Saturday summary: Tentyris explosive in the Lightning

Cover image courtesy of The Image Is Everything

Tentyris Blazes to Lightning Glory

It was a case of spring déjà vu in the G1 Lightning Stakes as the 3-year-olds Tentyris (Street Boss {USA}) and My Gladiola (I Am Invincible) again filled the quinella - just as they did in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes, and this time proved their quality by toppling the older sprinters at Weight-for-age elite level.

Ridden cold by Damien Lane, Tentyris was giving away both experience and tactical advantage. When My Gladiola burst to the lead and dashed clear, it looked as though she might have stolen a decisive break. But down the outside came the powerful finishing burst that has quickly become Tentyris’ trademark.

Building through his gears, he surged past his fellow 3-year-old to score by just under a length, stamping himself as one of the elite sprinting talents in the country.

There was genuine tempo on throughout, with Beiwacht (Bivouac) and Giga Kick (Scissor Kick) prominent in the run while the first two settled near the tail. But when the pressure went on, the 3-year-olds simply had too much class late.

“He (Anthony) has been in the game for so long and he said to me at the end of the spring campaign, this might be the best horse you ever train," Co-trainer Sam Freedman said.

“(I said) I thought you might be suggesting you trained one better back in the 1990s and 2000s – there was a bit of cheek there, they had Mahogany and Schillaci – but he's building his own record that will hopefully be right up there with some of the best.”

Now a start in the G1 Newmarket Handicap would depend on the weight the excitement machine receives.

“I would love to come to the Newmarket if he was not heavily penalised for the victory. It's not easy for a 3-year-old to carry a big weight like that,” said Freedman.

“We'll have to have a chat about where he goes, but I can assure you it's a very good problem to have.”

Lane admitted there were pre-race queries.

“He's an incredible talent. We just only had the one play with him with how he steps out of the barriers, it was just a risk whether the 1000 metres was going to be too short. It certainly wasn't,” Lane said.

“Mid-race I had to ask him to pick up the bridle and when he did, he really joined in well and as had become his trademark, that last bit of his race was outstanding – incredible.”

“I think the development in his temperament, his attitude, is really good now. As an older horse, he's really competitive. He's shown he can go to the top level and he's going to be winning good races for a bit to come yet.”

It was a performance of authority - and one that confirmed the Coolmore form was no spring anomaly.

Sales info: A homebred for Godolphin, who stand his sire Street Boss (USA) who has 88 stakes winners, including 11 at Group 1 level.

Pedigree info: Tentyris is the second foal of Exceed And Excel mare Deity, who won three times, and whose first foal Dios (Lonhro) won twice. Deity has 2-year-old filly Parcae (Blue Point {Ire}), had a filly by Anamoe in the spring and was subsequently served by Too Darn Hot (GB).

Deity is a half-sister to Listed winner Maternal (Street Cry {Ire}) and stakes placed La Pieta (Redoute’s Choice). Four-time Group 1 winner Divine Madonna (Hurricane Sky) is the dam of Deity, and this is also the family of Group 1 winners Baraqiel (Snitzel) and Autumn Angel (The Autumn Sun).

Autumn Glow back better than ever

It almost seems unfair to suggest an unbeaten Group 1 winner can improve from preparation to preparation but Autumn Glow (The Autumn Sun) appears to have done just that.

The glamour mare stretched her winning sequence to nine with a commanding performance in the G2 Apollo Stakes, and she did it in the style of a horse with much bigger targets in her sights.

Everything unfolded perfectly from the outset. James McDonald secured the coveted one-one position, allowing The Instructor (Russian Revolution) to roll forward and control the tempo, with Lindermann (Lonhro) camped outside the leader and Aeliana (Castelvecchio) enjoying the trail.

But once McDonald eased Autumn Glow into clear air at the top of the straight, the race was effectively over.

She loomed ominously before putting the contest to bed within a few strides, lengthening with authority to leave her rivals chasing. Aeliana and Lindermann boxed on gamely to complete a Chris Waller-trained trifecta, but this was very much the Autumn Glow show.

“She’s going well,” McDonald said sheepishly.

“There’s only two horses, and I’ve been lucky enough to associate with some good ones, with their demeanour, their class and their ability. She is going the right way, she’s got a long way to go but she is well on her way and she’s got a good trainer that will place her to the best of her ability.

