Cover image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sweltering sheds her maiden tag in style
It’s not often that a mare with the class and record of Sweltering (Too Darn Hot {GB}) takes 13 starts to break her maiden, but that was the case for the Chris Waller-trained filly, who finally broke through at Canterbury in a $60,000 maiden over 1900 metres, taking her prizemoney to just under $310,000.
Early on, it was Copartner Pegasus (Castelvecchio) who took up the running, while Tommy Berry was content to have Sweltering sit in second. Berry wasn't content and then elected to roll forward and take control, and once in front the Too Darn Hot (GB) mare never really looked in doubt, striding clear to win by just over three and a half lengths.
Shadashi (Shamus Award) ran on for second, with My Cartouche (American Pharoah {USA}) a little over another length away in third, but the warm favourite was far too good.
Sweltering had previously placed in six of her twelve starts, including a performance full of merit when placing in the G1 Australasian Oaks when trained by Trent Busuttin and Natalie Young.
After being purchased by Highway Farm for $600,000 at this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale, she transferred to Chris Waller and now races in the Yulong colours. Her recent form has been solid, running sixth in the G3 Angst Stakes behind Idle Flyer (Dundeel {NZ}) and producing a strong-finishing second in the $350,000 Inglis Bracelet behind Verona Rose (Castelvecchio) during Cup Week.
Charlie Duckworth | Image courtesy of Chris Waller Racing
Charlie Duckworth, stable representative for Chris Waller, explained that the stable’s original target down South fell through due to a little-known regulation.
“All the way through we were going to the Matriarch,” Duckworth said.
“But the ruling in Victoria is you can't race a maiden grade horse in a Matriarch, so on that basis they rejected our nomination.
“She was already down there and an Inglis purchase, so she was qualified for the Inglis Bracelet on the Thursday, which she ran well in.
“But she had always been prepped for that 2000-metre journey, and she got that today.”
With her maiden now ticked off, Sweltering is likely to enjoy a short break before being aimed at the autumn carnival in Sydney.
“Onwards and upwards from here. She is obviously a classy mare already with black type,” Duckworth said.
“Onwards and upwards from here. She (Sweltering) is obviously a classy mare already with black type.” - Charlie Duckworth
“That might just do her, and we worry about the autumn. But I will let Chris make the call.”
Sale info: Sweltering was originally purchased by Busuttin Racing for $90,000 from the Widden Stud draft at the 2023 Inglis Melbourne Premier Yearling Sale. Highway Farm then purchased her for $600,000 from this year’s Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale.
Pedigree info: Sweltering is the fifth foal out of Daring (Encosta De Lago), who was a winner over 1450 metres.
Sweltering as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
She has left four individual winners including the three-time juvenile winner Pacific Dragon (NZ) (Charm Spirit {Ire}) who was successful at Listed level.
Daring is a three-quarter-sister to the Listed winners Risk Aversion (Encosta De Lago) and Order Of The Sun (Encosta De Lago), and to the dams of the Group 1 winner Summer Passage (Snitzel) and the Listed winner All That Pizzazz (Spirit Of Boom).
In recent times, Daring has left a 2-year-old filly by Farnan, a yearling colt by Toronado (Ire), and a colt foal by Harry Angel (Ire).
Almost An Angel sprouts wings on the Heath
In a small juvenile field on the Caulfield Heath, it was the Robbie Griffiths-trained first starter Almost An Angel (So You Think {NZ}) who showed a dazzling turn of foot and real professionalism, sweeping down the outside from well back to score by two lengths under jockey Luke Nolen.
The striking brown filly had impressed at the Cranbourne jump-outs, running third in late October behind the subsequent Group 3 placegetter Luna Vega (Lucky Vega {Ire}) and then winning nicely earlier this month. And while all eyes were on the well-backed Angelic Rise (Harry Angel {Ire}), it was Almost An Angel who stole the show with an authoritative debut win.
From the jump, Angelic Rise railed through to take up the running, with Astilla (Hanseatic) sitting outside her, while Almost An Angel settled second-last in the early stages. The favourite scooted along at a good clip and gave a solid kick at the 300-metre mark, but it didn’t take long to see the So You Think (NZ) filly travelling sweetly in behind. She let down powerfully to score, with Iconic Ruler (Wild Ruler) sound in second and Angelic Rise sticking on a touch over two and a half lengths further back.
“She was super. Luke gave her a lovely ride. He let her get into her rhythm and when she straightened up, she really hit the line strong and got the job done,” said Robbie Griffiths’ stable representative Adrian Joyce.
Almost An Angel | Image courtesy of Racing Photos
“You never know with a first timer, but she showed us plenty of speed for a So You Think, because as you know they can take a bit of time.
“We were surprised how well she came on from the jump outs, so she was ready to go, so we said that we would give it a crack and see how we go.
“She's not that big, but she has plenty of heart, and she tries really hard in her gallops. Everything she does, she wants to do it, so it's a good sign of a filly.”
“She's (Almost An Angel) not that big, but she has plenty of heart, and she tries really hard in her gallops. Everything she does, she wants to do it, so it's a good sign of a filly.” - Adrian Joyce
"When asked about her background, Joyce commented, "Robbie bought her at the sales, and there's a few long time loyal owners and a few new ones as well. So, it is great to have all of the connections here today."
Sale info: Almost An Angel was purchased for $30,000 by Griffiths Racing and Peter Ford Thoroughbreds (FBAA) from the Alma Vale Thoroughbreds draft at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.
Almost An Angel as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Pedigree info: Almost An Angel is the first foal out of All That Sass (Hinchinbrook). She was a winner at 1400 metres and metropolitan placed in Sydney.
Almost An Angel is a half sister to the dual winner and Listed placed Morioka (Maurice {Jpn}), and is out of the Dubleo (USA) mare Koonoomoo, she was talented winning five times, including in the G3 Herald Sun Stakes in Melbourne.
In recent years All That Sass has produced a Farnan yearling filly, and she foaled a Shinzo filly in August this year.
Supermassive – too big, too strong at Canterbury
The imposing Supermassive (Snitzel) was a dominant winner of the $100,000 TAB Maiden Plate at Canterbury on Wednesday, controlling the race from the front under Tim Clark and giving his rivals little hope as he powered away to score by just under two lengths.
The Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott-trained Snitzel gelding was ridden urgently early by Clark and held the lead comfortably from Fuadee (Yes Yes Yes), who settled in second, while the well-backed favourite Sylph (I Am Invincible) enjoyed a perfect trail under Zac Lloyd.
Not much changed in the run, and Supermassive gave a strong kick at the top of the straight before drawing clear, never looking in danger. Sylph tried hard in second, while Ichiban Koji (Blue Point {Ire}) caught the eye finishing into third in the Hermitage colours.
Via social media after the race, the stable confirmed that today’s win will see Supermassive Gold Coast-bound in January, marking him as one to follow into the summer.
Supermassive | Image courtesy of Georgia Young Photography
Sale info: Supermassive was purchased by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott, Kestrel Thoroughbreds and Mt Hallowell Stud for $550,000 from the Bhima Thoroughbreds draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale
Pedigree info: Supermassive was bred by G S A Bloodstock, and is the fourth foal out of Gresset (Husoonet {USA}), she only raced three times on the track but has a strong pedigree being a half sister to the South African Group 2 winner, and Group 1 placed Honorine (Redoute’s Choice).
Supermassive as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Gresset’s first foal to race was Military Expert (Redoute’s Choice), and he has been a four-time winner and has multi Group placed including in the G1 Toorak Handicap.
This is also the extended family of the Cambridge Stud three-time Group 1 winner and stallion Almanzor (Fr).
In recent times, Gresset, has produced a yearling colt by Justify (USA), and she foaled a Tassort colt in September
