Cover image courtesy of Brisbane Racing Club
Tacitly cruises to victory at Eagle Farm
The promising Tacitly (Wootton Bassett {GB}) had been building towards a breakthrough on recent form and delivered in style at Eagle Farm, forming part of an early nationwide double for his late sire.
Trained by Annabel and Rob Archibald, the gelding proved too strong over 1840 metres, drawing clear to score by just over three lengths after being given a well-judged ride by Ryan Maloney. Settling into a comfortable rhythm behind a steady tempo, Tacitly travelled strongly before quickening decisively when asked.
Montevecchio (Castelvecchio) chased gamely to finish second although beaten convincingly, while Sowilo Rodina (Dubious) held on for third, just behind the runner-up.
Co-trainer Rob Archibald was pleased with the manner of the win, particularly with the addition of blinkers and the step up in distance.
“That was really good, it was a good win with the blinkers on and up to 1840 metres,” Archibald said.
“Ryan gave him a lovely ride, and hopefully that gives the horse a bit of confidence going forward.”
Rob Archibald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
Archibald suggested the gelding remains a work in progress, with scope to continue improving as he matures.
“He is a well-bred type that does look like he will make a nice stayer. He is still far from the finished article and he has a lot of furnishing to do. But he is a lovely looking horse and, as I said, Ryan gave him a great trip, a lovely experience and hopefully he can go on from this.”
“He is a well-bred type that does look like he will make a nice stayer.” - Rob Archibald
Sales info: William Johnson Bloodstock (FBAA) purchased Tacitly for $60,000 from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale from the draft of Yarraman Park Stud.
Pedigree info: Tacitly’s dam Silently (Anabaa {USA}) was a Listed winner on the track, and has gone on to leave seven winners including the South African Group 3 winner Muwaary (O’Reilly {NZ}).
Tacitly as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Silently is also very well-related being a half-sister to the Group 1 winners Criterion and Bull Point (Fastnet Rock).
Silently, in recent years has produced a yearling colt by Tiger Of Malay, and was served again by the young stallion last spring.
Bassett Babe impresses on debut at Gawler
A filly who stood out both on pedigree and physical presence made a striking winning debut at Gawler on Wednesday, with the Andrew Gluyas-trained Bassett Babe, a classy-looking daughter of Wootton Bassett (GB), delivering a dominant performance.
The only anxious moment for connections and punters alike came pre-race, as the filly was initially reluctant to load. Once she stepped into the gates, however, the race quickly became a formality. Jumping cleanly, Bassett Babe made full use of her inside draw to lead throughout, scoring by just over six lengths.
Well-supported Sicilian Princess (Magna Grecia {Ire}) sat outside the leader as they rolled along at a genuine tempo, but when apprentice Taylor Johnstone asked Bassett Babe to quicken, the response was immediate. She quickly put the race beyond doubt, drawing clear with ease. Sicilian Princess battled on solidly for second, while Dazelles (Bivouac) worked home encouragingly to finish third.
Joe Gluyas, speaking on behalf of the stable, said the filly had delivered exactly what they had hoped for on debut.
“She was really good today, a bit nervous before the race but once she got in the gates, got out, it was pretty smooth sailing,” Gluyas said.
“A bit nervous before the race but once she (Bassett Babe) got in the gates, got out, it was pretty smooth sailing.” - Joe Gluyas
He credited patience for the performance, explaining the decision to debut her at a familiar venue.
“Dad’s done a really good job being patient with this filly. We have had a few options where we could have run and he wanted to bring her back to Gawler where she trialled so she knew where she was. It was good to come back here and get the result.”
Gluyas was also pleased with how Bassett Babe handled her first full raceday experience.
Joe Gluyas | Image courtesy of McDonald Gluyas Racing
“She copped the whole experience really well. It’s quite hot here today as well, she’s been cool, calm and collected out the back and her first time with the race saddle on as well.
“She’s (Bassett Babe) been cool, calm and collected out the back and her first time with the race saddle on as well.” - Joe Gluyas
“She’s done it really well. She’s a beauty. By Wootton Bassett obviously, he has some fantastic types running in Melbourne and Sydney and the likes, so it is really good to have one in our stable.”
Sales info: Bassett Babe was purchased for $200,000 from the Mill Park draft at the 2024 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale by Macdonald Gluyas Racing
Pedigree info: Bassett Babe is beautifully bred being out of the dual winner Liberty Lover (Rebel Raider), she has already left the talented G2 Avondale Guineas winner Thedocctoroflove (So You Think {NZ}) who also placed in the G1 New Zealand Derby.
Bassett Babe as a yearling | Image courtesy of Magic Millions
Liberty Lover is a half-sister to the outstanding Dalasan, who won eight races, including four Group races and two Listed races, and was multiple Group 1 placed and now stands at Riverbank Farm..
She is also a half-sister to the Listed winners Freedom Flame (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) and Party Princess (So You Think {NZ})
Liberty Lover, in recent years has left a 2-year-old gelding named Hunting Hard (Saxon Warrior {Jpn}), a yearling filly by Pinatubo (Ire), and was served by St Mark’s Basilica (Fr) last spring.
Manukau gains deserved maiden success at Kembla Grange
Patience was rewarded for connections of Manukau (Lonhro) at Kembla Grange on Wednesday, with the Michael Freedman-trained mare breaking through for a deserved maiden victory at her sixth start.
Having finished second on four previous occasions, Manukau was given every chance by Tommy Berry, who took full advantage of an inside draw to settle her neatly in second on the rail as Over The Limit (Anders) set the pace.
Video: Watch Manukau at Kembla Grange Race # 3, video courtesy of Racing NSW
The race was not without incident early, with the heavily backed second favourite Zing To Me (Capitalist) knuckling badly at the start and nearly dislodging Chad Schofield. To his credit, Schofield stayed aboard, though the filly was forced to settle well back as a result.
Manukau travelled strongly throughout and looked the likely winner approaching the top of the straight. Declan (Brave Smash {Jpn}) continued to fight on gamely after covering ground, while Zing To Me made significant late ground following her early misfortune. In the end, Manukau proved too strong, holding on to score by just under a length, with Zing To Me and Declan filling the placings in runs that suggested maiden wins are not far away.
Sophie Johnson, Racing, Admin and Client Relations Manager for Michael Freedman Racing, said the win was well earned.
“She has missed out a few times now, but today was the day,” Johnson said.
“She has missed out a few times now, but today was the day.” - Sophie Johnson
“There is no doubt that Tommy is probably going to come back and talk about the headwind, it looks like she was blown around a bit.
“She tried really hard and she knuckled down there so it was really good to see her get the win.
“I think she really needed it. It was nice to see her cross the line with her ears pricked crossing the line.”
Sophie Johnson | Image courtesy of Sophie Johnson
Johnson said the focus leading into the race had been on confidence rather than distance experimentation.
“We are still working her out. It was more about bringing her back to that distance and giving her a bit of an easier time between runs to give her that potential opportunity to win today and the confidence boost she needed.
“It was more about bringing her (Manukau) back to that distance and giving her a bit of an easier time between runs.” - Sophie Johnson
“I don’t know whether Michael (Freedman) will look to step her up a little bit later on, but we will get her home and go from there.”
Sales info: Manukau was bred and is raced by Godolphin Australia.
Pedigree info: Manukau is the first foal out of the Group 3 winning and Group 1 placed mare Pohutakawa (Medaglia D’Oro {USA}).
She comes from a very strong family that includes the Group 1 winning stallion Star Witness, three-time Group 3 winner and sire Nostradamus, Listed winner Embracer (Sebring) and the three-time stakes winner Vulpine (Snitzel).
Pohutakawa’s first foal is the G2 Callander-Presnell Stakes winner Ohope (I Am Invincible). In recent years, Pohutakawa has left a yearling colt by Street Boss (USA), and was served by Cylinder last spring.
Trapper John sprouts wings at Sandown
Late speed proved decisive at Sandown on Wednesday as the Clinton McDonald-trained Trapper John (NZ) (Per Incanto {USA}) produced an eye-catching finish to score an impressive debut victory under Ben Melham.
Having been aboard the gelding for all of his jump-outs at Cranbourne, Melham was content to settle Trapper John near the tail of the field as the Grahame Begg-trained Headbanger (Capitalist), who brought solid race-day form into the contest, took up the running over the 1000-metre journey.
Headbanger appeared to have the race under control when he kicked clear approaching the 300-metre mark, particularly given the leader-favouring nature of the track. However, Trapper John was beginning to build momentum from close to last, working through his gears rapidly down the straight.
At the 100-metre mark, the Per Incanto (USA) gelding swept past the leaders, though in doing so made contact with Zubba Storm (Toronado {Ire}), who was checked badly. Despite the incident, Trapper John carried on strongly to score by half a length from Headbanger. Fellow debutant Bel Mezyaan (Mezyaan) finished well for third, while Zubba Storm can be forgiven after the interference when finishing fourth.
Trainer Clinton McDonald said the stable had held a strong opinion of the gelding for some time.
Clinton McDonald | Image courtesy of The Image Is Everything
“We’ve known for a little while that we thought he was very good, but he has just been one of those horses that we have had to teach him through the trials,” McDonald said.
“He trialled well the other day. I was surprised at the price they put up, but for him to do that on that leaders’ track, where it has been very hard to make ground, and to chase down a fast horse of Grahame Begg’s was a very good win.”
“We’ve known for a little while that we thought he was very good.” - Clinton McDonald
Sales info: Trapper John was originally purchased for $130,000 from the 2024 Inglis Classic Yearling Sale by JCS Thoroughbreds. Before he was put through the 2024 Inglis Sydney Ready to Race sale where Shane McGrath Bloodstock purchased the gelding for $150,000 from the JCS Thoroughbreds draft,
Trapper John (NZ) as a yearling | Image courtesy of Inglis
Pedigree info: Trapper John is out of the unraced Howbaddouwantit (USA) mare My Hope (NZ). She has now left three winners, and is a half-sister to the dual Group 3 winner Exinite (NZ) (Lord Ballina) and the Listed winner Vitrinite (NZ) (Lord Ballina). This is also the family of the G1 Queensland Oaks and G1 Queensland Derby winner Royal Magic (NZ) (Lord Ballina).
