3-Year-Old summary: Trio of colts carry Godolphin to Group greatness

Cover image courtesy of Sportpix

Attica conquers Spring Champion in style

It was a race-to-race double, and the midpoint of an interstate Group treble, for the Blue Army at Randwick on Saturday when the exciting Lonhro colt Attica snatched the G1 Spring Champion Stakes away from Shangri La Boy (Pierro) in the shadows of the post. Just half an hour before, fellow 3-year-old colt Ohope (I Am Invincible) had sizzled home in the G2 Callander-Presnell for Michael Freedman.

It was Joseph Pride’s moment in the sun in the Spring Champion, though, where he sent forth the last start Listed Dulcify Stakes winner for his first swing at the top level. A Warwick Farm maiden winner on debut in September, the colt quickly scaled the rankings to Group 1 level.

Once straightening, Shangri La Boy appeared to have the 2000-metre contest sewn up, were it not for Adam Hyeronimus sending Godolphin’s colt forward and running him down to win by a neck.

"Spring Champion is a very nice race (to win), a Group 1, but there's still a lot to be done with this horse," Pride said. "Bearing in mind it's his first preparation, the manner of that win I thought he had too much to do at the furlong.

"(He was) chasing the favourite, but just the way he pinned his ears back and attacked the line (suggests ) 2000 metres is no problem."

Pride indicated the colt would head to the paddock for a well-earned break, saying, "it would be nice to see if we can get him a bit sharper in the autumn and aim up at races like the Randwick Guineas, but we'll worry about all of that later on."

It was a second Spring Champion in two years for the operation, whose homebred Tom Kitten (Harry Angel {Ire}) took out the 2023 edition of the race.

Sales: Attica is a homebred for the Godolphin operation.

Pedigree: The first foal from six-time Group-winning Godolphin mare Savatiano (Street Cry {Ire}), Attica can boast the stakes winners Vilana (Hallowed Crown) and Athiri (Lonhro) as close relations.

Savatiano has a 2-year-old colt named Sabates (Palace Pier {GB}), a yearling colt by I Am Invincible, and missed to Extreme Choice last spring.

Ohope tastes Group glory in Callander-Presnell

Michael Freedman was the orchestrator of Ohope’s first stakes victory on Saturday at Randwick, where the son of I Am Invincible backed up his $500,000 Tapp-Craig demolition job at Rosehill Gardens a fortnight before with a similarly sizzling run home in the G2 Callander-Presnell Stakes.

Dusty Bay (Sandbar) led the field into the home straight, but it didn’t take long for the Blue Army’s colt to take flight and pass him, with only Rivellino (Too Darn Hot {GB}) on his heels as Jason Collett let him fly. Ohope still prevailed by a half-length margin, with almost three lengths back to Fermoy (Zoustar) in third.

"He's a really exciting colt," Freedman said. "I said to them (Godolphin) after he won the race last start that I thought there was more upside to him and that the mile wouldn't be a problem.

"I think that's probably going to be his absolute best distance, but it opens up a few options for him going forward, for sure."

Race namesakes Ken Callander and Max Presnell were on course to watch the running, something that added to the magnitude of the win for Freedman.

"I said to Ken Callander that it was a big thrill to win these races after those sort of guys who have been in the industry, and I have grown up reading their articles or listening to their calls," he said. It was also the Freedman stable's 10th stakes win of the season.

"It's certainly a big thrill to win this race and for Godolphin as well in my first stint with them."

Sales: Ohope is a homebred for the Godolphin operation.

Pedigree: Ohope is the second foal of G3 Kembla Grange Classic winner Pohutukawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}), whose dam is a full or half-sister to four stakes winners including Leone Chiara (Lion Hunter {USA}), herself the dam of sires Star Witness and Nostradamus. Pohutukawa has a yearling colt by Street Boss (USA) to follow, and visited Cylinder in mid September.

Observer cements red letter day for Godolphin colts in Vase

The talented son of champion stayer Ghaiyyath (Ire), Observer was always destined to improve when going out in distance, and he delivered in spectacular fashion at Moonee Valley on Saturday, clinching the G2 Moonee Valley Vase.

Placed in the capable hands of Ciaron Maher after Godolphin entered a public training model, the colt was a last start third in the G1 Caulfield Guineas over a mile, and appreciated the rise in distance to the Vase’s 2040 metres, defeating Providence (Wootton Bassett {GB}) by a solid half-length. The margin may have been greater, but Mark Zahra allowed the colt to coast home after opening a large gap back to the field.

Maher indicated that the colt wouldn't have to wait long for his turn at a Group 1, with the intention being to send the colt to the G1 Victoria Derby in seven days' time.

"He's building with each run," Maher said. "When he throttled off a little bit late, I thought, 'geez, he did that quite early', but he (Zahra) was probably looking after him for next week."

Zahra was confident from quite a way out that the smart colt had the race in the bag; "He was having a good look around, and quickened up for 400 (metres) and the race was over. I was getting a bit up him in the end, but thinking about next week, I thought, 'that'll do, you'd better ease up'. So onwards and upwards towards next week."

Sales: Observer is a homebred for the Godolphin operation.

Pedigree: Himself a half-brother to G3 Newcastle Stakes winner Sandpaper (Snitzel), Observer’s dam Smooth (Lonhro) has always had great expectations on her shoulders, being an unraced full sister to Pierro. She has dutifully visited Anamoe since, producing a colt in 2024 by the champion, and is due to produce a foal by Cylinder in October.

Napoleonic dominates Red Anchor Stakes

The G3 Red Anchor Stakes at Moonee Valley produced a commanding display from Sydney visitor Napoleonic, the Wootton Bassett (GB) colt trained by John O’Shea and Tom Charlton, who powered away under James McDonald to score by four and a quarter lengths.

Napoleonic came into the race off a solid fourth in the Group 2 Roman Consul Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill behind Hidden Motive (Capitalist). He settled at the rear from an awkward barrier before unleashing a decisive sprint down the outside to leave his rivals in his wake. By the 200-metre mark, the colt had established clear control, leaving Zoustar filly Live and Chris Waller’s Ornithology (Too Darn Hot {GB}) well behind in second and third.

Winning trainer Tom Charlton spoke about the colt’s natural ability.

“He’s got a beautiful, natural cruising speed and action,” he said.

“John and I said (to James) to trust the horse and if you get caught deep, don’t overthink it, keep it simple and hopefully he’s the best horse in the race.”

When asked about potential targets, including the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, Charlton wasn’t about to make a decision on the spot.

“We were thinking not and we thought that race would probably come a bit too soon,” he said.

“We’ll just take a breath, think about it and speak to connections. Whether it is this prep or next prep, he’ll be a better horse next prep anyway.”

Winning jockey James McDonald praised Napoleonic’s temperament following the impressive performance.

“He is a gorgeous horse,” McDonald said. “He’s a pleasure to do anything with. He let rip today. I was impressed. Well trained and perfectly executed.”

Sales: Napoleonic was offered by Widden Stud at last year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale and was knocked down to Dean Hawthorne Bloodstock, acting for Pinecliff Racing, for $360,000.

Pedigree: Napoleonic is by the ill-fated Wootton Bassett from the winning Fastnet Rock mare Jolie Brise, making him a half-brother to the Group 3 winner Ready Set Sail (More Than Ready {USA}).

Salty Pearl oozes class to win Fillies Classic

The G2 Moonee Valley Fillies Classic at Moonee Valley saw Salty Pearl (Tagaloa) confirm her quality, patiently stalking the early leaders before finding the gaps and powering through under Ben Allen to claim a decisive victory.

The Thousand Guineas looked the superior formline and it proved correct, as Salty Pearl, who had finished fourth in that race behind Ole Dancer (Ole Kirk), burst through late to defeat Chris Waller’s Enviable (Frankel {GB}) by a length, who fought on gamely for second.

Winning trainer Ciaron Maher was full of praise for both horse and rider.

“You don’t get much better than that. Ben’s had a great association with her and he’s riding with a lot of confidence. It was a beautiful, patient ride. He had to wait for his time, and he knew what he had underneath him and it was a very good result. This race came up a bit light, so I thought we’d have a go,” Maher said.

Maher also outlined potential future targets.

“She might tackle a Group 1 like the Surround,” he said.

“She wasn’t far away in the Thousand Guineas. Restricted to fillies, that is probably her go. If she improves again then she’ll be thereabouts. We put the shades on the last couple of starts and got that much more focus as well. She’s a filly with a bright future.”

Winning jockey Ben Allen praised the filly’s turn-of-foot and composure.

“She’s just so honest," he said. "It was a big step putting the blinkers on and stepping up in trip last time. I think today it has helped and put her that much more in my hands. She’s been off the bridle and having to get up after 100 metres, I was able to sit, she’s got an electric turn-of-foot and she was the class horse today,” he said.

Sales: Salty Pearl was sold by Sullivan Bloodstock at the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $75,000 to Starblue Consultancy and Ciaron Maher Racing.

Pedigree: Salty Pearl is one of two foals to race for Sebring mare Leaven Of Malice, who is a half-sister to G3 winner Mildred (Hinchinbrook). It is also the immediate family of Group 1 Salinger Stakes winner Notoire (Export Price). Leaven Of Malice was retired from service last year.