“She’s got some lofty targets in store. She’s going to have to step up but she is well on her way.

“Her exercise gallop was just so smooth, it was a beautiful bit of work and she had a nice blow after that. When you get on a good one, they clean themselves up like that and away they go. They know it’s gameday. That’s what separates the greats from the good and hopefully she is one of them.”

It was the type of first-up performance that suggests her ceiling may not yet have been reached.

Sales info: Bred by Newhaven Park Stud, Autumn Glow was sold as a weanling to Silverdale Farm and Shrone Bloodstock for $600,000. She later sold at the 2023 Inglis Easter Yearling Sale for $1.8 million to Arrowfield’s John Messara and partners Hermitage Thoroughbreds.

Pedigree info: Autumn Glow is by The Autumn Sun out of Via Africa (Saf) (Var {USA}), who was a three-time Group 1 winner in South Africa. She is a three-quarter sister to Group 1 Golden Rose Stakes winner and exciting young sire In The Congo.

Joliestar all class in Expressway victory

Class rose to the surface in the G2 Expressway Stakes at Randwick as Joliestar (Zoustar) further enhanced her already outstanding record, delivering a strong late surge for James McDonald and Chris Waller.

The Bjorn Baker-trained Caballus (I Am Invincible) rolled forward with Tommy Berry aboard as expected and controlled proceedings, with Coal Crusher (Turffontein) applying pressure on his outside. McDonald secured the ideal one-one trail aboard Joliestar, giving the dual Group 1 winner every chance to build into the race.

The tempo lifted sharply at the top of the straight when Berry asked Caballus to sprint. For a few strides it appeared the leader might have stolen it, kicking strongly and putting space on his rivals.

Joliestar lengthened powerfully over the final 200 metres, surging past the pacemaker to claim another feature success. Lady Shenandoah (Snitzel) ran on well for third, while the well-supported Angel Capital (Harry Angel {Ire}) proved disappointing, doing a few things wrong as he can.

“That was a good race," Waller said.

“It was tactical early and James (McDonald) got her into a really good position and it looked like the leader was home."

McDonald admitted he had a moment of concern when Caballus dashed clear but never doubted his mare’s quality.

“It was a test for her the last 200m and she dug deep and it was good to see her return like that.

“Caballus booted and had us all chasing a fair way from home but my mare is a dual Group 1-winner and probably counting," McDonald said.

“She was always going to be surging and then it was always a matter of getting there in time. She always takes a little bit to build through, hence why hustle and bustle sort of races can be the undoing of her.

“But when she gets the right set up like that, you'd be pushing it to find a horse who could beat her in this country."

It was a performance that once again underlined her class - and her ability to absorb pressure before producing a telling final sprint.

Sales Information: Joliestar was purchased for $950,000 by Cambridge Stud from the Segenhoe Thoroughbreds draft at the 2022 Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale.

Pedigree Information: Joliestar is the fifth foal out of Jolie Bay (Fastnet Rock), a two-time winner including the G2 Roman Consul Stakes and placed in the G1 Coolmore Stud Stakes. She hails from a strong family, being a full sister to Merchant Navy, a dual Group 1 winner in Australia and at Royal Ascot, and is closely related to other Group winners Legally Bay (Snippets) and Airman (I Am Invincible).

Jolie Bay, in recent times has left a 2-year-old filly by Zoustar, a yearling filly by Anamoe, a colt foal by Zoustar, and was served by Too Darn Hot (GB) last spring.

Savvy Hallie defies them all in Light Fingers triumph

It was a Nash Rawiller masterclass in the G2 Light Fingers Stakes, dictating terms from the front aboard the talented Savvy Hallie (Hellbent) and proving too sharp when it mattered.

Rawiller made an early decision that ultimately won the race. What appeared on paper to be a contest with multiple winning hopes quickly became a tactical affair, and the experienced hoop ensured his filly was always in the right spot - rolling along comfortably in front without overexerting.

Nepo Baby (Lucky Vega {Ire}) settled in second, while Tommy Berry had the very warm favourite Apocalyptic (Extreme Choice) positioned ideally in the trail, poised to strike.

But when Rawiller clicked Savvy Hallie up approaching the rise, she responded instantly. She quickened better than her rivals and proved too strong late, holding Apocalyptic safely in second, with Nepo Baby sticking on gamely for third.

Given the steadily run tempo, those making late ground may take encouragement as the autumn progresses over further trips, but on the day it was a race won through control and class.

"She'll go to the 1400m Group 1 now," trainer Brad Widdup said.

"I thought she was just perfect today. Things fell apart at the Gold Coast for us last start but she responded really well and came through that great.

"Since she's been home I've been really happy with her and she turned up today with no trial in a really tough fillies race. I'm wrapped."

Widdup was delighted to secure Rawiller for the ride, and the senior jockey delivered.

"Nash gave her a good positive ride," Widdup said.

"That's why we put these guys on, because they're the best. I haven't used Nash a lot for no other reason than we can't get him so it was nice to get him for today and get the job done like that."

Rawiller admitted the early jump shaped everything.

“It surprised me how well she jumped. It was our last plan but also one I didn’t put a line through,” jockey Nash Rawiller said.

“Anything can happen in a race and there is nothing worse than being tied down by instructions. We were going to aim for the one/one and get her comfortable where we end up. After two strides it was pretty obvious where we were going to be.

“I had enough confidence in her not to wait for them. I had all the favours so could afford to go at the top of the rise and make them chase me down. A few of them may have looked like they were coming at some stage in the race but she was always going to find something in the last 100 metres.”

Sales info: A $150,000 Magic Millions Gold Coast National Weanling Sale purchase for Belmont Bloodstock Agency (FBAA) from Baramul Stud, Savvy Hallie was offered the following year at the Inglis Classic Yearling Sale, where B K Racing and Breeding secured her for $320,000 from Riverstone Lodge’s draft.

Pedigree info: Savvy Hallie is the second foal from dual winner Rose Of Savannah (Fastnet Rock), a granddaughter of New Zealand Bloodstock Filly of the Year Savannah Success (Success Express {USA}), dam of champion stallion Savabeel. Her juvenile half-brother Katoto (Wootton Bassett {GB}) is in the stable of Chris Waller, and Rose of Savannah has produced a yearling colt by Home Affairs, a filly foal by Reliable Man (GB), and was served by I Am Invincible last spring.

Lane picks up his fourth of the day on Sixties

It was an easy-watch for the backers, connections and supporters of Sixties (Flying Artie) as the exciting Chris Waller-trained 3-year-old colt won with real authority in the G3 CS Hayes Stakes.

The win bought up Damien Lane’s fourth win for the day, and he was quite content to sit in fourth, slightly wide but comfortable with Earthing (Snitzel) and Romantic Encounter (NZ) (Ghaiyyath {Ire}) setting the speed, with the second elect Asakura (Churchill {Ire}) in a lovely spot for Dean Yendall in third with cover.

Lane arrogantly peeled out Sixties wide and in open air at the top of the straight, and while Asakura went with him, it looked like he always had it under control and so it proved as he won by just over a length.

Waller's stable representative, Darren Beadman, confirmed that the colts next task ahead is the G1 Australian Guineas later this month.

"I think that is Chris's short-term plan for him," Beadman said.

"Today was a bit of a test for him, this way of going on the circle.

"The Australian Guineas looks the ideal race for him."

"It's a difficult task to sit three-wide here (at Flemington) from 1400 (metres)," Beadman said.

"You pretty much start on the circle and you're turning the whole time. He had the audacity to show a nice turn of foot, pin his ears back.

"He's an exciting galloper."

Sales info: Sold by Vinery Stud at the Inglis Australian Easter Yearling Sale, Sixties was a $350,000 purchase for ARAMCO Racing.

Pedigree info: As well as being a full to dual Group 1 winner Artorius, Sixties is out of Gracie’s Lass (Redoute’s Choice), a half-sister to G1 Darley Classic winner Delectation (Shamardal {USA}) out of Listed-winning, Group 1-performed Grace And Power (USA) (More Than Ready {USA}).

Anthony Freedman Racing and Julian Blaxland Bloodstock (FBAA) bought Sixties’ Pinatubo (Ire) half-brother at this year’s Magic Millions sale for $120,000. Gracie’s Lass had a colt by Pierata in the spring before visiting Toronado (Ire).