Saturday Summary: History bypassed with Libertad sensation in Winterbottom

Cover image courtesy of Western Racepix

Libertad spoils the party in thrilling G1 Winterbottom

Bjorn Baker’s incredible galloper Overpass (Vancouver) was all set to make history on Saturday as he was sent out as the short favourite to win the G1 Winterbottom Stakes for the third successive year. Jockey Josh Parr rode him perfectly, flying out of the gates to led and dictate the pace, and the mighty 7-year-old gelding looked like he had it in the bag with 100 metres to go.

And then came Libertad (Russian Revolution) for jockey Jamie Mott and trainers Annabel and Rob Archibald. He went stride for stride with Overpass in the closing stages with either of the pair able to win. It was Libertad who stuck his nose out on the line in a bobbing finish to claim the victory and spoil the historical achievement.

Robbie Griffiths-trained Rey Magnerio (Magnus) ran third, with the best of the locals, Steve Wolfe-trained Rope Them In (Playing God) in fourth. Libertad ran 1:10.38s for the 1200 metres.

“That was a huge, huge thrill. We weren’t in the market and we knew the favourite would be tough to beat,” Annabel Archibald said of the $21 winner.

“What a great ride by Jamie. We got a nice draw and the plan was always to follow Overpass, with the knowledge that he would be hard to run down. His run (fourth) in the G1 Champions Sprint was terrific, and I got here on Thursday and this is the best he’d ever paraded.

“He’s won a couple of Group 3s and a Group 2, and we were desperate to get a Group 1 for him knowing he’s an entire. I’m so happy, particularly for Trilogy. There’s a few good owners in him. He’s a horse that you need to keep the work up to, as he’s a big gross horse. We got him here a bit earlier and gave him some good gallops. I’m so happy Jamie came over for this and gave up a big money day at Caulfield for this.”

Libertad, a 5-year-old entire, has won five of his 17 starts and over $1.6 million. Unbeaten at two, including the G3 Kindergarten Stakes, he won the G3 San Domenico Stakes at three. At four, he won the G2 Victory Stakes in Brisbane, and this was his inaugural Group 1 victory. He is owned by Trilogy and partners.

The training partnership won the G1 Railway Stakes last year with entire Port Lockroy (Better Than Ready).

Sale info: Sold by Rheinwood Pastoral at the 2022 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $40,000 to T Nolen, who on-sold him as Nolen Racing at the Inglis Ready2Race Sale for $210,000 to Annabel Neasham.

Interestingly, Libertad marks the 15th Group 1 winner from mares sold by Willow Park Stud, among some 59 mares that have produced Group and Listed winners.

Pedigree notes: Libertad is the second Group 1 winner for Russian Revolution, after Communist. He is one of four winners for Electric Charge (Charge Forward) who was a winner over 1200 metres. She has a 3-year-old colt by Prague and 2-year-old filly Electric Bliss (Prague), but missed to Russian Revolution the next season and slipped to Ozzmosis so has no foal this spring either.

Electric Charge is a half-sister to G3 Adrian Knox Stakes winner Miss Darcey (Hussonet {USA}) and both are out of Listed Widden Stakes winner Miss Bussell (Danzero) who also placed in the R.Listed Magic Millions 2YO Classic.

This is the family of G1 Auckland Classic winner Lurestina (NZ) (Sir Tristram {Ire}) and dual Group 2 winner Hurried Choice (Choisir).

Incredibly consistent mare She’s A Hustler wins Zipping Classic

Grahame Begg enjoyed a stakes double at Caulfield with 3-year-old filly Ruska Roma (Super Seth) winning the Listed Twilight Glow Stakes, then only two races later, he won the feature event, the G2 Zipping Classic with She’s A Hustler (NZ) (Ace High).

Trainer Ciaron Maher elected to keep Light Infantry Man (Fr) (Fast Company {Ire}) home for this race, rather than head to Hong Kong for the International meeting in December, and for most of the race, he would’ve been pleased with his decision. Winner of the G1 Australian Cup and G1 Northerly Classic last season, he’s been competitive this spring without winning, and when he hit the lead for jockey Ethan Brown, he looked to have it in the bag.

But, Jordan Childs was trucking home from mid-field with plenty of horse under him, and She’s A Hustler finished over the top of the slightly tiring Light Infantry Man to record a one-third of a length victory. Chris Waller-trained Etna Rosso (Ire) (Decorated Knight {GB}) was more than two lengths back in third.

“The owners have been very patient and full credit to them. They have allowed me to run her in the race I've wanted to run her in, give her the time, give her a break when we've needed to give her a break. She's still evolving,” Begg said.

“Today was going to be a big hurdle for her to work out where we are going to place her next year and how we go about it. It's all about next spring. She's going to be a 6-year-old, so that was what it was all about, ticking that box today.”

Winner of seven of her 11 starts, including the G3 Tesio Stakes two starts ago, She’s A Hustler took her earnings over $840,000. She is one of four stakes winners for her sire.

“We may go to Brisbane for one or two runs up there, something like the Q22 and then back down here. The Q22 is a great race and it sets them up for the spring.” The G1 Caulfield Cup is a potential long term target.

Sale info: She’s A Hustler was sold by Rich Hill Stud for NZ$70,000 to Phil Cataldo Bloodstock at the 2022 New Zealand Bloodstock National Yearling Sale.

Pedigree Notes: One of five winners for two-time winner Snow Petal (Bernardini {USA}), She’s A Hustler’s year older half-brother Freeze Frame (NZ) (Vadamos {Fr}) won five times and placed in the G3 Winter Cup of 2024.

Snow Petal, whose youngest foal is a 2-year-old colt by Proisir, is a daughter of Singapore Horse of the Year and Group 1 winner Zirna (NZ) (Deputy Governor {USA}). Zirna also produced Group 3 winner Crafty Irna (Starcraft {NZ}) who is the dam of Listed Burgess Queen Stakes winner Snickerdoodledandy (Snitzel).

Yorkshire gives Snitzel a nice post-script

It’s fair to say that Yorkshire (Snitzel) disappointed punters when the consistent 5-year-old gelding resumed in the $1 million The Hunter. After being eased out of the race when favourite, the John O’Shea and Tom Charlton-trained galloper was subsequently diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia. A forgivable excuse, and he made amends on Saturday when returning to form in the G3 Festival Stakes at Rosehill when once again made the favourite.

In winning by one-third of a length, he took his record to seven wins from ten starts with earnings over $510,000. “I thought one of the contributing factors with what happened to him at Newcastle, was he was unsaddled behind the gates, and he got a little upset,” O'Shea said.

“He got out of his rhythm and all those things probably contributed to what wasn't a good day for him. Today, we were mindful we had our T's crossed, our I's dotted in terms of our preparation before the race.

“We were confident we'd gone through the process to get him back. I was surprised he was able to control the race like he did, but that was the key to winning.”

Yorkshire won from Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained Arctic Glamour (Frosted {USA}) and Scott Singleton-trained Melody Again (Your Song). He adds a nice post-script for his recently deceased Champion Sire Snitzel by becoming his 163rd individual stakes winner.

The victory gave Zac Lloyd a treble for the day, and a stakes double after winning the Listed Starlight Stakes on Flying For Fun (Spieth {NZ}). He also won on Matthew Smith-trained Lyles (Exceed And Excel).

Sale info: Sold by Newgate Farm at the 2022 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale to PR Funds for $575,000.

Pedigree Notes: Yorkshire is the first foal of G3 Keeneland Franklin County Stakes winner Chanteline (USA) (Majesticperfection {USA}) who had an Extreme Choice filly this season. She also has an I Am Invincible yearling colt and 2-year-old filly Lady Of The Castle (Exceed And Excel). She was a US$425,000 (AU$650,000) purchase by SF Bloodstock at the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale of 2018.

Chanteline, who won nine races, is a half-sister to dual Listed winner Kell Paso (USA) (Divine Park {USA}). G1 Saratoga Hopeful Stakes winner and sire Currency Swap (USA) is part of this family.

Western form stacks up with Casino Seventeen

Trainer Gavin Bedggood is the eighth trainer for 8-year-old gelding Casino Seventeen (Casino Prince). He began his career in South Australia, winning four times, then shifted to NSW before heading to Western Australia. He was with Grant and Alana Williams from 2022 to the beginning of this year, before he headed back east to Bedggood.

In his eighth start for his eighth trainer, he added career win number 11 in the G3 Eclipse Stakes at Caulfield. All up, he’s had 55 starts for 11 wins, 11 seconds and 11 thirds with earnings over $1.6 million. This was his fifth black type win, having won the 2024 G2 Perth Cup and G2 Lee Steere Stakes.

“He's been frustrating. He's knocked on the door plenty of times and he's run plenty of good races without winning, so it was good to see him get his head over the line today,” Bedggood said.

“He's won a Perth Cup, so it's good to see him return to the winner's stall. (He’ll) probably both go to the Ballarat Cup next week.” Stablemate Kingswood (GB) (Roaring Lion {USA}), who won the Listed Cup Day Plate at his last start, will likely join him.

Sale info: Originally sold by Widden Stud at the 2019 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale for $9000 to J Hardy, he was pinhooked via Clare Park Thoroughbreds at the Magic Millions Horses-In-Training Sale where Kennewell Racing bought him for $45,000.

Pedigree Notes: Casino Seventeen’s dam Tikal (Denman) only raced once but her five foals to race are all winners. Casino Seventeen is her second foal, and her current 4-year-old mare Husk (Calyx {GB}) placed in the Listed Desirable Stakes and has won three times. She has 2-year-old colt Cantero (Spirit Of Boom) and a 2025 Tassort colt still to come.

Tikal is a daughter of Listed Ottawa Stakes-placed Lanquin (Last Tycoon {Ire}) and this is the family of G1 BTC Cup winner Famous Seamus (NZ) (Elusive Quality {USA}).