Saturday summary: Matias secures Snitzel quinella in Grand Prix

Cover image courtesy of Magic Millions

Matias extends Snitzel’s black-type record in Grand Prix quinella

Rarely does a Saturday go by without the late Snitzel making his presence felt, and it was no different at Eagle Farm on Saturday, where his 3-year-old son Matias stormed home to a maiden stakes victory in the G3 Grand Prix Stakes. It chalked up a remarkable 16th individual stakes winner this season alone for the sire.

A Newcastle maiden winner at the end of November, Matias was sent north by trainers Gerald Ryan and Sterling Alexiou for his first stakes assignment, and the gelding, piloted by Michael Rodd, swung out wide coming around the home turn.

With the field fanned out to his inside, the gelding surged for home to post victory by one and a third lengths over early leader Agent Zero (Snitzel), producing a quinella for their sire. Tagaloa colt Tambeloa finished a length further back in third.

"That was really impressive, you know," Rodd said. "I had watched his replays from down south but being by Snitzel and out of an Oaks-placed mare (Never Listen), I was not sure what to expect from this horse.

"Gerald just said to ride him back in the field a bit today and we had our hand forced anyway, because he was a little bit slow out. That was a blessing, because they went along really quick and he was loving the gallop."

The gelding carried the colours of Queensland-based breeders and owners Ron and Judy Wanless to victory, with Rodd appreciating the turn of foot unleashed by the gelding as he turned for home.

"When I got to the front, I thought I had got there too soon, but it turned out there was plenty left in the tank," said Rodd. "He is not your wiry-type staying horse, so it will be interesting to see what the future holds for him. It was a pleasure to ride a nice horse like that."

Sales: Curran Bloodstock signed the docket for Matias at the Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale to the tune of $450,000, where he was offered by Kenmore Lodge on behalf of Turangga Farm.

Pedigree: Matias is the first foal out of G1 VRC Oaks runner-up Never Listen (Trusting), a half-sister to Listed Wenona Girl Handicap winner Rose Of Peace (Hussonet) out of multiple stakes winner Rose O’ War (Danehill {USA}). Close up in the family is G2 Thousand Guineas Prelude victress Coeur Volante (NZ) (Proisir) and her Listed Counties Challenge Stakes-placed Hasstobemagic (NZ) (Scissor Kick).

Calico Bloodstock paid $450,000 for Matias’s 2-year-old sister at this year’s Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, and Never Listen has another full brother to the pair going to the Gold Coast in January in Kenmore Stud’s draft. She delivered a colt by Hitotsu this spring, before visiting The Autumn Sun.

Grafterburners goes for three straight in Gold Edition

Graff colt Grafterburners has been unbeatable as the spring turns to summer, and he continued the trend at Eagle Farm on Saturday with his third straight victory as a 3-year-old. It was also the colt’s first strike at stakes level in the Listed Gold Edition - and a first stakes winner for his Kitchwin Hills Stud-based sire, who chalked up two stakes performers with his first juveniles last season.

Kelly Schweida needn’t have feared when sending out the short-priced favourite as he rocketed home upon straightening, never looking in doubt when posting victory by just short of a length over stakes-placed maiden Sylph (I Am Invincible). Icarian Dream (Blue Point {Ire}) followed a length further back in third.

"The way the race was going to be run today, we didn't want to be too far back and we certainly wanted to get to the outside and (jockey) Cejay (Graham) achieved that," Schweida said. "She rode him a treat. The colt was asleep before the race, he is a pretty boy.

"We will go to the slot race now and we will freshen him up to race over 1100 (metres). There is so much money involved in that race and I can't wait."

Grafterburners will head to the $3 million Sunlight slot race next month, having been secured by Gai Waterhouse and Adrian Bott for their slot in the premier 3-year-old race.

"This horse continues to raise the bar," Graham said. "It's just so nice to see him racing so sharply. The way the track is playing today, I thought I would just try to ride him like the best horse and aim for the fast lane."

Sales: Schweida paid $70,000 for Grafterburners at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where he was offered by Canning Downs Stud.

