choice x Shadow colt | Image courtesy of Inglis
“She’s been a filly that promised a lot, we knew they had a big wrap on her and so that has proven. When we bought her full brother, we had a system, and the full sister shows to a certain extent that we had the breeding part right.”
The colt, now named Hidrix (Extreme Choice), is in the Chris Waller system.
“Chris doesn’t push them hard as 2-year-olds, but he is coping well and will continue on as long as he continues to cope and do well.
“With this colt and a couple of others we have purchased, we are in partnership with some of Chris Waller’s other clients. It’s a good way to spread the risk — the colts are a lot riskier but you can get paid real well if it works. We are excited by the colts we are involved in and fingers crossed it works.”
When asked about the future and the depth of talent in the stable, Surace Jnr agreed:
“The future does look bright, it looks very good at the moment but we know things can change quickly.
“The future does look bright, it looks very good at the moment but we know things can change quickly.” - Ricky Surace Jnr
“It comes and goes in waves, and at the moment we are riding that wave, but we always remember to savour every win as black type success can be few and far in between.”
