Three-year-old summary: Guineas bonanza in terrible weather for Gerard

Cover image courtesy of Race Images South

Romanoff makes it a Classic double for Gerard

Pam Gerard took over the New Zealand branch of Ballymore Stables in July 2024, winning the G1 New Zealand Two Thousand Guineas that spring with Savaglee (NZ) (Savabeel). In 2025, she’s gone even better, providing the quinella in the same race with Romanoff (NZ) (Belardo {Ire}) beating stablemate Affirmative Action (Yes Yes Yes) in a hard-fought battle down the straight with only a nose margin in it at the post.

It was 1.5 lengths back to Paul Mirabelli-trained gelding Shoma (NZ) (Contributer {Ire}) in third. The time of 1:40.38 for the mile reflects the sodden conditions, after a rain storm earlier in the day saw the races pushed back a race and the track downgraded.

“I don’t know if I can handle this anymore, it is just too much. Just the whole thing as they are both really nice horses and I think their class has shown (today),” said Gerard as the emotions of a second Guineas began to sink in.

“There is no question that I was really worried about the track and I still don’t think they liked it one bit, but on a wet day Romanoff may always have been the better on it although I honestly thought the other horse had got up.”

A winner at two, Romanoff placed in the G2 James and Annie Sarten Memorial Stakes last start. He has won two of his seven starts and over NZ$450,000.

“My staff at home are just amazing as so much goes into getting here and it is hard on a day when you get a hailstorm and all the work that has gone in you think bloody hell, but we managed to get away with it.

“We just have fantastic owners and the guys from Aussie that are here have never experienced anything like this, but they will be definitely coming back.”

It was the first Group 1 win in New Zealand for jockey Bruno Queiroz who has 16 Group 1 wins in Brazil. “I just had one dream which was a Group One here (in New Zealand) as I have 16 in Brazil and today I am very glad,” he said.

“Thank you to God along with the connections of this horse for the big opportunity. It was so close but I’m so glad as I thought I had won as he fought so hard the last 100 metres.”

Sales info: Sold by Haunui Farm at the 2024 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale for NZ$75,000 to Ballymore Stables, Paul Moroney and Catheryne Bruggemann.

Pedigree notes: Romanoff is a half-brother to Listed Wanganui Cup winner La Flora Belle (NZ) (Iffraaj {GB}) and the pair are out of G1 NZ 1000 Guineas-placed Tsarina Belle (NZ) (Stravinsky {USA}). Romanoff is Tsarina Belle’s final foal.

Tsarina Belle is one of four stakes placed winners for her dam juvenile winner Empress Belle (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) who is also the granddam of New Zealand Horse Of The Year Melody Belle (NZ) (Commands) and Listed winner Tutukaka (NZ) (Tavistock {NZ}).

Stampede for Sheza Alibi in G2 Sandown Guineas

Impressive last start in winning the G3 Vanity Stakes over 1400 metres, Peter Moody and Katherine Coleman-trained 3-year-old filly Sheza Alibi (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}) had no trouble with the mile in the G2 Sandown Guineas. Sent out as favourite, she gave the punters their wishes with a dominant six length victory.

Matt Laurie-trained Tagline (Tagaloa) added more black type with a good second placing, and Clayton Douglas-trained Top Reward (Shamus Award) ran third at only his second raceday appearance.

“We didn't quite know what to expect but when you saw Autumn Boy come out win the Caulfield Guineas as impressively as he did and this filly, we thought she'd come on. Kris Hansen, her previous trainer, had done a good job and thought she'd come on,” said Peter Moody.

“We thought if we could frank that form then we could go well wherever we went. She was very good behind Tentyris and from slightly unlucky runs at Flemington, she came here today and did a good job.

“I don't think we'll have too much trouble finding a nice race for her. She'll be back at Flemington in the autumn in something like the Australian Guineas because outside of her old adversary like Autumn Boy you're probably not going to hide from the rest. We'll probably had to go down the fillies path or we might keep her down here and aim towards that.”

She took her record to four wins and three placings from seven starts with earnings over $510,000, and will be spelled for an autumn carnival. “She will but she won't have a lot of time as the autumn is upon us very quick. She'll have a few weeks and then I think we'll target a path to the Guineas and fillies races.”

Sale info: A $10,000 weanling purchase on Inglis Digital for owner Fred Noffke.

Pedigree notes: Sheza Alibi is the only winner to date for six-time winner Sheza Gypsy (Shaft) who is a half-sister to Listed Canberra Guineas winner Rom Baro (Time Thief). Her second dam is stakes placed Gypsy Mai (Our Maizcay) who won five times and is a half-sister to G3 Gold Coast Guineas winner Beethog (Shovhog).

He’s the boss of the spring

Street Boss (USA) is having a sensational spring with G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes winner Tentyris, G2 Tramway Stakes winner Pericles who placed in the G1 Epsom Handicap, G2 Run To The Roses winner Tempted who placed in the G1 Golden Rose and G1 The Everest, R.Listed Inglis Banner Stakes winner Calamari Ring, and now the G3 Spring Stakes with Green Spaces.

Bjorn Baker-trained 3-year-old colt Green Spaces made it look easy on Saturday at Newcastle with a three length victory for jockey Rachel King. In second was Brett & Georgie Cavanough-trained filly Bird Whistle (Brutal {NZ}) with Gary Portelli-trained filly Long Legs (Russian Revolution) in third.

“He's a lovely horse. He's got that great, natural ability, he's got a fantastic attitude, and he's still learning,” King said.

“He hit the front and still had a wander today. I felt like, if something had come to him, he had plenty more there. I like a lot about him. He is becoming more professional every time he steps out so if he keeps going on the upwards trajectory that he is, I don't know where he will end up.”

A last start winner at Wyong heading into the Spring Stakes, Green Spaces took his record to three wins from six starts, having also won as a 2-year-old for former trainer James Cummings. Baker's racing manager Luke Hilton confirmed Green Spaces would spell and be set for the autumn.

“He struts out at home like he owns the joint. I think he's going to get a trip and I think there are better things for him in the autumn,” Hilton said.

Sale info: A homebred for Godolphin.

Pedigree notes: Green Spaces is a half-brother to dual Group 1 winner Trekking (Street Cry {Ire}) who won the G1 Stradbroke Handicap and G1 Goodwood Handicap and over $5.8 million, as well as Listed Macau Derby Trial winner Winnie Star (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}) and stakes placed Plymstock (Ribchester {Ire}). Their dam, Outdoor (Redoute’s Choice) who won three times, has a Pinatubo (Ire) yearling colt and is due to foal to Harry Angel (Ire) soon.

Outdoor is a daughter of triple Group 1 winner Serenade Rose (Stravinsky {USA}) who also produced G2 Autumn Classic-placed Minnesinger (Lonhro) and G3 Aspiration Handicap-placed Entertains (Street Cry {Ire}) who is the dam of G3 Prix de Seine-et-Oise winner Egot (Ire) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}).

Inkaruna returns to form with Group 3 victory

Kia Ora Stud-owned 3-year-old filly Inkaruna (I Am Invincible) gave her connections an immediate thrill when winning the G3 Chairman’s Stakes on debut last February, but she hasn’t found the winning post since. All that changed on Saturday, when she took out the $1 million G3 Thoroughbred Club Stakes by 1.5 lengths for trainers Anthony and Sam Freedman.

The win also gave jockey Craig Williams a stakes double for the day after he won the G3 Summoned Stakes earlier in the card on Rumbled Again (Night Of Thunder {Ire}). “She was well presented. Sam, Anthony and all the team do a great job. She's quite a full-on horse,” Williams said.

“The Patterson's (clerks of the course) did a great job leading her around there, was so intense, so on. Stood well in the gates, got a nice start, was able to control where I wanted to. She was a little bit on the bridle and had a nice smooth run. The blinkers have worked really well and I had the right horse to win a million-dollar race here at the big Caulfield meeting.

“The grey, the top weight was the horse we all had to beat, My Gladiola - she's a superstar.” My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) finished third for trainer John McArdle, with the two Vinnie fillies split by Annabel and Rob Archibald-trained Kujenga (King’s Legacy).

“But we had to just go out there and ride. I spoke to Sam this morning at depth about what we want to do with her. The first part was get her out nice and clean, and we were able to do that. We got into a nice rhythm, had the right horse to follow into the race, and then she was a really good and strong late.”

Inkaruna is the winner of two of her seven starts with earnings over $840,000.

Sale info: Bred by Kia Ora Stud, she was passed in at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.

Pedigree notes: The fourth winner from as many to race for Ravi (Redoute’s Choice), Inkarunda has a yearling half-sister by Zoustar still to come. Ravi won six races led by the G3 Sheraco Stakes and is a full sister to Listed winner and sire Elzaam who was fourth in the G1 Royal Ascot Golden Jubilee Stakes.

Riversdale will present a Star Turn colt, Lot 406 at the 2026 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale whose winning dam Joan Constance (Stratum) is a half-sister to Ravi.

Pure Excess salutes for Exceedance and Morton

Oakland Park Stud bred and owned 3-year-old filly Pure Excess (Exceedance) has been consistent in her first four starts with four placings including a last start third in the Listed Burgess Queen Stakes. It all came to fruition in Saturday’s G3 Champion Fillies Stakes over a mile when the Dan Morton-trained filly stuck her nose out on the line to just win from Daniel and Ben Pearce-trained Talkanco (I’m All The Talk). Simon Miller-trained Fine Star (Fierce Impact {Jpn}) was 2.5 lengths back in third.

“She’s been training beautifully. I was so confident last start and it didn’t work out. I was bullish again today. She’s the real deal,” said Morton.

“We were chasing down a very good horse and she got there by the barest of margins. It’s nice to get a big one for Oakland Park who are big supporters of ours.”

Pedigree notes: Pure Excess becomes the fifth stakes winner for Exceedance, whose oldest crop are 4-year-olds. She is the third foal and first runner for imported mare Pure Purity (Can) (Perfect Soul {Ire}) who has since slipped for three seasons in succession.

Twice stakes placed in Canada, Pure Purity won five races. It’s a tough family with Pure Purity being a half-sister to triple Listed winner Flashy Margarita (Can) (Bold ‘n’ Flashy {Can}) who won 12 races, dual Listed winner Citius (Cam) (Old Forester {USA}) who won ten times, and Listed winning juvenile Bourbon Stritta (Can) (Old Forester {USA}).