Pedigree: Grafterburners is one of five winners - and the first stakes performer - for Coralina (Dylan Thomas {Ire}), an unraced half-sister to G1 Golden Slipper Stakes winner Overreach (Exceed And Excel) and G2 Expressway Stakes winner Standout. Their dam Bahia (Snippets) was a half-sister to G1 Blue Diamond Stakes winner Reward For Effort.

Coralina has a 2-year-old colt by Jonker to follow, and has missed the past two seasons.

Going west worth it for Apulia in Ted Van Heemst

After winning the $200,000 VOBIS Gold Star and the Listed Chester Manifold Stakes earlier in the spring, 5-year-old entire Apulia (Fiorente {Ire}) was given a shot out west. The G1 Northerly Stakes were out of his reach, but he bounced back on Saturday to score in the G2 Ted Van Heemst Stakes for the Lindsay Park team.

The race almost looked over, and in the bag for Hoba West (Epaulette), as they turned for home, but Apulia rallied from last under the steerage of Willie Pike to rocket home in the 2100-metre contest. He launched past Hoba West to win by three quarters of a length, with Sentimental Hero (Al Maher) in third. The result marked a treble for Pike on the card - and a seventh race in the event.

“He’s been thriving since he rocked up here, especially after the last run,” said stable representative Ammad Saleem. “He came back fantastic from that, so we were very confident. The boys were very happy with him.”

The wide alley in the Northerly afforded Apulia no favours, but he made the most of barrier 1 in Saturday’s Group 2 event.

“He does naturally go back, but the plan was probably more to go to midfield,” said Saleem of the Ted Van Heemst plan. “But obviously with Pike on board, who knows what to expect.”

The G2 Perth Cup beckons as a next goal for the entire.

“He’s already a dual Group 2 winner and we do think he is a genuine Group 1 horse, so I don’t think it’s going to worry him,” Saleem said. “He’ll be in the finish.”

Sales: Apulia was bred by Meadowvale Pastoral and Revelstone Stud, the latter of whom remain in his ownership with Lindsay Park Racing.

Pedigree: Apulia is the first foal from High Chaparral (Ire) mare Giannarelli, a granddaughter of G2 Angas Brut Stakes winner Close Your Eyes (Geiger Counter {USA}), who is also the second dam of multiple stakes winner La Fille En Jeu (NZ) (Mettre En Jeu {NZ}).

Giannarelli has a yearling filly by Lucky Vega (Ire) and visited Brazen Beau this year after missing to Shamus Award.

Old warriors battle it out for Lough Neagh

None among the first five home in Eagle Farm’s Listed Lough Neagh Stakes on Saturday were younger than six, and the second eldest of them all, the 8-year-old Rockribbed (Night Of Thunder {Ire}), was the first one home - and he is only one day younger than runner-up Rothfire (Rothesay).

Rockribbed took his record to 11 wins in 31 starts with the Listed victory, and the Tony Gollan-trained gelding had to fight for it, sitting second to Navyonthehighway (Merchant Navy) as they turned for home.

Rothfire loomed up as they closed on the line before Rockribbed could rally under the urgings of Ryan Maloney, nabbing victory by three quarters of a length on the line. The victory pushed his lifetime earnings over the $700,000 mark.

"He's been a marvel, this horse, we got him up here a couple of seasons ago now," Gollan said. "Did I think I would be winning races like this? Probably not. It was just about trying to get this horse back in form and going through his grades.

"But he's been a real revelation, this summer he has really improved and he's been going better and better. My farrier has also done a great job with him, he's got really tricky feet. A lot of work has gone into a horse like this and I am really proud of the effort today to be honest.

"We have run into one of Queensland's better open company horses in Rothfire, and we met him a lot worse at the weights."

Sales: Polaris Bloodstock secured Rockribbed for $14,000 at the 2019 Inglis Melbourne Gold Yearling Sale, before selling him to Elliott O'Shea for $27,500 in an Inglis Digital sale in early 2023. A share in the gelding changed hands to L Seymour in September 2024 for $3500.

Pedigree: Rockribbed is one of four winners for Listed-performed Seattle Lass (Fraar {USA}), who is out of a daughter of Listed Geelong Oaks Trial Stakes winner Swell Time Girl (Niccolo Polo).

Rogers Bloodstock secured Rockribbed’s half-sister Mystery Fingers (Doubtland) for $15,000 from Waylon J Stud at this year’s Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale.